Apple has released the first public beta for iOS 16. This means that anyone with an iPhone 8 or later can try an early version of the next big update for the iPhone, which is expected sometime in this fall along with the new iPhone models.
IOS 16 will allow users to customize the iPhone lock screen, forward and edit iMessages, schedule emails and more.
Like all pre-release software, it will have bugs, so users should be careful to install it on a device that is used for work or for everyday use. It’s best for tech enthusiasts who want to see what’s coming in front of the general public and are willing to help Apple identify the issues.
“Please note that because Apple has not yet commercially released public beta software, it may contain errors or inaccuracies and may not work as well as commercially released software. Be sure to back up your iPhone or iPad and your Mac with Time Machine before installing the beta software, “Apple warns on its website.
Apple unveiled iOS 16 in June at its annual global developer conference. Users with an Apple developer account were able to install iOS 16 shortly after the conference.
The public beta released in the U.S. on Monday night no longer requires a developer account and is intended to get public help to remove bugs before an official release.
The software will be available to everyone with an iPhone released in 2017 or later. The oldest compatible device is the iPhone 8.
This year, iOS 16 has several major improvements, especially for its messaging experience in iMessage and Mail.
Apple Credit Camera Icon: Supplied / CNBC
Some of the big changes include:
- Customizable lock screens. Users will be able to add smaller widgets with real-time data, such as the weather forecast on the lock screen, and even change the clock font for the first time.
- Send and edit iMessages. Users will have 15 minutes after sending a message to edit or undo it in iMessage. The other user will not receive any notification, but will see that the message has been edited or retrieved.
- Best group texting with Android users. Android users’ reaction to an iMessage, such as a small thumbs up, will no longer be shown as an ad. These reactions will be attached to SMS messages in the same way as an iMessage.
- Schedule emails for the future. The Mail app built into iPhones now has a more functional search feature, as well as the ability to schedule the sending of an email for a time in the future, such as tomorrow morning at 9 p.m.
- Artificial intelligence automatically sorts, edits, translates, and shares photos. IOS 16 uses AI to automatically share photos with up to six people depending on who is in the photo, such as children or family members. AI can translate the text of photos or videos the user takes, as well as crop a subject, such as a person, from a photo and place it in images or other applications as a sticker.
- Short-term loans in Apple Wallet. Apple introduced a feature called Apple Pay Later, which allows users to make purchases first with Apple Pay and then pay the balance in four payments over six weeks. Apple Wallet in iOS 16 will also make it easy to share digital cards or house keys via messaging.
- Apple Maps can add multiple stops to a route. Apple Maps allows you to add different stops to a route. Next year, Apple will unveil an updated version of its car software, CarPlay, which will take advantage of this Maps update and integrate more closely with the car’s built-in hardware.
- More ways to control notifications. Apple will allow users to have completely different wallpapers or app settings for different times of the day, such as when the user is at work or sleeping.
- “Hello Siri, hang up.” Siri will soon help you hang up a call or a FaceTime.
Apple Credit Camera Icon: Supplied / CNBC
- Apple’s Home app is redesigned. Apple also said it supports Matter, an open standard for smart home hardware such as locks, lights and shutters. He also redesigned the Home app to better display things like multiple cameras in and around your home in a side-by-side display mode.
- Monitoring of medications and sleep in the health application. Apple’s health app now allows users to enter their medications and how often they have taken them. You can also notify users when it is time to take medication. Apple Watch owners will be able to control their sleep and heartbeat in the iPhone’s health app.
- Security check. A new feature called Safety Check allows users to quickly disable all services and applications, such as location, that are shared with the user’s family. Apple said the feature has been designed in collaboration with women’s groups and is specially designed to facilitate the preservation of privacy or protect personal data and security when an abusive relationship is left behind.
- Use your iPhone as a webcam. With iOS 16 and the new version of macOS, users can now use their iPhone as a webcam in a feature called Continuity Camera with proper support for laptops.
How to install the public beta version of iOS 16 on your iPhone
Apple iOS 16 Camera Icon Credit: Supplied / CNBC
If you’re looking forward to seeing and trying these and other changes now, installing the public beta is easy, but not as easy as a typical iPhone software update.
- Visit the Apple Beta software site on your iPhone and sign up or sign in with your Apple account.
- Sign up by selecting “register your devices” and agree to Apple’s terms.
- Choose the software you want to try: Apple also released a public beta for iPads.
- Click the button that says “Download Profile”. Your phone will notify you that it is trying to download a configuration profile. Approve it.
- Go to Settings and click on the “Downloaded profile” section at the top of the app to download and restart your phone.
- Go to Settings and check for an update. The beta will be downloaded and installed.
CNBC