iOS 16.1 brought big changes to the iPhone when Apple released this software update earlier this week. But another iOS 16 update is already on the way which will bring a new app to the iPhone along with other improvements.
Right after the release of iOS 16.1 update, Apple rolled out iOS 16.2 Beta 1 to developers. This means that the software will soon be available in public beta, with a full version likely to be available before the end of the year.
The arrival of a new Freeform app drives the changes in iOS 16.2, which also includes other under-the-hood changes to other apps and features.
Here’s what we know so far about iOS 16.2 in terms of the features introduced by this update.
iOS 16.2: Freeform
Perhaps you forgot Freeform, an app Apple first showed off at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Apple touts Freeform as a brainstorming and collaboration tool, with the app serving as a kind of mobile whiteboard where people can work together in real time.
Freeform seems to be mostly iPad-oriented, taking advantage of that device’s larger screen real estate. Indeed, Freeform is also debuting the iPadOS 16.2 Beta 1 release, which arrived alongside the iOS 16.2 update. However, Freeform is designed to work on multiple Apple devices, which is why it’s also included in iOS 16.2 and the new macOS Ventura beta.
Apple Release Notes for iOS 16.2 Beta 1 (opens in a new tab) Warn about some known issues with Freeform that require workarounds to delete offline tables and add or remove collaborators when changing sharing settings. It’s a reminder that this is indeed a beta, with plenty of tweaks on the way between now and iOS 16.2 getting a general release.
iPhones with 120Hz screens — that is, the matching iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models — get a performance boost. Apple’s release notes indicate that animated layout changes now occur at 120Hz on ProMotion displays.
iOS 16.2: new architecture of the Home application
Home got a lot of attention in iOS 16, first with an all-new design that makes it easier to view and control smart home accessories. The iOS 16.1 update brought support for Matter, an interoperability protocol backed by Google, Amazon, and Apple that should help different devices work together.
Changes continue to arrive in iOS 16.2, which will usher in a new architecture for the Home app. Apple says the change will bring faster and more reliable performance, though we’ll need to see it in action before we can see what it means for day-to-day use.
iOS 16.2: Changes to Live Activities
Live Activities also just appeared in iOS 16.1, but there will be some improvements to the functionality in iOS 16.2. As a reminder, Live Activities are alerts that appear on the Lock screen (or around the Dynamic Island if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max) that give you continuous updates for things like sports scores, delivery statuses and timers.
9to5Mac Reports (opens in a new tab) that he saw code that will allow live activities to request updates at shorter intervals, which would increase the frequency of alert updates. Apparently, this feature is not yet available in iOS 16.2 Beta 1, however.
Another report, this one from MacRumors (opens in a new tab), Says Live Activity Integration With Select Sporting Events In The TV App Is Back In iOS 16.2 Beta; it had briefly been part of the iOS 16.1 beta.
According to MacRumors, you’ll be able to tap a Follow button on supported games in the TV app to see score updates on the lock screen or in the Dynamic Island. Supported events include MLB and NBA games as well as US Premiere League games.
iOS 16.2: Accidental Emergency SOS Call Report
iOS 16.2 accidental emergency SOS call report new features, I accidentally triggered an emergency SOS and the police 👮♂️ actually ended up at my house. 😳 @9to5mac @MacRumors pic.twitter.com/w0OOaK9W7EOctober 25, 2022
If you accidentally trigger your iPhone’s emergency SOS call feature, iOS 16.2 Beta 1 apparently adds a way to report an unintended call. A iOS 16.2 user took to Twitter (opens in a new tab) say such a feature appeared when they inadvertently made an emergency SOS call on their iPhone.
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