News about Apple

iOS 16.2 beta 2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2 have arrived and they include a few notable changes and new features. Apple is targeting a release date in mid-December for these updates, so head below for a roundup of what’s been added with today’s new beta releases.

iOS 16.2 beta 2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2 are currently available to developer beta testers. We’re expecting new updates for public beta testers as soon as later this week. As always, remember that these updates are indeed betas and may have performance issues and other bugs. The new features could also be tweaked or removed altogether as the beta testing progress continues.

The initial beta release of the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates included Apple’s new Freefrom collaboration app, updates to the Home app, and more. What’s new in today’s beta 2 releases? Let’s dive in.

What’s new in iOS 16.2 beta 2?

• First and foremost, iOS 16.2 includes major new Accessibility features with an all-new Custom Accessibility Mode. This new interface isn’t yet live, but everything is there under-the-hood and we’ve been able to enable it and show off the new design. 
• iOS 16.2 beta 2 adds a new Medications widget for your iPhone’s Lock Screen with two different size options. This joins the new Sleep widget that was added in the initial iOS 16.2 beta release.
• There’s a new “More Frequent Updates” toggle for Live Activities:

• 5G is now available for iPhone users in India for the first time with JIo and Airtel networks. Apple had previously announced this feature last week.
• There are new animations in the Music app for play/pause and skip forward/backwards.
• iPadOS 16.2 beta 2 now lets you disable the recent apps strip and dock for both the iPad’s screen and the external display separately, as spotted by Federico Viticci on Twitter.
• Apple has fixed a bug that previously prevented you from swiping back from the camera on your iPhone’s Lock Screen.

Spot any changes in today’s release of iOS 16.2 beta 2 or iPadOS 16.2 beta 2? Let us know in the comments below. Stay tuned for our full hands-on coverage with the new releases right here today and throughout the rest of the week.

In a few hours, iOS 16.1 arrives, as Apple will release a big update to iOS 16 today (October 24).

This iOS 16.1 update follows the release of iOS 16 in September. That release some big changes to iPhones, including customizable lock screens that now support widgets, new editing tools for Messages and a new Fitness app along with updates to many existing iPhone apps.

But iOS 16.1 is a major update, as it offers more than refinements and bug fixes. Not only are we getting features that Apple promised with the iOS 16 preview over the summer but held back until now, we're also seeing some new features.

Delayed features include the new iCloud Shared Photo Library and Live Activities. In addition, we're getting a new Clean Energy charging feature that appeared during the iOS 16.1 beta.

iOS 16.1 launches alongside the releases of iPadOS 16 and MacOS Ventura. Here is an overview of all the new features and upgrades coming to iPhones with iOS 16.1.

iCloud Shared Photo Library

iOS 16.1 brings a new way to share photos with family members and friends. The iCloud Shared Photo Library will be a separate library where users can share photos and videos with up to five more people. Anyone with access to the shared library can share, edit, caption and delete photos. In addition, the Camera app now features a toggle that lets you add photos to the iCloud Shared Photo Library as they're shot.

iCloud Shared Photo Library was briefly a part of the iOS 16 public beta this summer before Apple postponed the feature to later in the year, presumably to fine tune it. We'll soon see what changes Apple's made to its new take on photo sharing.

Live Activities for third party apps 

Here's another feature that Apple showed off earlier in the year but kept out of the iOS 16 release (though its absence was planned all along to give app makers time to work on adding support). Live Activities are interactive notifications that stay up to date on the lock screen. Think sports scores, delivery status reports and other activities that you'd monitor from your phone's lock screen.

iOS 16.1 opens the feature to third-party apps, so expect a lot of app updates on Monday that include Live Activities alerts.

Live Activities aren't limited to the lock screen if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max. On those phones, Live Activities will join other alerts and notifications in the Dynamic Island that replaced the iPhone's notch.

Clean Energy Charging 

Included with the Battery settings in iOS 16.1, Clean Energy Charging is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of your iPhone by optimizing charging times for when the energy grid is using cleaner energy sources. This feature will only be available for U.S. users. Apple first promised the feature in September.

Apple Fitness Plus 

Once iOS 16.1 arrives, Apple Fitness Plus will now be available to iPhones even without an Apple Watch. That's in keeping with Apple's earlier move to add the Fitness app to iOS 16 regardless of whether you owned one of the company's watches or not.

During workouts, users without the Apple Watch will not be able to see real-time metrics, like heart rate and calories burned. Instead, they'll see estimated calories burned (based on information provided in the Fitness app).

Anyone running iOS 16.1 in one of the 21 countries where Apple's fitness subscription service is offered will be able to access all of Apple Fitness Plus featuring more than 3,000 studio-style workouts and meditations.

Apple Card and Wallet changes

Apple Card users will be able to open a “high-yield” savings account from Goldman Sachs with iOS 16.1. You can then manage that account from the Wallet app and get Daily Cash cashback rewards automatically deposited into it, with no fees, no minimum deposits and no minimum balance requirements.

As promised during the iOS 16 preview, Apple’s Wallet app will also allow people to safely share keys like car, hotel room and others with friends and family using messaging apps like Messages and even Whatsapp, though that feature requires support from car makers and hotels.

Reachability Support for Dynamic Island 

We noted the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models when talking about Live Activities. iOS 16.1 brings another improvement for that specific feature — reachability support. Basically, iOS 16.1 will make it easier to access the Dynamic Island with one hand. You can enable the feature within Settings.

Apple today unveiled the new generation of 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, powered by the latest M2 Apple Silicon chips. The M2 chip made its debut in the 2022 MacBook Air and 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro, and this update brings that same performance to Apple’s lineup of pro tablets as well.

Alongside the M2 performance boost, the iPad Pros can now detect when the Apple Pencil is hovering above the display. This means UI elements can expand and respond as the user approaches the screen with the stylus.

Apple says the M2’s 8-core CPU is up to fifteen percent faster than the M1 CPU. The GPU is up to 35 percent faster. The M2 chip also allows the iPad Pro to capture ProPres video for the first time.

The new iPad Pro also bring faster Wi-Fi networking, with support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E standards. This means downloads can be up to 2x faster when connecting to a 6E network. Cellular models now support more 5G bands for better worldwide coverage.

With the new hovering feature, the iPad will notice when the Apple Pencil is hovering above the screen. This means user interface elements can bounce in readiness of a committed user interaction. For instance, a Scribble text field expands as the Pencil approaches the display. This hovering feature will also be available to third-party apps via a new API.

The hovering feature does not require a new generation of Apple Pencil, and the existing compatible Apple Pencil for iPad Pro (the second-generation model) is still on sale for $129.

The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1099. These are the same prices as the previous generation. The new iPad models can be ordered today, with first deliveries arriving October 26.

The iPad Pro isn’t the only device getting an update today. Apple has also announced an all-new version of its most affordable iPad. The new 10th generation iPad features an all-new design with an A14 Bionic chip inside, alongside USB-C for charging and 5G connectivity for the first time.

Head below for the full details on the iPad 10 and everything you need to know…

iPad 10 details:

• Ultra Wide 12MP front camera located along the landscape edge of iPad
• New 10.9-inch display with 2360×1640-pixel resolution, nearly 4 million pixels, 500 nits of brightness, and True Tone technology
• Touch ID in the top button
• Four new colors: blue, pink, yellow, and silver
• New Magic Keyboard Folio with click-anywhere trackpad and a versatile two-piece design
• 64GB and 256GB configurations
• 5G support
• USB-C

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing:

“We’re so excited to bring the completely redesigned iPad to our most advanced iPad lineup ever,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, powerful A14 Bionic chip, a first-ever landscape front camera, fast wireless connectivity, USB-C, and support for incredible accessories like the new Magic Keyboard Folio, the new iPad delivers more value, more versatility — and is simply more fun.”

The new iPad 10 starts at $449, an increase from the previous $329 starting price. Available to order starting today, with availability in stores beginning Wednesday, October 26

A USB-C iPhone may have once seemed impossible, but the latest rumors suggest it’s actually coming sooner than you may think. Amid regulatory pushback and limitations of the Lightning connector, the first USB-C iPhone could be released as soon as 2023. Head below for the latest details on what we know so far.

Regulatory pressure

There are a number of reasons why Apple seems to have shifted its tune on releasing a USB-C iPhone. One thing that’s hard to overlook, however, is looming legislation around the world.

After multiple years of back and forth, the European Union officially reached an agreement for a “common charging port” standard. Starting in 2024, all smartphones sold within the 27 countries of the EU will be required to use USB-C for charging. This includes the iPhone and even peripheral accessories like AirPods.

Just a few weeks after the EU agreed on its legislation, lawmakers in the United States voiced their support. Many called on the US to pass something similar. Senator Elizabeth Warren renewed this call in a post on Twitter today, saying:

Consumers shouldn’t have to keep buying new chargers all the time for different devices. We can clear things up with uniform standards—for less expense, less hassle, and less waste.

In early October, the legislation in the EU was formally adopted following a full vote of the European Parliament. The law was passed with an overwhelming majority, with 602 votes in favor, 13 against, and 8 abstentions. Under the law, there are exemptions for products that are too small offer a USB-C port.

The legislation will next need to be approved by the European Council, then published in the EU Official Journal. Any products that went on sale prior to this will be exempt from the requirement, but it is expected to go into effect prior to the launch of the iPhone 16 in 2024.

Apple has pushed back against legislation that would make a USB-C iPhone mandatory. The company argues that such laws stifle innovation and actually lead to more environmental waste.

Will Apple release a USB-C iPhone?

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first predicted in 2019 that Apple would release a port-less iPhone as soon as 2021, but that didn’t come to fruition. It’s easy to see why – wireless technologies simply aren’t reliable or powerful enough to completely replace a connector like Lightning or USB-C. Charging speeds aren’t as fast, data transfer is slow and unreliable, and consumer adoption just isn’t there yet.

A port-less iPhone is still in the works and is something being internally tested at Apple, but we wouldn’t expect to see it launch to the public this year or next year.

The Lightning connector is also starting to show its age. When it was first unveiled in 2012 with the iPhone 5, Apple’s Phil Schiller touted that it would be the “modern connector for the next decade.” It’s been a decade since that announcement, and it’s clear that Lightning is falling behind USB-C in things like charging speeds and data transfer speeds.

Apple is rumored to boost Lightning data transfer rates to USB 3.0 starting with the iPhone 14 Pro this fall, but USB-C still leads way.

So that leads us to where we are today. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in May that the iPhone 15, coming in 2023, will feature a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. This report was eventually corroborated by Bloomberg, which also said that the iPhone 15 may switch to a USB-C port next year.

A USB-C iPhone is sure to make many consumers happy, particularly those who already own an iPad or Mac that also uses USB-C. That being said, with the sheer number of iPhone users, Apple will undoubtedly face criticism for changing the iPhone’s charging connector — even if a switch to USB-C is ultimately the right decision.