Apple Releases iOS 16.4 Public Beta 2 - What's New In This Version?
Apple has just released iOS 16.4 Beta 2 for public beta testers following the release for developers a day before. While the most noticeable change on iOS 16.4 is the addition of new emojis, there are also some significant updates that will impact our iOS experience in the future. For example, new features like web push notifications and beta enrolment updates are changing the way we interact with iOS. In this article we focus on the changes brought in the 2nd public beta. You can check everything new in iOS 16.4 here.
Public Beta Enrollment
Every iPhone user with a valid Apple ID is able to participate at Apple’s public Beta Software Program for free. You can simply visit beta.apple.com click on Sign Up and fill in your details to complete your enrolment. Each time Apple releases a new public beta version, you will be able to install it directly from your settings menu as if you were updating to the public version before. From iOS 16.4 and later you are free to select whether you want to update to the next beta or install the next public version once it becomes available for all.
You need to keep in mind that beta software is intended to be used with testing devices and it is highly suggested not to be installed on your primary device.
Books UI changes
Apple is finally bringing back the turn-page-animation on Books in iOS 16.4. This animation was somehow ditched by Apple when iOS 16 was launched last fall. Hardcore Books users have been complaining about this change ever since. This animation is finally making a comeback in this beta version.
Apple Pay launching in South Korea
Apple Pay is finally launching in a new market with iOS 16.4. According to evidence found within the code of iOS 16.4 by Steve Moser, Apple is bringing Apple Pay in South Korea soon. Apple is penetrating a market where competing payment solutions such as Samsung Pay are quite popular.
Apple Music Classical
Apple is still working on Apple Music Classical which is the rumoured dedicated section (or even separate app) for Classical Music. Following the acquisition of Primephonic (a streaming application for classical music) back in August 2021, Apple had announced that Apple would provide a dedicated experience “with the best features of Primephonic, including better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, plus new features and benefits.” This experience seems to be closer than ever according to the code of iOS 16.4 as identified by Steve Moser.
5G Standalone
Apple adds support for 5G standalone (5G SA). According to Dgtl Infra, “5G standalone (SA) is an implementation of 5G that solely uses a 5G core network, meaning it has no dependency on 4G LTE network control functions, for signaling and data transfer.” This is expected to bring faster access speeds, higher data transfer rates and lower latency for supported carriers (approximately 16% of carriers globally have implemented or tested 5G SA).
iOS 16.4 seems to be enabling 5G SA for T-Mobile users in the US which according to T-Mobile provides download speeds of up to 3GBs. 5G SA for T-mobile was introduced with iOS 16.4 Beta 1.
What’s new in beta 2 though? According to 9to5mac Apple is also bringing support for 5G SA to the customers of Japanese carrier Softbank and the Brazilian Carriers Vivo & TIM Brazil.
AppleCare Coverage
AppleCare Coverage details are now available for all of your devices with either the same Apple ID or those devices of your Family. This new menu is available under Settings - About - Coverage menu which shows the list of devices (beta 2 also shows the device glyph) and then separate coverage details for each related Apple device.
Apple is expected to release iOS 16.4 for all users either in March or early April. Which feature are you mostly looking forward to?
