When Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 Pro series in October, it promised a software update for these handsets with support for the new ProRAW format. That update will be iOS 14.3, as this feature is included in the first beta of this upcoming operating system update seeded to developers on Thursday. There are also mentions of AirTags and Apple Studio headphones.
In addition, Apple begin testing the first betas of iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3.
ProRAW is a new image format just for iPhone 12
A RAW file contains exactly what was captured by a camera’s image sensor. Professionals like it because it lets them do all the processing to their pictures. Apple created the ProRAW format as a half-way step for camera enthusiasts. It includes some mild processing to images to combine the benefits of computational photography with the depth and flexibility of the RAW image format.
ProRAW is exclusive to iPhone 12 Pro models. And it’ll be part of iOS 14.3 when the full version is released. That’s likely to be weeks away, as beta testing only just began.
More leaks about AirTags and Apple Studio headphones
Buried in the code for iOS 13 is further confirmation that Apple AirTags are still going to be released. Devs, including Steve Moser, digging around in the new release found videos in the FindMy app showing an Apple device looking for a hidden item. That’s just what AirTags will be used for.
New Pairing video in the Find My app in iOS 14.3 beta 1 with the codename Hawkeye hints at Apple Tags support and new Apple over ear headphones. pic.twitter.com/oVdCLQcaWc
— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) November 12, 2020
In addition, some are assuming that the-over-the-ears headphones shown in the video are Apple’s rumored AirPods Studio.
Devs, get your iOS 14.3 while it’s hot
All four of the pre-release versions introduced Thursday are only for paying members of the Apple Developer Program. Devs get each new version before the general public because they are assumed to be more tolerant of buggy software. If a major problem crops up in a pre-release version, they’ll identify it before it affects beta testers who aren‘t developers. But the general public will get their turn.
These betas were released Thursday afternoon then pulled down after Apple experienced server problems. They were made available again a few hours later.
