Apple's new HomeKit architecture could relaunch soon. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has not given up on updating the underlying architecture for its Home app. After initially pulling the upgrade, the company is working on version 2 and could release it soon.
iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 are here. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
After a relatively short beta period, Apple on Monday released iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 to the public. Compatible Apple Watch and Apple TV models also received watchOS 9.3 and tvOS 16.3 updates.
Usually, point releases of iOS and macOS bring several new features and changes. But that’s not the case with iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2. Relatively light on new features, the updates focus more on bug fixes and security patches. Below is a look at all the new features in iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, macOS Ventura 13.2 and watchOS 9.3.
New HomeKit Architecture Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple apparently plans to re-release its update to the underlying architecture of its HomeKit home-automation system in the near future. The upgraded platform for the Home app is included in the latest iOS and iPadOS betas.
The company briefly made this update available to all users in December before withdrawing it due to unspecified problems.
Apple is highlighting iPhone 14's Action Mode in a new ad. Photo: Unsplash
Apple has released a couple of new ads highlighting the iPhone 14’s Action Mode and the Undo Send feature in iOS 16’s Messages app. The features are available on both regular iPhone 14 and 14 Pro series.
This is the second ad Apple has released since the iPhone 14 release to promote Action Mode. The advanced stabilization mode provides gimbal-like stabilization.
Many months after release, still only 70% of iPhones run iOS 16. That's a problem. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Most iPhone users have finally gotten on the iOS 16 bandwagon, according to a tracking company. Adoption passed 70% last week, almost four months after it launched.
That’s significantly slower than iPhone users adopted previous iOS versions. The data shows that people simply don’t trust that Apple’s iPhone updates will be bug-free. Not the way we used to, anyway.
Thank your stars if you did not upgrade the Home app's architecture in iOS 16.2. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
With iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple introduced a new architecture for the Home app. Following issues reported by early adopters, the company has pulled the upgrade option altogether.
The new Home app architecture promises improved performance and reliability. It was an opt-in upgrade, with users getting the option when they opened the Home app after installing iOS 16.2.
Will sideloading and alternative app stores be a good thing? Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If the EU does indeed force Apple to open up the iPhone to allow alternative app stores, is that a bad thing? Some people think sideloading apps will be fantastic.
Also on The CultCast:
Cool new stuff to try in iOS 16.2.
Why web browsing might be in for radical changes on iOS devices.
How to get Apple TV+ for free so you can watch Severance, our favorite show of the year.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
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The march toward the release of iOS 16.3 has just begun. Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple already began beta tests for the next versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS. These were seeded to developers on Wednesday, just a day after the public release of their predecessors.
Even with the holidays coming up, Apple continues working on its operating systems.
Try out these 10 new iOS 16.2 features on your iPhone ASAP.
Image: Cult of Mac
iOS 16.2, which Apple released Tuesday, brings many new features that make it a must-have update for all iPhone owners. From security advancements and productivity boosters to cosmetic tweaks and other fun stuff, it’s positively loaded with upgrades.
Here are the top new iOS 16.2 features you should try right now. (Note: Many of these features also appear in iPadOS 16.2, which Apple also released today.)
Freeform will soon be available in iOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1 and iPadOS 16.2. Photo: Apple
Apple seeded the iOS 16.2 release candidate to developers Wednesday, taking a huge step toward giving iPhone users access to the Freeform collaboration app, the recently announced Apple Music Sing and other exciting new features.
The iPadOS 16.2 release candidate also went out with nearly the same feature set. Plus, Apple seeded the macOS Ventura 13.1 RC, watchOS 9.2 RC and tvOS 16.2 RC to devs, too.
iPhone 14 Crash Detection feature should only be set off by a real crash. Photo: Cult of Mac/Pixabay/Pexels
The new iOS 16.1.2 update is intended to make the iPhone 14 stop calling for an ambulance when the user takes a tumble. It includes “Crash Detection optimizations” according to Apple.
The update released Wednesday also makes some other tweaks so it’s worth installing on all compatible iPhones.
iOS 16.2 beta 3 lets you customize iPhone 14 Pro's Always On Display to a certain extent. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
Apple added new customization options for the iPhone 14 Pro’s Always On Display in iOS 16.2 beta 3. Until now, you could only enable or disable the feature on the new iPhones.
The latest iOS 16.2 beta, released to developers Tuesday, provides toggles for disabling wallpaper and notifications in Always On Display mode, enabling a much simpler look.
An update to iOS 16.1 is out. The same is true for iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 16.1.1, iPadOS 16.1.1 and macOS 13.0.1 to fix bugs and close a couple of security holes. These updates don’t add any new features, but are nevertheless recommended for all users.
If you're in the right city, and the weather is notable enough, and you're on the 16.2 beta, and all the stars are aligned, you just might see the News section of the Weather app. Image: Dmitry Makeev, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons and D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple’s Weather app for iPhone, iPad and Mac soon will incorporate local news sourced from the Apple News service.
In the latest beta of iOS 16.2, certain cities have an additional section for weather news, slotted between the 10-day forecast and the air quality meter. On iPadOS and macOS Ventura, this section occupies an even larger widget in the corner.
iOS 16.2 beta 1 is joined by new OS versions for Mac, iPad and Apple Watch all seeded to developers on Tuesday. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Major updates for all Apple operating systems just reached users on Monday, but Apple is already looking ahead to the next versions. The initial betas of iOS 16.2, macOS 13.1 Ventura, iPadOS 16.2 and watchOS 9.2 were all seeded to developers the next day.
These will bring new features and changes to the various Apple devices. Many iPad users will be especially pleased by full support for external displays. And Apple’s Freeform app is coming, too.
With iOS 16.1, which just became available Monday, Apple delivered many such promised features. Once you install it on your iPhone, check out the five iOS 16.1 features you should try right away.
iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura arrive Monday. Photo: Apple
Although Apple released iOS 16 in September, the company delayed iPadOS 16 due to bugs and stability problems. A month later, the company is finally ready to seed iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura and iOS 16.1 to the public on October 24.
But when exactly will the updates show up on your iPad, Mac and iPhone? Find below the likely iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura and iOS 16.1 release times in your time zone.
iOS 16.1 is almost here with new features and bug fixes Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The wait for the first major update to iOS 16 is almost over. Apple revealed Thursday in a backwards sort of way that iOS 16.1 will reach iPhones everywhere on October 24.
The update will bring iCloud Shared Photo Library, Live Activities and other new features.
iOS 16.1 is likely a week away. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the iOS 16.1 release candidate the developers on Tuesday. This is generally the last stage before an operating system upgrade is introduced to the public.
The iPadOS 16.1 release candidate also went to devs at the same time. As did the macOS 13 Ventura RC, the watchOS 9.1 RC and the tvOS 16.1 RC.
iOS 16.1 will soon bring features Apple announced months ago. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple announced a plethora of iOS 16 features at WWDC22. But not all of them made their way into the first public release of the OS in September. Some of them will arrive later this year or even in early 2023.
Check out this list of iOS 16 features that we are still waiting for.
iPadOS 16 and new iPad Pros could launch later this month. Image: Apple
After months of beta testing, Apple could finally release iPadOS 16.1 in the last week of October. The company delayed iPadOS 16’s launch from its usual September release timeline due to bugs and issues with Stage Manager.
This is the first time Apple did not drop a significant iPadOS build alongside a new iOS release. Historically, major updates to both OSes have launched around the same time.
Install iOS 16.0.3 now to remove some irritating bugs. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple released iOS 16.0.3 and watchOS 9.0.2 on Monday to remove a range of small bugs. Many of these affect the new iPhone 14 series and Apple Watch models.
Both updates are recommended for those with Apple’s latest handsets and wearables, as well as who’ve already installed iOS 16 and watchOS 9.
iOS 16 brought new bugs to many third-party applications. Photo: Cult of Mac/Egor Kamelev/Pexels
When a new iOS version launches, it’s easy to concentrate on its bugs and forget the problems it causes for third-party iPhone software. An analysis of user reviews made in the weeks since iOS 16 debuted found that social networking apps and dating apps are more likely to have issues on iPhones running Apple’s latest OS.
So if you’re suddenly having problems with a frequently used app, you might not be alone.
The first iOS 16.1 betas packed several new features and changes, and now beta 3 includes even more. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple continues its testing of iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16 with a new beta release. The new builds come a week after the latest beta.
The third iOS 16.1 beta and fourth iPadOS 16.1 beta bring some major changes, including opening up Stage Manager to 2018 and 2020 iPad Pros. Below is a look at everything new and changed in iOS 16.1 beta 3 and iPadOS 16.1 beta 4.