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iOS 12.2 makes audio messages sound way better

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iOS 12 Voice Memos redesign is way more than just a lick of paint.
Your voice messages get a quality boost in the latest iOS 12.2 beta.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Among the changes hidden in the new iOS 12.2 beta is improved audio quality for audio messages sent using the Messages app.

The switch involves transitioning over from the previous 8000 Hz .AMR file format to .24000 Hz .CAF files. What this means from a listening perspective is that audio messages now sound clearer and louder. Check out this direct comparison.

iOS 12.2 nears release with fourth beta [Updated]

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New mages could be of the rumored iPad mini 5.
The debut of the iPad mini 5 could depend on iOS 12.2, and both are expected in the near future.
Photo: Mr-white

Update: Hours after becoming available only to developers, iOS 12.2 beta 4 was released to anyone in the general public who’s joined the free Apple Beta Software Program.

Apple has settled into a steady pattern of introducing new iOS 12.2 betas every two weeks. It’s been 14 days since the last pre-release version went to developers, and you can guess what that means.

This version is expected to power three new devices launching later this month. It will also bring additional Animoji and other improvements.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 brings changes to Apple News, TV remote app and Group FaceTime fix [Updated]

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animoji
The new animoji of iOS 12.2.
Photo: Apple

Update: The latest beta of iOS 12.2 is now available to the public, not just developers.

Apple just released the third beta build of iOS 12.2 to developers this morning, bringing a bunch of fixes and new features to the iPhone and iPad.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 arrived just over two weeks after developers received the last build. There are also new betas out for tvOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 to go with the macOS 10.4.4 beta that came out yesterday.

Apple ‘fixes’ Group FaceTime bug by hobbling the app

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2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple took the easy way of removing a problem in FaceTime: it yanked out the affected feature.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s hasty fix for the serious Group FaceTime bug that was discovered last month apparently just disables the feature in this video-chatting software that was causing the problem.

We’ve reached out to Apple to see if they’re in the process of restoring full functionality.

Apple’s 4 new Animoji are now available to public testers

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iOS12
iOS 12.2 is bringing a bunch of new features to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

The most fun new feature of iOS 12.2 is already available to members of Apple’s public beta testing program.

Apple seeded the second public beta of iOS 12.2 to public testers today, just one day after the new software was pushed out to developers. The new update includes a number of notable new features, including the addition of 4 new Animoji.

Apple adds 4 new Animoji to iOS 12.2

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iPhone X Animoji
Animoji are too much fun!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The latest iOS 12.2 beta Apple seeded to developers today brings four new Animoji options to iPhone X, XS, XR and XS Max owners.

Now iPhone and iPad Pro users can choose between the new giraffe, shark, boar and owl Animoji characters during FaceTime calls and in the effects option for iMessage.

This is what they look like:

Apple seeds second beta of iOS 12.2 to devs

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iOS12
iOS 12.2 is bringing a bunch of new features to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple is starting off February by serving up a fresh new beta for developers with the release of iOS 12.2 beta 2.

The new beta comes just over a week after Apple seeded the first build of iOS 12.2. That update brought Apple News support to testers in Canada, as well as new Downtime feature that lets you schedules periodically limit the number of apps you can access.

Apple plans to limit accelerometer and gyroscope access in Safari for iOS

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close all tabs
You might not be stuck with Safari for much longer.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple plans to limit Safari’s access to the accelerometer and gyroscope inside your iOS device in an upcoming software update.

iOS 12.2 will prevent websites from having access to motion data by default, rendering certain content unusable — even on Apple’s own website. Users will be able to change this inside Safari’s settings, however.

First iOS 12.2 public beta boosts Downtime, Apple News

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iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes.
iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The first fairly significant update to iOS in months is available now for the general public to update. iOS 12.2 will have a scattering of new features, not just the bug fixes and tweaks in recent updates.

The end of beta testing for this version could bring new iPad and iPod models. And AirPods 2 as well.