| Cult of Mac

iOS 16.2 with Freeform, Apple Music Sing and more is just days away

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WWDC22: Freeform, coming in iPadOS 16, works like a collaborative white board.
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.

iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2: All the new features and changes

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iOS 16.2 beta 1 receded developers on Tuesday.
iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2 are here with some new features.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the second iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta two weeks after the first beta dropped. The first beta packed plenty of new features and enhancements, and the second beta is no different.

Below is a look at all the changes and everything new in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2, followed by an archive of the new features of beta 1.

Apple already hard at work on iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1

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iOS 16.2 beta 1 receded developers on Tuesday.
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.

iOS 16.1 takes major step toward release

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iOS 16.1
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 beta 3: All the new features and changes

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iOS 16.1 beta begins testing new iPhone features
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.

Apple takes another stab at perfecting iPhone battery icon

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iOS 16.1 Battery Icon
Check out the new hybrid iPhone battery icon in iOS 16.1.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The second iOS 16.1 beta released Tuesday gives users the option to show their iPhone’s remaining battery life in the status bar as a number and as a graphic at the same time.

This is a combination of the two previous options.

How to leave the iOS 16 beta program

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How to leave the iOS 16 beta program
If you're done with iOS 16 betas, you can easily unenroll your iPhone from the program.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With iOS 16 now available to all, you no longer need to be enrolled in Apple’s beta program to get your hands on it. There are good reasons why you might not want to run prerelease software on your iPhone any more.

Here’s how to pull your iPhone out. It’s easy and only takes a minute or two.

New toggle in iOS 15.6 turns on government emergency alert tests

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When the government sends out test emergency alerts, you can be in the know.
When the government sends out test emergency alerts, you can be in the know.
Photo: FEMA

Worried that the U.S. government is trying to make sure emergency alerts it sends to smartphones are working — and you don’t even know about it?

Well, now you can make sure you receive those test alerts thanks to a new toggle Apple added to iOS 15.6 and the third iOS 16 beta.