iOS 16.2 is now available after two months of beta testing iPhone 8 and newer iPhone available for models. Apple Music Sing and Advanced Data Protection The software update includes more than a dozen new features and changes for iPhone. Here are the innovations it brought…
Apple Music Sing
Apple Music Sing is a new karaoke-like feature that lets you sing along to tens of millions of songs on the lyrics screen of the Apple Music app. This feature allows users to mute the vocals in a song and then take over as the singer.
Advanced Data Protection
iOS 16.2 offers an optional Advanced Data Protection feature that, when enabled, extends end-to-end encryption to many additional iCloud data categories, including Messages backups, photos, notes, reminders, voice memos, and more.
Freeform Application
iOS 16.2 includes Freeform, Apple’s new digital whiteboard app on iPhone. The app offers an endless canvas on which you can draw and add sticky notes, text boxes, shapes, photos, videos, links, PDFs and more. The app is also available on iPad and Mac, and you can collaborate with others in real time via FaceTime and iMessage.
Two New Lock Screen Widgets
There are two new Lock Screen widgets for Sleep and Medicines in iOS 16.2. With the Sleep widget, you can view your last sleep session and sleep stages, while the Medications widget can give you quick access to your medication schedule.
New Always On Display Options
Starting with iOS 16.2, you can hide wallpaper and notifications in always-on view mode on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This causes the Lock Screen to have a solid black, minimal look in always-on mode, similar to Android.
Live Events for Sports Scores with the Apple TV App
iOS 16.2 adds Live Events support for sports scores via the Apple TV app. This feature allows iPhone users to see live scores of MLB, NBA and Premier League games at a glance on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models.
New AirDrop Setting
iOS 16.2 replaces AirDrop’s previous “Everyone” setting with a limited “Everyone for 10 Minutes” option to reduce unwanted requests from strangers. AirDrop now automatically reverts to “Contacts Only” after 10 minutes.
New Home Application Architecture
After updating to iOS 16.2 and opening the Home app, an app-oriented update is available with the new core architecture. Apple says the new architecture improves the performance, efficiency and reliability of the app for controlling smart home accessories. This comes after the Home app gained support for Matter accessories in iOS 16.1.
Other New Features
- SharePlay support in Game Center lets you play multiplayer games with people you’re on a FaceTime call with.
- iOS 16.2 adds support for 5G networks in India on iPhone 12 and newer models, starting with carriers Airtel and Reliance Jio.
- The built-in Weather app now has an Apple News section.
- Improved search in the Messages app lets you find photos by content such as dog, car, human or text.