Category: Beta

Apple publishes RC for iOS 16.4, other platforms and iOS 15.7.4 too

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple soon to release iOS 16.4 and other platforms. Today Release Candidate is published. Xcode 14.3 RC is also available.

In addition to new platforms, Apple also publishes RC for iOS 15.7.4 including security fixes (no releases notes are available).

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: 

- 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard 
- Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen 
- Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you 
- Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library 
- VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app 
- Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected 
- Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device 
- Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home 
- Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

Apple

Also, corresponding RC firmware for Apple Studio Display is available.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

References:

iOS 16.4 gets another beta, other platforms too

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple is now one step closer to releasing iOS 16.4 and other platforms. Beta 4 is available for iOS/iPadOS 16.4 , macOS 13.3, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4. Xcode 14.3 beta 4 is also published.

No significant features are announced in these beta versions.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Releases notes:

Beta 3 for iOS 16.4 and other platforms is available, addresses developer account questions

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple publishes beta 3 for iOS/iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4. No corresponding Xcode beta is published.

Apple now addresses question raised by developers on how to use developer Apple ID to get beta on the device. Users could pick separate Apple ID to install beta software on the device.

Apple also now warns users that Rapid Security Response might be incompatible with some applications.

Researches also noticed that future Car Key implementations could solely rely on UWB and drop support for NFC.

watchOS 9.4 beta addresses issue on Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm model) incorrectly estimating total battery capacity.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

References:

Second Rapid Security Response is issues for iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 beta

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple continues to test Rapid Security Response mechanism on iOS and macOS.

As in previous case, there are no details on actual content of this update. Most likely, this update is just a test for the delivery system itself.

Reference: Apple Releases Second Rapid Security Response Updates for iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 Ventura Beta Users

Apple publishes new Rapid Security Response update to iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 Ventura beta

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple seemingly continues testing Rapid Security Response mechanisms on its operating systems releasing updates to iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 beta.

No known details of the contents of said updates.

References:

Second beta for iOS 16.4 and other platforms is published

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple shares beta 2 for iOS/iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4. Xcode 13.4 beta 2 is also available.

No significant updates reported for this round of beta versions.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

What new approach for beta provisioning could mean for developers

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple introduced new beta distribution channel in recent iOS beta. Now beta could be installed on devices with developer Apple ID.

At the same time Apple is deprecating beta device profiles, which means that developers will have slightly less options to install OS beta.

There are couple of situations which developers could be in.

Using same Apple ID for personal and development purposes

In this case, installing beta might affect iCloud data associated with account. That might include photos, text, HomeKit and other Apple services.

This might result in data being inaccessible from previous OS releases or even destroyed, especially when installing early beta releases.

If using beta versions is needed, developers might need to have separate Apple IDs for their personal and development devices.

Using different Apple IDs

While this is recommended setup, it would still affect development pipelines, if developer decides to install later betas on personal devices.

Current workaround would be to use public beta releases which are currently available for non-developers.

Reference: Apple Moves to Prevent iPhone Users From Getting iOS 17 Developer Beta for Free

iOS 16.3 and other platforms get Release Candidate

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple releases RC for iOS/iPadOS 16.3, macOS 13.2 Ventura, watchOS 9.3 and tvOS 16.3. Apple announced that release will be available next week.

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
- New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month 
- Security Keys for Apple ID allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process on new devices 
- Support for HomePod (2nd generation) 
- Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls 
- Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards 
- Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen 
- Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max 
- Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status 
- Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests 
- Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly

Apple

iOS/iPadOS 15.7.3 RC is also released with security bugfixes.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes are not updated for Release Candidate.

References:

Apple publishes beta 2 for iOS 16.3 and other platforms

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple continues to beta test iOS/iPadOS 16.3, macOS 13.2, watchOS 9.3 and tvOS 16.3. New round of beta versions also comes without new Xcode beta.

No notable changes are reported for this beta round so far.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes notes do not indicate any changes too.

Just yesterday Apple also published new Rapid Security Response to macOS 13.2 beta 1.

References: