Last night Apple dropped a ton of software updates into developers’ laps, including new macOS, tvOS, and watchOS betas. But the biggest beta release was iOS 10.2. Though it's got a ton of bug fixes, the beta also has several new features and improvements throughout the software. While it’s developer-only for now, you can expect Apple to push it out to all iOS 10 users later this month. So just what's new under the hood in iOS 10.2? Here’s everything you need to know:
iOS 10.2: The Brand New TV App
The biggest new feature of iOS 10.2 is the new TV app. Apple first previewed the TV app off at its October event. The app serves as a content guide for the Apple TV (the Apple TV version of the app is also found in the latest tvOS beta Apple released yesterday too). TV is aimed to help ease discovery on the Apple TV. The iPhone app works by showing you all the media in your iTunes library and also suggest shows you might like to watch based on your watch history.
TV also supports the long-awaited Single Sign-On and Siri Live Tune-In, which Apple previewed for tvOS way back in June, but it just wasn’t ready to ship with iOS 10 when it came out in September. If you have an Apple TV, this is going to make iOS 10.2 one of the most important updates for you this year.
iOS 10.2: SOS Emergency Calling Feature
This is a very cool feature. Called SOS, it allows for the calling of emergency services when the power button is pressed five times in a row. Once that happens, your iPhone will automatically dial local emergency services. SOS allows for a tactile was to contact emergency services thanks to the physical pressing of the home button. Better yet, you don’t even need to look at the screen to dial: press the home button 5 times and the call automatically starts. SOS will be available in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the US to start.
iOS 10.2: Improved Music Controls
Apple has tweaked the Music app to give better access to the Shuffle and Repeat buttons in iso 10.2. Previously these buttons were usually hidden from the screen unless you swiped down. The new changes give the buttons maximum visibility.
iOS 10.2: New Emoji
If you love emoji, you’ll love iOS 10.2. It adds dozens of new emoji including clown face, drooling face, selfie, fox face, owl, shark, butterfly, avocado, pancakes, and croissant.
iOS 10.2: New Wallpapers
iOS 10.2 also adds the wallpapers that were used in the iPhone 7 marketing materials.
iOS 10.2: "Preserve Settings” For Camera App
This is a cool feature. Now in iOS 10.2 you have the option of preserving your camera settings. This means that when you relaunch the app, the same settings you used in it–including Camera Mode, Photo Filter, and Live Photo–will be remembered and you’ll be able to start shooting right away based on how you left off. The "Preserve Settings” setting will be found in the "Photos & Camera" section in the Settings app.
iOS 10.2: Videos App Widget
iOS 10.2 also gains a new widget. This one is for Apple’s Videos app. When enabled, the widget will display the movies and TV shows you have stored in the Videos app. Tap one to begin playing it.
by michaelg via Featured Articles
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