Apple released the first beta of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 for developers on Thursday evening. A number of new features have been added. Below is an overview.
After iOS 16.3 and Co. were officially released, Apple has now started a new beta phase. iOS 16.4 and Co. are now available as a preview. Below we will take a look at the new features Apple has added. Let's get started.
New emojis
iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS 13.3, and watchOS 9.4 include new Unicode 15 emojis that were first approved in September 2022. The new emoji options include head shake, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, and a number of options for left- and right-handed hands. Below is a preview.
iOS 16.4: Safari Web Push Notifications for iPhone and iPad
Websites added to the home screen of an iPhone or iPad as a web app can send web push notifications on iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4, just like on the Mac. This feature was first announced by Apple at WWDC with the launch of iOS 16, and is now live. Web apps added to a user's home screen can request permission to receive push notifications via a Subscribe button or similar direct interaction. The iPhone or iPad will prompt the user to give the web app permission to send notifications, which can be managed for each web app in the Notifications section of the Settings app. Notifications from web apps work the same as notifications from other apps, and appear on the lock screen, in Notification Center, and on a paired Apple Watch. To receive push notifications for a website, it must be added to the home screen, and web developers must implement support for this feature.
Focus support for web push notifications
Notifications for web apps on the home screen can be integrated into Focus so they can be included in daily summaries. If the same web app is added to the home screen on multiple iPhones or iPads, Focus mode is automatically enabled on all devices.
Badges for web apps on the home screen
Web apps added to the home screen can display badges to alert users to alerts and notifications, similar to badges for regular apps. The badges are displayed after a user grants permission to allow notifications.
Add to Home Screen for Third-Party Browsers
Third-party browsers like Chrome now allow users to add websites and web apps to the home screen via the Share menu.
Beta Opt-In Changes and the Elimination of Beta Profiles
With the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 betas, users enrolled in Apple's developer program can enable developer betas directly from Software Update in the Settings app. This eliminates the need to install a profile in Developer Center to receive developer betas, making it easier to download the betas. There is also an option for public beta testers who want to install updates with less hassle. Please note that this marks the end of public sharing of developer beta profiles, as to install a developer beta, each person must be logged in with an Apple ID linked to a paid developer account.
iOS 16.4: Upgrade of the HomeKit architecture
iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and macOS Ventura 13.3 reintroduce the HomeKit Architecture Update, which was removed in iOS 16.2 due to a variety of HomeKit bugs. In the Software Update section of the Home app, iPhone and iPad users who have not yet updated to the new architecture will see a "Home Upgrade Available" option after updating to iOS 16.4. The new HomeKit architecture is designed to improve the reliability and efficiency of communication between smart home accessories and Apple devices. When first rolled out, some HomeKit devices were missing from HomeKit setups or stuck in the "Configuring/Updating" status. Additionally, invitations to share HomeKit with others failed, and video recording with HomeKit Secure was not possible for some.
podcasts
Apple has made some updates to the Podcasts app. Access to channels is available in the library, and Up Next now lets you resume episodes, start saved episodes, and delete episodes you want to skip. For CarPlay, there's now the option to pick up where you left off with a podcast using Up Next or find new podcast options using Browse.
Apple Music app profile
There is now a highlighted Access Your Profile button in the Apple Music app, making it easier for you to access your profile settings.
iOS 16.4 adds an AppleCare insurance overview
There is now an updated Coverage Summary in the Settings app that shows warranty information for your iPhone and connected devices like Apple Watches and AirPods.
shortcuts
In Shortcuts, there are options to create workflows that lock a device's screen and control the always-on screen. There's also an option to automatically enable or disable Stage Manager on the iPad. Apple has also added an option to allow Siri to announce notifications as an action that can be incorporated into a shortcut.
Content preview for Mastodon in iMessage
When you send someone a link to a Mastodon post in the Messages app, you'll now see a preview of the shared content rather than just a link with an image.
Tips User Manuals
The Tips app now shows user guides for iPhone and other devices that work with iPhone, such as Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod. In previous versions of iOS, the Tips app only showed the iPhone user guide.
focus mode
There is an always-on display filter that can be activated for focus mode.
More precise time information on satellite availability for Emergency SOS
For the Emergency SOS via satellite function, Apple will now inform users in more detail about when the next satellite will fly by. Previously, Apple offered the options "Coming soon" and "Available in X minutes" for this function, but now precise hours and minutes are given.
- Next satellite available in [x] hour(s) and [x] minute(s)
- Next satellite available in [x] hour(s)
- Next available satellite in [x]minute(s)
- Next satellite available in less than 1 minute
When will iOS 16.4 and Co. be made available to all users?
According to Apple, iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3 and Co. will be released in spring. Spring begins on March 20th and ends on June 20th. The updates will probably be made available at the end of March or beginning of April. (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)
