iPhone 8 owners and up can update their devices this morning to iOS 16.2. Apple released the software late last night and it will likely be the last major update for the year. iOS 16.2 brings with it some exciting new features that are scattered across a number of Apple apps and software.
For starters, iOS 16.2 improves the always-on display settings on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Users can now turn off the mode’s wallpaper and notifications if they get distracted. There’s also a new Apple Music Sing feature being added to the Music App that turns your device into a karaoke box
Apple has also rolled out its new Advanced Data Protection for iOS 16.2 which adds end-to-end encryption to certain items on your devices. This includes Notes, iCloud Backups and even photos. The new security protects 23 data categories instead of the original 14.
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But the really cool new feature on iOS 16.2 is the new Apple Music Sing mode. When you launch your Music App now and play a song, a new toggle will appear that will let you lower the song’s vocals. You can adjust it either from loud or mute the vocals completely. The only things that play in the song are the instruments and background vocals.
In turn, this enables a karaoke-like mode on your iPhone so you can sing along to songs without the vocals getting in the way. There’s also a duet feature if you want to sing along with a friend. This new feature is only available on iPhone 11 and up. It is also a free update to the current Apple Music app.
The full changelog of features can be found below:
Freeform
– Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
– A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more
Drawing tools let you sketch anywhere on the canvas with your finger
Apple Music Sing
– A new way to sing along with millions of your favorite songs in Apple Music
– Fully adjustable vocals let you duet with the original artist, sing solo, or mix it up
– Newly enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics make it even easier to follow along with the music
Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
– New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 — including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos — protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud
Lock Screen
– New settings allow you to hide wallpaper or notifications when Always-On display is enabled on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
– Sleep widget lets you view your most recent sleep data
– Medications widget lets you view reminders and quickly access your schedule
Game Center
– SharePlay support in Game Center for multiplayer games so you can play with the people you are on a FaceTime call with
– Activity Widget allows you to see what your friends are playing and achieving in games right from your Home Screen
Apple TV
– Live Activities for Apple TV app let you follow your favorite teams with live scores right on your Lock Screen or in Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Home
– Improved reliability and efficiency of communication between your smart home accessories and Apple devices
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
– Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
– Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari
– News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location
– Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
– AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content
– Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
– Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
Apple also has some iPad specific notes:
Stage Manager
– External display support with resolutions up to 6K available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (5th generation)
– Drag and drop files and windows from your compatible device to your connected display, and vice versa
– Support for using up to 4 apps on the iPad display and 4 on the external display
iPad Specific Features and Fixes
– Tracking Notifications alert you if an AirTag separated from its owner is nearby and has recently played a chime to indicate it is moving
– Fixes an issue that may cause Multi-Touch gestures to become unresponsive while using the Zoom accessibility feature
Source: Apple