Apple today distributed the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers for testing purposes, and as expected, the betas refine some of the features Apple added in “iOS 16” and there are some new additions as well. Everything new in the third beta of “iOS 16” is described below.
AFib story
Apple is adding an AFib history feature in “iOS 16” and watchOS 9 for those suffering from atrial fibrillation, with the goal of tracking how long and how often a person has had atrial fibrillation. In “iOS 16” beta 3, the AFib History section was added to the Health app, and the AFib feature is enabled in “watchOS 9” beta 3. For now, AFib history is limited to those in the United States.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
The third “iOS 16” beta introduces support for the iCloud Shared Photo Library, which aims to make it easier for you to share photos with friends and family members. You can invite up to five people to share a photo library with you, and everyone can add, delete, and edit images.
lockdown mode
Added as an extreme security measure, lockdown mode is available in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. It is an optional security feature aimed at protecting a small number of high-profile users who are at risk of targeted cyberattacks by government-sponsored spyware.
The lockdown mode is aimed at journalists, activists, government employees and others who could be the target of sophisticated cyber attacks. It’s not for the everyday user and limits many iPhone functions. For example, attachments other than images are blocked in Messages, and calls from people you haven’t previously contacted are blocked in FaceTime.
Complex web technologies and browser features are blocked in web browsers, shared albums are removed from the Photos app, wired connections are blocked, and configuration profiles cannot be installed. For more about lockdown mode, see our article describing the feature.
Lock screen time font
The customizable iOS 16 lock screen now has 12 fonts to choose from, including an option that’s thinner than previous fonts and another that’s a thicker version of the previously available serif font.
Calendar lock screen widget
For privacy reasons, the calendar lock screen widget no longer provides details of the next upcoming event while the “iPhone” is locked. It blurs the information until the “iPhone” is unlocked by its owner.
memories
There is a new Due Today option in the Settings section of the Reminders app. It was designed to include both overdue items and items due today in the badge count, rather than just items due today.
Earth lock screen wallpaper
With the Earth Lock Screen wallpaper, widgets will no longer block the view of Earth. The earth image moves down when widgets are in use and up when no widgets are placed. In earlier betas, widgets overlapped.
iOS version UI update
When you tap the version number under About > iOS Version in the Settings app, the UI has been updated. It’s simpler, no longer a pop-up card, and it no longer links to Apple’s security website.
Clown Fish Background Image
Some “iOS 16” users who installed the third beta see a clownfish background option. This wallpaper was on the original “iPhone” when it was introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007, but it was never officially introduced. It won’t show up for everyone, but it might be added as a background option in a future beta.
Some users seem to be seeing a new Clownfish wallpaper in iOS 16 Beta 3. This is the wallpaper Steve Jobs used when the original iPhone was announced in 2007 – but it never actually shipped with an iPhone. Here we are 15 years later. https://t.co/OLTvb1KVJG – Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 6, 2022
stage manager
There is a new splash screen for the Stage Manager feature on the iPad. There are also new tutorials to walk you through its use, along with an updated multitasking menu with improved labeling.
iCloud splash screen
If you choose an iCloud+ subscription option, there’s a new Welcome screen that explains the features.
Virtual card support
iOS 16 adds virtual card support for shopping with Safari. Some banks and card issuers allow customers to generate virtual card numbers (similar to how Apple Card works) that they can use online to prevent their credit card details from being stolen. Safari in “iOS 16” will support this feature based on code in beta.
More new features
Know of a new feature in “iOS 16” beta 3 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.