iOS 16.4 beta 2 has few minor changes
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The second iOS 16.4 beta doesn't add much that the first beta didn't have, but there are a few new features. Here's what's new.
The latest beta cycle for iOS 16.4 and the other operating system updates is running at the normal pace for early betas. It took nearly a month for the beta to begin after iOS 16.3 was released, and it has been 11 days since then.
It doesn't seem like iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, tvOS 16.4, and watchOS 9.4 are overly ambitious releases. Updates so far include new Shortcuts actions and UI refinements.
For the second beta, users have discovered that the Apple Books page turn animation has returned. Code refers to three user options for how a page turn animates — curl, instant, and swipe.
The animation was a near-skeuomorphic remnant of the older iBooks experience and disappeared with the Books app update in iOS 16. Users vocalized their disappointment in losing the feature, which may have led to its return.
Code sleuth Steve Moser, who contributes to MacRumors, shared a few discoveries found in the iOS 16.4 beta 2 code. The Apple Wallet app has hidden text that suggests Apple Pay will finally launch in South Korea.
Another snippet of code states that the Apple Music Classical app can only be installed if Apple Music is also installed. No signs of a potential release date, but work on the app continues.
Code discovered by 9to5Mac shows Apple has expanded a feature called 5G Standalone. It became available to US T-Mobile iPhone users with the first iOS 16.4 beta, and support has expanded to Brazilian carriers Vivo and TIM Brazil. 5G SA is also coming to Japanese carrier Softbank.
Discovered in iOS 16.4 beta 1
The first beta added a few user-facing features like rich previews of Mastodon links in iMessage and a new ellipsis in the Apple TV Up Next feature.
Shortcut updates and new Focus Filters give users control over the always-on display. Also, there's a new parameter tracked in the battery settings that shows how much battery is used by the always-on display, specifically.
There are several other significant updates coming to Apple's operating system we've already covered in detail.
Those include:
- Apple killing off developer beta profiles
- Podcasts app changes
- TV Library load time fix in tvOS
- HomeKit architecture upgrade returns
- Web app push notifications
- 31 new emoji
It isn't clear when Apple intends on releasing iOS 16.4 and the other new updates. These beta cycles usually last for about a month, placing this release sometime in March.
