Prepare for an update to iOS 16, iPhone users. iOS 16.3, which is currently in beta, is coming to your phone next week, bringing a few new features, some bug fixes, and some links for Black History Month.
News of iOS 16.3’s impending release comes from Apple itself, which dropped the launch date in a press release highlighting the company’s efforts in the name of Black History Month. (opens in a new tab) in February. Along with spotlighting curated content in the Music, TV, News and Podcasts apps, Apple is adding a Unity watch face and iPhone wallpaper that incorporates the colors of the Pan-African flag.
Unity Watch Face 2023 and Unity Wallpaper for iPhone will require iOS 16.3. And in the fine print of Apple’s Black History Month announcement yesterday (January 18), the company says the watch face and wallpaper “will be available next week.” This would apparently imply that the iOS update is also coming.
Another sign that iOS 16.3 is on the way: a beta version of the release candidate became available to developers this week. Usually, that means a full release isn’t that far away.
If you’ve been through the iOS 16.3 beta process, you know there aren’t many major features planned for this release. But Apple has a few additions that will go live once iOS 16.3 lands on your iPhone. Here’s what you can expect.
iOS 16.3: Passkey Authentication for Apple ID
Users looking for an extra layer of security between ne’er-do-wells and their Apple ID data will be able to add Security Key Authentication Tanks to iOS 16.3.
Apple announced it (opens in a new tab) at the same time, it revealed the addition of Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, which arrived for US iPhone owners in iOS 16.2. At the time, Apple said it was aiming for an early 2023 launch for passkey authentication, which follows the iOS 16.3 release.
The physical security keys are intended to augment Apple’s existing two-factor authentication for Apple ID, especially for iPhone owners whose public profile makes them likely targets for hackers. Think of celebrities, politicians and – nervously looks around — journalists.
When this feature is enabled, you will need a physical security key as one of two factors to sign in to your Apple ID account.
Improved HomePod Transfer
There’s an improved Handoff feature that transfers control of music playback from an iPhone to a HomePod speaker, a particularly welcome addition given the arrival this week of Apple’s HomePod 2. Handoff has been around for a while, iOS 16.3 introduces a new guide that more clearly shows HomePod owners how to use the handoff ability.
The guide directs you to bring your iPhone within range of the HomePod to display your playback controls or pass audio playback on your phone to the smart speaker. It also tells you to start over if you want to see the controls or transfer the audio again later.
New emergency SOS via satellite call modes
iPhone 14 users already have access to Emergency SOS via satellite if they need help while in a remote location, but iOS 16.3 adds two new ways to access it.
Call with Hold and Release replaces the existing Call with Hold feature, allowing you to access Emergency SOS and an alarm after pressing the power button and a volume button. The previous call waiting feature required you to use a call slider to make an emergency call, which might not necessarily be feasible depending on your situation.
The other new option is Silent Call. This allows you to make an emergency call without triggering an alarm, in case it is not useful or could put you in more danger.
iOS 16.3 Global Advanced Data Protection
As we mentioned above, the iOS 16.2 update gave US iPhone owners access to Advanced Data Protection. This is a new security feature that brings end-to-end encryption to Apple’s iCloud storage service, protecting the information you’re stored in the cloud (except Mail, Contacts, and Calendar data). ).
Apple had promised to bring Global Advanced Data Protection to other parts of the world with a future iOS update, and based on feedback from people who used iOS 16.3 beta (opens in a new tab), that time has come. As before, to enable Advanced Data Protection, launch Settings, tap your name, followed by iCloud. From here you can enable the security feature.
iOS 16.3 bug fixes
The iOS 16.3 release notes detail several fixes made through this software update. The biggest one concerns a bug where horizontal lines were appearing on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models when the phones were waking up. Additionally, iOS 16.3 fixes various issues involving Siri, Car Play, and the iPhone lock screen.
iOS 16.2 included a new architecture for Apple’s Home app, but as quickly as this feature arrived, Apple pulled it out of iPhone software. Users have complained that some HomeKit devices are stuck in an “updating” or “configuring” state, while other devices lack the Home app entirely, among other bugs. The new architecture returns in iOS 16.3, presumably now that Apple has fixed this issue.
What is still missing
Even though iOS 16 has been around since fall 2022, not all the features promised by Apple are available yet. We’re still waiting for a dedicated Apple Music Classical app to launch, although there is reports that iOS 16.3 release candidate contains code (opens in a new tab) alluding to such a service.
Apple Pay Later, which lets you split payments through Apple Pay into four installments, has yet to launch. It may be part of iOS 16.4, which will likely appear in beta form shortly after iOS 16.3 is released.
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