This week Apple released iOS 16.1 beta 4. This shows that the company is preparing to launch a stable version of the update, which will become publicly available in the autumn of this year. It will bring with it several innovations, including Live Activities and Clean Energy Charge, as well as changes to the lock screen and the processed battery charge level badge.
Some innovations are worth mentioning. The Live Activities function will allow the user to monitor sports competitions and other events online directly from the iPhone blocking screen. Already, outside developers can use the API Live Activities to integrate this function into their products.
Also in iOS 16.1, users can delete the Wallet application for the first time. However, without it, it will not be possible to use certain functions, such as Apple Pay, Apple Cash and Apple Card. Together, the developers have implemented Matter support, a new connectivity standard for a smart house that will allow compatible devices to operate freely together on different platforms.
The next innovation of iOS 16.1 was the general iCloud photography library, which will make it easier for all family members to exchange pictures. A separate image library can be accessed by up to six people, each of whom will be able to add photographs, for example, from their personal libraries.
The charge clean energy function should reduce the carbon footprint of iPhone by optimizing the time of energy replenishment in cases where clean energy is used in the network. In addition, the converted battery charge indicator will be available for more devices, including iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini.
iOS 16.1 beta 4 is already available to developers, along with which Apple released iPadOS 16 beta 11, MacOS Montenegro 12.6.1 beta, MacOS Ventura beta 10 and tvoS 16.1 beta 4.