Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iOS 12.1 update to developers, just one day after releasing iOS 12, a major new version of the iOS software.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.1 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
It's not clear what features might be included in the iOS 12.1 beta, but Apple removed the Group FaceTime feature from iOS 12 ahead of its launch and promised to introduce it in a future update, which could be iOS 12.1.
The update may also feature new emoji that are said to be in the works and coming in an iOS 12 update later this year.
We'll update this post with details on the new features that are included in iOS 12.1 once we've downloaded the software and have had time to check it out. Apple today also released a new beta version of Xcode, Xcode 10.1.
Update: The iOS 12.1 beta reintroduces support for Group FaceTime, a feature that was removed from iOS 12 ahead of its release. Apple needed more time to test Group FaceTime and said that it would be coming in a software update later this fall. Group FaceTime is designed to let you audio or video chat with up to 32 people at one time.
Top Stories
Apple Considering Delaying iPhone 12 Launch 'by Months'
Apple Helps Source Over 10 Million N95 Masks for Healthcare Providers in the U.S.
Hands-On With the New 2020 12.9-Inch iPad Pro
Kuo: Apple to Launch Several Macs With Arm-Based Processors in 2021, USB4 Support Coming to Macs in 2022
Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 13.4 With New Mail Toolbar, iCloud Folder Sharing, Trackpad Support for iPad and More
Apple Releases macOS Catalina 10.15.4 With Screen Time Communication Limits and Real-Time Apple Music Lyrics
Apple Says MacBook Air With Retina Display Can Exhibit Anti-Reflective Coating Issues, Unclear if Eligible for Free Repairs [Updated]
Hands-On With Apple's New Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2020 iPad Pro Models
Hands-On With the New $999 MacBook Air
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Do we need a new profile for this?
Tinderfor a 12.1 its terrible how only one new feature nothing seems new
Because Tim Cook hates you on a personal level.They wasted no time, lol
This is normal for software development. It's not linear.
It doesn't go "develop - stop - release - develop - stop - release".
There are several "develop" branches that co-exist in parallel. Only once a branch reaches a certain stability and completeness does it gets released, but already several other branches have moved forward, and then those changes get folded in when they are ready. Quite often different teams are assigned to different branches. Some branches might be for new features, some might be bug fixes. Software development is not just "one thing", "one project", but many projects that are being coordinated together. That's why Apple was able to create a build of iOS 12 without Group FaceTime, because it's being developed in its own branch and can be included or excluded, as needed.