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Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 12.1 to Developers With Group FaceTime

Tuesday September 18, 2018 11:04 am PDT by Juli Clover

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 Rated Comments

Enclavean

29 months ago

Every year after the GM is out i remove my beta profile and tell myself im not installing betas anymore and every year i just end up on betas all year lol

Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)

ck2875

For those receiving a new phone or watch on Friday, you may want to wait until you receive your new device if you want to restore from a backup. You won't be able to restore a backup from iOS 12.1 or watchOS 5.1 to a device on iOS 12 or watchOS 5. If you update your current device now, you'll have to set up the new devices on Friday as a new device, install the beta profiles, update, reset the device, and then restore from a backup.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bornee35

Do we need a new profile for this?

Tinder

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

for a 12.1 its terrible how only one new feature nothing seems new

Because Tim Cook hates you on a personal level.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MrGimper

Must. Wait. Til. Friday.

coolfactor

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.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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