Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 With Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support and More - MacRumors
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Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 With Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support and More

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Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to public beta testers, opening up the software to the general public. Today's beta comes one day after Apple provided the beta to developers.

iOS 16
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the ‌iOS and iPadOS 16.‌2 betas over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 introduce the Freeform app, which can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, and more. Multiple people can work on the same Freeform board, with changes synced for all participants in real time.


For the iPad, the update brings external display support to the Stage Manager multitasking feature, allowing up to eight apps to be used at once. External display support is available for the M1 and M2 ‌iPad‌ models.

ipados stage manager external display
There is a new Home app architecture coming in iOS and iPadOS 16.2, which Apple says is designed to bring faster, more reliable performance, especially in homes with a lot of smart home accessories. The new architecture requires the HomePod 16.2 beta software, and it causes the Home app not to work with devices updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1.

Unintentional Emergency SOS calls can be reported to Apple in iOS 16.2, and there are a few other minor changes that can be found in our iOS 16.2 feature guide.

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

TigerNike23 Avatar
TigerNike23
45 months ago

Don't bother. There is a strong WFH bias from some people. They believe WFH means slacking off all day watching TV and playing video games. As if someone could stay employed that way. They also act like the software and hardware was perfect before WFH became a bigger thing. They are personally too irresponsible to work remotely and be productive (therefore stay employed) so they project that onto all others.
I’m about to start a WFH job and I’m thrilled. That’s less time in traffic and less money spent on gas. I can sleep in a little later too!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deebinem Avatar
deebinem
45 months ago

What you are seeing with so many Bugs is the result from working from home. Less productive. More distractions. This is what you get.
You mean to tell me that my hour commute each way, 30 minute water cooler talk, non-stop colleague "drop bys", non-stop building "alarm tests", happy-hours starting an hour before EOD made me MORE productive?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
antiprotest
45 months ago

What, do you mean my WiFi issues are caused by iOS and not my router? The frequent drops?
Yes MR has an article on it right before this one. You got Apple'ed, dude.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
t0rqx
45 months ago
Fix the wifi! They really should return to 1 year stability/performance and 1 year new features.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
ProfessionalFan
45 months ago

I’m about to start a WFH job and I’m thrilled. That’s less time in traffic and less money spent on gas. I can sleep in a little later too!
And you'll be just as productive as in-office, heck possibly MORE productive.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
ProfessionalFan
45 months ago

You mean to tell me that my hour commute each way, 30 minute water cooler talk, non-stop colleague "drop bys", non-stop building "alarm tests", happy-hours starting an hour before EOD made me MORE productive?
Don't bother. There is a strong WFH bias from some people. They believe WFH means slacking off all day watching TV and playing video games. As if someone could stay employed that way. They also act like the software and hardware was perfect before WFH became a bigger thing. They are personally too irresponsible to work remotely and be productive (therefore stay employed) so they project that onto all others.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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