On supported iPhone models running iOS 16, Face ID is able to work in landscape mode, making it easier to unlock the iPhone when it's not held in the standard Portrait orientation.
There isn't a lot about the feature on Apple's website at the current time, but it sounds like it will offer a much improved unlocking experience. Apple does not specify which iPhones are considered "supported iPhone models," but it appears to be limited to the iPhone 13 as we were not able to get it to work on an iPhone 12 device.
Apple in iOS 16 has introduced a new iCloud Shared Photo Library, which is designed to make it much easier for you to share your photos with close family members.
An iCloud Shared Photo Library can be shared with up to five other people, and each contributor has equal access to add, edit, favorite, caption, and delete shared photos.
To prevent accidentally shared photos, there are smart setup rules that can be implemented. You can opt to share all past photos or just photos from a specific start date. You can also choose to share photos that have only specific people, such as your family members.
Photos can be added to the Shared Library automatically, but there are also options to share based on Bluetooth proximity. Sharing suggestions will continue to pop up in For You as well.
There's a new toggle in the Camera app that lets all the photos you take upload to the Shared Library automatically, so if you're out on vacation with your family, everyone can see vacation photos as soon as they're snapped.
Shared photos will show up in Memories, Featured Photos, and the Photos widget, similar to standard iCloud Library images.
The iCloud Shared Photo Library does not appear to be implemented in the first beta, so support will likely be added in a future beta.
The previous-generation MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models with the M1 chip also supported only a single external display, according to Apple, but it was discovered that multiple displays can be connected to these notebooks with the use of DisplayLink adapters, and this will likely remain a workaround for the new M2 Macs.
The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models support up to two external displays with the M1 Pro chip, and up to four with the M1 Max chip.
As part of iOS 16, Apple is introducing Safety Check, a new feature meant to help individuals in an abusive relationship quickly and safely end sharing their passwords, location, and more with their partner.
As Apple describes Safety Check:
A new privacy tool called Safety Check can be helpful to users whose personal safety is at risk from domestic or intimate partner violence by quickly removing all access they've granted to others. It includes an emergency reset that helps users easily sign out of iCloud on all their other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to just the device in their hand. It also helps users understand and manage which people and apps they've given access to.
Safety Check will be available to users as part of all of Apple's new software updates later this fall. Apple today announced iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9.
Apple in iOS 16 is introducing some significant improvements to Siri, making the built-in personal assistant more useful than ever.
If you're on a hands-free call, you can now ask Siri to hang up for you. Just say "Hey Siri, hang up," but be warned that the person on the other line will be able to hear you. The feature is supported in both the Phone and FaceTime apps.
Siri can insert emoji into texts when you're using Siri to send a message, and Siri is also now able to automatically send messages so you don't need to verbally confirm.
For those who use Shortcuts, Siri is able to run shortcuts as soon as an app is downloaded, with zero setup required.
If you want to know more about what Siri can do on your device and in apps, ask "Hey Siri, what can I do here?" You can also ask about a specific app, such as "Hey Siri, what can I do with Weather?"
Apple has also expanded offline support for Siri, so Siri can do more without needing to contact Apple's servers. Siri can manage HomeKit, intercom, and voicemail requests offline in iOS 16.
Apple is expanding its privacy features with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 by now requiring apps to ask users for their permission before accessing their clipboard.
"Apps need your permission before accessing the pasteboard to paste content from another app," Apple says on its website. Apple already requires apps to ask for their consent before accessing their microphone, camera, and location, with the clipboard being the latest addition.
The first beta of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 is currently available to registered developers and a public beta will be available in July.
Apple today announced that color-matching USB-C to MagSafe 3 charging cables for the new MacBook Air will be available to purchase separately. The cables are listed as "coming soon" on Apple's online store, with pricing set at $49 each in the United States.
The cable will be available in the same color options as the new MacBook Air, including Space Gray, Silver, Midnight, and Starlight. The cable is also compatible with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released last year.
The cable, which also comes in the box with the new MacBook Air, is two meters long and features a woven design for added durability.
Apple's full product description:
This 2-meter charge cable features a magnetic MagSafe 3 connector that helps guide the plug to the charging port of your Mac notebook. Pair it with a compatible USB-C power adapter to conveniently charge your notebook from a wall outlet and take advantage of fast-charging capabilities. The magnetic connection is strong enough to resist most unintended disconnects, but if someone trips on the cable, it releases so your Mac notebook stays put. An LED turns amber when the battery is charging and green when it's fully charged. Made with a woven design for long-lasting durability.
Apple has not provided a specific release date for the cables.
Like Android, Apple will let users enable vibrations on the native stock iOS keyboard for each tap, providing a physical confirmation for users as they type.
Apple says these vibrations help serve as a "confirmation" as a user types. The new feature is part of a broader slate of changes coming to the keyboard on iOS 16, including support for 19 new languages in Emoji search and improvements to the experience for Chinese users.
iOS 16 is a massive release for the iPhone that lets users entirely customize their Lock Screen and changes across the system. Apple just wrapped up WWDC, so be sure to stick around for MacRumors for full coverage of all the new updates and announcements.
As part of its macOS 13 Ventura presentation at WWDC 2022, Apple today announced Continuity Camera, which gives Mac owners the ability to use their iPhone as a webcam.
A Mac running macOS 13 can automatically recognize and use the camera on an iPhone when it is nearby, without the need to wake or select it, and the iPhone can also connect to the Mac wirelessly.
Continuity Camera includes FaceTime features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, and a new Studio Light effect that illuminates a user's face while dimming the background.
In addition, Continuity Camera uses the Ultra Wide camera on an iPhone to enable Desk View, which simultaneously shows the user's face and an overhead view of their desk, which is useful for creating DIY videos, showing off sketches over FaceTime, and more.
Continuity Camera is available on iPhone XR or later models. Using Continuity Camera wirelessly requires a Mac and an iPhone or iPad with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and both devices must be signed in to the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication.
Continuity Camera with Center Stage and Desk View is available on iPhone 11 or later running iOS 16. Studio Light is available on iPhone 12 or later running iOS 16.
For all the other details and new features in macOS 13 Ventura, see our dedicated article.
With macOS Ventura, Apple is bringing a native Weather app to the Mac, alongside a new Clock app that lets users set timers, see world clocks, set alarms, and more.
macOS Ventura adds several features to the Mac, including a new way to manage multiple windows with Stage Manager, the ability to use your iPhone as a FaceTime camera, a redesigned experience for System Preferences, now called System Settings, and more.
macOS Ventura is currently available to developers for beta testing and will be available for public beta testers in July.
Apple in iOS 16 is enhancing the spatial audio experience with a new personalization feature. Personalized Spatial Audio uses the TrueDepth camera on an iPhone running iOS 16 to scan your ears and the area around you, delivering a unique listening experience that's tuned to you.
The feature received just a brief mention during the keynote event, but it will make the listening experience on AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and other devices that support spatial audio better than ever.
Apple says that the tuned spatial audio feature brings an even more precise listening experience.
Following its WWDC 2022 keynote today, Apple has listed a new 35W power adapter with dual USB-C ports as "coming soon" on its online store. The adapter will be available in both standard and compact sizes, with both priced at $59 in the United States.
The adapters can be used to charge two devices at the same time and feature foldable prongs. Apple recommends using the adapters with the new MacBook Air, but they are also compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods models.
The compact adapter will be included in the box with the new MacBook Air when configured with an M2 chip with a 10-core GPU and 512GB of storage or better.
Apple has not provided a specific release date for purchasing the adapters separately.
Apple is adding the ability for users to lock their Hidden and Recently Deleted albums on iOS 16, requiring user authentication through Touch ID or Face ID to access.
Apple says that starting with iOS 16 this fall, both albums will be locked by default. Currently, both the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums are exposed, allowing anyone who may grab access to your phone the ability to go through your photos.
iOS 16 is a massive release with new customization features for the lock screen and changes across the board. The first beta of iOS 16 is currently available to developers for beta testing and a public beta will be available later in July.
The new macOS Ventura software that was introduced today is compatible with many of the Macs that were able to run macOS Monterey, but it does drop support for some Mac models from 2014 through 2016, according to Apple's webpage for the update.
Now that the WWDC keynote event is over, Apple has started seeding new software updates to developers. tvOS 16, the newest version of the tvOS operating system for the Apple TV 4K and HD, is now available. tvOS 16 was not previewed at the event, but there is indeed a new beta.
Developers can download the new tvOS 16 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS 16 is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers later this summer. tvOS 16 is expected to be released this fall alongside iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, and watchOS 9.
In addition to providing new betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and macOS 13, Apple today seeded the first beta of a new watchOS 9 update to developers for testing purposes.
To install watchOS 9, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, watchOS 8 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
You should not install watchOS 9 on a main Apple Watch as the software may be unstable and laden with bugs at this early date.
watchOS 9 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to provide a public beta later this summer ahead of the software's fall launch alongside new Apple Watch models.
After today's keynote event that saw the unveiling of macOS 13 Ventura, the newest version of the Mac operating system, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new software to developers for testing purposes.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
As with all new betas, Apple does not recommend installing macOS Ventura on a primary machine because it is early release software and could have bugs.
macOS Ventura is only available to registered developers right now, but later this summer, Apple will make a public version of the new beta available to give beta testers a chance to try the software before it sees an official launch this fall.
Following the conclusion of today's keynote event that saw the unveiling of new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Apple has made the first betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 available to developers for testing purposes.
Registered developers can download the iOS and iPadOS 16 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the betas will be available over the air. Given that this is a first beta, it is best to install iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 on a secondary device. Early software is often riddled with bugs, and rumors have suggested that iOS 16 could be buggier than usual.
Over the course of the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 beta testing period, Apple will refine the newly introduced features and work out bugs. Developers have been provided with the software to prepare their apps ahead of a fall launch.
The software is limited to registered developers at this time, but Apple is expected to provide a public beta for public beta testers in July.
The beta testing period will last for several months, and we are expecting to see iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 released to the public in September alongside new iPhones.
