Since Apple’s iOS 10.0 was released to the public in September, it has been followed by a flurry of updates to address some issues in the operating system and meet the ever-changing needs of users. We already saw the official release of the iOS 10.1 in October, and now, there are already three beta versions of the iOS 10.2 making their way into developers and testers. So what’s new in the iOS 10.2?
TV App
The Video App that was made available throughout the US in the beta 2 has been removed and replaced with the TV App in the beta 3. This app has four major sections, namely:
Library
Shows all of your recently purchased TV shows and movies.
Watch Now
Guarantees that you can continue watching movies and TV shows, as well as receive recommendations for new content.
Store
Offers iTunes content and allows you to subscribe to popular streaming services.
Search
Allows you to search for the exact content that you are looking for by showing trending movies and TV programs.
The TV App includes a new TV Widget that has the same features as the Netflix Widget. This makes it easier to jump from one program to another and keep track of what you are watching. There are also options in the “Settings” menu that let you choose the streaming quality over cellular data and Wi-Fi, and the mode to procure content in HD or SD.
Wallpapers
The iOS 10.2 comes with a handful of new flashy and stylish wallpapers, which are distinguished with a black background and floating orb in the middle. Sound familiar? It should, as they were used when Apple advertised the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Anyway, these wallpapers will look really good on the new black iPhones by enhancing their wider color range.
SOS Feature
The new SOS Feature was introduced in beta 2 to allow an iPhone or iPad to call emergency services when their power button is pressed 5 times. But in beta 3, this features has been removed for all countries except India, where it’s been widely rolled out for testing purposes.
Emoji
A great collection of new fancy emojis has been added in the first beta version of the iOS 10.2, including a “shark”, “croissant”, “clown”, “butterfly”, “owl” and “avocado”. Of course, there are also several professional emoji in both male and female genders, such as “doctor”, “mechanic”, “firefighter”, “lawyer” and scientist. Apple has also redesigned several of the existing emoji to make them look realistic and modern by adding more detail to them. And for the first time, it includes all-time favorites, such as “shrug” and “fingers crossed”.
Camera Settings
You will now have the “Preserve Settings” option to save your previous camera settings, allowing you to keep the last settings for Camera Mode, Live Photo or Photo Filter. With this, you can always jump straight into the last photo mode you had chosen, keep live photos turned on or off, or stick with the same filter preference.
Other Changes
The iOS 10.2 includes a host of new features in its iMessages app, such as the “Send with Love” screen effect that sends your messages along with a heart. Of course, there are also bug fixes to stamp out some annoying glitches.
Official Release of the iOS 10.2
Apple has promised a December launch for several of the iOS 10.2 features, including the TV App. According to rumors, the update could be officially released in the early weeks of the month. As of the moment, the iOS 10.2 is being rolled out to registered developers through Apple’s Beta Software Program. Hopefully, it will be released for public beta testers soon.
Downloading and Installing
Before you can download and install the iOS 10.2, you should first register an account. Follow these steps:
- Go to beta.apple.com on your iPhone or iPad and then tap on “Sign Up” to get started.
- Enter your Apple ID email address and password, and then sign in.
- Tap “Accept” to agree to the terms and conditions.
Once you are signed in, you can now start downloading and installing.
- Go back to beta.apple.com and then tap the “iOS” tab.
- Click on the “Download” profile and then “Install”, which you will find at the upper right corner of the menu.
- Enter your passcode.
- Click on “Install” to consent to the beta agreement. Make sure you read the agreement before confirming the installation.
- Reboot your device. Once the device has restarted, it should start downloading the iOS 10.2 automatically.
- After downloading, launch “Settings” from the home screen.
- Tap on “General” and then “Software Update”. The update should appear afterward.
- Tap on “Download” and “Install”.
- Enter your passcode.
- Tap “Agree” to accept the terms and conditions.
- Reboot your device to install the iOS and wait for everything to complete.
After upgrading your phone to iOS 10.2, you will be able to enjoy all the updates mentioned above!