Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of iOS 16 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the eighth beta of an upcoming iOS 16 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the seventh developer beta.

Registered developers can download the iOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air. There is no iPadOS 16 update at this time as Apple has split iPadOS into iPadOS 16.1, which will be released after iOS 16.

iOS 16 introduces a revamped Lock Screen that offers a new level of personalization and customization through widgets, a notification redesign, and adjustable fonts and colors for the time. Multiple Lock Screens are supported, similar to watch faces, and can be associated with Focus modes.

Focus is easier to set up than before and more customizable, with Focus filters available to cut out distracting content within apps. The Messages app now features tools for editing an iMessage, unsending an iMessage, and marking messages as unread, plus it supports SharePlay, much like FaceTime.

The Mail app has improved search and tools that include undo send, schedule send, and follow up so you can get a reminder to check up on an email if you haven't gotten a response. Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working to replace passwords with Passkeys, a more biometrically secure way to log in to accounts.

iCloud Photo Library allows users to more easily share photos with family members, and Live Text is supported in video. There's a neat new feature for lifting the subject from a background with a tap, which is part of Visual Lookup.

Dictation has improved, Maps now supports multi-stop routing, Apple Pay Later lets you split up purchase payments, and the Home app has been entirely overhauled with a new look. The fifth beta of iOS 16 added the battery percentage back to the status bar on iPhones that have a notch, plus it introduced new sounds for locating an iPhone via Find My or the Apple Watch.

There are tons of other new features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, with a full rundown on everything available in our dedicated roundup.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of iOS 16 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

 

[ct2k7]

This should be the last, right?

Hope for no more bugs 🐛

 

[AppleFan91]

Not seeing it just yet but, this looks like next week will be RC and then a week later is the launch!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wow! I was not expecting this from Apple. This is the last update until "Release Candidate" goes out next week.

 

[MysticCow]

This should be the last, right?

If iOS 16 drops next month, this should be more of a Release Candidate.

 

[arthurgd3]

This should be the last, right?

Hope for no more bugs 🐛 View attachment 2048611

Is the Public Beta usable for a primary phone? Final build should be released in 2 weeks since the fall event is next week.

 

[SwiftArtery]

Beta 7: 20A5356a
Beta 8: 20A5358a

 

[ProfessionalFan]

This should be the last, right?

We'll get another one after the event next week and that'll be the last.

 

[DMG35]

Last beta was flawless for me. Not sure how much more they can improve it on my end.

 

[ct2k7]

Is the Public Beta usable for a primary phone? Final build should be released in 2 weeks since the fall event is next week.

I’m on the dev beta, but iOS has been pretty stable from the start for me

 

[ericg301]

Is the Public Beta usable for a primary phone? Final build should be released in 2 weeks since the fall event is next week.

It has been for a while.

 

[arthurgd3]

I don't have a Dev account but I heard some bad things with the earlier public beta's of 16 so I've been hesitant to install it.

 

[clunkmess]

Need Public Beta 6!!!

 

[maneta]

I’m on the dev beta, but iOS has been pretty stable from the start for me

what device, and also how's the battery on it ?

 

[iObama]

I don't have a Dev account but I heard some bad things with the earlier public beta's of 16 so I've been hesitant to install it.

Earlier betas weren't stable enough for me, and I tried haha. I stopped at Beta 3 and went back to 15.x. Hopped back on at beta 7 and it's been super stable.

 

[ct2k7]

what device, and also how's the battery on it ?

iPhone 13 Pro and now the 12 Pro (and even iPad Pro 11” M1).

battery is ok for the phones: lasts most of what I used to get, watch battery has been terrible in the last beta

 

[mattopotamus]

Is the Public Beta usable for a primary phone? Final build should be released in 2 weeks since the fall event is next week.

From my experience, the betas have been good since around iOS 12. I have run the dev beta on my primary device for years. The bugs are usually small things and do not affect the day to day apps. For example, on IOS 16 I had a bug where videos would not flip into landscape, annoying but not serious.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I don't have a Dev account but I heard some bad things with the earlier public beta's of 16 so I've been hesitant to install it.

It is stable now, but its so close that you may as well just wait for the public release at this point

 

[lindros2]

Last beta was flawless for me. Not sure how much more they can improve it on my end.

I always get scared upgrading from a build which gives me epic battery life (like b7) to a build which turns my phone into a brick (like 15.6.1)....

 

[AppleTO]

Earlier betas weren't stable enough for me, and I tried haha. I stopped at Beta 3 and went back to 15.x. Hopped back on at beta 7 and it's been super stable.

Really? I've never really had any issues at all.

 

[arthurgd3]

It is stable now, but its so close that you may as well just wait for the public release at this point

Yeah, was thinking the same thing.

 

[rebelrogue42]

Beta 7: 20A5356a
Beta 8: 20A5358a

Thank you for posting these. I wasn’t sure it had updated since the last character was still an ‘a’ and the link to the notes were for Beta 7.

 

[PsykX]

No thanks, I'll keep Beta 7.
Since this is specifically a Developer Beta, what's the point of releasing this if they don't update Xcode ? We can't even test on physical devices when they do that.

 

[ct2k7]

Looks like since I requested it a while ago, it hasn’t even started to download.

 

[lindros2]

Looks like since I requested it a while ago, it hasn’t even started to download.

ruh roh