Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,011
40,031


Apple today seeded the fifth betas of upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the release of the fourth betas.

iOS-16.6-Feature.jpg

Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option and toggling on the iOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 may lay the groundwork for iMessage Contact Key Verification. The feature is meant to let Apple device owners verify that they are messaging with the people they intend to message rather than a malicious entity that has intercepted a message or is eavesdropping on a conversation.

In the first beta, hints of iMessage Contact Key were available, but the option was not fully enabled and the references have since been removed, so it remains unclear if this is something we can expect to see in iOS 16.6.


Article Link: Apple Seeds Fifth Betas of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]
 
Last edited:
This is a long beta period for a minor update especially since iOS 17 is in beta too. I wonder what they are changing that requires so much testing.
Yeah, its strangely taking a long time, but I wonder if its related to the newer version beta's? Engineering resources might have been depleted to work on iOS 17.
 
This is a long beta period for a minor update especially since iOS 17 is in beta too. I wonder what they are changing that requires so much testing.
You’re right. Maybe their team is stretched thin, between iOS 17 and GogglesOS or whatever it’s called.
 
At some point in the future, there will be those that were unaware that Public Betas would normally come out days or weeks after the developer beta. To those folks, this maddening 3 hour wait will be inexcusable and they’ll be calling for the head of Tim Apple. :)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.