Everything New in iOS 16 Beta 4 For Lock Screen, iMessage, CarPlay, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of iOS 16 to developers for testing. The latest beta contains a handful of new features and changes involving the Messages app, Home app, Mail app, Lock Screen notifications, CarPlay, and more.

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iOS 16 is currently in beta for developers and members of Apple's free public beta testing program, and the software update will be released for all users with an iPhone 8 or newer in September. A second public beta of iOS 16 that corresponds with today's fourth developer beta is also now available.

We've outlined notable new features and changes in iOS 16 beta 4 below. Thanks to Steve Moser and @AppleSWUpdates for their contributions.

iMessage Edit/Undo Send Changes

You can now tap on the small "Edited" label below an edited iMessage bubble to view the original version of the message and any other previous edits. In addition, iMessages can now only be edited a total of five times before the "Edit" option disappears.

While there's still a 15-minute window for editing an iMessage, Apple has reduced the time limit for unsending an iMessage to two minutes after it is delivered.

Live Activities API

Apple has released ActivityKit in beta, allowing developers to begin testing the Live Activities feature on the Lock Screen in their apps on the iOS 16 beta. For now, apps that implement the feature will only be available via TestFlight.

Live Activities will provide real-time glanceable information on the Lock Screen. For example, a sports app might allow the user to start a Live Activity for a live sports game. In that scenario, the Live Activity would appear on the Lock Screen for the duration of the game and offer the latest updates about the game at a glance.

Apple says Live Activities will not be included in the initial publicly released version of iOS 16, with the feature to be enabled in an update later this year — perhaps iOS 16.1. At that time, apps offering Live Activities will become available in the App Store.

New Wallpapers in Home App

The fourth beta of iOS 16 adds new Wildflowers and Architectural wallpapers to choose from in the Home app, alongside existing wallpapers.

New Time Limits for Undo Send in Mail

In the Mail app on iOS 16, it is briefly possible to unsend an email in the Mail app. In the first three betas, the time limit for unsending an email was 10 seconds, but the fourth beta provides users with options of 10, 20, or 30 seconds.

Lock Screen Notification Settings

Apple has enhanced the look of Lock Screen notification options in the Settings app. In the fourth beta of iOS 16, Apple now includes images that visualize the Count, Sack, and List options for how Lock Screen notifications are displayed.

New Lock Screen Customization Interface

Apple has revamped the interface when customizing the Lock Screen, with options for colors, gradients, photos, and more at the bottom.

Bolder Music Player on Lock Screen

Apple has updated the music player on the Lock Screen with bolder elements.

New Wallpapers for CarPlay

A static version of the iOS 16 wallpaper for the iPhone is now available for CarPlay, with multi-colored, blue, and gray options to choose from.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1552368850242600960

Other Changes

• Apple has made numerous bug fixes in iOS 16 beta 4, according to the release notes.
• There is a new "Add Widgets" prompt displayed when customizing the Lock Screen to indicate where the widgets are placed.

If you spot any other changes, let us know in the comments section.

Article Link: Everything New in iOS 16 Beta 4 For Lock Screen, iMessage, CarPlay, and More

 

[-BigMac-]

Nice! Looking forward to the new Carplay wallpapers

 

[multipasser]

So why still no option to delete a imessage?
It happens alot you send the wrong message to the wrong person!
Editing that message is not an option as they can still read the original.

 

[Macheath_Messer]

So why still no option to delete a imessage?
It happens alot you send the wrong message to the wrong person!
Editing that message is not an option as they can still read the original.

From the article: “…Apple has reduced the time limit for unsending an iMessage to two minutes after it is delivered.” This tells me one can still delete iMessages sent in error, no?

 

[contacos]

I don’t understand the „color“ and „gradient“ option for the wallpaper or what it has to do with one another. For instance, I have a Home Screen pride wallpaper. Yet it suggests me some random green „color“ or „gradient“ options (basically the same) of my lockscreen 🤷🏽‍♂️ what are those two even supposed to do?

Also, I can deactivate my focus status / sleep with a long press from the lockscreen again 🙏🏼

 

[MrGimper]

The fact that iPadOS doesn’t have the same lock screen customisation is somewhat backwards.

 

[Fraserh02]

The fact that iPadOS doesn’t have the same lock screen customisation is somewhat backwards.

I get you I thought this. But I have since thought maybe it’s just that on an iPad we don’t generally really use the Lock Screen, whereas the iPhone is with us all the time and we glance at it a lot more.

 

[daleroe]

All of my previously sent and received messages in Messages disappeared when I upgraded. Newly-sent and -received messages stay in the app just fine. Anybody else?

 

[-BigMac-]

So why still no option to delete a imessage?
It happens alot you send the wrong message to the wrong person!
Editing that message is not an option as they can still read the original.

Are you even reading the article/past beta articles before commenting?

 

[M5RahuL]

Could someone please test Teams and see if its working on this new beta ? Much appreciated!!

 

[ipodlover77]

OH. MY. GOD.
ITS BACK.
EVERYONE, HOLD THEIR PANTS.

BETA 4 HAS FINALLY BROUGHT BACK THE FEATURE OF TOGGLING DND FROM THE LOCKSCREEN BY CLICKING THE DND ICON. WHY APPLE EVEN REMOVED THIS FROM THE FIRST PLACE COMPLETELY CONFUSES ME.

 

[santoshah]

The fact that iPadOS doesn’t have the same lock screen customisation is somewhat backwards.

That is going to be the biggest feature of iPadOS 17 and you are gonna love it.

 

[InGen]

I could see the Live Activities feature come in very handy for daily planner apps that show all planned events on an ever-moving timeline of upcoming things to do throughout a day.

Various other timer/countdown based apps centred around productivity or fitness could utilise it as well

 

[tgwaste]

I would trade all the new features for a 5x7 home screen.

 

[-BigMac-]

I would trade all the new features for a 5x7 home screen.

I would go for 10x20 and super tiny font, just big enough that I could read it, but i’d have to squint really hard

/s

 

[thatshellacool]

Could someone please test Teams and see if it’s working on this new beta ? Much appreciated!!

I got about halfway done responding to a coworkers message before it quit and sent me back to the home screen. I then went to check through a feed and it did the same not even 2-3 minutes later, so I’m assuming it’s not fixed. Although it’s entirely possible that it won’t work properly until MS releases an official update for iOS 16, which may not be until shortly before or upon launch.

 

[BWhaler]

These new software releases are looking fantastic. I also read not too buggy.

 

[munpip214]

All of my previously sent and received messages in Messages disappeared when I upgraded. Newly-sent and -received messages stay in the app just fine. Anybody else?

Did you go from beta 4 or iOS 15?

 

[JonneyGee]

I hope automations are fixed in the next beta. I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything about that yet.

 

[Mr_Simon_White]

So I'll acknowledging by saying I know this is BETA however has anyone had issues with CarPlay Siri in beta 3 and still in beta 4 where voice commends of all kinds no longer work - I get a second voice rather than the Siri voice I've chosen in settings - always says there has been a problem - Won't voice dial contacts to call / directions however it will read out text message but I can't reply

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

And here I say it again, how is iMessage this far behind when it’s this critical to their platform strategy. And then it allows stupid things - like viewing the original message after editing.

Exactly what value does that offer?

They are cementing in their demise.

 

[srbNYC]

OH. MY. GOD.
ITS BACK.
EVERYONE, HOLD THEIR PANTS.

BETA 4 HAS FINALLY BROUGHT BACK THE FEATURE OF TOGGLING DND FROM THE LOCKSCREEN BY CLICKING THE DND ICON. WHY APPLE EVEN REMOVED THIS FROM THE FIRST PLACE COMPLETELY CONFUSES ME.

I welcome its return but NOT SURE I'M AS EXCITED AS YOU ARE ABOUT IT.

 

[bLackjackj]

BETA 4 HAS FINALLY BROUGHT BACK THE FEATURE OF TOGGLING DND FROM THE LOCKSCREEN BY CLICKING THE DND ICON. WHY APPLE EVEN REMOVED THIS FROM THE FIRST PLACE COMPLETELY CONFUSES ME.

1. Why are you YELLING?

2. This is BETA software & you know this. Why does it confuse you? Features will be added, removed, updated, downgraded, fixed..etc before release. You signed up to be a free Apple tester, so why are you complaining?

 

[bLackjackj]

Could someone please test Teams and see if its working on this new beta ? Much appreciated!!

Yes, works perfectly well. In fact all the Office 365 apps do.

 

[Dark_Omen]

Don’t even understand the point of having the edit and I sending feature in iMessage anymore. Why tinker with the feature and make it less useful?