Here's Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 3

[MacRumors]

Apple seeded the third betas of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 to developers for testing today. While the third betas of each update are minor relative to the first two betas, there are still a handful of changes across the Photos app, TV app, and more.

A corresponding iOS 18.2 public beta with these changes will likely be released later this week, and Apple previously confirmed that the software update will be released to the public in December. iOS 18.2 is compatible with the iPhone XS series and newer, but Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro model or any iPhone 16.

Below, we recap everything new that we have found in the third betas so far. Many of the changes were discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

Check out our earlier list of everything new in the first two iOS 18.2 betas for more, including Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and Image Playground.

Tweaked Video Player in Photos App

https://twitter.com/x/status/1856049453515583694

iOS 18 introduced a completely redesigned Photos app on the iPhone, but not all of the changes were well received. Apple has continued to tweak the Photos app ever since it announced iOS 18, and that trend has continued with the latest beta.

iOS 18.2 beta 3 introduces a tweaked video player that takes up more of the screen. This change eliminates the thick borders around videos that appear on earlier iOS 18 versions, meaning you no longer have to tap on a video for full-screen playback.

Customizable Navigation Bar in TV App

Starting with iPadOS 18.2 beta 3, the navigation bar in the TV app can be customized, according to the screenshot above from 9to5Mac.

New Camera Control Setting

On all iPhone 16 models, iOS 18.2 beta 3 adds a new setting for the Camera Control button. In the Settings app under Display & Brightness, there is now a toggle for "Require Screen On." When this setting is turned on, you can only launch the Camera app or a supported third-party camera app with the Camera Control button when the iPhone's screen is turned on. Of course, when the setting is turned off, that restriction no longer applies.

Redesigned Next-Generation CarPlay Icons

As we previously reported, Apple continues to prepare for the launch of next-generation CarPlay. iOS 18.2 beta 3 includes redesigned icons for the new "Climate" and "Media" apps that will be available on next-generation CarPlay.

Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support will "arrive in 2024," but there are still no vehicles that support the system, and Apple has yet to provide a more specific timeframe.

Safari Wallpapers

In iPadOS 18.3 beta 2, Safari has new background wallpapers to choose from.

Other Changes

• Starting with iOS 18.2 beta 3, the AirDrop icon in the share sheet now appears dark in Dark Mode, rather than staying white.
• In the developer notes for iOS 18.2 beta 3, Apple said issues with the Precision Finding and "Play Sound" features of AirTags, AirPods, and third-party Find My-enabled accessories on earlier betas have been resolved.
• Apple may be more strictly enforcing device requirements for Apple Intelligence features.

Article Link: Here's Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 3

 

[JosephAW]

What camera apps work when the screen is off?

Or is there something that Apple knows that they can’t disclose so they are providing a work around to disable it.

 

[Paradoxally]

What camera apps work when the screen is off?

Or is there something that Apple knows that they can’t disclose so they are providing a work around to disable it.

Technically, all of them. The display is not required for the device to process what the lens is capturing and saving it as an image.

 

[ShivneelSingh]

I just want my Photos app to function like it used to.
Everything is so cluttered, it feels like Android and I hate using it.

 

[waltman]

Photos shouldn’t put black/white borders around the photo. It should keep the subtle dark blur.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Two more things they should change… 1. Don’t crop photo thumbnails in the messages app
2. Why in the world is the screenshot sound the exact same sound as taking a picture. It’s awkward in public.

 

[mondaymorning]

So having 14 series and below can run Apple Intelligence? Really Apple....

 

[bLackjackj]

Hopefully the Notes/ iCloud Notes issues are fixed, whereby

1. Notes selection tick circles look like black boxes in iCloud Notes (dark mode)
2. There is no font color option in iCloud Notes..I'm suprised nobody has mentioned this at all.

 

[Paddle1]

That Photos app change alone is making me consider installing the beta.

 

[PsykX]

That Photos app change alone is making me consider installing the beta.

Yeah, I took a lot of videos lately and I found that interface very annoying in 18.0 and 18.1.

I've gotta say it's better now. I like it.

 

[Hank001]

That Photos app change alone is making me consider installing the beta.

The Photos app alone is a reason for me to not buy the 16 Pro. Keeping my 14 Pro, on iOS16.0

 

[frost_horizon]

Most annoying thing in photos app is navigation.
Everywhere in the system the swipe from left edge either closes the view or navigate user back, but not in the Photos Library. Interestingly, that in the same photos app if you open any other album, the navigation will work as expected, but in the library the swipe from the left edge will change the view from days to months and then to years. And after you change to years, you cannot go back to days using swipe. It is worst UX decision, giving that closing the photos library is used much more often than changing the view, and for changing the view there are tabs on the bottom.

 

[applefan8254]

cool. Can we get multiple user profiles? Would be nice to have completely separate spaces. Thank you.

 

[jonnyb098]

Most annoying thing in photos app is navigation.
Everywhere in the system the swipe from left edge either closes the view or navigate user back, but not in the Photos Library. Interestingly, that in the same photos app if you open any other album, the navigation will work as expected, but in the library the swipe from the left edge will change the view from days to months and then to years. And after you change to years, you cannot go back to days using swipe. It is worst UX decision, giving that closing the photos library is used much more often than changing the view, and for changing the view there are tabs on the bottom.

I find it far more annoying that small swipes also register as a tap so it’s constantly changing the screen from black to white or visa versa. When browsing full screen photos you have to make it a longer swipe across the screen or it’ll also bring up the overlay like you tapped it because the swipe is “too short” And thinks it’s a tap. Whoever came up with that one needs to be tarred and feathered.

 

[5bjoshua]

Nice improvement to have the camera control button work with the screen off now. Was always annoying when you pulled the phone out your pocket and you had to draw the phone up to illuminate the display before it would work.

How long has the AF lock feature been on the camera control? If only I could set a focus point to the middle of the phone and leave it there.

 

[brerlappin]

Does anyone know if the new beta fixes the issue with the M1 MacBook grainy camera?

 

[ForkHandles]

I just want my Photos app to function like it used to.
Everything is so cluttered, it feels like Android and I hate using it.

The customisation options at the bottom allow you to switch virtually everything off. Great for de cluttering

 

[svish]

Like the change to the video player. A lot of changes to the Photos app this year.

 

[timeislove]

glad to see the Photo App UI updates for overlaying the controls rather than wasting display estates on both sides.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Nice improvement to have the camera control button work with the screen off now. [Was] always annoying when you pulled the phone out your pocket and you had to draw the phone up to illuminate the display before it would work.

It seems like the previous default, that the screen had to be on before pressing the camera control button would launch a camera app, might have been intended to prevent camera apps from inadvertently launching if you accidentally pressed the camera button while pulling the iPhone out of your pocket, or otherwise handling the iPhone while the screen is off. But if the user isn't in the habit of doing this, then there's no need for that protection, thus this new option.

 

[Jaspro]

Hopefully they include a fix for what is now a pretty much useless Mail app so it actually checks and downloads emails when not plugged in or the app is physically open on screen!

 

[Fluffyk]

They should scrap the Photos app and just bring back the old one. No ammount of tweaks can make it as good or better than the old one.

 

[lanceuppercut47]

Two more things they should change… 1. Don’t crop photo thumbnails in the messages app
2. Why in the world is the screenshot sound the exact same sound as taking a picture. It’s awkward in public.

Whilst I get what you mean, unless you're in Japan where the sound can't be muted, it's been so long since I've had a device which isn't always on silent/vibrate.

 

[jonnysods]

Next generation carplay... I wonder who will adapt it. I have the 2024 Santa Fe, its all screen. Would be fun to see if they ever allow it.

 

[frost_horizon]

I find it far more annoying that small swipes also register as a tap so it’s constantly changing the screen from black to white or visa versa. When browsing full screen photos you have to make it a longer swipe across the screen or it’ll also bring up the overlay like you tapped it because the swipe is “too short” And thinks it’s a tap. Whoever came up with that one needs to be tarred and feathered.

I think swipes are broken across the system generally.