Top Stories: iOS 16.4 Beta, iPhone 15 Rumors, Headset Delay, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple news and rumors continue to fly about, with this week seeing fresh reports about the iPhone 15 lineup, a rumored 15-inch MacBook Air, and Apple's AR/VR headset.

This week also saw the release of iOS 16.3.1 with some bug fixes and security updates, while Apple started a new round of beta testing with iOS 16.4 and associated releases with some significant changes, so read on below for all the details!

Everything New in iOS 16.4: Emoji Characters, Web Push Notifications, Beta Installation Simplification, and More

More than three weeks after releasing iOS 16.3 and related updates to the public, Apple has finally begun seeding its next set of beta releases for testing. iOS 16.4 includes a number of new features and enhancements such as new emoji characters, web push notification support, updates to the Podcasts app, and more.

In addition to iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4, Apple also provided developers with the first beta versions of macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4, and a public release for everyone should come in a month or two.

iPhone 15 Pro Again Rumored to Feature Ultra-Thin Bezels Like Apple Watch

A recent iPhone 15 rumor reiterates the claim that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models will include ultra-thin display bezels similar to those seen on recent Apple Watch models. The bezels may also curve down at the edges of the device, although the display itself will remain flat.

A fresh set of renders of the alleged iPhone 15 Pro based on a case manufacturer's leak supports the claim of thinner bezels and shows a slightly thinner overall design but with a thicker camera bump. A leaked photo also appears to show the device's USB-C port that will replace Lightning.

15-Inch MacBook Air Rumored to Launch in April as Display Production Begins

We've been hearing for a number of months about a potential 15-inch MacBook Air model, and a recent rumor suggests it may be launching in relatively near future.

Display analyst Ross Young says Apple's supply chain partners have started production of display panels for the new model, while DigiTimes claims the machine will launch next quarter and include Apple's M2 chip.

Apple Delays Debut of AR/VR Headset Until June

With Apple's internal timeline for debuting its long-rumored AR/VR headset having been pushed back multiple times, it looks like it's been delayed once more. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the company is now planning to show it off for the first time at WWDC in June rather than at an April event.

Apple had been planning to give the headset a high-profile unveiling at an April event before giving developers more detailed information at its developers conference, but it now appears the introduction will take place all at once in June due to continued issues with both hardware and software. Apple is reportedly still aiming to have the headset on sale before the end of year.

Apple Releases iOS 16.3.1 With iCloud Fix, Crash Detection Optimizations and More

Ahead of the iOS 16.4 beta release, Apple this week released an iOS 16.3.1 update for all users, delivering a handful of bug fixes for iCloud settings, Siri requests in Find My, and Crash Detection on iPhone 14 models, as well as some important security updates.

One of the security fixes in iOS 16.3.1 and macOS Ventura 13.2.1 is an important one, as it addresses a vulnerability that may have been actively exploited.

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Article Link: Top Stories: iOS 16.4 Beta, iPhone 15 Rumors, Headset Delay, and More

 

[I7guy]

Hopefully 16.3.1 results in some mitigation of crash detection false calls.

Think I’m going to install iOS 16.4 on my iPad.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m glad Apple really pushed out the iOS 16.4 Beta 1 this week. What a pleasant surprise! Let’s all hope Apple will be holding its first Spring Apple event in March not April.

 

[Realityck]

In addition to iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4, Apple also provided developers with the first beta versions of macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4, and a public release for everyone should come in a month or two.

The guessing game of when the next beta cycle finally resolved Thursday. This round of beta releases is likely associated with some future hardware but we’ll have to sleuth what that is. Apple for iOS and iPadOS did away with beta profiles so access is verified by Apple ID now.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

With pretty much everyone else pulling back on the AR/VR stuff I wonder how Apple thinks they will do? Especially for what is likely to be a very premium priced device.

 

[Realityck]

With pretty much everyone else pulling back on the AR/VR stuff I wonder how Apple thinks they will do? Especially for what is likely to be a very premium priced device.

Its likely that at WWDC 2023 they will likely offer prototype AR googles as DTK to allow developers to better test augmented reality apps.

 

[GtrDude]

Sounds like 16.4 will be yet another useless iOS update.

Personally I would like to see

1. redesign the notification center. It's ridiculous. At the very least add a "Clear All" button that comes up immediately, even if there's only one notification.

2. speaking of notifications, Apple needs to change that when you tap on the phone notifications it won't ring back. It needs to only go into the phone app. All other notifications take you to the app notifying you.
Be consistent Apple. People are constantly dialing back spam and robo callers. Apple needs to be on our side in this not the spammers.

3. make it possible to dismiss Calendar and any notification from any app if you're in another app.
This goes for Calendar, News, Timers...whatever the app, you shouldn't have to swipe the notification up and then go back to the lock screen or be forced to tap the notification to get into the app sending it in order to simply dismiss a notification if you're in another app when it comes in.

4. give us an LED visual on the front of the phone for notifications in addition to sound and vibration. Allow us to change the colors of the LED light based on what the notification app is.
The fine folks who like things the way they are can just leave this off and everything will be as is.

5. bring back the same intensity (or more) of the haptic feedback as it was when iOS 16 was first released.
It was great. Since then Apple has reduced it a little on every new release. Better yet, simply make it possible for people to adjust the haptic feedback.
Right now it's almost imperceptible, which is one step from being turned off anyway.
Those who are concerned with battery or simply don't like haptic feedback can leave it off.

6. make it possible to adjust volume for independent apps and settings and not this general thing they're doing.
Separate volume control for keyboard volume, music volume, ring volume, system volume, You Tube, notifications, emails.
I, for example, would love for the keyboard clicks and the lock sounds to be much louder than they are in relations with the rest of the volume in the phone and without it affecting the volume on the entire phone or the ring and notifications volume. It's silly of Apple to force it to be like this.

7. add suggestions from the address book as you start entering a phone number.
This has been available for the last 12-15 years on Android.

8. make it possible to customize the texting app in every conceivable way. Font size, bubble size shape color etc.

9. make it possible to schedule a text message to be sent at a certain time/date. This is a basic feature. Compose your message now and schedule it to be sent out when the time is right. I used to use this feature all the time when I had to text people who are in different time zones when they have to get the text at a certain time in their time zone but it's way too late for me to stay up to send the text. Just compose the text and it can be sent out while I'm sleeping or busy.

10. use an OS-wide clipboard and make cut and/or copy not expire until we, the users, clean it.
You should be able to copy text now and paste it tomorrow if you want to.
10b. make it possible to copy multiple copy entries ready to paste any one of them by long pressing, at least the last 10 cut/copies should be possible.

11. in Mail give us the option to NOT go to the next email when you are deleting an email but to go back to the inbox. Those who want to keep things the way they are should be able to turn this feature off.

12. make it possible to move the icons on the desktop anywhere you want to.

13. make it mandatory to app makers that they have to have a swipe from left to right in EVERY app to navigate back. Hitting a tiny arrow, like some of them have, at the top left on some apps and not on others to go back is inconsistent and nuts.

14. and my goodness Apple... when using snooze allow us to cancel it before it comes on if we want to.
14b. make it possible for us to have any snooze time we want in the alarm. Not just 9 minutes and that's that. If we want to snooze for 10 minutes, or 5 minutes, or....whatever we should be able to.

 

[bigpoppa]

I’m glad Apple really pushed out the iOS 16.4 Beta 1 this week. What a pleasant surprise! Let’s all hope Apple will be holding its first Spring Apple event in March not April.

Not me! It ruined my emails coming in on just my iPhone. Just html code now.

 

[crawfish963]

Battery life on 16.4 B1 has been phenomenal. I’ll be afraid to upgrade.

 

[Macaholic868]

Sounds like 16.4 will be yet another useless iOS update.

Personally I would like to see

1. redesign the notification center. It's ridiculous. At the very least add a "Clear All" button that comes up immediately, even if there's only one notification.

2. speaking of notifications, Apple needs to change that when you tap on the phone notifications it won't ring back. It needs to only go into the phone app. All other notifications take you to the app notifying you.
Be consistent Apple. People are constantly dialing back spam and robo callers. Apple needs to be on our side in this not the spammers.

3. make it possible to dismiss Calendar and any notification from any app if you're in another app.
This goes for Calendar, News, Timers...whatever the app, you shouldn't have to swipe the notification up and then go back to the lock screen or be forced to tap the notification to get into the app sending it in order to simply dismiss a notification if you're in another app when it comes in.

4. give us an LED visual on the front of the phone for notifications in addition to sound and vibration. Allow us to change the colors of the LED light based on what the notification app is.
The fine folks who like things the way they are can just leave this off and everything will be as is.

5. bring back the same intensity (or more) of the haptic feedback as it was when iOS 16 was first released.
It was great. Since then Apple has reduced it a little on every new release. Better yet, simply make it possible for people to adjust the haptic feedback.
Right now it's almost imperceptible, which is one step from being turned off anyway.
Those who are concerned with battery or simply don't like haptic feedback can leave it off.

6. make it possible to adjust volume for independent apps and settings and not this general thing they're doing.
Separate volume control for keyboard volume, music volume, ring volume, system volume, You Tube, notifications, emails.
I, for example, would love for the keyboard clicks and the lock sounds to be much louder than they are in relations with the rest of the volume in the phone and without it affecting the volume on the entire phone or the ring and notifications volume. It's silly of Apple to force it to be like this.

7. add suggestions from the address book as you start entering a phone number.
This has been available for the last 12-15 years on Android.

8. make it possible to customize the texting app in every conceivable way. Font size, bubble size shape color etc.

9. make it possible to schedule a text message to be sent at a certain time/date. This is a basic feature. Compose your message now and schedule it to be sent out when the time is right. I used to use this feature all the time when I had to text people who are in different time zones when they have to get the text at a certain time in their time zone but it's way too late for me to stay up to send the text. Just compose the text and it can be sent out while I'm sleeping or busy.

10. use an OS-wide clipboard and make cut and/or copy not expire until we, the users, clean it.
You should be able to copy text now and paste it tomorrow if you want to.
10b. make it possible to copy multiple copy entries ready to paste any one of them by long pressing, at least the last 10 cut/copies should be possible.

11. in Mail give us the option to NOT go to the next email when you are deleting an email but to go back to the inbox. Those who want to keep things the way they are should be able to turn this feature off.

12. make it possible to move the icons on the desktop anywhere you want to.

13. make it mandatory to app makers that they have to have a swipe from left to right in EVERY app to navigate back. Hitting a tiny arrow, like some of them have, at the top left on some apps and not on others to go back is inconsistent and nuts.

14. and my goodness Apple... when using snooze allow us to cancel it before it comes on if we want to.
14b. make it possible for us to have any snooze time we want in the alarm. Not just 9 minutes and that's that. If we want to snooze for 10 minutes, or 5 minutes, or....whatever we should be able to.

I agree with most of what’s on the list but this is all iOS 17 type of stuff. iOS 16.X releases are about delivering what was promised at WWDC but not ready ready for prime time along with bug fixes, security updates and the occasional non pre-announced feature like Advanced Data Protection, support for Security Keys, etc.

 

[jbmelby]

Not me! It ruined my emails coming in on just my iPhone. Just html code now.

My emails are often hopelessly garbled with html and gibberish—but not always. I’ve seen a few other messages about this issue, but not many. On the new Ventura beta, however, the same emails are fine. Anyone else?

 

[bigpoppa]

My emails are often hopelessly garbled with html and gibberish—but not always. I’ve seen a few other messages about this issue, but not many. On the new Ventura beta, however, the same emails are fine. Anyone else?

All fixed with the new beta.

 

[jbmelby]

All fixed with the new beta.

Same here!