Apple has released release candidates for iOS 16.2 for iPhone, iPadOS 16.2 for iPad, and macOS Ventura 13.1 for Mac.
All release candidates include support for iCloud backups and end-to-end encryption of iCloud Photos, a feature long requested by data privacy advocates and security-conscious people. Additionally, release candidates for iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.2 offer support for the new Freeform app, which is a collaborative canvas that allows multiple users to contribute content to a virtual canvas simultaneously. Support for Apple Music Sing, which is basically karaoke for Apple Music, will be included. Additionally, Apple has now limited AirDrop to be open to everyone for just 10 minutes, a change that recently helped a government crack down on protests.
iOS 16.2 RC also includes support for a medicine widget and a sleep widget for the iPhone lock screen.
iPadOS 16.2 RC includes support for iPad M1 or higher models to use Stage Manager with external displays.
MacOS Ventura 13.1 RC likely includes bug fixes and improvements for Ventura.
iPhone and iPad beta testers can find the iOS 16.2/iPadOS 16.2 release candidate available for download from the Settings app > General > Software Update.
MacOS Ventura beta testers can find the MacOS Ventura 13.1 release candidate available in System Settings > Software Update.
The release of Release Candidate (RC) builds tends to suggest that the beta testing period is over for new features and, in the absence of notable bugs or last-minute changes, can often match or closely match the release final published for the general public. This suggests that the final release of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 is coming soon, probably within a week or two.
The most recent stable release versions of Apple system software available to the general public are iOS 16.1.2 for iPhone, iPadOS 16.1.1 for iPad, and macOS Ventura 13.0.1 for Mac.
Related
