All the New IOS 16 Features You Can’t Use Yet
After months of testing, iOS 16 is finally out today as a stable public release. It’s filled with new (or new to iPhone ) features, such as a customizable lock screen with widgets and the ability to edit and undo iMessages . But not all functions are ready to be launched .
This isn’t really particularly strange for Apple, which has a history of rolling out new features over time. A lot of new bells and whistles are announced at WWDC and then measured throughout the year. A couple of server-heavy features still need time in the oven this time around, like the new iCloud Shared Library. We can only hope that they will be available by the time iOS 16.1 is released; this update is due out with iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, hopefully in October. In the meantime, here are the details on five cool new iOS 16 features you can’t use yet.
Live events
When you install iOS 16, your iPhone will be missing some of the new lock screen experience. When, uh, live, live action will show you real-time updates on what’s happening on your phone. Think of them as a super-powerful form of notifications that can show you something like how far away your Uber ride is without having to unlock your iPhone. Neither Live Activity nor its third-party app API will be available until the iOS 16.1 update.
Shared iCloud Photo Library
This is a bummer. Apple has finally made an effort to fix the shared photo library issue by allowing up to six people to automatically share some or all of their photos with each other. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit before you can set up a shared iCloud Photo Library with your family members. There is no specific word on when this will launch, other than the apparently vague ” iOS 16 future release ” timeline.
Freeform Application
Freeform is a new app that represents Apple’s concept of a shared whiteboard: an endless canvas where different users in a FaceTime call can collaborate live. During Apple’s WWDC, this feature seemed hugely ambitious, so it’s no surprise that Apple couldn’t get it to work in time for the official launch of iOS 16. It will launch later this year alongside iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
Game center features
Apple is making another push for Game Center, but its promised new features haven’t launched iOS 16: Game Center’s new contact integration isn’t rolling out right now, nor is its new activity dashboard and profile system, so you’ll have to wait to see what games your friends are playing and their achievements. SharePlay support, which will allow users to automatically start multiplayer games during a group FaceTime call, is also being delayed.
Matter Support
Matter is the new standard for smart home devices that will work seamlessly across multiple ecosystems so you don’t have to look for only HomeKit-certified devices. It’s a great move for the entire smart home ecosystem, but Apple isn’t looking to add Matter support to iOS 16 and tvOS 16 before the end of this year.
[ 9to5Mac ]