iOS 16 Beta 4 new features and improvements

Apple has launched iOS 16 Beta 4 for developers. This update introduces a series of new features and optimizes and improves iMessages, Home, Mail, lock screen notifications, CarPlay, etc. Foreign technology media MacRumors has reviewed the changes in iOS 16 Beta 4. The official version of iOS 16 will be officially launched with the iPhone 14 series in September this year.

iMessages edit and undo feature tweaks

In order to eliminate user concerns, Apple has shortened the time to withdraw a message from 15 minutes to 2 minutes. After the user withdraws the message, a reminder "a message has been withdrawn" will be displayed, but the content of the withdrawn message will not be displayed, even if the recipient has read the message before.

Apple has also limited the re-editing of messages. After users click on a message, the editing history will be displayed, and a message can only be modified up to 5 times within 15 minutes. Previously sent iMessages can be re-edited unlimited times within 15 minutes. A re-edited message will be annotated as "edited" without showing which parts have been modified.

Additionally, Apple allows iMessages to be deleted or “undone” within 15 minutes. This is intended to help fix typos or undo messages sent to the wrong person, but it can also be used to cancel harmful messages.

Live Activities API

Apple has launched ActivityKit in beta form, allowing developers to test Live Activity features on the lock screen. However, at this stage, apps can only deploy these new features through TestFlight.

Live Activities can provide a real-time overview of information on the lock screen. For example, a sports app can allow users to follow the dynamics of the game on the lock screen. Apple has previously stated that the Live Activities feature will not appear in the list of first features of iOS 16, but it will be available to users through a subsequent update, possibly iOS 16.1.

New wallpapers available in the Home app

iOS 16 Beta 4 offers new Wildflowers and Architectural wallpapers in the Home app.

Enable new time limit for undoing sends in the Mail app

In the Mail app of iOS 16, users can undo the sending of emails. In the previous three Beta versions, the time limit for undoing sending was only 10 seconds, but in the fourth Beta version, Apple provides three options: 10 seconds, 20 seconds, and 30 seconds.

Lock screen notification settings

Apple has enhanced the visuals of lock screen notifications in the Settings app. In iOS 16 Beta 4, Apple now offers Count, Stack, and List styles on the lock screen notifications.

New lock screen customization interface

Apple has re-customized the lock screen interface and now offers more customization options such as colors, gradients, photos, etc.

Make the music player more prominent on the lock screen

Apple has updated the music player on the lock screen to make it more prominent.

New wallpapers for CarPlay

Static wallpapers on iOS 16 have landed on CarPlay, including blue, gray and colorful

Other improvements

• According to the release notes, Apple has made a number of bug fixes in iOS 16 Beta 4.
• When customizing your lock screen to indicate where to place widgets, a new “Add Widget” prompt will appear.