Getting started with iOS 16 beta 1: a minor but compelling update

At the end of each opening keynote of its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple makes available the first beta versions of the operating systems announced. It is therefore very logical that beta 1 of iOS 16 is already available. Guided by her curiosity, the writing of Digital naturally installed it on an iPhone 13.

Entirely different lock screen

First big novelty, the special dimension given to the lock screen. It finally adopts widgets, as well as a range of customization options. An unprecedented approach in the apple, while the competition has offered this possibility for years. To customize your lock screen, nothing could be simpler: just press it to open a new menu and choose a wallpaper. A photo from the photo library, a selection concocted by Apple, thematic backgrounds related to weather or astronomy, or even a background made up of emojis? The possibilities are multiple and can be more or less tasteful.

After this first choice comes that of the design of the clock, the color to adopt and the widgets to place. Where the date is usually displayed, the user will now be able to display more information such as the stock market price or upcoming events in the calendar. The widgets frame is placed under the time frame. Please note, they are currently available in limited numbers: you have to be satisfied with the time, the weather, the state of the battery, HomeKit or even reminders. Their number will necessarily increase when the developers of third-party apps will have appropriated this option.

Still concerning the time, it is possible to modify the font and its color, the latter also being able to adapt to the wallpaper chosen. A rather pleasant harmonization which also recalls Android 13.

Notifications change location with this new lock screen. They are now displayed at the bottom of the screen to be more easily accessible and less to hide the background image (appreciable if you have chosen a portrait, for example). New “cards” can also be found here: they take the name of Live Activities in Apple jargon and include sports results, tracking a run, the Uber driver or even the music listening. So many features that are currently not available in this beta 1 – only listening monitoring is available today.

iMessage becomes a real messenger

Three new features are coming to iMessage, the blue bubble service created by Apple, but two will really be used on a daily basis: deleting and modifying a message after it has been sent. Once the message has been sent, the user has 15 minutes to intervene. Convenient for correcting small spelling mistakes, for example. To modify a text or delete it, it’s rather simple: the emissary only has to make a long press on his blue bubble to bring up a menu of quick actions. With this addition, Apple and iMessage take a small step ahead of WhatsApp which, to date, only allows you to delete a sent message, but not to modify it. a posteriori.

Even if it is not a component specific to iMessage, we note that Apple has improved its native keyboard, providing it with a semblance of haptic feedback. A small feature that will however have to be activated in the Sounds and vibrations settings.

Clever (and rather convincing) clipping

Live Text, a function born last year with iOS 15, is improving in iOS 16. Not content with analyzing text, translating it on the fly, copying it or recognizing animals and flowers, it is also able to cut out subjects such as humans or animals. This feature is very intuitive, because all you have to do is keep your finger pressed on the target to be clipped and then drag it into a conversation. The clipping is done using machine learning, and let’s face it, we were pleasantly surprised by the results. Obviously, not everything is perfect, but given the speed of execution, we forgive the inaccuracies of the clipping.

As a reminder, beta 1 is currently reserved for developers. The installation is at your own risk since you are not immune to bugs that could corrupt your data or simply lose it. A beta intended for the general public will be available during the summer, before the final version expected in the fall. As for model compatibility, iOS 16 can be installed from iPhone 8.