New emoji, Apple Podcasts changes and more are included in the public beta.
Apple’s first iOS 16.4 public beta was released to testers on Friday, a day after Apple released the beta to developers. Beta testers can try out new features, like updates to Apple Podcasts and new emoji.
These features are only available to people who are a part of Apple’s Beta Software Program. New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend only downloading a beta on something other than your primary phone just in case the new software causes issues. Apple provides beta testers with an app called Feedback. This app lets testers notify Apple of any issues in the new software with the app, that way the problem can be addressed before general release.
Here are some of the new features that testers can find in the first iOS 16.4 beta.
31 new emoji
The latest iOS software brings 31 new emoji to your iOS device. The new emoji include a new smiley, new animals — like a moose and a goose — and new heart colors — like pink and light blue.
The new emoji all come from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.
Apple Podcasts updates
The beta software brings a few changes to how you navigate Apple Podcasts. Now, you can access podcast channels you subscribe to in your Library. You can also use Up Next to resume podcast episodes you’ve started, start episodes you’ve saved and remove episodes you want to skip.
Preview Mastodon links in Messages
Apple’s iOS 16.4 beta is enabling rich previews of Mastodon links in Messages. That’s good because Mastodon saw a 400% increase in the rate of new accounts in December, so you might be receiving Mastodon links in Messages.
Music app changes
The Kid Cudi album Man On the Moon artwork with the track list below
A small banner appears at the bottom of the screen when you choose to play a song next in Apple Music in the iOS 16.4 beta.
Zach McAuliffe/CNET
The Music interface has been slightly modified in the iOS 16.4 beta. When you add a song to your queue, a small banner appears near the bottom of your screen instead of a fullscreen pop-up.
See who and what is covered under AppleCare
You can check who and what devices are covered on your AppleCare plan now in Settings. No more wonder if a certain device lost coverage.
Focus Mode, Shortcuts and always-on display
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, iOS 16.4 beta lets you enable or disable the always-on display option with certain Focus Modes. There’s also a new Set Always on Display option in Shortcuts, in addition to new Lock Screen and Set VPN actions.
New Apple Wallet widgets
You can add three new order-tracking widgets for Apple Wallet to your home screen with the iOS 16.4 beta. The widgets all display your tracking information on active orders, but they are different sizes — small, medium and large.
More accessibility option
The beta update adds a new accessibility option, too. The new option is called Dim Flashing Lights, and it can be found in the Motion menu in Settings. The option’s description says that video content depicts repeated flashing or strobing lights will automatically be dimmed. Video timelines will also show when flashing lights will occur.
Two new keyboards
The iOS 16.4 beta adds keyboards for the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages.
There is no word on when iOS 16.4 will be released to the general public. There’s no guarantee that these beta features will be released with iOS 16.4, or that these will be the only features that are released with the update.