iOS 16.1 is available here and available to download for developer beta testers. As we expected, the update includes a number of changes and features. These include updates to features already in iOS 16, additional features announced at WWDC in June, etc. Go below to see them in full.
iOS 16.1: New Features and Changes
Clean energy charging
iOS 16.1 adds a new Clean Energy Charging feature that Apple first announced earlier this week. The company says the feature is intended to “reduce your carbon footprint” by “selectively charging when lower-carbon electricity is available.”
You can find the toggle for this setting in the “Battery” menu of the Settings app and tap the “Battery and charge health” option.
Apple Wallet App Can Be Removed
As 9to5Mac first reported going, iOS 16.1 now allows users to delete the Wallet app for the first time. As you’d expect, deleting the Wallet app means you won’t be able to use a number of different features, including Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and Apple Card.
Battery percentage for more iPhones
The popular battery percentage symbol has been added to more iPhones. After first launching at the end of the iOS 16 beta cycle, the battery percentage icon is now also available on iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini.
More changes on the Lock Screen
One of the standout features of iOS 16 is the ability to customize your Lock Screen. With iOS 16.1, Apple is making a change to clarify how to customize the Lock Screen wallpaper compared to the Home screen wallpaper.
When you press and hold the Lock screen and select the “Customize” button, you will now see two obvious options: one to customize the Lock Screen wallpaper and another to customize the Home screen wallpaper.
API works directly
The live API is back with the release of the first iOS 16.1 developer beta. Apple says:
Discover how you can build Live Activity for your app using the new ActivityKit framework, now available in iOS 16.1 beta and Xcode 14.1 beta. Live Activity helps people keep track of your app’s content with real-time updates. Your app’s live activity shows on the Lock screen and in Dynamic Island – a new design that introduces a fun, intuitive way to experience iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Live Actions are even more important now than when Apple first announced them at WWDC. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max can integrate Activity directly from third-party apps into Dynamic Island, making it easy to keep up to date with things like ride sharing, sports scores, navigation, and more. etc
Initial Signs of Matter for the Home . app
iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 also include very soon support for Matter smart home accessories. Matter is a new smart home standard that aims to improve cross-platform compatibility for the most popular types of accessories.
The feature is still in its early days, and Apple has some details in the release:
- To pair Matter accessories, you must first install a profile on your device.
- Removing Apple Home from the Matter accessory’s Connected Services menu in Home does not remove the accessories tile.
- You may receive a Wi-Fi enabled warning when you pair a Matter accessory.
- Adjusting the color or color temperature may result in unwanted color sets on the Matter accessory.
- Accessory details may not open if the Matter accessory cannot be accessed.
- You may not be able to pair a Matter accessory if it’s already paired with a third-party ecosystem.
- The device that initiates the pairing needs to use the same iCloud account as the home hub. Only the owner of a home, not invited users, can pair Matter accessories.
Stage Manager tweaks in iPadOS 16.1
For iPad users, today’s new iPadOS 16.1 beta release includes several changes to the Stage Manager. Like noted by Federico Viticci on TwitterHere are the changes:
- Finally, the button to add multiple windows to one monitor also works. Windows opens with a “curtain” animation and shows you the application switcher.
- It’s easier than before to see all open windows for the same app. You can click the application toolbar icon or use the Globe-Down hotkey. That “area” always includes a + button to create a new window.
- You can now drag windows from your iPad to an external monitor with Stage Manager.
Despite these new features, Viticci says that Stage Manager still has a lot of bugs. We are still expecting an October release.
Other changes
- There is a redesigned menu for screenshots.
- The icon in the Music app is larger for your connected headphones.
- New option in Settings > Game Center for “Allow Friends to Find”.
Found any other changes in today’s release of iOS 16.1 beta 1? Let us know in the comments below or above Twitter @ 9to5Mac. Follow our full hands-on coverage with new releases right here at 9to5Mac today and throughout the rest of the week.
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