Pavel Jelic Apple released a big big update in the form of iOS 16.1 to all users yesterday evening. This is a really long-awaited update that brings some new features as well as fixes for all kinds of errors and bugs. Apple released two more minor updates before iOS 16.1, which also fixed labor pains. Let's take a look together in this article at 8 new features in iOS 16.1 that you should definitely know about.
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Vratislav Holub Shared iCloud Photo Library
Probably the most anticipated feature in iOS 16.1 is the Shared Photo Library on iCloud. Apple did not have time to properly test and prepare this before the release of iOS 16, so it comes in its full glory only now in iOS 16.1. If you haven't heard about this news, after activating and setting it up, a second shared photo library will be created, to which you can then add participants - for example, family, friends and others. Together, you will run a photo library to which all participants can not only add content, but also edit and change it. To activate and set up, just go to Settings → Photos → Shared Library.
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Battery percentage in the top bar
In iOS 16, after several years of waiting, we finally saw the addition of a battery percentage indicator to the top bar on newer iPhones with Face ID. Until then, this indicator was not available and users had to always open the control center to view it. According to Apple, there was simply no room for this information next to the cutout, which is of course stupid, given that the iPhone 13 (Pro) has a reduced cutout. Anyway, quite inexplicably, Apple decided to hide the percentage indicator directly in the battery icon. However, it wouldn't be Apple if there wasn't a "but" - in iOS 16, the new indicator was not available on the iPhone XR, 11, 12 mini and 13 mini. In iOS 16.1, however, you can already activate it here, just go to Settings → Battery, where turn on switch Battery status.
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Live activities
Another of the expected features, which is already partly available in iOS 16, is Live Activities. These are a kind of live notifications that can display various information in real time directly on the locked screen. Until now, however, Live Activities could only be used with native applications, for example when setting a timer. In the new iOS 16.1, however, there has finally been an expansion, so that Live Activities can also be used by third-party applications. You can see, for example, the current exercise time, the time until the Uber arrives, the status of a sports match and more directly on the locked screen.
Lock screen customization interface
The main novelty in iOS 16 is definitely the redesigned lock screen. Users can now create several of these, with the possibility of their individual modification also being offered. For example, there is a change in the font style of the time, widget settings and much more. The redesign itself is simply great, but users have complained a lot about the lack of clarity of the interface in which the modifications are made. And so in iOS 16.1, Apple decided to go easy redesigned lock screen interface, which should be a bit clearer. In addition, there was also a slight redesign of section v Settings → Wallpapers.
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Automatic download of application content
If you've ever downloaded a larger game on your iPhone, you know that only part of it is downloaded from the App Store, and you have to let the rest download after you first launch the game. And it should be mentioned that several gigabytes of data are often downloaded just after the first launch, so you have to wait unnecessarily if you haven't started the game beforehand. However, in iOS 16.1, a trick was added that will take care of this for you - specifically, it can let the content download automatically after downloading the application. To activate, just go to Settings → App Store, where in the category Automatic downloads turn on the option Content in apps.
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App access to clipboard
Apple is constantly striving to improve privacy protection in its systems, and iOS 16 is no exception. For example, a security function was added here, which prevents unlimited access of applications to the clipboard, where users can have all kinds of data stored. Specifically, the application must first ask you for access to the mailbox, otherwise it simply cannot access it. Shortly after the release of iOS 16, users complained that this feature was very strict and that the app had to ask for access very often, so in iOS 16.0.2 there was a modification and less strictness. In the new iOS 16.1, Apple added a direct option in which it can be fixed whether (or not) the application will have access to the clipboard. Just open it Settings → [app name], where this new section is already located.
Support for the Matter standard
If you run a smart home, or if you are currently preparing for it by choosing products, then you certainly know that there are currently countless different manufacturers and ecosystems that you can choose from. The truth is that many of us simply do not choose from the offer of just one manufacturer, so complications arise in the form of the need to install multiple applications and compatibility. That's exactly why Apple came up with a solution called Matter, which aims to unify all ecosystems, i.e. Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa. The Californian giant didn't have time to add Matter to iOS 16, so we waited until now in iOS 16.1, where we can finally start using it and simplify our smart life.
Reach with Dynamic Island
If you own a larger iPhone, you most likely use the Reach feature on it, which can move content from the top of the screen down so you can still use the phone with one hand. However, if you own an iPhone 14 Pro (Max), you must have noticed that the Dynamic Island, which practically serves as an additional function button, does not move to the bottom when you activate the Range. However, in iOS 16.1 we received a correction, i.e. an improvement, and after activating Reach on the latest flagship, the dynamic island will also move downwards.
Why is an article about ios 16.1 popping up on the main page when we are all eagerly awaiting the release of ios 16.2 with lots of new features and bug fixes? Does it make sense?