On Tuesday, Apple released the latest update to iOS 16. iOS 16.2 is more than the usual mid-December update and brings a host of new features, bug fixes, and security updates. And you’re going to want to hit that download and install button immediately. In fact, you’ll want to update all your Apple devices to this week’s updates. This is a pretty big update, with a handful of major features you won’t want to sleep on.
End-to-end encryption for all your iCloud stuff
Earlier this week, Apple introduced some new security features in iOS 16.2, the most important being the ability to end-to-end encrypt almost all of your iCloud data. Naturally, Apple has to rename everything, so it calls this feature Advanced Data Protection. It’s not enabled by default, but we recommend turning it on right away. Open the Settings app, tap your Apple ID at the top, then select iCloud. Scroll down the page until you see Advanced Data Protection and tap it to get started.
You’ll have to jump through a few hoops to get it all set up, which probably explains why it’s not enabled by default. To get started, all your Apple devices need to be updated to the latest operating system (iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13.1). Then you’ll need to create some sort of way to regain access to your account if you lose your device or password, since Apple will no longer have the encryption keys for your data, which may be a trusted contact or recovery key.
Why go to all this trouble? Simply put, it takes your data keys out of Apple’s hands and back into yours. Currently, Apple encrypts some data on your device with a key that your have but they no, such as Health, Passwords and Keychain, Payment Information, and Apple Card transactions. But many important categories, including backups, are encrypted in transit and on Apple’s servers, using a key that Apple controls. That means if a hacker were to break into your servers, they could access your data. If a government agency wants that data from Apple, it could decrypt it and give it to them.
Advanced data protection adds end-to-end encryption (only your keys on your devices) to iCloud backups, photos, notes, reminders, voice memos, Safari bookmarks, and more. In fact, the only data in the cloud that is No encrypted with your own keys will be iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars. It’s worth taking the time to set it up!
Free Karaoke with Apple Music Sing
If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you’ll get a free karaoke update in iOS 16.2. The feature is called Apple Music Sing, and all you have to do is open up the song lyrics in any song, just like you did before, and look for a little microphone icon. If you see that, you’ll be able to adjust the level of the vocals, even instrumental if you want, and follow the lyrics in real time just like a real karaoke machine. Lyric views are also updated, with better animation to help you along.
Not all songs with lyrics are compatible with Apple Music Sing, but many are, and the number will increase over time. It works with machine learning instead of playing a separate track without vocals, so many updaters won’t understand it; it’s limited to iPhone 11 and later, the newer Apple TV 4K, and iPads from the last few years.
Apple
There’s a whole new foundation for the home
you will not do it watch this feature, but if you use any smart home devices, you probably feel it’s. With iOS 16.2, Apple has rewritten the underlying architecture of the Home app and HomeKit to be faster and more reliable. If you’ve been frustrated by long delays turning lights on or off or automations not processing on time, this may be the solution you’ve been looking for.
You may need to initiate the update yourself, and it’s a good idea to make sure everyone in your household and all your devices, like HomePods and Apple TV, update first. Open the Start app, tap the (…) button at the top right, then choose Start Settings. Scroll down and select Software Update. You may see a banner at the top of the screen that says “Update available for home”; that’s where it starts.
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There are more cool things for your lock screen
The customizable lock screen is one of the best features of iOS 16. With iOS 16.2, you get a couple of useful new widgets to choose from: Medications to remind you when to take your next dose, and Sleep to help you see how much you’re resting (when you’re having a tracking with an Apple Watch or other accessory).
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, you’ll get a big change to Always-On Display: the option to hide the wallpaper and/or notifications. Those will enter very practical as they make it easier to tell when your phone is in idle state and easier to read.
Follow live sports with Live Activities
Live activities are rich notifications that update in real time. So instead of getting a new notification every time the status of your food delivery is updated or the score of the baseball game changes, you’ll see a single widget-like notification that keeps you up to date. Those with an iPhone 14 Pro also get a new experience with Dynamic Island, so they can control something while using other apps.
Sports fans have been waiting to follow their favorite teams using Live Activities since iOS 16 launched in September, and the feature finally arrives with iOS 16.2. Open the TV app, then tap the Watch now tab, scroll down to the Sports row, then touch live sports. Scroll to the bottom, then tap follow your teams. Pick your favorite teams there and you’ll see information about them automatically in News along with Live Activities score updates for the games they play.
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Other odds and ends
Of course, there are plenty of other little things in iOS 16.2 that you might appreciate. In addition to nearly three dozen security updates, it has improved search in Messages (you can find images by searching the content), the Freeform shared whiteboard app, and relevant news articles in the Weather app. Plus, Game Center finally gets SharePlay for multiplayer gaming and a new home screen widget to show your friends’ activity.
