Apple released iOS 12.2 beta 4 to developers on Monday, March 4, and that means public beta testers will likely get the update on Tuesday. The update features a fresh "News" app icon, a new "Apple TV Remote" tile in Control Center, and a tweaked "About" page, in addition to seemingly under-the-hood updates. If you're not yet on the beta, now's your chance to see it for yourself.
The updates in beta 4 may be minor, but they're a step in the right direction. The Apple News icon looks more like the one we seen in a previous beta directly in the app, so it only makes sense it would change on the outside too. The new Apple TV Remote icon is now just a remote image instead of an Apple TV icon, which indicates you'll be able to use it with third-party TV sets with AirPlay 2 support. It also appears in the updated now playing tiles in Siri, Control Center, and lock screen, alongside new volume icons.
You will also see an updated About page that groups together storage information. Apple already tweaked the layout for the About page, but it continues to make the information more organized.
We know that beta 4 likely introduces new under-the-hood bug fixes, as all beta updates usually do, to create a more stable version of the software that came before. Because there are no major updates this time around, Apple is likely using this update as an opportunity to solely address stability within 12.2.
The release notes are identical to beta 3. Every known issue, resolved issue, and new feature from iOS 12.2 beta 3 appear in beta 4's release notes, with no new additions of any kind. That doesn't mean this software is identical, it just means any fixes or changes are too minor to list here.
App Store - Promoting Your Subscriptions with New Offers
StoreKit now supports subscription offers in addition to introductory offers, so apps with auto-renewable subscriptions will soon be able to provide a discounted price for a specific duration for existing and previously subscribed customers. You will be able to use subscription offers to help win back subscribers who have canceled their subscriptions or promote an upgrade to another subscription at a special price. Customers can accept the offer even if they've already completed an introductory offer.
StoreKit introduces a new array of SKProductDiscount objects within the SKProduct class to display offers within your app to eligible customers. Add a new SKPaymentDiscount object within the SKPayment class to allow these offers to be accepted by the customer.
Apple Pay - Known Issues
- You might be unable to authenticate within Wallet after selecting a card. (44919900) Workaround: On an iPhone with Touch ID, double-click the Home button when your iPhone is locked then select the desired card in Wallet and authenticate before holding your iPhone near the reader. On iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, double-click the side button, select the desired card in Wallet, and authenticate with Face ID before holding your iPhone near the reader.
Cellular - Resolved Issues
- Resolved an issue that prevented prepaid data plan purchases while using cellular data. (47272516)
HealthKit - New Features
- High and low heart rate notifications and irregular heart rhythm notifications are now available as read-only category sample types. (46422154)
iCloud Photos - Resolved Issues
- Photos shared using Sharing Suggestions now load correctly. (47401696)
Lock Screen - Resolved Issues
- The device charge level no longer remains on the lock screen after removing the device from a charger. (47363913)
News - New Features
- Apple News will be available in Canada with iOS 12.2, and is now available for Canadian users on the developer beta. Apple News in Canada supports both English and French. Readers can access a bilingual experience when they follow a channel in a second language. Note: Publications in the beta do not reflect all content that will be available. Top Stories and Digests are not updated as frequently as they will be in the shipping product.
Siri - Resolved Issues
- Siri works in iOS simulators. (46681836)
To download and update your iPhone to iOS 12.2 dev beta 4, you will first need to be a registered developer with a valid configuration profile. If you have iOS 12's "Automatic Updates" enabled, you can let the software update overnight. To install right now, launch the Settings app, select "General," then "Software Update." Tap "Download and Install," then follow the on-screen prompts.
Beta testers know that iOS 12.2 is going to be a substantial update over 12.1.4. The software contains at least 19 new and exciting features, including expanded AirPlay 2 support, new Animoji, and a redesigned Apple TV remote found in Control Center, just to name a few. In fact, this list keeps evolving, as new versions of the 12.2 beta add more features and changes. Who knows what Apple will add next.
Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new emoji, enhanced security, podcast transcripts, Apple Cash virtual numbers, and other useful features. There are even new additions hidden within Safari. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.4 update.
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