With the release of iOS 16.1, Apple introduced Live Activities - a new way for third-party apps to display useful information directly on the iPhone's lock screen or on Dynamic Island. With the iOS 16.2 beta, the whole thing has been revamped again.
With iOS 16.2, Apple is adding more frequent updates to Live Activities. The new option, which is not yet enabled in iOS 16.2 Beta 1, will enable "More Frequent Updates" for Live Activities, as 9to5mac found out The code confirms that when the option is enabled, Live Activities (and therefore Dynamic Island interactions) will request updates at shorter intervals to show "more real-time information." At the same time, the code warns that enabling the "More frequent updates for Live Activities" option will also drain the iPhone's battery faster. The message reads as follows:
More frequent updates – If you allow more frequent updates, you'll see more information in real time but your battery may drain faster.
Once the new option is available, users will be able to find it in the Settings app. More frequent updates can be very useful for some apps like Flighty, which now supports live activity and shows details about an upcoming flight. Delivery and ride-sharing apps are also likely to benefit from this option. Apple will probably announce the feature before the official release of iOS 16.2.
What else is new in iOS 16.2?
iOS 16.2 comes with a few other new features. The update introduces the Freeform app, which was announced back in June. Freeform allows users to write and draw together in a collaborative canvas. For iPad users, iPadOS 16.2 enables support for an external display with Stage Manager. iOS 16.2 also includes a new option to send feedback to Apple if the emergency call on the iPhone was accidentally triggered, as well as a new, more reliable architecture for the Home app. The update is available to developers now and is expected to be released shortly for users enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. It is expected that the update will be made available to all users by the end of the year. (Photo by Unsplash / Quinn Battick)
