iOS 16.3: The New iPhone Options You Can Strive Now

Apple launched iOS 16.3 on Jan. 23, and the replace brings new options, bug fixes and safety updates to folks with an iPhone 8 or later. One of many largest new options in iOS 16.3 means now you can use safety keys to guard your Apple ID.

This replace was launched alongside updates for different Apple software program, too, like iPadOS, Safari and former variations of iOS. The newest iOS replace arrives a few month after the discharge of iOS 16.2.

Listed here are the brand new options touchdown in your iPhone with iOS 16.3.

Safety keys come to Apple ID

Customers can now use third-party safety keys as an alternative of two-factor authentication for his or her Apple ID. 

Safety keys are so much like keys to your private home. You continue to use passwords, however this further layer of safety may help shield you in opposition to phishing scams and hackers.

“{Hardware} safety keys are very, very safe,” Diya Jolly, chief product officer of authentication service firm Okta, informed CNET’s Stephen Shankland.

Apple’s safety keys function solely works with FIDO Alliance-certified safety keys.

Assist for the second-gen HomePod

Apple’s iOS 16.3 software program will assist the second-generation HomePod, which is about to be launched on Feb. 3 for $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple introduced the discharge of the brand new HomePod 4 days earlier than the most recent iOS software program was made obtainable.

New Unity wallpaper for Black Historical past Month

The newest iOS replace features a new iPhone wallpaper as a part of Apple’s Black Unity Assortment. The gathering celebrates Black Historical past Month with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic watch face and the brand new iPhone wallpaper. Apple additionally plans to launch a collection of Black Historical past Month content material for Apple TV, Health Plus, Music, Maps, Books, Podcasts and the App Retailer as a part of the gathering.

New methods to make use of Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc

Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc was launched at Apple’s occasion in September. In iOS 16.3, the Name with Maintain possibility has been changed with Name with Maintain and Launch. Should you allow Name with Maintain and Launch, you possibly can maintain the facet button and a quantity button to provoke a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you launch the buttons and your iPhone will name emergency companies by itself. Earlier than with Name with Maintain, urgent the facet button and a quantity button would first carry up the Emergency SOS name slider. Should you continued to carry the buttons, a countdown began and an alarm would go off. After the countdown ended, your cellphone would make an emergency name.

There’s additionally an choice to Name Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this selection, whenever you attempt to make an emergency SOS name, your cellphone will not begin flashing or making an alarm sound.

Right here is the checklist of latest options and modifications included in iOS 16.3.

• New Unity wallpaper honors Black historical past and tradition in celebration of Black Historical past Month.
• Safety Keys for Apple ID enable customers to strengthen the safety of their account by requiring a bodily safety key as a part of the 2 issue authentication check in course of on new units.
• Assist for HomePod (second era).
• Emergency SOS calls now require holding the facet button with the up or down quantity button after which releasing so as to forestall inadvertent emergency calls.
• Fixes a difficulty in Freeform the place some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger could not seem on shared boards.
• Addresses a difficulty the place the wallpaper could seem black on the Lock Display screen.
• Fixes a difficulty the place horizontal traces could quickly seem whereas waking up iPhone 14 Professional Max.
• Fixes a difficulty the place the Residence Lock Display screen widget doesn’t precisely show Residence app standing.
• Addresses a difficulty the place Siri could not reply correctly to music requests
• Resolves points the place Siri requests in CarPlay will not be understood accurately.

For extra iOS 16 information, see what new options have been added in iOS 16.2 and iOS 16.1. This is how one can signal as much as check Apple’s iOS beta software program, too.

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