iOS 16.3: New iPhone features you can try right now

Apple launched iOS 16.3 on January 23, and the replace brings new options, bug fixes, and extra Safety updates For folks with iPhone 8 or later. One of many largest new options in iOS 16.3 means that you may now use Safety Keys to guard your Apple ID.

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

Listed below are the brand new options in your iPhone working iOS 16.3.

Safety keys come to your 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 similar to your home keys. You continue to use passwords, however this further layer of safety will help shield you from phishing scams and hackers.

“{Hardware} safety keys are very, very safe,” stated Dia Joli, Chief Product Officer of Authentication Companies Okta. CNET’s Stephen Shankland.

Apple Safety Keys solely works with FIDO Alliance licensed safety keys.

HomePod 2nd era help

It can help Apple iOS 16.3 software program HomePod 2nd era, which is due out on February 3 for $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple introduced the brand new HomePod 4 days earlier than the newest iOS software program grew to become obtainable.

New unit wallpaper for Black Historical past Month

The newest iOS replace features a new wallpaper for the iPhone as a part of Apple Black Unity Assortment. The gathering celebrates Black Historical past Month with a particular version Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic watch face and new iPhone wallpaper. Apple additionally plans to launch a number of Black Historical past Month content material for CamelAnd Health Plusand music, maps, books, podcasts and the App Retailer as a part of the suite.

New methods to make use of emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc

Emergency SOS was introduced through satellite tv for pc at Apple occasion in September. In iOS 16.3, the Contact with ready The choice has been changed with Join with maintain and launch. In the event you allow Join with maintain and launch-You’ll be able to press the aspect button and the amount button to start out the countdown and alarm. After the countdown, you launch the buttons and your iPhone will name emergency providers by itself. earlier than b Contact with ready, urgent the aspect button and the amount button first will carry up the emergency SOS name slider. In the event you maintain urgent the buttons, the countdown will begin and the alarm will go off. After the countdown ends, your telephone will make an emergency name.

There may be additionally an choice for Name calmly in emergency SOS. With this selection enabled, while you attempt to make an emergency SOS name, your telephone is not going to begin blinking or beeping.

Beneath is an inventory of the brand new options and modifications which are included in iOS 16.3.

• Unity’s new wallpaper honors black historical past and tradition in celebration of Black Historical past Month.
• Apple ID Safety Keys enable customers to extend the safety of their account by requiring a bodily safety key as a part of the two-factor authentication sign-in course of on new units.
• HomePod (2nd era) help.
• Emergency SOS calls now require the aspect button to be pressed along with the amount up or down button after which launched to forestall unintended emergency calls.
• Fixes a difficulty in freeform the place some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil won’t seem or your finger won’t seem on shared canvases.
• Addresses a difficulty the place the background might seem black on the lock display.
• Fixes a difficulty the place horizontal traces seem briefly whereas waking the iPhone 14 Professional Max.
• Fixes a difficulty the place the Residence Lock Display screen widget doesn’t precisely show the standing of the Residence app.
• Addresses a difficulty the place Siri might not reply accurately to music requests
• Resolves points that will trigger Siri requests in CarPlay to be misunderstood.

For extra iOS 16 information, see what new options have been added iOS 16.2 And iOS 16.1. Here is how one can Signal as much as take a look at Apple’s iOS beta programadditionally.