iOS 16.2: all the new features

HomeKit improves, Freeform arrives, Stage Manager becomes more powerful: the menu is attractive!

What’s new for iOS and iPadOS 16.2?

• Stage Manager and external screen (iPadOS only): this application window management feature can be used with an external screen connected to the iPad, with up to 8 applications visible in Stage Manager on the remote display (compared to 4 apps on the iPad screen). Only condition, the iPad must have an Apple silicon chip
• Emergency call: appearance of a new option in the settings to notify Apple in the event of an unwanted launch of the emergency call feature

• HomeKit: new architecture underlying the HomeKit ecosystem, in place in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16, but also macOS Ventura 13.1 and HomePod software in version 16.2. This new feature should, on paper, improve HomeKit performance with compatible devices. These must be updated to support the new HomeKit architecture, not to be confused with the new Matter standard, which arrived with iOS 16.1. The changes underlying this new version of HomeKit are for the moment quite vague
• Live Activities: Live  Activities may update more often. To modify this new option, you must go to Settings > application name > Live activities , and activate the “More frequent alerts” parameter. You can do the test with the Apple TV application for example. Be careful, when activated, this option can have a significant impact on the autonomy of your iPhone.
• Freeform: Apple’s new “free” note and drawing application is finally available. You can, on a single page, write text in Pencil, insert images, PDF documents, web links, or even write on the keyboard, among other possibilities, in particular collaborative work via FaceTime. 

• Stock market: the stock market tracking application signed Apple has new sorting options. The sorting setting is independent for each watchlist configured and also applied in the Stocks app widget
• Always-on screen:  On iPhones taking advantage of the always-on screen feature (iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max to date), new options appear. They’re in Settings > Brightness & Display > Always-On Display . These are two tweaks to show or hide the wallpaper and notifications when the always-on screen is active. If these two options are disabled, the screen shows a black background and does not display any notifications. 

• Old notifications: Previously, to see old notifications, in the notification center or the home screen, you had to swipe up from the bottom. In iOS 16.2, the behavior is the same on the locked screen. On the other hand, new and old notifications are displayed automatically
• Display bug when changing app: when switching from one application to another, some display bugs may occur. This bug is fixed in iOS 16.2
• AirDrop and 10-minute limit: Once AirDrop is enabled with the “Everyone” setting, sharing can only be done for 10 minutes. Exceeded this time, AirDrop returns to “Contacts only” mode. Until then, there was no time limit. This is an addition requested by the Chinese government to avoid sharing content that goes against it.
• Security:  End-to-end encryption is in place for a lot of iCloud data, including device backups, notes, Apple ID, and photos. This prevents anyone intercepting data from decrypting and reading it, the decryption code being on the device wanting to consult the contents, your iPhone typically
• Messages: improved search function based on terms contained in photos
• Apple Music: a new karaoke feature is on the way