As expected, Apple released the second beta of iOS 15.2 and Co. to registered developers on Tuesday evening. Below we summarize all the new features.
Apple has now officially released the second preview of iOS 15.2 and Co. While only a few new features were added to the first version, Beta 2 appears with significantly more features - an overview is provided below.
iOS 15.2 adds legacy contact
When iOS 15 was introduced in June, Apple introduced a new Digital Legacy feature that lets a user designate a person as a legacy contact who will have access to their Apple ID account and personal information in the event of their death. Apple didn't include the Legacy Contact feature in iOS 15 because it wasn't ready yet, but it's now been added in the second beta of iOS 15.2. It lets you designate an heir or legacy contact who will have access to your Apple ID in the event of your death. Apple says the person you designate as a legacy contact will be able to "access the data stored in your account after your death," including "photos, messages, notes, files, contacts, calendar events, apps you've downloaded, device backups, and more." The data doesn't include your iCloud Keychain data or licensed media.
Communication security in iMessage
As previously reported, Apple has enabled a new security feature in iMessage in iOS 15.2 Beta 2 – Communication Security. With this new feature, the messaging application warns children when they receive or send photos that contain nude images – more about it here.
Updated Apple TV app
The Apple TV app has also been changed as part of the update. With today's update, the TV app gets its own sidebar, which replaces the tab bar at the bottom of the screen. The sidebar lets you easily switch between the different areas of the app, such as Originals, your library, and Watch Now - more about it here.
"iCloud+" feature: Hide email address
The feature was previously only available through iCloud settings on Apple devices, but now it can also be accessed directly in the Mail app. When you write an email in the Mail app, click the "From" field to enable the "Hide email address" option. Selecting this feature will generate a random email address that hides your real email address.
"Find My" adjustments
Last but not least – Find My and AirTags. If you open the Find My app on iOS 15.2 and go to the Items tab, there is an option for “Items that can track me.” Tapping on it will let you search for items near you that can track your location. When enabled, Unknown Items will search for anything that is nearby. The feature will inform users if there is a device nearby that belongs to someone else. When an item is discovered, Apple will offer instructions on how to disable the device so it can no longer be exploited for tracking. Apple also offers a “Return Lost Items” option, which is identical to the previous “Identify Found Items” feature.
When will iOS 15.2 and Co. be released for all users?
The "Return Lost Items" feature starts a scan that finds nearby devices and provides instructions on how to contact the owner of the device, with the instructions tailored to the device in question. It is currently not known when iOS 15.2 and Co. will be rolled out to all users. However, it is expected that Apple will release the new versions before Christmas. If further innovations emerge, we will report on them separately as usual. Do you already know the early Black Friday deals on Amazon? Stop by, there are dozens of bargains to be found. (Photo by Blan-k / Bigstockphoto)
