Apple released the second preview of iOS 16.2 and Co. for developers on Tuesday evening. The company is preparing to make the update available to all users in December. Officially, it contains the new Freeform app for collaboration and improvements to the Home app. But there have also been changes under the hood.
As the US blog 9to5mac reported, iOS 16.2 contains hints in the code that Apple has been working on a new "Custom Accessibility Mode" that will provide a "streamlined" experience for iPhone and iPad. This new mode, codenamed "Clarity," replaces the Springboard (iOS's main interface) with a sleeker version.
The custom conditional helpers
The feature, which is not yet available in the current beta version, will be available as a Conditional Accessibility option and is intended to make the iPhone and iPad interface more user-friendly for those users who find it too complicated. Apple describes Custom Conditional Accessibility Mode internally as a "customizable, streamlined way to use your iPhone and iPad." In some ways, the new mode will work similarly to the current Guided Access mode, which allows users to restrict their device to a single app. However, Custom Accessibility Mode allows users to navigate the system with some restrictions. For example, users can specify which apps are available on the home screen, which contacts are allowed, and which hardware buttons can be used when Custom Conditional Accessibility Mode is enabled. A password can be set to prevent others from changing these settings.
iOS 16.2 and Co. are scheduled to launch in December
With a triple click of the side button (or home button), the custom mode can be quickly activated and deactivated. Once the feature is activated, even the interface of the apps is extremely simplified and filled with larger elements. Although Apple has been working on this feature with iOS 16.2, it is unclear whether it will be available to users with the official release of the update or with a future version of iOS. In addition to the custom conditional assistance mode, there are a few other notable changes in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2. The Freeform Collaboration app is now available for iPad, iPhone and Mac users. There are also changes to the Home app, updates to the Weather app and more. The official launch of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and Co. is reportedly scheduled to take place in December. (Photo by Brandon Romanchuk / Bigstockphoto)
