Apple debuts iOS 16's first public beta with lock screen widgets, iMessage edit and undo, Pay Later, and more, alongside macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS public betas
Engadget Kris Holt
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple has made public betas a recurring stage in its operating-system release cycle: the 2018 iOS 12 test brought Group FaceTime and Siri Shortcuts, while the iOS 14 public beta put widgets on the iPhone home screen. iOS 16 extends that customization thread to the lock screen while again pairing iOS with companion-platform betas.
The release also follows developer previews across Apple’s OS lineup, moving the same annual software cycle to a wider testing audience rather than treating each platform as an isolated launch.
First-order effects
- Public-beta participants on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS gain access to the new releases, with iOS testers able to use lock screen widgets, iMessage edit and undo controls, and Pay Later.
- Apple is testing a coordinated set of platform updates at once, making the iOS 16 experience part of a broader Apple-device software rollout.
Second-order effects
- Moving widgets from the iPhone home screen to the lock screen expands Apple’s interface-customization strategy to a more immediate, glanceable surface for iOS users.
- iMessage’s new editing and undo controls change the messaging experience first for the public-beta cohort, making communication behavior an early test area alongside visual customization.
Third-order effects
- If Apple sustains the sequence from developer preview to multi-platform public beta, public testing becomes an institutionalized release layer that connects its operating-system portfolio before wider deployment.
The trend: Apple is increasingly using synchronized public betas to stage feature changes across its device ecosystem, with interface customization and messaging controls as prominent testable updates.
Related: Apple · iMessage · macOS · iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 public beta · iOS 12 public beta
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Discussion
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@viticci
Federico Viticci
on x
I spent the past month using iOS and iPadOS 16. Stage Manager is a major shift for iPadOS, and it's doing something I thought was impossible: making me like overlapping windows. My preview story: A New iPad Era https://www.macstories.net/... https://twitter.com/...
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@stevemoser
Steve Moser
on x
2) I would forgo the updated Lock Screen if that meant that iOS 16 didn't drop support for so many older devices. iPadOS didn't get an updated Lock Screen and it only dropped support for iPad Air 2.
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@rsgnl
Joe Rossignol
on x
Always a strange day when Apple releases the first public betas and all the tech sites that respect the developer beta NDA suddenly get to talk about all the new features like they are brand new haha. Nothing really new to cover from a MacRumors perspective.
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@viticci
Federico Viticci
on x
The iOS 16 Lock Screen is going to be a massive hit. I've had so much fun playing with wallpapers, Photo Shuffle, fonts, and colors. Customization is back after 2 years. And that's before *the* big feature of it is even available: third-party widgets. https://www.macstories.net/.…
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@hayatohuseman
Hayato Huseman
on x
I want iOS 16 asap just for the new lockscreen setup https://twitter.com/...
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@iupdate
Sam Kohl
on x
Updated now playing screen in the latest iOS 16 beta 😍 [LockScreen video: ClownFish screensaver swapping with Music widget]
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@stevemoser
Steve Moser
on x
iOS 16 thoughts so far. Lots of little quality of life improvements. Lock Screen update is great except: 1) The player controls are smaller and harder to hit because they are at the bottom and move around if a notification is on screen as well. 2)... https://twitter.com/...
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@johnvoorhees
John Voorhees
on x
One of the things that struck me after I'd finished my Ventura preview and read what @viticci wrote about iPadOS is there are far more ways to combine apps on Stage Manager's stage on an iPad than there are on the Mac. I hope was see some of that make its way to the Mac soon.
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@johnvoorhees
John Voorhees
on x
I've spent the past month with macOS Ventura and Stage Manager has gone from a feature I need to try for my review to one I want to use every day. Plus hands on with a pre-production version of Belkin's MagSafe Continuity Camera mount on @macstoriesnet: https://www.macstories.net…
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@marcoarment
Marco Arment
on x
I already have half as many users on iOS 16 as I do on iOS 14.
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@reckless
Nilay Patel
on x
So @pierce has been playing with iPad OS 16 and [... “but so far I hate Stage Manager” ..]
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@classicii_mrmac
Mr. Macintosh
on x
The 2022 Apple Public Beta session is live! Both Public Beta releases have a new build version but should be the same as the developer Beta 3 macOS Public Beta 💻 Ventura (22A5295i) Full installer released, checking IPSW iOS Public Beta📱 iOS 16 (20A5312j) iPadOS 16 (20A5312j) http…
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@zollotech
Aaron Zollo
on x
Along with iOS 16 Beta 3 Update, Apple also released what they are calling updates which match the Public Beta Builds. iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Update macOS 13 Beta 3 Update https://twitter.com/...
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@briantong
Brian Tong
on x
The Public betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16 & macOS Ventura are rolling out now! Remember, they are still BETAS. https://beta.apple.com/... https://twitter.com/...
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@appltrack
@appltrack
on x
🚨 Apple has officially released the first iOS 16 public beta! Sign-up for free at https://beta.apple.com/. https://twitter.com/...
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@videocoachtanya
@videocoachtanya
on x
Wait..what?? Is it Christmas? Did Instagram just open up livestreaming via 3rd party stream platforms like Restream, Melon, Streamyard? https://about.instagram.com/ ...
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@ichris
Chris Enns
on x
Instagram now allows you to stream with 3rd party apps (OBS, Ecamm, etc.) to Instagram Live. Details here. https://about.instagram.com/ ...
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@gamingcareers
@gamingcareers
on x
Instagram live now officially supports streaming from @OBSProject using a stream key. 📐 720x1280 at 30/60fps 🚦 Vertical aspect ratio recommended (but not required) 📊 Supports bitrate range of 2,250-6,000 Kbps More info: https://about.instagram.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
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@angelaishere
Angela Kim
on x
You can FINALLY use a streaming service (through stream key) for Instagram Live https://about.instagram.com/ ...
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@richontech
Rich DeMuro
on x
Instagram Live Producer will allow you to go live on Instagram using streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs, etc.) https://about.instagram.com/ ...
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@mattnavarra
Matt Navarra
on x
Instagram have launched Instagram Live Producer 🔴 You can now go live on Instagram using streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs etc) via your desktop. More info: https://about.instagram.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...