Fast beta tester life! 😜
Just one day after the official release of iOS 12, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12, Apple has just opened trials of their first minor updates.
The first beta versions of iOS 12.1 (compilation 16B5059d) of watchOS 5.1 (16R5559d) and the tvOS 12.1 (16J5575c). Soon, they should also paint for members of the Apple Beta Software Program (minus watchOS, which is not part of the program).
In addition to the systems themselves, Apple has also released to developers the Xcode 10.1 beta (compilation 1023u). Only MacOS Mojave 10.14.1 was missing beta, of course, because version 10.14 will only be officially released next Monday (24/9).
There are some features already announced by Apple that may (or may not) come with these updates: Dual SIM support on XS / XS Max / XR iPhones, Group FaceTime on iOS and macOS, and the ECG app for the Apple Watch Series 4 (s in the United States). We will let you know if any of them are present in these betas.
And who is going to test? 😉
Update 09/18/2018 16:24
Investigating the iOS 12.1 beta codes, the hacker / developer Steve Troughton-Smith already found something cool:
Face ID has support for landscape orientation (presumably for iPad only), and iOS 12.1 seems to care a lot more about whether an external display is connected (perhaps due to iPad USB-C rumors; it won't have the HDMI Lighting adapter as an intermediary for video-out)
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2018
Face ID has support for landscape orientation (possibly only for the iPad), and iOS 12.1 seems to take much more into account if an external monitor is connected (perhaps due to rumors of a USB-C iPad; it doesn't have a Lightning to HDMI adapter as intermediate for video output).
Face ID will work with the iPad horizontally, something we might think is * necessary * for the tablet, but it would be sensational You see this released by Apple software also for iPhones XS, XS Max, XR and why not? X. We will follow!
Update II DD / MM / 2018s 16:50
Steve himself finds this difficult:
From what I gather, landscape Face ID would require a realignment of the front-facing sensors, so you won't see it on existing hardware https://t.co/gVyB4Hz3pW
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2018
From what I can tell, landscape Face ID must require realignment of the front sensors, so we shouldn't see it on current hardware.
I hope he's wrong! 😛
Update III 9/18/2018 4:55 PM
At least in this first beta of iOS 12.1, the FaceTime in group (up to 32 people) is back! Unless Apple again does not feel confident during the tests that will be performed with the various beta builds in the coming weeks, it may come in this first update of iOS 12.
Update IV 09/18/2018 s 22:39
O 9to5Mac also found, in iOS 12.1 beta codes, references that may indicate a future feature of Memojis sync via iCloud. That doesn't make much sense today as hardly anyone has more than one iPhone X / XS / XR, but with rumors of new iPads coming up the thing changes the picture.
Update V 09/19/2018 s 12:32
And let's get some more from iOS 12.1 beta!
New in iOS 12.1: iOS Simulator supports virtualized 4K external displays. This is not possible on any existing iOS device via the Lightning HDMI adapter lends credence to iPad perhaps getting a USB-C port for 4K video-out? pic.twitter/WfNBerHIrb
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 19, 2018
According to Steve Troughton-Smith, iOS Simulator (from Xcode) now supports virtualized external displays in 4K resolution. The problem is that it is currently not possible to use something like this as no iOS device can support such resolution using the Lightning to Digital AV adapter.
What does that mean? Well, we may be faced with yet another hint that the 2018 iPads Pro will actually come with a USB-C connector instead of Lightning, just to allow this 4K video output. 😳
Update VI, by Bruno Santana 09/20/2018 s 14:55
Apple has just released the first beta of the iOS 12.1 It's from tvOS 12.1 in the Apple Beta Software Program. WatchOS, as usual, stays out of the cake for not having a public trial version offered by Ma.
Update VII 09/24/2018 s 16:00
Since Friday (9/21), Apple has made available on its developer portal builds from iOS 12.1 beta 1 to the iPhone XS it's the iPhone XS Max that is, those who buy the new devices will have no problem if they are running trial versions.
