Beta tester life is hectic! ?
Just a day after the official launch of iOS 12, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12, Apple has just opened testing of their first minor updates.
The first beta versions of iOS 12.1 (build 16B5059d), from 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 (build 10O23u).
It was only missing the macOS Mojave 10.14.1 to enter beta, of course, because version 10.14 will only be officially released next Monday (9/24).
There are some features already announced by Apple that may (or may not) arrive in these updates: Dual SIM support on the XS / XS Max / XR iPhones, Group FaceTime on iOS and macOS, and the ECG app for the Apple Watch Series 4 (United States only).
We will let you know if any of them are present in these betas.
So, who’s going to test? ?
Update Sep 18, 2018 at 16:24
Investigating the iOS 12.1 beta code, 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 Lighting HDMI adapter as an intermediary for video-out)
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2018
Face ID supports landscape orientation (possibly only for the iPad), and iOS 12.1 seems to take a lot more into account if an external monitor is connected (perhaps due to rumors of an iPad with USB-C; it won’t have one Lightning to HDMI adapter as an intermediary for video output).
Face ID working with the iPad horizontally is something that we can judge as * necessary * in the case of the tablet, but it would be sensational see this released by Apple for software also for the iPhones XS, XS Max, XR and – why not? – X.
We will follow!
Update II DD / MM / 2018 at 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, Face ID in landscape should require a realignment of the front sensors, so we shouldn’t see it on current hardware.
I hope he’s wrong! ?
Update III Sep 18, 2018 at 16:55
At least in this first beta of iOS 12.1, the Group FaceTime (with up to 32 people) is back! Unless Apple again does not feel confident during the tests that will be carried out with the various beta builds in the coming weeks, it is likely that it will come in this first update of iOS 12.
Update IV Sep 18, 2018 at 22:39
THE 9to5Mac also found, in the iOS 12.1 beta codes, references that may indicate a future synchronization of Memojis via iCloud.
This doesn’t make much sense today, since hardly anyone will have more than one iPhone X / XS / XR, but with the rumors of new iPad Pro coming around, things change.
Update V Sep 19, 2018 at 12:32
And let’s go to more news of iOS 12.1 beta!
New in iOS 12.1: the 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.com/WfNBerHIrb
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 19, 2018
According to Steve Troughton-Smith, iOS Simulator (from Xcode) now supports external virtualized displays in 4K resolution.
The problem is that, currently, it is not possible to use something like this because no iOS device can support such a resolution using the Lightning Adapter for Digital AV.
What does that mean? Well, we may be facing yet another indication that the iPad Pro 2018 will actually come with a USB-C connector instead of Lightning, precisely to allow this 4K video output. ?
Update VI, by Bruno Santana Sep 20, 2018 at 14:55
Apple has just released the first betas of the iOS 12.1 It’s from tvOS 12.1 in the Apple Beta Software Program.
WatchOS, as usual, is out of the cake because it does not have a public test version offered by Apple.
Update VII Sep 24, 2018 at 16:00
Since Friday (9/21), Apple has made available on its portal for developers builds from iOS 12.1 beta 1 to iPhone XS it’s the iPhone XS Max – that is, those who buy the new devices will have no problems if they are running trial versions.
