Update: iOS 10 Public Beta 1 is now live. It features the same build version (14A5297c) as iOS 10 Developer Beta 2.
Following the latest iOS 10 beta for registered developers, Apple is releasing the very first iOS 10 public beta for non-developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch today. Back in mid-June at WWDC 2016, Apple first promised iOS 10 would hit public beta status sometime in July. The iOS 10 public beta will bring new features including a redesigned Apple Music app, an overhauled Messages experience, and much more.
Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program. The first public beta will follow the second developer beta of iOS 10, which included several new changes:
- Tweaked HomeKit iconography in Control Center
- Notification Center ‘Missed’ becomes ‘Recent’
- Today view for widgets in Notification Center can once again be accessed with swipe down from Home screen, not just within apps
- Iconography for Apple TV and speakers tweaked in AirPlay settings in Control Center
- HomeKit app icon updated from solid yellow to Home app icon in Settings
- Apple Music replaces ‘Downloaded Music’ with ‘Downloads’, no longer removable
- Maps now includes option for ‘Show Parked Location’ plus feature explanation in Settings
- Messages now has Low Quality Image Mode toggle in Settings
- Mail has new filter icon (was previously a filter, now lines within a circle
- Notification Center now has Weather Channel credit once again
- Control Center 3D Touch options have tweaked language, icons
- New Organ Donation changes available in Health app
- Music now has Shuffle option from Songs section (previously had to play a song before shuffling)
- ‘Rest Finger to Unlock’ option in Accessibility Settings
- Lock screen adds ‘Unlocked’ animation in status bar when unlocked, previously just removed lock icon
- App Store now works with Split View on supported iPads
- iMessage App Store introduced over the weekend now promoted with splash screen
- Feedback app available for more users
- 3D Touching folders with badges now shows badges per apps, previously said ‘Unread’ per app
- Interactive notifications now work differently on non-3D Touch devices (swipe down versus slide over to access options)
- Subtle new Siri animation (Home screen minimizes in background)
- Connect Posts now appears below For You content on For You tab, Connect tab appears when you disable Apple Music, new banner promoting sign ups
- Apple News is now a “removable” app (holding out hope for Photo Booth)
- Keyboard click sound has reverted to classic version, iOS 10 beta 1 included updated sound
- New ‘Featured Complications’ section in Apple Watch app
- AirPlay/Bluetooth headphones and speakers now appear from Now Playing screen in Music
- Autofill sync option for Music to Apple Watch (Smart and Random options)
- Background App Refresh toggles for Apple Watch
- Use Previous Duration option in Breathe app settings for Apple Watch
- New CarPlay button to skip directly to a message
Check out our hands-on coverage plus video below:
- Apple unveils iOS 10 at WWDC 2016, new lock screen, Siri SDK, much more
- iOS 10 coming this fall, developer beta today and public beta in July
- Here are the iOS 10 features and developer tools Apple didn’t detail on stage
- Hands-on: iOS 10 iPhone and iPad tidbits
- Hands-on: The all-new Music app in iOS 10 [Gallery]
- Download iOS 10 and macOS 10.12 Sierra wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- CarPlay in iOS 10: Improved Apple Music, removing & rearranging apps, more
- Hands-on: iOS 10 + watchOS 3 Home app for HomeKit on iPhone, iPad, & Apple Watch
- Hands-on: 75 new features in iOS 10 [Video]
- iOS 10: A look at 30 additional new features [Video]
And from this week’s beta 2:
- Apple issues iOS 10 beta 2 for developers, here’s everything new
- 50 new iOS 10 beta 2 features [Video]
Stay tuned for the iOS 10 public beta 1 release shortly as Apple pre-announced its release just ahead of availability today.
