Apple has released its first iOS 16.4 beta, which includes 21 new emoji designs from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.
- The iOS 16.4 update brings many new features and updates
- 21 new emojis, web push notifications, and bug fixes are within the patch
- The update also brings changes to beta access, and users can install the public beta by signing up with their Apple ID and enrolling their iOS device
Apple has released its iOS 16.4 update with new features and updates, including 21 new emojis, support for web push notifications, a new setting in the Phone app that prioritizes voice and blocks out ambient noise, the return of the page-turning animation in Apple Books, a new Mastodon support that provides automatic previews for links in messages, and more.
The iOS 16.4 update also brings back the Home architecture upgrade that was pulled from the iOS 16.2 release, and a new Apple Music Classical app is available for pre-order in the App Store, which is expected to be released on or before March 28.
In addition, the release notes for iOS 16.4 show several bug fixes, including VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app, accessibility settings to dim videos when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected, and optimization of crash detection on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
21 new emojis have been introduced with iOS 16.4
These new emojis are now available for Apple devices and include the much-requested plain pink heart emoji, as well as the shaking face and two pushing hands emojis.
The new emojis in today’s beta release of iOS 16.4 include one new smiley face, three new colored heart emojis, and two new hand gestures that should support the usual five skin tone modifiers.
However, the current beta version does not allow them to be accessed yet. The shaking face emoji can be used to express physical shaking from external forces or internal emotion, while the two pushing hands emojis can be used individually to represent a pushing or a “stop” gesture, or placed alongside one another to create a new “high five” emoji.
In addition to the new emojis mentioned above, eight new designs have also been added across the Animals & Nature and Food & Drink categories.
These include a donkey and pea pod. There are also two new additions in each of the Activity, Objects, and Symbols categories, including maracas, a hair pick, and the Khanda symbol of the Sikh faith.
It is important to note that these new designs of 21 new emojis are subject to change prior to the final release of iOS 16.4, which is expected to come to users in March or April 2023.
How to install iOS 16.4?
The beta version of iOS 16.4 is currently available for those subscribed to the Apple Developer Program. If you wish to try out 21 new emojis iOS 16.4 has to offer, use this link to sign up for Apple Developer Program.
To install the public beta for iOS 16.4, users can go to the Apple Beta page, sign up with their Apple ID, and log in to the Beta Software Program. Users will then need to enroll their iOS device and download and install the configuration profile, and enable the profile in Settings.
The beta version will then be available in the Settings app under General > Software Update. Developers can install the developer beta by logging into developer.apple.com and going to the Downloads section.
It is important to note that the developer beta is rolled out to developers first, and then to public beta testers afterward.
