Apple released iOS 16.2 beta 2 for developers yesterday, with the goal of releasing the final version to the public in December. Officially, it adds the new Freeform collaboration app and improvements to the Home app. Under the hood, our colleagues at 9to5Mac discovered that Apple has been working on a new custom accessibility mode that will provide a “streamlined” experience for iPhone and iPad.
Custom accessibility mode
Codenamed “Clarity”, this new mode essentially replaces the spring board (which is the main interface of iOS) by a simpler interface. The feature, which is still not available to current beta users, will be available as an accessibility option, aimed at making the interface of iPhone and iPad more user-friendly. who would find it too complicated.
Apple describes Custom Accessibility Mode as a “customizable and streamlined way to use your iPhone and iPad.” In some ways, the new mode should work similar to the current Guided Access mode, which allows users to lock their device to a single app, ideal for children, for example. However, the custom accessibility mode will allow users to navigate the system with certain restrictions.
For example, users will be able to set things like larger UI and text, apps available on the home screen, allowed contacts, and access to hardware buttons when custom accessibility mode is set. activated. A password can be set to prevent others from changing these settings. Triple-clicking the side button (or home button) quickly toggles custom accessibility mode on and off.
Once the mode is activated, even the interface of apps becomes extremely simplified and with larger elements, as you can see below:
Even though Apple has been working on this Custom Accessibility Mode feature with iOS 16.2, it is unknown whether it will be available to users with the official release of the update or with a future version of iOS.
Here are some exclusive screenshots showing the interface in use. The lock screen is simplified with a “Hold to enter” function while the home screen features giant icons without a Dock. Apple’s native apps eliminate almost every aspect of the usual interface to focus on the big, important stuff.
Learn more about iOS 16.2
Along with Custom Accessibility Mode, iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 feature a few notable changes. The Freeform collaboration app is now available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac users. There are also changes to the Home app, updates to the Weather app, and more.