Apple released iOS 16.2 Beta 2 to developers on Tuesday as the company prepares to make the update available to everyone in December. Officially, it adds a new Freeform collaboration app and improvements to the Home app. Under the hood, 9to5Mac discovered that Apple is working on a new “Custom Accessibility Mode” which will provide “optimized” for iPhone and iPad.
Updated post with new screenshots showing the new interface.
Custom Accessibility Mode
Codenamed “Clarity,” this new mode basically replaces Springboard (which is the main interface of iOS) with a more streamlined one. This feature, which is still not available to users in the current beta, will be available as an accessibility option aimed at making the iPhone and iPad interface more user-friendly for those users who may find it too complicated.
Apple internally describes Custom Accessibility Mode as “a customizable and streamlined way to use iPhone and iPad.” In some ways, the new mode should work similarly to the current guided access mode, which allows users to lock their device for a single app. However, Accessibility User Mode will allow users to navigate the system with some restrictions.
For example, users will be able to customize settings such as user interface and larger text, apps available on the home screen, allowed contacts, and access to hardware buttons when custom accessibility mode is enabled. You can set a password to prevent other users from changing these settings. Triple-clicking the side button (or home button) quickly toggles custom accessibility mode on and off.
After activating the mode, even the application interface becomes extremely simplified and with larger elements, as you can see below:< /p> 
While Apple is working on this User Accessibility Mode feature in iOS 16.2, it's not clear if it will become available to users after the official release of the update or in a future version of iOS.
Update: More Screenshots
Here are some exclusive screenshots showing the Accessibility User Mode interface. The lock screen has been simplified with “Hold to enter” while the home screen has giant icons without a dock. Apple native apps omit almost every aspect of the regular interface in favor of focusing on important and large elements.
More about iOS 16.2
< p>Besides custom accessibility mode, iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 include several 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. Here's a summary of everything we've discovered so far:
- iOS 16.2 beta introduces integration with Apple News in the Weather app with relevant regional news.
- Apple lets users stay live Actions update more frequently in iOS 16.2.
- Beta -iOS 16.2 introduces a new architecture for the Home app for a more robust experience.
- iOS 16.2 adds a new Sleep widget for the lock screen, as well as a Medications widget. coming soon
- iOS 16.2 allows users to report unintentional Emergency SOS to Apple
- tvOS 16.2 beta brings multiplayer Siri voice recognition to Apple TV, here's how it works
- iPadOS 16.2 Beta Adds Freeform Collaboration App, Stage Manager External Display Support
According to Bloomberg, the release of iOS 16.2 is currently slated for mid-December. As always, these updates may be delayed or features may be removed depending on development and testing progress next month.
Notice any changes in today's release of iOS 16.2 beta 2 or other new betas from Apple? Let us know in the comments below or tweet @9to5Mac. Stay tuned for our full hands-on coverage of the new releases right here on 9to5Mac today and before the end of the week.
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