Apple recently said that its product lineup is "set" for the upcoming holiday shopping season, indicating that no new Macs or other devices will be announced through the rest of 2022. However, there are still at least five noteworthy items on Apple's calendar that we may anticipate seeing before the end of the year.
iOS 16.2
The beta version of iOS 16.2 is presently available, and a mid-December release is anticipated. Apple's new whiteboard app Freeform, new Home app architecture, Live Activities for some sports games via the Apple TV app, new Sleep and Medications widgets for the Lock Screen, unintentional Emergency SOS call reporting, 5G support in India, and other new features are all included in the software update for the iPhone.
In December, Apple also intends to release tvOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, and iPadOS 16.2. With support for up to six family members, tvOS 16.2 for the Apple TV offers multi-user Siri voice recognition for a more individualized experience.
emergency satellite SOS
The new Emergency SOS via Satellite function, which is supported by all four iPhone 14 models, enables users to send text messages to emergency services even when they are outside the area of cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity. Apple has not provided a precise release date for the feature, only stating that it "will be available with an iOS 16 software update arriving in November 2022" on a support page.
Emergency SOS via Satellite will most likely be available with iOS 16.1.1, which is now in testing, given that iOS 16.1 was released in late October and iOS 16.2 is anticipated to be released in December. There is also a chance that iOS 16.1.2 would enable Emergency SOS via Satellite, although there is currently no evidence of such an upgrade, and Apple would probably want to launch the function before the week of the U.S. elections. Thanksgiving.
Only the United States and Canada will have access to Emergency SOS via Satellite upon launch, and the first two years will be free. By the end of the next year, Apple would purportedly roll out the feature to more nations, according to reports.
Apple Music Classical
Apple announced that it has purchased the classical music streaming provider Primephonic in August 2021. Apple announced at the time that it intended to release a specific classical music app in 2022 that would incorporate Primephonic's user interface and additional functionality.
While the Apple Music Classical app is still missing, hints of it were found earlier this year in the code of iOS 15.5 and an XML file on Apple's servers. Given its specialized function, not much else is known about the app, including whether it will be distributed as a standalone download on the Program Store or as a built-in app.
Even if Apple Music Classical is not a preloaded app, it appears that the app will have system-level integration, so if Apple fulfills its 2022 schedule, its release will probably coincide with a software upgrade such as iOS 16.1.1 or iOS 16.2.
Expansion of the Self-Service Repair Program
Apple has less than two months to fulfill its August pledge to extend its self-service repair program to more European nations and Mac models equipped with Apple silicon chips before the end of the year.
Customers in the United States now have access to official Apple equipment, parts, and manuals for performing do-it-yourself repairs on models of the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE thanks to the initiative, which was initially introduced in April. The M1 series of chip-equipped MacBook Air and MacBook Pro machines were added to the program in August.
Shopping Day on Black Friday
Since many years ago, Apple has offered customers a free Apple gift card worth between $25 and $200 with the purchase of an eligible new iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods, or other product during a four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and a few other countries.
One of the rare times a year that Apple gives discounts on its goods is on Black Friday, which falls on November 25 this year. However, bigger discounts are frequently available through resellers like Amazon, so be sure to check out our Black Friday roundup throughout the month.