iOS 11.3 Released for Public Beta Testers which Include iCloud Messages, Animoji, Health Records and More

Apple last Thursday released the first public beta of iOS 11.3 to its beta testers, Apple had published a preview highlighting features we can expect to see in the new update, this update came one day after seeding the first beta to developers and a few days after releasing the revised iOS 11.2.5 after betas period. 

Messages on iCloud

iOS 11.3 will reintroduce iCloud Messages one of the main features that came with iOS 11 after has been pulled in beta period and not reimplemented before iOS 11’s September launch, the feature enables users to save their Messages attachments on iCloud instead of iPhones and to continue the conversation on other Apple devices that have been linked to the same iCloud account. Messages on iCloud are automatically enabled.

New Animoji

iOS 11.3 extends the list of Animoji in iPhone X to become 16 Animojis with four new characters includes lion, bear, dragon, and skull giving iPhone X users more choices to mimic their voice and expression depending on the front TrueDepth camera tech.

ARKit 1.5

The update brings new version of ARKit to developers, the new ARKit 1.5 able to recognise vertical surfaces like walls and doors unlike the first just doing with horizontal surfaces like tables and chairs and the last one can more accurately map irregularly shaped surfaces like circular tables, the new ARKit is able to recognize 2D images like posters, signs, and artwork integrating these real-world images into AR scene, for example filling a museum with interactive exhibits or bringing a movie poster to life. The real-world resolution view has been reinforced (1080p) by more than 50 percent, ARKit now supports auto-focus.

Business Chat

Messages app receives a new feature called Business Chat enables you to make conversations with business customer supports within the app and even make purchases by using Apple Pay, initially debuted with iOS 11 but it will enter beta phase this spring with support form business like Discover, Hilton, Lowe’s, and Wells Fargo.

Health Records

Health app in its turn will receive a new feature called Health Records which will collect health data from many participated, like hospitals, clinics, institutions and Health app, covering allergies, conditions, immunisation, lab results, procedures and vitals, medications and others and viewing info clearly in one place and also the patient will get regular notifications when these data get updates. The Health Records data are encrypted and protected with a passcode.

Apple provided a list of medical institutions that will be included in this iOS 11.3 beta phase and in coming month more medical facilities will joining as Apple promised and usually do with new features here are some health institution; Johns Hopkins Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, Penn Medicine, Geisinger Health System, UC San Diego Health - San Diego, California, and more names are available on Apple's review.

More data info on battery health

As Tim Cook promised in more than one of his recent interviews following controversy about power management feature that Apple implementing since iOS 10.2.1, in older iPhones to prevent them from unexpected shutdowns which causes affected iPhones to be throttled at some high power usage, later iOS 11.3 beta will provide more detailed information data about battery health, recommend if a battery needs a replacement, and will be there an option allows users to turn off power management feature entirely. The feature will be found in Settings → Battery in iPhone 6 and later. 

Other IOS 11.3  features

IOS 11.3 includes others features; Apple Music will streaming music videos without ads interruption and customers are able to watch hottest new videos or ones from their favorite artists. Apple News now bring you the most important videos of the day with new Video group in For You and improved Top Stories. HomeKit software authentication provide “a new great way” to developers to add HomeKit to existing devices, support for Advanced Mobile Location AML which sends current user's location to emergency when making a call to it in countries where AML is supported, iBooks renamed just to Books, App Store update page now shows version numbers and download size of all updates and there are others here and there changes.

The members of Apple’s beta tester program are able to receive iOS 11.3 over-the-air after installing the proper certification on their iOS devices. Those who want to join the program can sign up in Apple’s beta testing website which gives users access to iOS, tvOS, macOS betas, these betas are not always stable should not be installed in a primary device, iOS 11.3 public release will be in spring.