When Apple releases new beta software, some folks like to dig through the software and find new features, whether they’re readily available or buried in the code. Today one new feature of each type was discovered.
First up, developer Hamza Sood and 9to5Mac dug into the code of the latest OS X El Capitan beta and discovered a reference to split-screen view for the iPad mini. The split-screen functionality has already been confirmed for iOS 9, but Apple has said that it only works on the iPad Air 2. Another dev tool in El Capitan lets you simulate split-screen on an iPad mini 3 to test the responsiveness of a website.
With those two references to iPad mini split-screen support, it’s suspected that Apple will introduce a new iPad mini 4 with an improved processor that can handle iOS 9’s split-screen feature. Apple is reportedly going to hold an event on September 9, and it’s said that new iPad hardware could appear there, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we’ll see a new iPad mini there.
Next up, it’s been discovered that AT&T is now allowing select iOS 9 beta users to enable Wi-Fi Calling on their iPhones. The feature was actually discovered in iOS 9’s Settings last week, but it only started working for users today. To enable the feature, you’ll need to be on iOS 9 beta 5 or Public Beta 3, then go into Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling. If you’re in a market with AT&T Wi-Fi Calling enabled, you’ll agree to some terms and verify your emergency 911 address.
AT&T originally announced plans to launch Wi-Fi Calling way back in September 2014, saying that the feature would arrive sometime in 2015. The big blue carrier hasn’t said anything about Wi-Fi Calling since then, but it looks like AT&T might be planning for a public launch with the release of iOS 9, which is slated to come in the fall.
T-Mobile and Sprint customers have been enjoying Wi-Fi Calling for some time now. The feature lets you conduct voice calls over Wi-Fi, meaning that you can talk on the phone even if you’re in an area with poor cellular reception.
