iOS 26.2 Beta: Liquid Glass, Reminders Alarms & New Features
▼ Summary
– iOS 26.2 beta 1 introduces a Liquid Glass slider for customizing the opacity of the Lock Screen clock, allowing it to be nearly transparent or frosted.
– The update adds an “Urgent” alarm option in the Reminders app that triggers an alarm at a set time to help users remember important tasks.
– Live translation on AirPods is expanding to the EU with iOS 26.2, enabling Siri to provide translations through the AirPods during conversations.
– Apple News includes a new “Following” tab for favorites, saved stories, and history, plus quick-access buttons for topics like Food and Politics.
– Apple Podcasts gains AI-generated chapters and a Podcast Mentions feature that links to other shows referenced during episodes.
Apple has rolled out the initial beta version of iOS 26.2, bringing a host of fresh capabilities to iPhone users. Key additions include a Liquid Glass slider for customizing the Lock Screen clock, alarms within the Reminders app, and expanded live translation for AirPods in the European Union. The full public launch is anticipated for sometime in December.
A notable visual upgrade allows users to fine-tune the appearance of their Lock Screen clock. A new Liquid Glass slider provides control over the clock’s opacity, letting you make it almost completely transparent or give it a frosted, textured look. For those who prefer the classic style, the option to disable Liquid Glass entirely remains available.
The Reminders app gains a highly requested function: the ability to set alarms. When creating a reminder, you can now select a specific time and mark it as “Urgent.” This action will trigger an alarm at the designated moment, helping ensure critical tasks are not overlooked.
In a significant expansion, the live translation feature for AirPods is now reaching users in the EU. When someone speaks to you in a different language, Siri can deliver real-time translations directly through your earbuds. This functionality was first introduced in the United States and a few other regions with iOS 26. Its delayed arrival in Europe was due to the extra time Apple needed to align the feature with the strict requirements of the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
Apple News is also receiving interface refinements. A new “Following” tab will appear in the bottom navigation bar, consolidating your favorites, saved articles, and reading history. The app will also introduce quick-access buttons for popular categories like Food, Politics, Puzzles, and Sports.
Podcast listeners have new tools to look forward to. Apple Podcasts will now use AI to automatically generate chapters for episodes, making it easier to navigate long-form content. A “Podcast Mentions” feature will also be added; if a host references another podcast during an episode, a direct link to that show will automatically appear in the episode’s description.
Further enhancements include offline lyric support in Apple Music, so you can view song words without an internet connection. An accessibility update allows the iPhone’s screen to flash when a notification arrives, an option that can be enabled in the Settings app under the Accessibility menu.
(Source: TechCrunch)
