Apple issues third iOS 10.1 beta for developers with Portrait photos for iPhone 7 Plus

By Shelumiel Ryan Abapo / Oct 12, 2016 11:33 PM EDT
(Photo : Apple) The recently launched iPhone 7 Plus features a DSLR-like blur effect over photos using the dual lens system.

Last Monday, Apple has released the third iOS 10.1 beta which includes the Portrait camera for iPhone 7 Plus that applies a DSLR-like blur effect over photos using the dual lens system. iOS 10.1 beta 3 is available only to registered developers.

According to 9to5Mac, a public beta of iOS 10.1 for non-developers is also currently active. On the other hand, tvOS 10.0.1 beta 3 for Apple TV is available for developers.

Developers can access the latest beta build of iOS 10.1 via Software Update on any registered device, or through iTunes on a Mac or PC. The upcoming update also adds an accessibility setting to turn off message effects.

The Portrait mode of iPhone 7-Plus is a feature that was demonstrated at Apple's keynote earlier this month, but this major new feature was not yet included when the iPhone 7 Plus was initially launched. However, Portrait is still not included in the released versions of iOS but developer and public betas that were released last month already included a beta version of the feature which works well already.

In a report from Apple Insider, the Portrait feature is restricted to the Plus because it requires the phone's dual-lens camera which allows iOS to gauge the depth of a scene and separate the subject. The signature feature of the Portrait would be the simulating bokeh effects to blur out backgrounds.

The bokeh effect is a pleasing blur that separates the foreground (person) from the background (other junk), reported by Mac Daily News citing Matthew Panzarino of TechCrunch.

"It's a software feature that uses the two lenses of the iPhone 7 Plus to create the look and feel of an image shot with portrait settings on a camera with a telephoto lens," he said.

"The depth mapping that this feature uses is a byproduct of there being two cameras on the device. It uses technology from LiNx, a company Apple acquired, to create data the image processor can use to craft a 3D terrain map of its surroundings."