Apple brings control centre tweaks, parallax wallpapers and Apple Music widgets with iOS 26 beta 2

Apple has unveiled the second developer beta of iOS 26, showcasing a variety of interface upgrades and new functionalities that enhance user experience compared to the previous beta version. This release emphasizes visual refinement and improved usability across significant areas including the Control Centre, Apple Music, Safari, and notification systems. One of the standout features is the revamped Control Centre. The blur effect behind the widgets has been intensified and darkened, enhancing clarity and making it easier for users to interact with toggles against diverse backgrounds. Additionally, a new ringtone titled ‘Alt 1’ has been introduced under the Reflections category, now visible in the Settings app, though it appears that its development is still ongoing. In a notable update to notifications, alerts from unknown senders will now show a blue badge instead of a red one, providing a clearer distinction between various alert types, particularly for messages and unfamiliar contacts. For Apple Music enthusiasts, two new widgets have been added: a Live Radio widget for seamless tuning via CarPlay, and a shortcut widget that allows users to launch Search directly from the Lock Screen, facilitating faster access to their favorite tracks and artists. The iconic iPhone wallpaper collection has made a comeback, with each model now displaying its full gallery, including previously inaccessible system wallpapers and the addition of a parallax effect that was absent in Beta 1. Furthermore, Apple has tweaked icon alignment within the Dock; when fewer than four apps are present, icons are now left-aligned, creating a more organized appearance. In Safari, the More Menu has received a facelift with a new set of icons and a restructured list, improving ease of navigation for users. Among other enhancements, the introduction of High Contrast Mode now includes borders around Liquid Glass UI elements, which makes interactive areas more distinguishable and accessible for users. As with all beta software, these features are subject to change, and some may not appear in their current form in the final release. Apple is anticipated to provide further updates as the public launch of iOS 26 approaches later this year.