iOS 17.5 Beta Released with Web App Distribution in EU
Apple is set to reveal its latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18, at WWDC 2024 in just over a month. Meanwhile, the company is actively updating the current version, iOS 17. Regular updates with new features and bug fixes have been released almost every month. Recently, iOS 17.4 was launched, and now iOS 17.5 is available for beta testing by both developers and public beta users.
The latest iOS 17.5 update introduces several exciting new features and improvements for iPhone users, aimed at boosting the overall iOS experience. After thorough beta testing, Apple has rolled out two beta versions of the 17.5 update so far. The final version is anticipated to be released soon, probably in May. Here’s a closer look at all the new additions in the iOS 17.5 update.
iOS 17.5 features
In iOS 17.5, a key new feature is Web App Distribution across the EU. This allows users to download apps directly from a developer’s website, making the process more straightforward. However, developers need to follow Apple’s rules and pay a Core Technology Fee if installations go beyond a certain limit. This feature is still in beta, but it’s expected that more developers will start using it once iOS 17.5 is publicly released.
Read Also: iOS 18 Hype Builds: Could This Be the Most Impactful iPhone Update Ever?
Apple News+ subscribers in North America have a new game to play called “Quartiles.” This fun word game has players make words from a grid of tiles, offering an additional engaging feature to the subscription service. Plus, with the new iOS 17.5 update, Game Center is now integrated into all three Apple News+ games, allowing users to compete for high scores and track their rankings on daily challenge leaderboards.
Design changes: The update includes some small design tweaks. The Podcasts widget now changes its color to match the artwork of the podcast you’re listening to. In the Apple Books app, there’s a new “Reading Goals” icon in the navigation bar. Also, the Settings app features a new symbol for the ‘Passkeys Access for Web Browsers’ option.
Read Also: iOS 18 Preview: Making the iPhone More Personal and Fun
Enhanced Privacy: Recent findings by 9to5Mac indicate that iOS 17 will introduce new anti-stalking features for accessories such as AirTags. This update aims to boost privacy by allowing users to spot and deactivate any tracking devices, including those not approved by Apple or connected to the Find My network. This move is part of Apple’s efforts, in collaboration with Google, to prevent unwanted tracking and safeguard user privacy.
Mobile Device Management Update: The latest iOS 17.5 update enhances MDM (Mobile Device Management) capabilities. It now allows organizations to enforce beta versions on iOS devices during automatic enrollment. This improvement simplifies managing deployments for these devices.
While iOS 17.5 currently aims to meet the EU’s Digital Markets Act requirements, it’s unclear if Apple will add more features before the final version is released.
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