Tag: Beta

News

Apple Releases First Public Beta of iOS 17.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 4, 2024
No Comments on Apple Releases First Public Beta of iOS 17.5

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Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its release. The public iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 betas come two days after Apple released the betas for developers.

iOS 17
Public beta testers can get the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Public Beta. Signing up on Apple’s beta testing website is required.

iOS 17.5 is limited on new outward-facing features, focusing primarily on changes in the European Union. App developers in the EU are now able to add their iPhone apps to their website, so that users can download them directly without having to use the App Store.

To offer an app for download from a website in the European Union, developers need to meet specific criteria. Developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and must have an app with more than one million first installs on iOS in the European Union in the prior year. Other requirements include submitting to Apple’s notarization process and publishing transparent data collection policies.

This feature is limited to the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act and is not available to all users.

Apple Seeds First Public Beta of macOS 14.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 4, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Public Beta of macOS 14.5

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The public beta comes a day after Apple released the developer beta.

macos sonoma 4
Beta testers can opt-in through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, simply toggle on the Sonoma Public Beta. Note that you must sign up to participate on Apple’s beta testing website.

There were no new features found in the ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5 developer beta, and Apple listed no additions in its release notes. It is likely that the update focuses on bug fixes and other small under-the-hood improvements.

Here’s Everything New in iOS 17.5 Beta 1 So Far

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
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Apple this week made the first betas of iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 available to developers for testing. The upcoming software updates include only a few new user-facing features so far, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities.

iOS 17
Below, we have recapped everything new in the first iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 betas so far.

Web Distribution

apple ios app store safari changes
Starting with iOS 17.5, iPhone users in the EU will be able to download iOS apps directly from the websites of select developers.

Apple previously announced that “Web Distribution” would be available starting “later this spring” with an upcoming software update for the iPhone, and the first beta of iOS 17.5 includes newly-added code to support the feature.

“Web Distribution” will be limited to larger developers based in the EU. To qualify for this distribution method, Apple says the developer must be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.

“Web Distribution” builds upon the alternative app marketplaces that Apple already allows on the iPhone in the EU starting with iOS 17.4. Apple has made these app-related changes to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

Color-Changing Apple Podcasts Widget

While listening to a podcast on the iOS 17.5 beta, the background color of the Apple Podcasts widget changes to match the podcast’s cover art. This feature was first added in the iOS 17.4 beta, but it was removed before that update was released.

Code Changes

Battery Health Menu for Future iPads

iPad Battery Feature
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta includes several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad, but the feature is not actually visible yet. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery’s maximum remaining capacity and cycle count.

A sample of the code strings added in the iPadOS 17.5 beta:

“iPad must be regularly used while not connected to power to show maximum capacity.”
“This is the number of times iPad has used your battery’s capacity.”
“The iPad battery is performing as expected.”
“iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced.”
“The original battery was designed to retain X capacity at X cycles under ideal conditions. Actual battery performance depends on a number of variables, including how iPad is used and charged regularly. The one-year warranty includes service for defective batteries in addition to rights provided under local consumer laws.”

There is no visible Battery Health menu on any existing iPad models on the first iPadOS 17.5 beta, leading us to believe that the menu may be limited to the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models that are rumored to launch in May, and likely other new iPads released in the future. Apple has shown battery capacity information on iPhones for many years, but cycle count information is currently limited to the latest iPhone 15 series.

New Apple Pencil

The first beta of iOS 17.5 potentially references a new fourth-generation Apple Pencil, amid rumors that the accessory will be updated soon.

The beta includes a hidden code reference to a “V4” version of the Apple Pencil:

NumberOfApplePencilV1ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV2ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV3ConnectionsCount
NumberOfApplePencilV4ConnectionsCount

A new Apple Pencil is rumored to launch alongside updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models in May. Apple refers to the USB-C version of the Apple Pencil released last year as the third-generation Apple Pencil in iOS code, so the fourth-generation model would be a new version that would likely succeed the second-generation Apple Pencil.

Additional code in the iOS 17.5 beta suggests that the Apple Pencil could gain a “squeeze” gesture for certain actions, but details are slim.

Third-Party Item Tracker Alerts

AirTag and iPhone Notification Feature
Apple and Google last year jointly announced a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, Apple promised to expand AirTag-like “Found Moving With You” alerts to third-party item trackers in a future software update, which may be iOS 17.5.

The first iOS 17.5 beta adds references to alerts for third-party item trackers. For example: “You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item.”

Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee all expressed support for the industry specification, according to Apple’s announcement last year.

Block All Participants in Group FaceTime Calls

iOS 17.5 beta code indicates that there may be a new “Block All Participants” option for group FaceTime calls, which could help users to fight spam. We have not confirmed if the feature is functional yet in the first beta.

Wrap Up

iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 will likely be released to the public in May.

If you find any other new features or changes in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 betas, let us know in the comments section, or by emailing [email protected].

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Tags Beta, Heres, iOS

News

iPadOS 17.5 Beta Hints at Battery Capacity and Cycle Count Menu on Upcoming iPads

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on iPadOS 17.5 Beta Hints at Battery Capacity and Cycle Count Menu on Upcoming iPads

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Apple may be planning to expand the iPhone’s Battery Health menu to upcoming iPad models, based on evidence uncovered in the iPadOS 17.5 beta.

iPad Battery Feature
As discovered by MacRumors contributors Steve Moser and Aaron Perris, there are several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad within the code for the first iPadOS 17.5 beta, which was released to developers earlier this week. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery’s maximum remaining capacity and cycle count.

A sample of the code strings added in the iPadOS 17.5 beta:

“iPad must be regularly used while not connected to power to show maximum capacity.”
“This is the number of times iPad has used your battery’s capacity.”
“The iPad battery is performing as expected.”
“iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced.”
“The original battery was designed to retain X capacity at X cycles under ideal conditions. Actual battery performance depends on a number of variables, including how iPad is used and charged regularly. The one-year warranty includes service for defective batteries in addition to rights provided under local consumer laws.”

Apple will likely release iPadOS 17.5 to the public in May. Given this is a code finding in a beta, we cannot guarantee that a Battery Health menu will be added to the iPad, but it is certainly something that Apple has been working on.

iOS 17.5 beta 1: All the new features and changes

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on iOS 17.5 beta 1: All the new features and changes

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Following a lull of a few weeks, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers Tuesday. While iOS 17.4 was a big release, iOS 17.5 beta 1 packs relatively minor (albeit important) changes.

Below are all the changes we have spotted in the first iOS 17.5 beta.

iOS 17.5 beta 1: What’s new and changed

iOS 17.5 likely will be Apple’s last major iOS 17 release before WWDC24 in June. So, the absence of a headlining new feature is not surprising. Instead, the OS will build on the EU-specific changes iOS 17.4 introduced.

Directly sideload apps from developer websites

In early March 2024, Apple announced Web Distribution, allowing EU devs to offer users a way to install apps directly from their websites. This feature is present in iOS 17.5 beta 1.

Devs must accept the new App Store business terms to distribute apps directly from their website. Among other things, this includes paying a Core Technology Fee of €0.50 for every app install after the initial 1 million limit is exhausted. All apps will also have to adhere to Apple’s notarization guidelines.

Third-party tile tracking

After a bit of confusion, Lufthansa says it won't ban AirTags from checked baggage.

9to5Mac unearthed code in iOS 17.5 beta 1 pointing to new anti-stalking features. It appears the Find My app will gain the ability to track non-Apple tracking tags and devices used for stalking. You apparently can disable such devices and prevent them from sharing their locations.

In May 2023, Apple and Google joined forces to fight location-tracker abuse. The new Find My feature could be a part of that network.

Small changes in iOS 17.5, big changes in iOS 18

Barring the two notable changes above, iOS 17.5 beta 1 packs minor interface tweaks. The relatively light changes are not surprising. Future beta releases are also unlikely to change this, with Apple instead focusing on iOS 18 for later this year. We expect big changes like AI integration, additional iPhone Home Screen customization options, upgraded Apple Maps with custom routes and more in iOS 18.

If your iPhone is on the stable iOS 17.4 build, there’s no reason for you to install the latest beta given the lack of headlining new features.

Since the iOS 17.5 beta cycle has just begun, its stable build should land in May.

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Tags Beta, features, iOS

News

Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 17.5 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 17.5 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 17.5 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a month after the release of tvOS 17.4.

apple tv 4k green
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17.5 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.

tvOS software updates are often minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on smaller improvements rather than outward-facing changes. We don’t yet know what’s included in tvOS 17.5.

Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch, but Apple does not provide notes during beta testing.

Though we don’t always know what’s new in tvOS betas, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download new software upon release.

Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 10.5 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 10.5 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a month after the release of watchOS 10.4.

Apple Watch Faces watchOS 10 Feature Blue
To install the ‌watchOS 10.5 update, developers need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under “General” in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.

Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.5 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

We don’t yet know what’s included in watchOS 10.5, but should anything new be found, we’ll update this article.

Apple Releases First Beta of visionOS 1.2 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple Releases First Beta of visionOS 1.2 to Developers

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Apple today released the first beta of an upcoming visionOS 1.2 update to developers, allowing them to test new features ahead of the software seeing a public launch. The ‌visionOS‌ 1.2 beta comes a month after the release of visionOS 1.1.

visionOS Home Screen
The ‌visionOS‌ beta can be downloaded by going to the Settings app on the device and toggling on developer betas. A registered developer account is required, and Apple recommends making a backup before installing new software.

Apple may make further improvements to Personas, EyeSight, and other features with ‌visionOS‌ 1.2. We’ll update this article when we discover what’s new in the software.

Apple finally begins beta testing iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple finally begins beta testing iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5

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Apple Devices Spring 2024 — There are fresh operating system betas for all types of Apple computers.
*Photo: Apple*

After a wait that stretched out weeks longer than usual, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers Tuesday, along with the initial beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5.

And it’s going to be a very busy day for developers because iPadOS 17.5 beta 1, watchOS 10.5 beta 1, tvOS 17.5 beta 1 and visionOS 1.2 beta 1 also all went out.

iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5 are ready for developers to start testing

Work on all Apple’s operating systems is virtually continuous, and the Mac-maker traditionally releases betas of upcoming OS versions the day after the full previous version goes to all users. That’s not what happened this time.

iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 went to the public on March 5, while macOS Sonoma 14.4, watchOS 10.4, etc., debuted March 7. Apple made developers wait almost a month for betas for the follow-up versions. Still, they are out now.

They are likely to bring new features and changes, but they have just been seeded to devs so there’s been no time to determine what the differences are yet.

The build numbers for the just-released betas end in “f” (in a countdown to “a”), giving Apple plenty of space before the final releases.

Just for devs

Currently, the first round of OS betas for iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple TV are available only for those in Apple’s developer program.

Those in Apple’s free public beta program will gain access, too, but that might take a while. If Apple follows its usual habits, the second round of betas won’t arrive for two weeks.

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Tags Apple, begins, Beta, finally, iOS, macOS, Sonoma, testing

News

Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to developers, with the software coming nearly a month after Apple released macOS Sonoma 14.4.

sonoma desktop wwdc
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

We don’t yet know what might be included in ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5, but if new features are found in the beta, we’ll update this post.

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Web Distribution

Color-Changing Apple Podcasts Widget

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Block All Participants in Group FaceTime Calls

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iOS 17.5 beta 1: What’s new and changed

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Small changes in iOS 17.5, big changes in iOS 18

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iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5 are ready for developers to start testing

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