Apple has released the Release Candidate (RC) version of iOS 17.4 to both developers and public beta testers. This signals the imminent arrival of the final public release, likely devoid of any significant changes unless critical issues arise. Let’s dive into the new features, expected release dates, and a few other notable updates from Apple.
Key New Features and Changes in iOS 17.4
- Sideloading for the EU: In compliance with European Union regulations, iOS 17.4 introduces sideloading capabilities strictly within the EU region. This allows users to install third-party app stores and apps beyond Apple’s App Store. Additionally, it enables the use of alternative web browsers with different codebases than Safari and WebKit, and support for third-party in-app payment methods.
- Emoji Updates: Keeping up with the latest Unicode standards, iOS 17.4 adds a delightful collection of new Emoji, including a mushroom, lime, head shaking gestures, new animals, and more. You’ll also find expanded options for people and body Emojis, as well as variations such as pointing to the right and a visually impaired person with a walking stick.
- Enhanced Business Interactions in Messages: Businesses can now integrate with the Messages app to provide richer information to customers, including order status updates, flight notifications, fraud alerts, and details about other transactions conducted via text.
- Battery Health Improvements (iPhone 15 Series): Exclusive to iPhone 15 models, the battery health section now displays a simple “Normal” status alongside the maximum capacity percentage and cycle count. Apple has also doubled the cycle count threshold for these models, now capable of reaching 1,000 cycles before dropping to 80% capacity.
- Podcast Transcriptions: The Podcasts app receives a significant upgrade with the addition of full transcriptions. Users can search within the transcription, jump to specific points based on keywords, and even enjoy support for multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, and German).
- Other Noteworthy Updates: iOS 17.4 introduces Siri updates for multilingual messaging, a new “City Digital” clock widget, security enhancements for device protection, call identification improvements, and more.
What’s Missing in the Release Candidate?
Apple has seemingly removed a few features that were present in earlier betas, including the wider address bar in Safari and live activities for the stopwatch. These features might return in future iOS 17.5 updates.
Release Timeline, Bug Fixes, and Performance
Based on the release of the RC, the final public version of iOS 17.4 is expected to arrive on or around March 4th. iOS 17.5 beta should follow shortly after. Apple has also addressed various bugs in this release, including a persistent notification bug, stock wallpaper issues, Airdrop problems, and contact picture visibility in Find My.
