Apple simply dropped the most important level replace to iOS 17 virtually six months after its preliminary launch. iOS 17.4 packs a plethora of modifications, a few of which basically change how the OS works.
iOS 17.4 allows assist for third-party app shops, browsers, and fee apps on the iPhone. The bummer? These modifications are solely coming to the EU. Nonetheless, there are lots of new options within the OS that can improve the expertise of utilizing your iPhone.
All the brand new iOS 17.4 options
Apple has crammed iOS 17.4 with options and important modifications. A lot of them outcome from the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which matches into impact quickly, forcing Apple to make some elementary modifications to its cellular OS.
Set up iOS 17.4 in your iPhone from Settings > Basic > Software program Replace.
EU-specific modifications
NFC entry to third-party fee apps
Apple is opening the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party fee and banking apps in iOS 17.4. So, for the primary time, iPhone customers within the EU can use a non-Apple Pay fee service to make contactless funds in-store.
You’ll be able to set a default fee app from the Settings menu. iOS 17.4 may even present the apps granted entry to the NFC chip for contactless fee.
Third-Social gathering browser engines
One other important EU-specific change in iOS 17.4 is assist for third-party browser engines. Whereas Chrome, Firefox, and Edge can be found for iOS, they use the identical WebKit rendering engine as Safari as a result of platform’s restrictions.
With iOS 17.4, Apple is opening its cellular platform to third-party browser modifications.
Third-Social gathering app shops
Photograph: Apple/Cult of Mac
iOS 17.4 paves the way in which for third-party app shops and sideloading on the iPhone, at the least within the EU. Apple was towards the iPhone sideloading provision within the EU’s Digital Markets Act. However because it misplaced, the corporate has no possibility however to stick to the modifications.
So, with iOS 17.4, the corporate is opening iOS to third-party app stores and sideloading. In typical Apple fashion, although, there are lots of restrictions and clauses right here.
Apple will approve each app earlier than it’s obtainable for sideloading. Builders can solely provide them for obtain by way of different app shops.
EU builders are free to make use of non-Apple in-app fee programs of their apps. These modifications won’t be seen instantly after iOS 17.4’s launch, however builders ought to rapidly undertake them.
Builders within the EU have the choice of adopting Apple’s new enterprise phrases. Below this, they must pay 0.50 Euros per consumer per 12 months, with no different charges relevant. The primary million installations will probably be free. You could find extra details about this in Apple’s announcement from January 2024.
iOS 17.4 enhancements for everybody
Stolen Gadget Safety enhancements
iOS 17.4 additional improves Stolen Device Protection with an “At all times” safety delay for altering the safety settings. On iOS 17.3, you can change the safety settings in your iPhone after an hour from unfamiliar places.
Whereas small, the change will assist hold your Apple account and iPhone safe in case of theft.
Messaging with Siri
iOS 17.4 renames Siri’s Robotically Ship Messages characteristic to Messaging with Siri. Extra importantly, you’ll be able to specify a number of languages by which Siri can ship messages. Apple’s voice assistant was beforehand restricted to sending messages solely in English.
Transcript assist in Podcasts
Photograph: Apple
iOS 17.4 introduces transcript assist in Podcasts. When taking part in a podcast, you must faucet the primary icon on the backside from the left, which seems to be like a speech bubble inside quotes. The present’s transcript ought to then seem in your iPhone’s show.
You may also search by way of the transcript to straight leap to that timeframe on the podcast.
Emoji 15.1
Apple is including 118 emoji from the Emoji 15.1 launch to iOS 17.4. This features a phoenix, a lime and smileys shaking their heads up and down.
Photograph: Emojipedia
The brand new emoji additions will assist you to specific your self higher when speaking to buddies or household.
Fortified iMessage safety
iMessage will gain post-quantum cryptography (PQC) safety in iOS 17.4. This received’t have an effect on your ongoing conversations within the Messages app. However when you and your mates’ iPhones are on iOS 17.4, a cutting-edge safety protocol will shield all of your texts.
Revamped Battery Well being menu
With iOS 17.4, the iPhone 15 will get a revamped Battery Well being menu, displaying the cell’s situation as “Regular” if its capability will not be a priority. Tapping on this menu will present extra detailed data, just like the cycle depend and capability share.
This alteration comes inside weeks of Apple saying that the iPhone 15’s battery does not wear out as fast as initially thought.
Earlier fashions will follow the older menu, requiring you to go contained in the Battery Well being sub-menu to know the cell’s situation.
Cloud-based recreation providers on the App Retailer
Apple is altering its stance on cloud gaming providers with the discharge of iOS 17.4. The corporate will permit recreation streaming apps like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming to launch their devoted apps on the App Retailer.
Apple beforehand restricted such providers from displaying their recreation assortment by way of the iOS internet browser.
Digital card quantity in Apple Money
iOS 17.4 brings a brand new characteristic to the Pockets app: the power to create a digital card quantity for Apple Money. It is a handy possibility for making safe funds on-line or in shops the place Apple Pay isn’t accepted.
Utilizing a digital card quantity prevents you from sharing your precise card particulars for added safety.
Disable Hand gesture reactions in third-party apps
Apple is introducing a brand new API in iOS 17.4 that can permit builders to show off the hand gesture reactions of their video calling apps. Beginning with iOS 17, you can make sure hand gestures to set off reactions whereas on a video name, whether or not on FaceTime or third-party apps. Since there was no solution to flip off every gesture response, many iPhone customers inadvertently triggered them.
An API in iOS 17.4 will repair that, permitting builders to show off every individually.
iOS 17.4 launch notes
You could find Apple’s official iOS 17.4 launch notes highlighting all of the modifications under.
Emoji
- New mushroom, phoenix, lime, damaged chain, and shaking heads emoji at the moment are obtainable within the emoji keyboard.
- 18 individuals and physique emoji add the choice to face them in both course.
Apple Podcasts
- Transcripts allow you to comply with an episode with textual content that highlights in sync with the audio in English, Spanish, French and German.
- Episode textual content could be learn in full, looked for a phrase or phrase, tapped to play from a particular level and used with accessibility options equivalent to Textual content Dimension, Enhance Distinction and VoiceOver.
This replace consists of the next enhancements and bug fixes:
- Music recognition permits you to add songs you’ve recognized to your Apple Music Playlists and Library, in addition to Apple Music Basic.
- Siri has a brand new choice to announce messages you obtain in any supported language.
- Stolen Gadget Safety helps the choice for elevated safety in all places.
- Battery Well being in Settings exhibits battery cycle depend, manufacture date, and first use on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Professional fashions.
- Name Identification shows Apple-verified enterprise title, emblem and division title when obtainable.
- Enterprise updates in Messages for Enterprise present trusted data for order standing, flight notifications, fraud alerts or different transactions you choose into.
- Apple Money digital card numbers allow you to pay with Apple Money at retailers that don’t but settle for Apple Pay by typing in your quantity from Pockets or utilizing Safari AutoFill.
- Fixes a difficulty the place contact footage are clean in Discover My.
- Fixes a difficulty for Twin SIM customers the place the telephone quantity modifications from main to secondary and is seen to a bunch they’ve messaged.
What’s your favourite change in iOS 17.4?
