Apple released iOS 17.4 beta 1 to public beta testers on Tuesday, days after the company released a developer beta and more than a week after iOS 17.3 was announced. The beta brings new features, including big changes for people in the European Union and new emojis, for some iPhone developers and beta testers.
Read more: Why you should download iOS 17.3 now
We recommend downloading the beta only on a device other than your primary device. Since this isn’t the final version of iOS 17.4, these features can be buggy and battery life can be short, so it’s best to keep those issues to a secondary device.
If you’re a developer or public beta tester, here are some of the new features you can find in iOS 17.4 beta 1. Keep in mind that the beta isn’t the final version of iOS 17.4, so these might not be the only new features to land on your iPhone when it’s released iOS 17.4. There’s no word yet on a public release for iOS 17.4, but Apple has indicated that it will likely be in March.
Downloading other app stores in the EU
Apple introduced a significant change to Safari, the App Store, and iOS with iOS 17.4 beta 1, but only for people in the EU. With iOS 17.4 beta 1, people in the EU can download alternative app stores and apps outside of the App Store. According to CNET’s Katie Collins, this marks one of the biggest changes to the App Store since its launch in 2008. People in the EU will also get new default app controls, giving them more ways to customize their iPhone experience.
People in the EU will soon have access to other app stores and more.
Apple made these changes, which were announced on Thursday, to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The company said these changes will take effect when Europeans download iOS 17.4 in March or later. No word on whether these changes will be available globally.
Read more: Apple will allow competing app stores to be installed on iPhones in Europe
More options for in-app payments
Apple introduced more ways to make in-app payments with the first iOS 17.4 beta. If you go to Settings > Privacy & Securityyou will see the option called Contactless and NFC, or near field communication. If you tap the new option, you’ll be taken to a mostly blank page that has a small disclaimer saying that the page will show apps that have requested the ability to use contactless and NFC payments in the future. Apple announced these options alongside the changes for people in the EU, and there’s no word on whether apps outside of that region will use it.
New regional identifier
In the first beta version of iOS 17.4 there is also a new regional identifier. If you go to Settings > General > About Me and scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see Identifiable_Region. There is a link for more information about the feature, but it doesn’t seem to be working right now. This indicator could be a way for Apple to identify who is in the EU and may have the above new settings, but it is not clear at this time.
At least 100 new emoticons
Some of the new emojis coming to iOS 17.4 include a phoenix, a lime wedge, and broken chains.
Apple introduced over 100 new emojis to iPhone users with the first beta version of iOS 17.4. These emoji include heads shaking up and down, as well as left and right, a phoenix emoji, and a lime wedge. These emoji were announced in 2023, and some Android devices, including the latest Samsung phones, already have them.
More options to protect against a stolen device
With iOS 17.4 beta 1, Apple introduced several new options in Stolen Device Protection. The new options let you choose whether you want to always request a one-hour security delay to access certain settings or make changes, or only request a delay when you’re away from a known location like your home.
Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection with iOS 17.3, and the feature is intended to protect some of your data if your device is stolen or falls into the wrong hands. This feature doesn’t protect all of your data, but Apple still recommends that everyone turn it on.
Podcasts can now show transcripts
You can read a transcript of your favorite podcasts with the first iOS 17.4 beta.
In the first beta version of iOS 17.4, you can read the transcripts of your favorite Podcasts while you listen to them. To view transcripts, go to Podcasts and start listening to a show, tap the show banner at the bottom of the screen. Then look at the bottom of the show’s title card and you’ll see a new button in the lower left corner that looks like a speech bubble with quotes inside it. Tap this button and you’ll see a transcript of the show you’re listening to. You can also search within the transcript, so if someone mentions the title of a book or movie and you only remember part of it, you can search for the part you know and find the full title.
The new home page in the Music app
Apple introduced the Home button in Apple Music with iOS 17.4 beta 1. If you open the app and look at the bottom of the screen, the Home button has replaced the Listen Now button in the far left corner. If you tap this button and subscribe to Apple Music, you’ll be taken to a page that shows you menus, like Recently Played, and recommendations based on the artists you’ve been listening to.
Siri can send messages in more than one language
With the first iOS 17.4 beta, Apple gave Siri the ability to send messages in multiple languages. If you go to Settings > Siri & Search, you will see an option Sending messages with Siriwhich he replaced Automatic sending of messages. Touch Messaging with Siri and you will see Add a language. If you tap this, you can send messages to Siri in other languages, such as Arabic, Spanish, and Thai. Apple notes that Siri will also read messages using the languages on this list, but selecting one from this list will not change the primary language in which Siri listens and responds. Before that, Siri could only send messages in English.
Stopwatch in live activities
With iOS 17.4 beta 1, the stopwatch function of your Clock app can now appear at the top of your screen on iPhones with Live Activity, such as iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15. Before you used the stopwatch, you had to stay in the app to track the stopwatch. With this beta, you can start the stopwatch, then go to your home screen or another app and the stopwatch will appear at the top of your screen.
These are some of the new features that developers and beta testers will see in the first iOS 17.4 beta. That doesn’t mean these are the only features coming with the next iOS update, or that these changes will remain in effect when iOS 17.4 is released to the public. There is currently no exact release date for iOS 17.4, but Apple has indicated that it could be released in March.
For more information about iOS 17, see What’s Included in iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.2. You can also check out our iOS 17 cheat sheet.
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