After releasing iOS 17.4 for iPhone users, Apple is now giving iOS 17.5 beta 1 to developers. While it’s not clear what changes with this upcoming operating system update, this could be one of the last software updates for the iOS 17 cycle before the announcement of iOS 18 in early June.
While Apple has already released all the delayed features for iOS 17 devices, the company has gone ahead and unveiled several other features, including key changes it had to make to comply with new European legislation. With the Digital Markets Act, Apple had to open up the iPhone to sideloading, which added to EU users the ability to use a third-party app store, a new browser as their primary choice, new third-party payments, and more.
One of the features likely to come with the iOS 17.5 beta cycle is the ability for developers to allow EU iPhone users to download apps directly from their websites. This is announced by Apple as a feature coming “later this spring,” which makes sense with the possible release date of iOS 17.5.
In addition, iOS 17.4 added several other features, such as:
- Changes to the game app: Users can now take advantage of streaming gaming apps, such as GeForce NOW. These developers can offer games within their apps.
- Messaging with Siri: Siri can read incoming messages in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and more.
- New emojis: More than 28 new emojis are available with iOS 17.4. You can discover them here.
- Changes to protection against stolen devices: Apple has added an option to always require two-factor authentication instead of just unknown locations.
- AirPods on Android: When your AirPods are used on an Android device or Windows PC, a new notification appears on your iPhone so you can restore the connection to it
- iPhone 15 battery lasts longer: Apple says the iPhone 15 can last at least 1,000 full cycles with up to 80% total battery life, compared to the 500 cycles of its predecessors. In addition, there is a new battery setting that shows the number of cycles of your iPhone, when the battery was manufactured and when it was first used.
- The new iMessage protocol: iMessage is also being upgraded with iOS 17.4 with a new post-quantum cryptographic protocol that improves secure end-to-end messaging. You can find out more about it here.
For iOS 17.5 beta 1, Apple will likely continue to work on compliance with EU legislation, but you shouldn’t expect the company to add major changes before the release of iOS 18. Still, BGR we’ll let you know when we discover new features that are available in this first beta version.