APPLE has rolled out its biggest iOS update yet, and iPhone owners around the world are being encouraged to install it.
But there is one big change that UK and US users will miss.
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iOS 17.4 brings a whole host of new features.
This includes a new Battery Health feature, a beefed-up Siri and a number of bug fixes.
For customers in the European Union, this latest update will bring alternative app stores – in addition to Apple’s own App Store – from which users can download different apps.
iOS 17.4: Apple’s biggest change ever?
Apple has been forced to make some significant changes to its App Store rules in an effort to meet new EU laws.
The new EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) attempts to dismantle monopolies and so-called ‘gatekeeper services’.
The new laws also apply to Meta’s WhatsApp and Facebook messenger, which will also undergo major changes.
This means that the Silicon Valley giant will soon allow alternative app stores to appear on iPhones purchased within the EU.
This not only offers iPhone owners a new selection of free apps – but also reduced fees in Apple’s official app store.
Currently, iPhone users around the world can only download apps through Apple’s App Store.
But he has been accused of creating a monopoly in the app world, giving developers no choice but to go through his channels and pay for the privilege.
Apple charges developers up to a 30 percent commission on all in-app purchases.
This regime meant that developers who either failed to meet Apple’s standards or did not agree to pay its fees were excluded from all Apple devices and their users.
This rule led to Fortnite being banned from the App Store in 2020 after its developer Epic Games violated in-app payment guidelines
However, UK and US users will miss out for now.
How does this look for EU iPhones?
Analysis by Millie Turner, technology and science reporter for The Sun
For those in the EU, not much will change on the surface.
But under the hood, users will get a new button in the Settings app to set their preferred alternative app store as their default app store — if they want to.
When using a third-party app store, users in the EU will receive a pop-up warning when the app contains malware.
There are also new screens for checking information from an alternative application.
Apps distributed through Apple’s official App Store will pay a reduced commission — about 17 percent less than before — which could pave the way for slightly cheaper apps and in-app items and features.
Meanwhile, apps distributed through alternative app stores will be commission-free, suggesting the prices of those apps could be even lower.
What EU iPhone users will now have to contend with is the reality of so-called sideloading apps – which can often be Trojan horses for malware.
Improving battery health
As part of iOS 17.4, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro users will get an updated Battery Health page in Settings.
It will show users the number of iPhone battery cycles, along with the date of the device’s manufacturer.
And the iPhone battery cycle count is important because it shows the lifespan of your phone.
Knowing the battery cycle can be used to determine when you need to replace the battery.
According to Apple, “batteries in iPhone 14 and earlier models are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles under ideal conditions.
“iPhone 15 batteries are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity over 1,000 full charge cycles under ideal conditions.”
Siri upgrade
Siri’s language lessons seem to have paid off, too.
With iOS 17.4, Apple’s virtual assistant gets a new feature that lets it read the messages you receive aloud in multiple languages.
Previously, Siri could only announce texts in English.
But now he can speak German, Arabic, Spanish and Thai and more.
Can my iPhone download iOS 17.4?
Check the list below to see if your iPhone is compatible with the latest update:
- iPhone XS / iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone SE 2
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 13
- iPhone SE 3
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 15
This includes all Pro models.