iOS 17.4 is anticipated to be launched to all customers this week. The replace contains a number of new options and adjustments for the iPhone, as outlined beneath.
Key new options in iOS 17.4 embody main App Retailer, Safari, and Apple Pay adjustments within the EU, Apple Podcasts transcripts, and an iMessage safety improve. The replace additionally provides new emoji, introduces Apple Money digital card numbers, additional prepares for the launch of next-generation CarPlay this yr, gives varied bug fixes, and extra.
The adjustments within the EU are in response to the Digital Markets Act. Apple has till March 6 to adjust to the brand new rules, with a purpose to keep away from fines, so iOS 17.4 will probably be launched on or earlier than that date. In a press launch final month, Apple already confirmed that iOS 17.4 could be launched in some unspecified time in the future in March.
Extra particulars in regards to the new options and adjustments observe.
App Retailer Modifications in EU
To adjust to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Apple introduced main adjustments to the App Retailer, Apple Pay, Safari, and extra. These adjustments will probably be applied with iOS 17.4 for iPhone customers who reside within the 27 international locations that belong to the EU.
Initially, Apple now permits different app marketplaces and different cost choices on the App Retailer within the EU. Different adjustments within the EU embody a brand new default net browser choice display in Safari, the flexibility for third-party net browsers to make use of net engines apart from Apple’s WebKit on the iPhone, the flexibility for third-party cellular pockets apps to entry the iPhone’s NFC chip for contactless cost performance, and extra.
For extra particulars, learn our recap of all the EU adjustments in iOS 17.4 and Apple’s overview.
Apple Podcasts Transcripts
Beginning with iOS 17.4, the Apple Podcasts app now presents transcripts for podcasts, permitting listeners to learn the total textual content of an episode, seek for a selected phrase or phrase, and faucet on the textual content to leap to a sure a part of the episode. As an episode performs, every phrase is highlighted, much like Apple Music tune lyrics.
Apple says it mechanically generates transcripts after a brand new episode is printed. Transcripts can be found for podcasts in English, French, German, and Spanish, and they are going to be added for older episodes in a podcast’s catalog over time.
iMessage Safety Improve
Apple just lately introduced a brand new post-quantum cryptographic protocol for iMessage referred to as PQ3. Apple says this “groundbreaking” and “state-of-the-art” protocol gives “in depth defenses towards even extremely refined quantum assaults.”
iMessage already helps end-to-end encryption, however safety researchers acknowledge that current cryptographic protocols utilized by messaging apps depend on mathematical issues that might probably be solved by future quantum computer systems. Whereas these computer systems don’t exist but, Apple is getting ready for the long run with PQ3’s new protections.
PQ3 will probably be progressively rolling out for supported iMessage conversations beginning with iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, and watchOS 10.4, in accordance with Apple, and the corporate says it should totally change iMessage’s current cryptography protocol inside all supported conversations beginning later this yr. All units in an iMessage dialog have to be up to date to the above-mentioned software program variations or later to be eligible.
For technical particulars, learn Apple’s safety analysis weblog put up and our earlier protection.
New Emoji
iOS 17.4 provides new emoji, together with a damaged chain, a brown mushroom, a head shaking horizontally, a head shaking vertically, a lime, and a phoenix.
Subsequent-Era CarPlay Preparations
The primary iOS 17.4 beta contains code for eight new CarPlay apps:
- Auto Settings: This app will allow you to handle paired iPhones and modify car settings.
- Automobile Digital camera: This app will show the car’s rear-view digicam feed.
- Cost: For electrical automobiles, this app will show battery stage, charging standing, time remaining till the battery is totally charged, and extra.
- Local weather: This app will present entry to a car’s local weather controls inside CarPlay, permitting you to regulate the temperature of the A/C or heating system, fan velocity, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and extra.
- Closures: This app will show if any of the car’s doorways are opened, and it may additionally show car warning symbols.
- Media: This app will present entry to FM and AM radio station controls inside CarPlay, together with different media choices like SiriusXM. It’s unclear if SiriusXM will supply satellite tv for pc connectivity, or stay restricted to web streaming. Customers will be capable of choose from an inventory of music genres, comparable to Prime 40 and Rock.
- Tire Strain: This app will show air strain for every of the car’s tires, and supply low strain, excessive strain, and flat tire warnings.
- Journeys: This app will present quite a lot of driving-related information, together with the car’s common velocity, gas effectivity or power effectivity, the full time elapsed and distance traveled on a visit, and extra.
Apple just lately confirmed that the primary car fashions with next-generation CarPlay will probably be launched in some unspecified time in the future in 2024.
Extra
Learn our full checklist of iOS 17.4 options and Apple’s launch notes to study extra adjustments coming with the replace.
