The iOS 17.4 Release Candidate Is Out

With the European Union’s Digital Markets Act set to enter impact subsequent week, Apple is getting ready for the ultimate iOS 17.4 launch to convey the iPhone into compliance earlier than the deadline. In consequence, it’s pushed out the ultimate Launch Candidate (RC) construct to builders in preparation for the broader public launch.

Apple usually seeds Launch Candidates of every iOS replace a few week earlier than sending those self same variations out to the general public. Usually, the RC construct is equivalent to the ultimate model, however the early launch offers a window for builders and beta testers to spotlight any issues that might be show-stoppers.

Because it’s supposed to be the ultimate construct, the RC additionally consists of the identical launch notes, giving us a heads-up of what we will anticipate when iOS 17.4 lands in everybody’s fingers subsequent week.

We already know that iOS 17.4 will embody vital modifications in how apps are distributed in Europe. That’s why this explicit replace, in contrast to most iOS variations, has a tough deadline hooked up to it. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) comes into pressure on March 6, 2024, so Apple has to make sure the iPhone is able to help the restricted type of app sideloading required by the brand new European legal guidelines, which interprets to help for third-party app marketplaces on this case. Whereas we don’t know what number of app marketplaces shall be obtainable at launch, Epic Video games reportedly already has one within the works.

Nonetheless, these modifications shall be unique to the 27 nations which might be members of the EU and received’t make a lot distinction to these of us who stay elsewhere. Fortunately, there’s extra coming in iOS 17.4 than simply app sideloading and help for third-party net browsers.

What’s Coming in iOS 17.4

Though earlier iOS 17.4 betas have given us a reasonably good thought of what to anticipate, we by no means know for positive what Apple goes to go away in there till we see the discharge notes. Plus, we typically get just a few surprises that Apple both added on the final second or weren’t as apparent within the betas.

For instance, early betas of iOS 17.2 included help for Collaborative Playlists in Apple Music, a characteristic that had been promised to reach someday in iOS 17. Nonetheless, this was pulled earlier than the ultimate launch, reportedly so Apple might polish up its safety, solely to return in iOS 17.3.

Equally, the primary iOS 17.4 beta added a brand new SharePlay characteristic for HomePods and Apple TVs, solely to see it vanish within the second beta. Unsurprisingly, there’s no signal of it within the iOS 17.4 RC. Whereas it’s attainable Apple deserted it totally, it’s extra doubtless that it merely wants a bit extra time within the oven, through which case it would doubtless return in iOS 17.5 — the primary betas of which is able to most likely present up in early March.

So, what does the iOS 17.4 RC embody? Right here’s the rundown, in keeping with Apple’s launch notes:

1. New Emoji: As we reported final month, iOS 17.4 will embrace the most recent Unicode Emoji customary, including new mushroom, phoenix, lime, and damaged chain emojis, plus shaking heads and 6 new folks emojis. That final group has three gender choices and 5 pores and skin tone modifiers for every, leading to a complete of 108 “new” emojis. Within the launch notes, Apple describes this as “18 folks and physique emojis,” because it considers the three gender choices as distinct emojis.
2. Transcripts in Apple Podcasts: Apple’s servers have been laborious at work including AI-generated transcripts to its huge catalog of podcasts, and these shall be unlocked in iOS 17.4. New and up to date episodes have already got the transcripts, whereas older ones can have them added over time. Transcripts can be found in English, Spanish, French, and German and are additionally totally searchable. It exhibits up similar to lyrics in Apple Music, even permitting you to faucet on a particular part to leap to that a part of a podcast episode.
3. Messaging with Siri: A brand new part in Settings > Siri & Search can now announce messages you obtain in any supported language.
4. Stolen Machine Safety: Added in iOS 17.3, this new possibility will increase the safety of your iPhone by requiring biometric authentication (Face ID or Contact ID) earlier than you may change any essential info comparable to your Apple ID password or Discover My settings. iOS 17.4 provides an possibility for “elevated safety in all places” by imposing the one-hour delay required to vary delicate info whether or not you’re in a trusted location or not.
5. Music Recognition: When recognizing a track utilizing the iPhone’s built-in Shazam characteristic, now you can add it to an Apple Music Playlist instantly and even to an Apple Music Classical assortment.
6. Battery Well being: iPhone 15 homeowners can now see their battery cycle depend, manufacture date, and date of first use in Settings > Battery.
7. Apple Money positive aspects help for digital card numbers, permitting customers to pay with Apple Money at retailers that don’t settle for Apple Pay.
8. Name Identification shows Apple-verified enterprise title, brand, and division title for incoming calls when obtainable.
9. Messages for Enterprise can now present trusted info for order standing, flight notifications, fraud alerts, or different transactions you choose into.

Apple additionally notes that iOS 17.4 fixes two bugs, one the place contact photos seem clean in Discover My and one other for Twin SIM customers the place the cellphone numbers mechanically change and could also be uncovered to a messaging group.

There are additionally doubtless some safety fixes in iOS 17.4, though Apple doesn’t usually publish particulars of these till after the ultimate public launch, which is able to most likely occur early subsequent week.