iOS 17.4, coming next month, is going to be a huge upgrade, especially for those living in the European Union (EU). Apple is actively testing out beta updates, and today it rolled out iOS 17.4 beta 3 (beta 2 arrived just last week), and that brings us a tad bit closer to the real deal coming next month.
The Beta update essentially has 600 new APIs that support various functionalities, including sideloading of apps in alternate marketplaces, alternative browser engines, expanded app analytics, NFC payments using third-party payment systems, etc.
Apple’s iOS 17.4 Beta 3 offers an early preview of what we can expect once iOS 17.4 is fully available. The public beta update is expected to roll out in a couple of days as well, which should give normal users hands-on beta 3 before they gear up for the big launch in the coming weeks. Note that the same update is available for iPad developers as well: iPadOS 17.4 Beta 3.
iOS 17.4 brings cloud gaming apps to iPhones, including Nvidia GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Apps like plug-ins, chatbots, and mini-games will be able to use in-app purchase systems on iPhones. Apart from that, there are Stopwatch Live Activities, SharePlay with HomePod, podcast transcription, and a myriad of other feature updates onboard.
Siri on your iPhone can read incoming messages in multiple languages, such as German, French, Spanish, etc. There’s also a doubling down of fortification on the Stolen Device Protection that made its debut with iOS 17.3, and now, it will kick in ‘always’ against ‘only unfamiliar locations’ as default with the previous update. You can check out the complete list of iOS 17.4 Features here.
How do I install iOS 17.4 Beta 3?
As aforementioned, this update is for developers who have or will be listing their apps on the App Store. Registered developers need to navigate through Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Next, select your Apple ID, and you should be able to check. If iOS 17.4 Beta 3 (or any other update for developers) is available, install it on your phone. This sets the developers apart from public Apple ID users.
