Here’s a detailed look at what’s new in iOS 18.4 Beta 3, what has carried over from previous betas, and what iPhone users can expect as Apple fine-tunes this update. Apple typically uses later betas like this one to polish performance and address issues reported by testers, such as the critical boot loop bug that affected iPhone 12 models in Beta 1 (since resolved by Beta 2). Apple has taken another step toward the official release of iOS 18.4 by seeding the third developer beta of the update to testers late on March 10, 2025. While comprehensive release notes for iOS 18.4 Beta 3 are still trickling in as developers dig into the update, early reports suggest this release focuses on stability, bug fixes, and incremental improvements to features introduced earlier in the beta cycle. Alongside iOS 18.4 Beta 3, Apple has also rolled out corresponding third betas for iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, and watchOS 11.4, signaling a synchronized push across its ecosystem ahead of the anticipated public launch in April. Beta 3’s release suggests Apple is on track, with one or two more betas likely before a release candidate emerges in late March or early April. Apple Maps also gained EV routing improvements and a Preferred Language option for directions in earlier betas, both of which should benefit from stability tweaks in Beta 3. Developers and public beta testers are encouraged to explore the update and report findings, with outlets like 9to5Mac promising hands-on coverage as changes are uncovered. This latest beta, identified by build number 22E5222f, arrives just one week after the release of iOS 18.4 Beta 2 and continues to refine the features introduced in earlier iterations. The public beta, typically released within a day or two of the developer version, is expected to follow shortly potentially by March 11 or 12, 2025 allowing non-developers in Apple’s Beta Software Program to test it as well. These additions, part of the Unicode standard, are expected to remain unchanged in Beta 3 but will delight users looking for fresh ways to express themselves when iOS 18.4 goes public. Introduced in Beta 1, new toggles for ambient music (Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing) allow users to play soothing tracks directly from Control Center. iOS 18.4 Beta 3 is currently available to registered developers through the Software Update section of the Settings app on enrolled iPhones (Settings > General > Software Update). Notably, Beta 2 resolved compatibility issues for iPhone 12 models and added support for the iPhone 16e, ensuring a broader range of devices can now participate in testing. First debuted with the iPhone 16 series, Visual Intelligence a visual search tool akin to Google Lens—arrived for iPhone 15 Pro models in Beta 2. However, beta software carries risks, including potential bugs and performance hiccups, so users are advised to back up their devices before installing. Introduced in Beta 1, Beta 2 added the ability to disable it on a per-app basis, giving users more control. Beta 2 brought seven new emoji, including an exhausted face, marking the first emoji update in a year. A standalone app for browsing spatial content from the Apple Vision Pro debuted in Beta 2. Beta 2 introduced AI-powered Review Summaries, condensing user reviews into concise paragraphs for easier app evaluation, alongside a pause/resume button for downloads. This feature enhances the iPhone’s utility as a relaxation or focus tool and is likely being optimized in Beta 3. The update will also expand Apple Intelligence language support to include French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), and localized English for Singapore and India. Beta 3 is expected to refine this further, ensuring the AI accurately identifies what matters most to each user. These changes streamline the App Store experience and are expected to see minor refinements in this beta. iOS 18.4 is shaping up to be a significant update, building on the foundation of iOS 18 with a mix of Apple Intelligence enhancements, quality-of-life improvements, and new user-facing features.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:35:06 +0000