iOS 17.4: What to expect from Apple’s next major software update | Technology News

Although users still can’t download apps from the web and install them on their iPhones, iOS 17.4 finally paves the way for third parties to have their own app stores for the iPhone. This allows users to install apps from sources other than the European Union’s official App Store. Since the birth of the iPhone, Apple has never allowed users to sideload or install apps from outside the App Store without jailbreaking. This will change with the iOS 17.4 update.

This is also a Europe-only feature, allowing app developers to include their own payment gateways. This means apps like Spotify subscriptions could become significantly cheaper, and platforms like Netflix could eventually allow users to subscribe to services directly from the app. There is a possibility. This development could also reduce the price of some apps and games, as developers will no longer have to pay up to 30 percent. Additionally, this change will allow users in Europe to use other wireless payment services similar to Apple Pay to make contactless payments.

iOS 17.4 allows app makers to develop web browsers without the limitations of Web Kit, and this particular policy change will help brands develop completely custom web browsers for iPhone. Opera has already announced that it is working on an AI-powered web browser that will soon be available on iPhone.

Apple is also making iPhones much more secure by introducing new “Stolen Device Protection” rules in iOS 17.4. To remove Apple ID or factory reset your iPhone, you may need both a PIN code and Face ID/Touch ID biometrics. device.

Changing your country or region on your iPhone used to be very easy, but with the introduction of new region identifiers in iOS 17.4, Apple can automatically determine your specific region, making it a little more difficult. there is. This will help the company limit some of the aforementioned features to the European region.

Emojis help us express ourselves. With the iOS 17.4 update, Apple is adding 100 new emojis, including the phoenix, lime slice emoji, mushroom, broken chain, and more. These emojis definitely help users add more context when sending text messages.

If you have an iPhone with Dynamic Island, you can now access Stopwatch through the Live Activity feature. Just open the Clock app. When you start the stopwatch and return to the home screen, you will see this timer inside the dynamic island. This feature requires an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 series.

Siri also gets a lot smarter in iOS 17.4, and your personal assistant can now send messages in multiple languages ​​through the Message with Siri service. This allows users to send messages via iMessage to her in multiple languages ​​at the same time, including simple voice prompts.

Apple is also changing the UI of the Music app in iOS 17.4. There, the “Listen now” button is replaced with a home button that takes you to a new menu with recommendations, especially if you’re a subscriber. Recently played music.