iOS 17.5

  iOS 17.5: New features added to your iPhone

 Apple's first iOS 17.5 beta doesn't have many obvious changes, but there's a lot going on under the hood. Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU directly on the web, instead of through the App Store or an alternative app marketplace. Following are some of the important points:-

EEA users can download apps directly from a developer's website in iOS 17.5 beta 2, aligning with EU regulations.

iOS 17.5 beta hints at a new Apple Pencil squeeze gesture, suggesting Apple Pencil 3 may be on the way.  

Enhanced anti-tracking capabilities are hinted at in the iOS 17.5 beta, to notify users of unwanted third-party trackers.

The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities.

We have gathered everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far available for all users. It's been less than two months since Apple released the iOS 17.4 update to iPhone users, but the tech giant isn't done with iOS 17 just yet. Earlier this month, Apple released the first beta preview of iOS 17.5 and now beta 2 is out in the wild as well. So far, there aren't any notable standout features that are easy to spot. Instead, it looks like we'll have to rely on references to upcoming features and capabilities which were discovered inside the code. Expect a couple additional beta releases to land in the interim, with a May or June timeframe likely for a broader release.  

"Web Distribution" is limited to larger developers based in the EU. To qualify for this distribution method, Apple says the developer must be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year. "Web Distribution" builds upon the alternative app marketplaces that Apple already allows on the iPhone in the EU. Apple has made these app-related changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. iOS 17.4 unlocked app side loading on the operating system for the first time, for residents of the European Economic Area (EEA). It is being further expanded upon in 17.5. Starting with beta 2, EEA users are able to download and install apps directly from a developer's website. The process of downloading apps via the web browser is about as locked down as you'd expect from Apple. Apps are only eligible if they've been downloaded one million times in the EEA in the previous year, and developers are subject to a €0.50 'Core Technology Fee' for each annual app install of over one million. The new user interface for getting apps from the web includes a prompt for granting permissions, as well as general information about the app and the developer behind it. If an eligible app taps into Apple's new web-based API, it'll be able to update and back up user data just like any software from the App Store can. We knew this feature was on its way, with Apple having previously outlined its Web Distribution guidelines and requirements. Mounting pressure from the EU and its Digital Markets Act (DMA) have led to an on-going feud between Apple and Brussels, the results of which are still developing.

iOS 17.5 includes a fun addition for Apple News+ subscribers, a daily word game called Quartiles. Quartiles tasks you with combining tiles to form words and earn points. Each puzzle starts with a grid of 20 tiles, and words can be formed with one to four tiles. A quartile is a four-tile word, and if you find all five in each puzzle, you earn a 40-point bonus. The website Gadget Hacks shared a walkthrough of the game with more details. Quartiles is the third puzzle game included with an Apple News+ subscription, alongside Crossword and Crossword Mini. Starting with the iOS 17.5 beta, all three games integrate with Game Centre to display leader boards. On an iPhone updated to the iOS 17.5 beta, Quartiles can be found in the Apple News app under the Following tab → Puzzles. The game is also available on the iPad and Mac starting with the iPadOS 17.5 and macOS 14.5 betas. Apple News+ is available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK, but the puzzle games seem to be limited to the US and Canada for now.

While listening to a podcast on the iOS 17.5 beta, the background colour of the Apple Podcasts widget changes to match the podcast's cover art. This feature was first added in the iOS 17.4 beta, but it was removed before the update was released.

AirTags are a wonderful tool for helping track lost luggage, keys, and wallets. However, they've come under fire for their potential to be abused by bad actors. Thankfully, it looks like Apple is continuing to boost the anti-tracking capabilities within its ecosystem. As reported, new code found in iOS 17.5 references the ability to notify users of unwanted third-party tracking devices. Apple and Google last year jointly announced a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, Apple promised to expand AirTag-like "Found Moving With You" alerts to third-party item trackers in a future software update, which turns out to be iOS 17.5. The first iOS 17.5 beta added references to alerts for third-party item trackers. For example: "You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item." Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee all expressed support for the industry specification, according to Apple's announcement last year. Google also launched its own Find My Device network earlier this month. A previous iOS update brought unwanted tracker alerts for first-party trackers, so it's great to see this continue to be improved upon.

Code from the beta of iOS 17.5  makes reference to a new squeeze gesture for the Apple Pencil. The current Apple Pencil 2 supports a double tapping gesture, but doesn't have the pressure sensors to make squeezing possible. The release of an Apple Pencil 3 seems imminent, having long been rumoured to arrive alongside brand-new iPad Pro models sometime this year. While nothing can be said for certain, a squeezable Apple Pencil 3 seems well within the realm of possibility.

As noted by Aaron Perris, MDM solutions can enforce an iOS beta version during Automated Device Enrollment starting with the iOS 17.5 beta. The first iPadOS 17.5 beta added several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad, but the feature is not actually visible yet. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery's maximum remaining capacity and charge cycle count. A sample of the code strings added in the iPadOS 17.5 beta:-

"The iPad battery is performing as expected."

"This is the number of times iPad has used your battery's capacity."

"iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced."

"iPad must be regularly used while not connected to power to show maximum capacity."

 "The original battery was designed to retain X capacity at X cycles under ideal conditions. Actual battery performance depends on a number of variables, including how iPad is used and charged regularly. The one-year warranty includes service for defective batteries in addition to rights provided under local consumer laws."

There is no visible Battery Health menu on any existing iPad models running the iPadOS 17.5 beta, leading us to believe that the menu may be limited to the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models that are rumoured to launch in May, and likely other new iPads released in the future. Apple has shown battery capacity information on iPhones for many years, but cycle count information is currently limited to the latest iPhone 15 series.

iOS 17.5 beta code indicates that there may be a new "Block All Participants" option for group FaceTime calls, which could help users to fight spam.

In the iPadOS 17.5 beta, there are potential references to a new fourth-generation Apple Pencil, amid rumours that the accessory will be updated soon. The beta includes a hidden code reference to a "V4" version of the Apple Pencil. A new Apple Pencil is rumoured to launch alongside updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models in May. Apple refers to the USB-C version of the Apple Pencil released last year as the third-generation Apple Pencil in iOS code, so the fourth-generation model would be a new version which would likely succeed the second-generation Apple Pencil. Additional code in the iOS 17.5 beta suggests that the Apple Pencil could gain a "squeeze" gesture for certain actions, but details are slim.

iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 will likely be released to the public in the near future. Being the second beta release of the new update, it'll probably be a few weeks before a stable version is officially pushed out to devices. Expect a couple of additional beta builds to land in the interim, with a May or June timeframe likely for a broader release. Apple's WWDC 2024 conference is set to take place on June 10th. iOS 18 will be a major refresh for the operating system, and so it's likely that 17.5 will be the final major release to build upon the iOS 17.x platform.

If you want to try out the public beta for yourself, you'll need to enrol your Apple ID in the program through the Apple Beta Software Program website. If you're currently on iOS 16.4 or later, you can then go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS beta you’d like to install. A separate developer beta is also available for those interested in testing it out. It requires downloading the Apple Developer app from the App Store, and signing in with a registered Apple developer account, then following the same update settings, but selecting the developer beta instead. The two updates are usually identical, with the developer beta typically released a day or two before the public beta. As always when playing around with beta software, it's highly advisable to back up important documents and data in case anything happens to go wrong.