Apple has released iOS 17.4 for download. The update is obviously coming out a little earlier because of an important deadline: In the EU, Apple and other IT giants classified as gatekeepers must follow the new rules of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) from March 7th. That's why the manufacturer is now opening the iPhone operating system.
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As of iOS 17.4, users are for the first time able to install alternative app marketplaces directly from a website and then load apps there – outside of Apple's App Store.
More than just other app stores
At the same time, Apple is creating a technical basis with which browser manufacturers can port their own engines to iOS and thus bring fully-fledged alternatives to the pre-installed Safari to smartphones. When you open it for the first time, the Apple browser also displays a selection dialog that points to other browsers, which is also a requirement of the DMA. Starting with iOS 17.4, banking apps and mobile payment services can access the NFC interface for the first time in order to initiate contactless payments. For the first time, App Store apps are allowed to sell digital content as in-app purchases via their own payment systems.
Beta versions of iOS 17.4 have temporarily eliminated standalone web apps stored on the home screen in the EU. These only opened in the browser. After massive criticism, Apple backtracked and now wants to continue supporting standalone web apps.
The new features of iOS 17.4
In addition to these fundamental adjustments for the Digital Markets Act, the update brings classic functional innovations. This includes the fact that the voice assistance system Siri can now also be activated in Germany simply by calling “Siri” instead of “Hey Siri”. And for the first time, Siri should also read messages written in other languages in a meaningful way.
Apple also delivers automatically created transcripts in the Podcasts app that can be searched, for example. In addition to German and English, this also works in French and Spanish. Also part of iOS 17.4 are some new emojis (Emoji 15.1), including head-shaking smileys, mushroom and lime as well as a phoenix and a broken chain symbol.
Details about the battery of the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro can now be found centrally under “Settings > Battery”, including a simpler assessment of the battery status. Companies can now inform their customers about things like delivery status or flight changes via Business Chat in the Messages app. The new iOS version includes a number of smaller bug improvements and, as usual, should also eliminate security gaps.
Update
05.03.2024,
19:20
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In addition to iOS 17.4, Apple has also released iPadOS 17.4 as well as updates for two older iPhone operating system versions with iOS 16.7.6 and iOS 15.8.2. As of iPadOS 17.4, it is possible to only display fav icons in the Safari favorites bar.
(lbe)