To the surprise of some, Apple has already released the RC of iOS 17.4. They stand for “Release Candidate” and refer to the latest beta version of a software release and, barring any surprises, will be the same as the one released to the public. And it’s not just any version that will arrive next week, since it will be a historic update.
And this version is coming driven by changes in European laws hand in hand with the DSA and the DMA, acronym in English for Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. That is why the main news will only reach member countries of the European Union and all in relation to the opening of services such as the App Store or browsers.
A new European App Store which will be the mother of other application stores
Do you remember that old difference between Android and iOS which implies that in one you can install applications outside of its official store and in another you cannot? Well, that’s a thing of the past for the old continent. Or rather, it’s about to become a thing of the past. There will be no sideolading as such in which we can install applications on iPhone and iPad through the browser like on Android, but the App Store will no longer matter as much.
Apple has confirmed a historic change in the EU App Store, as we can download third-party app stores on iPhone. Of course, these must be downloaded from the Apple Store itself and with a review process by the Californian company to ensure that the applications that host these new stores are safe both in terms of performance and security and user privacy.
More freedom in iOS browsers, but also new restrictions
The EU’s idea with its new laws is to avoid digital monopolies and as far as Safari and the iPhone are concerned, Europe considers this to be an exercise. As it stands, a new screen will appear when you open Safari for the first time starting with iOS 17.4. A screen in which We will be allowed to quickly select a default browser which could be Safari itself or other options that will be displayed.
But if there’s one relevant change, it’s that third-party browsers will no longer rely on WebKit. This is Apple’s developer package and what they have until now required developers to use to mount their browsers on iOS and iPadOS, which essentially made all browsers the same except for the appearance and some simple options added. With iOS 17.4 each browser can use its own engine and with this add more options and, from now on, be real alternatives to Safari.
Of course there is a negative implication for webapp fans and they will be eliminated. Those also known as PWAs or progressive websites are a kind of “mini-apps” that actually run from the browser, allowing you to add them to the home screen and open them independently even if they continue to open in the web browser. Apple recently confirmed that it is not possible for them to support web applications with different engines. At least currently.
Well, it is precisely this removal of web applications that has set off alarm bells in the European Union. It was recently confirmed that The EU is investigating whether or not this limitation violates the law, asking both developers and Apple itself. There is still no solution and no one dares to predict what will ultimately happen, but it would not be unusual for sanctions to arrive which, according to experts, represent around 10-20% of the annual turnover companies.
NFC to pay even with Samsung Pay or Google Pay (if they want)
Illustration of how Apple Pay works with the NFC chip (Image: Apple)
iPhone NFC has been around for several years now. Specifically, since the iPhone 6. However, it has been extremely limited. Basically, you can make payments with Apple Pay and nothing else. This is another thing that the European Union has detected as a symptom of monopoly and forces Apple to open this chip to third parties with various integrations.
The most obvious is being able to make contactless payments with applications other than those of Apple. See for example the application specific to each bank, but also the Google or Samsung payment platforms, among others. No major company has yet confirmed their presence for payments on iOS from this version, but they already have the door open.
Other news that will reach other territories
If the previous developments are among the most important, the truth is that they are based in Europe. If you read us outside the old continent, know that you will also see other new features in iOS 17.4 which, in this case, will be broadcast worldwide (including Europe):
The new emojis arriving with iOS 17.4 (Image: Emojipedia)
- New emojis among which a phoenix, a lime, a mushroom or a head that turns sideways stand out, as well as various emojis for people with vision or mobility problems.
- New battery health information which will be reflected in the iPhone 15, showing its condition and deterioration in a less confusing way. In addition, Apple recently confirmed that this latest generation of iPhone has batteries capable of lasting twice as long while retaining at least 80% of its capacity (we are talking about 1,000 cycles compared to 500 cycles of previous models) .
- More security against possible theft improving the famous anti-theft system for iPhone added in iOS 17.3. In this version it was possible that when changing some key data or logging out, not only the code was requested, but also Face ID/Touch ID. However, this only happened if we were outside trusted locations, while in iOS 17.4 the possibility is added to always request biometric recognition regardless of location.
- Podcast transcriptions in the native Apple application, being able to read in real time what is discussed in the episodes.
- AirPlay in select hotels so that content from an iPhone or iPad can be transmitted securely to in-room TVs.
- New CarPlay options which fundamentally reside in the compatibility with CarPlay 2, the new system for certain vehicles which will allow the system to be extended to different screens of the vehicle and will add new applications which will allow you to control everything in the car; from air conditioning to knowing tire pressure.
The launch will not take place until next Tuesday
As we have clearly explained, this launch is closely linked to the new European regulations, which Apple must comply with on March 6. How does this translate? Well, in what iOS 17.4 will arrive Monday or Tuesday next week, just before Wednesday the 6th arrives.
The big question is whether or not this iOS 17.4 RC will be the same update that arrives next week. We say this because in general this latest beta version is usually exactly the same as the final version, so those who have it installed do not need to update. In any case, it would not be the first time that we have seen a new version superior to this RC. Anyway, we will clear the doubts in a few days
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