Earlier this week, Apple released a release candidate (RC) for the upcoming iOS 17.5 to public beta testers and developers. The latest update to the iPhone’s operating system is set to bring a handful of new privacy features, wallpapers, and ways for European users to download apps from third-party marketplaces.
Below we have listed some of the new features that you might find on iOS 17.5, when it is released next month. You should note that the RC is not the final version of the OS, and there could be a lot of bugs. We only recommend downloading the RC on a secondary iPhone.
New Features Coming to the iPhone with iOS 17.5
1. Detecting and Disabling Unknown Third-Party Trackers
Tech news outlet 9to5Mac discovered evidence of new anti-stalking features in the internal code of the iOS 17.5 beta. Strings added to the Find My app on the iPhone reveal that the software will now identify tracking devices, even if they are not from Apple or Find My certified, and allow users to disable them.
The code associated with the feature supposedly warns users of third-party tracking devices and asks them to consult the item’s user manual to disable it. Although the feature isn’t currently available to beta testers, the string is proof that it may become available to all users with the official release of iOS 17.5.
Companies such as Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy, and Pebbebee have expressed interest in working with Apple to add their tracking devices to the Find My network.
Apple and Google are said to be developing a new universal system for iOS and Android to detect and alert users about unwanted tracking accessories. For the time being, Apple devices can detect unwanted Bluetooth-powered location-tracking devices, but only if they are Find My certified.
2. Multiple Ways for EU iPhone Users to Download Apps
The iOS 17.5 RC revealed that Apple will soon allow users in the European Union to download apps for their iPhones from a developer’s website. Apple also published an online guide to aid developers in distributing their apps over the web.
Apple wrote in the release notes that in “eligible regions”, developers can distribute “approved, non-marketplace apps” directly from their website. They are required to fill out a web form that outlines the qualification, and if Apple approves it, then users can download a framework that facilitates the secure installation of the app from the website.
Developers also have to accept the new App Store business terms for the EU and pay a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee for every first-time app installation after it has been installed over a million times in one year.
The Euro-specific feature is an extension of the iOS 17.4 update that came out in March where Apple allowed users to download alternate app stores on iPhones to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
3. New Pride Wallpapers
On Monday, Apple announced that a new set of Pride Collection wallpapers would be coming to iOS, and it looks like they may make a debut on iOS 17.5 when it’s released. The 3 wallpapers are already available on the iOS 17.5 RC, with their background reading “Pride” in different color schemes inspired by the LGBTQ+ flag.
4. New Puzzle Game for Apple News Plus Subscribers
The iOS 17.5 beta introduced a new puzzle game to the News App that will exclusively be available to Apple News Plus subscribers. The game ‘Quartiles’ has a grid with 20 tiles that have parts of a word shown and players are asked to combine them to form different words.
The words can be between one and four miles long, but each grid can be turned into five four-tile words.
Apple News Plus subscribers can find Quartiles by going to News > Following > Puzzles and swiping the carousel at the top of the screen. The game can also be found by scrolling down the Puzzles page, sitting below Crossword Minis.
5. Offline Mode for Apple News Plus
iOS 17.5 will include a new Offline Mode for Apple News. The feature, which will only be available to Apple News Plus subscribers, enables the app to automatically download recent news stories, puzzles, and audio stories to the iPhone so they can be viewed or listened to when offline.
6. Repair State Mode
On iOS 17.5, users can put the iPhone in Repair Mode to protect their data when taking the device to an Apple Store for repairs. If someone tries to turn the Find My tracking feature off and the user has Stolen Device Protection enabled, then a security delay will make them wait an hour before turning off Find My.
To enable Repair Mode, go to Find My > Devices and then select a device linked to your Apple ID. Once the device has been selected, tap Remove This Device, and a pop-up will appear on the screen saying that you cannot remove the device but prepare it for repair. Tap Continue and the device will ask you to enter your Apple ID password.
Repair Mode logs out the device from your Apple ID, thereby protecting sensitive information uploaded to iCloud. However, data stored locally will still remain accessible.
7. Counter Tool on Books App
It looks like Apple wants to help users hit their reading goals. In iOS 17.5, the Books app adds a counter to the top right corner of the home screen. When tapped, the app will take users to their Reading Goals menu. The menu will show how much time they’ve spent reading on the iPhone. There will also be another button called Explore the Book Store, which will take you to Apple’s Book Store.
In the first stage, the Books app sets you a daily reading goal for five minutes a day. However, this daily goal can be changed to anywhere between 1 and 1,440 minutes (24 hours) per day.
When Will iOS 17.5 Be Released?
iOS 17.5 is not a significant upgrade over iOS 17.4. As per the release notes, there only seem to be minor changes in the operating system. Apple is expected to release iOS 17.5 to the public next month, ahead of the WWDC where the company will announce the iOS 18, which will debut on the iPhone 16 series, expected to be unveiled in September 2024.
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