iOS 17.5 beta 2 is now available to members of the Apple Developer Program. They can try out many new features.
iOS 17.5 is expected to launch in a few weeks. It will be the fifth major update since the release of iOS 17 in September, which coincided with the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Want to know what’s new in iOS 17.5 beta 2? Here are the top five features of this update.
5 New Features
This update includes compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). It lets users in the European Union download and install apps from some third-party websites. There are also other features that might interest people everywhere.
New Apple News+ Game
Available only to Apple News+ subscribers, iOS 17.5 beta 2 introduces a new game named “Quartiles.” Players must merge tiles to form words.
For instance, a screenshot from MacRumors shows that you can put together four tiles — “art,” “ist,” “ic,” and “ally” — to create the word “artistically.”
Expanded Sideloading
iPhone users in the EU can now download apps directly from the websites of Apple app developers without using the Apple App Store or any third-party app marketplace. While iOS 17.4 brought sideloading to EU users, iOS 17.5 beta 2 introduces a new method for downloading apps. However, this feature is not available for iPad users yet.
‘Palestinian Flag’ Emoji Fix
As mentioned last week, Apple announced a fix for an issue where typing “Jerusalem” caused the Palestinian flag emoji to appear for some users.
With iOS 17.5 beta 2, it seems the tech company from Cupertino has kept its promise. Now, no emojis show up when the word is typed in the Messages app.
New ‘Tip’ for Notes App
In iOS 17.5 beta 2, there’s a new “Tip” banner at the bottom of the Notes app. It helps users learn how to better organize their notes using tags, checklists, and other features.
New ‘Reading Goals’ Indicator in Apple Books
The Apple Books app now features a small new icon in the upper-right corner in iOS 17.5 beta 2. Tapping this icon takes you to your Reading Goals page.
The official wide release of iOS 17.5 is likely to happen in early May. It might coincide with the expected launch of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro.
What we think?
I think iOS 17.5 will be really useful. I’m excited about downloading apps without the App Store in the EU. The new game in Apple News+ sounds fun, and fixing the emoji glitch is good. The tip banner in Notes will help people organize better.
Also, the Reading Goals indicator in Apple Books is a nice touch. It seems like a solid update that will make iPhones better for everyone.
