When Apple releases its next major iPhone update, iOS 17.4, it will be its most feature-packed and wide-ranging midcycle release yet. It’s packed with more features than expected and reveals even more about what’s to come. Here are the latest details and when exactly you’ll get them. The expected release date is at the end.
Apple iOS 17.4: The next software update coming to iPhone is worth noting.
Updates for February 26th are as follows. This post was first published on February 24, 2024.
EU changes
If you live in the European Union, the Digital Markets Act will come into effect soon and Apple will be introducing an alternative app marketplace to comply with the necessary changes. You are no longer limited to purchasing apps from the App Store. Similarly, you can easily access different web browsers other than Safari. Although you can already select other browsers, other browser engines are also supported and you will be prompted to select them after updating. It will also add support for other payment methods, the ability to set default His NFC and Wallet apps with Apple Pay, and more.
These changes are far-reaching and will change the iPhone forever. For now, they will only apply within the EU, but the UK, US and other governments will no doubt be watching closely and deciding whether they should insist that this opening happen elsewhere.
Home screen web app
Additionally, as a result of DMA, support for home screen web apps will be removed in the EU due to security and compatibility issues with other browser engines.
Quantum computing in iMessage
The level of security for messages is about to skyrocket thanks to something called PQ3, which Apple calls “a groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic protocol that advances the state of the art in end-to-end secure messaging.” Click here for more information. Suffice it to say, this is a big deal and future-proofs messaging against hacks that aren’t yet possible.
new emoji
I love when Apple introduces new emojis, and even though there aren’t that many, they’re very welcome. The most beautiful of all is the phoenix, which has flames on the tips of its wings. Then there are two smiles, one shaking his head and the other nodding his head. There are mushrooms that look almost real, limes that are equally photo-realistic (sharp enough to make you lick your lips in anticipation, and strands that break in two). Suitable for everything from moments of freedom to celebrations. Okay, maybe divorce?
Stolen device protection
This is one of the best new features Apple has ever introduced, and it’s only going to get even better. Introduced in iOS 17.3 (more information here). To protect your phone, it works by restricting what you can change in certain places. But if you want to apply these limits everywhere, iOS 17.4 lets you do that.
There’s more
The battery menu has been upgraded to make it easier to see what the lifespan is like, and Apple has announced some surprising news for all iPhone 15 owners about this.
When you upgrade, you’ll see a new full-color welcome screen with your profile picture as if to say, “Seriously, this is an important update!”
Apple Podcasts has added support for transcripts, which is great.
Siri can now read messages in multiple languages.
There is an upgrade to CarPlay for certain cars (which has been promised for a long time).
Users in Germany can now say “Siri” instead of “Hey, Siri.” However, to be honest, I still say “Hey” all the time. Somehow it’s friendlier that way.
release date
So when can we access this treasure trove of wealth? When exactly? 10am Pacific Time. Oh, wait, you want to go on a date? very well.
The reason I put the EU changes at the top, even though they don’t affect all readers, is because it’s the DMA that defines the release date. This law will come into effect on Wednesday, March 6th. So it’s definitely coming after that.
Given that 10am Pacific Time is 7pm Central European Time, I don’t think it can be Wednesday, March 6th. I think Apple will implement the EU changes at the last possible moment. So it’s Tuesday, March 5th. Tuesday is Apple’s favorite day. release date. But I still think Apple will likely do things in an orderly fashion and release on Monday, my second favorite day of the week.
Things are subject to change, but you should have this great update ready to download starting Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Updated on February 25th. Bloomberg’s Mark Garman gave his opinion on the effectiveness of iOS 17.4 thanks to the impending iMessage update.in his latest work power on newsletter, he noted the surprise felt by many at the inclusion of the new PQ3 update in the next update, saying, “It turns out there’s more to iOS 17.4 than meets the eye.” And even if Gourmand didn’t see it coming, it follows that no one did. As he points out, this update will be “invisible to users.” That’s because in early March, he updated his iPhone to include superior protections built into every message he sends and receives, future-proofing his current conversations. Even if smarter computers come along and hack them, they will remain encrypted.
His main comments are: “This technology strengthens the encryption of conversations to thwart future attacks from quantum computers with enough power and mathematical capabilities to overwhelm current defenses. does not exist, but the upgraded encryption is intended to prevent future breaches and “collect now, decrypt later” attacks. It’s where hackers steal someone’s information today and try to decrypt the data when future technology allows it. ”
It’s definitely a major update.as peepee computer iMessage, which has a user base of about 1 billion people, now has end-to-end encryption, so even if someone intercepts your messages, they can’t exploit it. However, it points out that “quantum computing threatens existing encryption schemes with near-instantaneous decryption.”
Additionally, “PQ3 integrates the Kyber algorithm, supported by the global crypto community, to address the needs of post-quantum cryptography…Key innovations within PQ3 include its regular post A quantum rekeying mechanism and the first of its kind in large-scale cryptography – scale cryptographic messaging protocols.”
March 4th (or March 5th) can’t come soon enough. Until then, keep your messages bland and mundane.
Updated on February 26th. Now, it turns out that one of the changes coming to the iPhone for EU users, the aforementioned removal of support for his web apps, may be controversial. These web apps have been on iPhone since the beginning, but were blocked in the EU starting with iOS 17.4 to comply with DMA.
but financial times The EU’s competition regulator sent questions to developers last week seeking to determine the impact of Apple’s decision to disable so-called ‘progressive web apps’ in the EU, a precursor to a thorough investigation. This is a move that can be seen as ”
In other words, Apple’s actions could result in an antitrust investigation. The company says the reason progressive web apps are blocked is that, as the FT explains, “browsers other than its own Safari software expose users to security and privacy risks not allowed by law.” “To become.” However, this move will also cut off the path for developers looking to avoid his 30% commission that Apple charges for purchases via the App Store. ”
The newspaper contacted the European Commission about this matter, and the European Commission said: In that context, we can confirm that we are specifically looking into the issue of progressive web apps and will be submitting information requests to Apple and app developers who can provide us with information that will help us in our evaluation. ”
All of this suggests that the road to meeting DMA requirements will be long and arduous, with both the EU and Apple continuing to make changes and demands.
It’s interesting how what may seem like a fairly minor and progressive web app can turn out to be something very important. As Apple states, “This change is expected to impact a small number of users. Nevertheless, this change, made as part of our work to become DMA compliant, We regret that this may have an impact on users.”
