Apple’s first public beta for iOS 26 is formally right here. Should you’ve been ready to check out new options, like Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign, expertise the overhauled Safari, or check out dwell translation, now’s your likelihood.
However this primary public beta is not the primary iteration of iOS 26. In actual fact, Apple has been beta testing this software program for builders since WWDC in June, which was over six weeks in the past. Throughout that point, the corporate got here out with 4 completely different variations of the developer beta, every with their very own options and modifications. A lot of the core iOS 26 options and attributes stay the identical, however they got here with some contemporary additions every time, like Apple’s flip-flopping on Liquid Glass transparency, and a brand new ringtone that wasn’t current within the earlier beta.
Apple’s fourth developer beta dropped on Tuesday of this week, and, because it occurs, is strictly the identical replace that public beta testers are actually making an attempt out right this moment. These are the important thing modifications that apply to each variations of the beta, for anybody coming from iOS 26 developer beta 3.
Liquid Glass is extra translucent
Apple has been looking for its footing with Liquid Glass, and it has been a little bit of a curler coaster. When the primary beta dropped, individuals complained the glassy impact lacked visibility, particularly when there was rather a lot taking place on display screen. Over the subsequent two betas, Apple decreased the translucency of the impact, to the purpose the place it appeared extra like frosted glass than Liquid Glass.
Nonetheless, the tide appears to be turning within the different path once more. Dev beta 4 and public beta 1 now characteristic a glassier Liquid Glass as soon as once more.
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Notification Summaries for information are again
Apple’s try at summarizing notifications and alerts with AI has had some rocky moments. There was the time the alerts summed up a consumer’s companion breaking apart with them earlier than that they had an opportunity to learn the precise messages themselves. However even worse, the characteristic mistakenly summarized a headline from the BBC, which made it seem to be the alleged United Healthcare shooter Luigi Mangione died in jail by suicide. Following the incident, Apple disabled the characteristic for any alerts within the information and leisure classes.
You may discover after putting in the newest iOS 26 betas, nevertheless, that Notification Summaries for information and leisure are again. Not solely do these summaries sport the identical italicized font that different Apple Intelligence summaries do, in addition they include a transparent message: “Summarized by Apple Intelligence.” As such, it ought to be evident that any summaries might be improper, as AI has a foul behavior of making issues up on occasion.
12 new wallpapers for CarPlay
iOS 26 introduces some new options for CarPlay customers, together with widgets, Stay Actions, and a brand new dynamic interface. With the newest beta, you even have your alternative of certainly one of six new colours: blue, brown, grey, inexperienced, purple, and pink, every with choices for both a light-weight or darkish theme. That is successfully 12 new wallpapers for CarPlay.
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Passcode and Passwords
As noticed by MacRumors, the Passwords app has a brand new choice known as “Enable Contacting Web sites.” Once you toggle this on, Passwords will privately contact web sites for 2 causes: One, to indicate up to date icons for apps and web sites you’ve got saved gadgets for; and two, to verify if the web site helps passkeys.
As well as, you will additionally see a brand new “Enter your passcode” immediate when accessing your Face ID & Passcode settings.
What do you suppose to this point?
Display screen Unknown Callers updates
Display screen Unknown Callers is a good new characteristic in iOS 26 to weed out unimportant or spam calls. With the newest beta, MacRumors additionally found Apple added new choices to this setting. Now, you may select “Ask Motive for Calling” to have iOS request the explanation for the decision; “Silence” to silence unknown quantity; or “By no means” to maintain the characteristic off totally.
Climate can use Vital Places
“Vital Places” permits your iPhone to trace locations you typically go to. The objective is to be taught the place your most essential areas are, and to supply related companies throughout numerous apps.
You’ll be able to flip this characteristic off if it creeps you out, however it appears Climate is now making the most of it within the newest iOS 26 beta. MacRumors discovered a brand new “Use Vital Places” toggle in Climate’s settings, which permits it to entry your house and work addresses from Contacts, in addition to locations you are more likely to go to.
The setting would not go into extra element than that, however it appears evident that the characteristic is meant to warn you concerning the climate for any important location iOS thinks you could be heading to. If iOS thinks you could be heading into work, it’d ship you an alert that it is raining nearing your workplace, so deliver an umbrella.
iOS 26 wallpapers are actually dynamic
Apple retains adjusting its wallpapers for iOS 26. Final beta, the corporate added new shade choices. Now, MacRumors discovered that the wallpapers are dynamic. Which means they’re going to change all through the day.
