Apple iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 beta announced

Shortly after the iOS 17.3 official release, Apple has revealed the iOS17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 beta update for developers.

Most changes mainly affect Europe as Apple has made changes to the App Store and other apps that run in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Other changes here consist of NFC access and alternative payment options to conduct payments that isn’t Apple Pay or the Wallet app, third-party browser updates which allows other browser engines, and allowing to stream game apps.

A more worldwide update is iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 adding more emojis such as a broken chain, shaking heads, brown mushroom, and a phoenix. Apple has also renamed Automatically Send Messages to Messaging with Siri.

In Apple Music, the “Listen Now” selection has been renamed to Home. Podcasts will now have transcripts in their audio which is similar to the lyrics in Apple Music.

Finally, in Stolen Device Protection, a feature that was just announced in iOS 17.3, users have the option to have a security delay. This can occur only when the device is away from familiar locations or always on.

There’s no official date on when this update will go live.