Latest news with #AppleBeta
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
iOS 26 guide: All the new features for your iPhone and how to use them
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Any iOS update is going to have its share of unfamiliar features with new twists and turns that you may not immediately grasp. Apple's iOS 26 update is a case in point, as this year's version of the iPhone software rolls out new capabilities and enhancements to old features while also switching up the interface for the first time in a dozen years. For the most part, these are positive changes, as I observe in my iOS 26 first look, but they will take some getting used to. Fortunately, we've been working with iOS 26 since Apple released the initial developer beta in June, and we can help you get the lay of the land. In this iOS 26 guide, I'll walk you through the biggest changes in Apple's software update, now available as a public beta ahead of its full release in the fall. This guide features highlights of the major iOS 26 changes as well as links back to our coverage for a more in-depth explanation of what's new in the update and how to make the most of it. iOS 26: How to download the update Our guide on how to download the iOS 26 public beta offers step-by-step instructions on updating your iPhone's software. You'll need to enroll in Apple's beta software program, and then it's just a matter of going into the Software Update section of the Settings app to grab the iOS 26 beta. Just make sure you've got an iOS 26 supported device capable of running the update. That's any iPhone released from 2019 onward — basically, the iPhone 11 or later. That means the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are the only iOS 18-compatible devices that can't upgrade to iOS 26. (And no, you didn't fall asleep and miss eight iOS updates between iOS 18 and iOS 26. Apple decided to switch to a different naming convention for its software, replacing the version number with the year following the update's release.) Also, be aware that not every feature will work on every iOS 26-compatible phone. There are Apple Intelligence features in iOS 26 that require at least an iPhone 15 Pro or later. A new spatial photos feature only works on the iPhone 12 later. iOS 26 and Liquid Glass Liquid Glass is the name Apple's given to the new interface for its iPhone software, as well as for the software updates coming to the Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV this year. Apple wants a more unified software experience with streamlined menus with a look that takes its inspiration from the visionOS software that powers the Vision Pro headset. Liquid Glass is characterized by translucent menus and fluid animations as on-screen elements adjust to your actions. (Think the URL bar shrinking in Safari as you scroll down a web page.) Some icons have been changed around in iOS 26, and you've got new tinting options, including one that makes those icons completely clear. We've got a comparison between the iOS 26 and iOS 18 interfaces that can help you get used to what's changing with the look of Apple's iPhone software. And if you find the translucent look distracting, we can show you how to adjust the transparency of interface elements in Settings. As part of iOS 26's interface changes, your iPhone lock screen can take on a new look with spatial photos available as the background image for your phone and an adaptive time feature that adjusts the look of the on-screen clock to fit with the other visual elements. We go through all the iOS 26 lock screen changes. iOS 26 Phone and FaceTime app The Phone app gets a unified interface that combines your recents and missed calls into a single window. (You can switch back to the old look if you prefer.) But the biggest additions are call screening and hold assist, and they're available on any phone capable of running iOS 26. Call screening fields incoming calls from unknown numbers, having those callers identify themselves and why they're calling. That information appears on your iPhone screen, letting you decide whether to take the call. We've got a look at how the iPhone's call screening compares to what the Google Pixel offers. Hold Assist does exactly what its name implies — it will monitor the phone line when you're put on hold, freeing you up to do other things. When a live agent comes on the line, you'll get a notification. Here are more details on how call screening and Hold Assist work in iOS 26. FaceTime gets a new look, too, with a tiled interface that shows off contact posters of the people you've talked to. There are call screening features here as well. Meanwhile, phones that support Apple Intelligence get a big boost to both the Phone and FaceTime apps — live translations so that you can carry on a conversation with a person in another language. Only select languages are supported right now, and you'll need to download the appropriate language from the Translate app for the feature to work seamlessly. iOS 26 Messages Of the current apps on your iPhone, Messages sees the highest volume of changes, and we detail everything that's new in iOS 26 Messages. But here are the highlights of what you'll see after updating. Group chats pick up a lot of new features, such as typing indicators and the ability to send Apple Cash to groups. Group chats are also the biggest beneficiary of a new polling feature that lets you put polls into chats so that people can vote for their favorite option. From an aesthetic standpoint, you can now use wallpapers as the background for your chat screens — each conversation can have its own background. And like Phone and FaceTime, Messages gains a way to screen out texts from unknown senders, just by adjusting one of the app's settings. iOS 26 Camera Streamlined controls are a theme throughout iOS 26, but that's the most evident in the Camera app. Launch your camera, and you'll see just two controls for video and photo. Swiping left or right brings up other camera modes, such as portrait, pano, slo-mo and time lapse. An upward swipe brings additional settings to adjust things like aspect ratio, exposure and more. And in video mode, you just need to tap the Format button to bring up all your available options. My colleague John Velasco has more on the streamlined camera interface and how it simplifies the task of adjusting settings. He also looks at new iOS 26 AirPod features that turn your earbuds into camera remotes and recording tools. iOS 26 Photos After a big Photos overhaul in iOS 18, Apple is at it again with iOS 26, though this time the changes are more modest. The new version of Photos restores tabs for toggling between your library and your collections, an addition that should save some scrolling while addressing complaints about last year's redesign. That's not the only change to Photos' look, though. You also have the ability to customize the layout of Collections. And if you have an iPhone 12 or later, you can turn images in your library into spatial photos that offer depth effects. (A bonus: if you've got a photo widget on your home screen to serve up favorite photos at random, they'll be automatically converted to spatial images.) See our guide to the biggest changes in iOS 26 Photos for more details. iOS 26 Visual Intelligence iPhones that support Apple Intelligence will benefit from expanded Visual Intelligence features in iOS 26. Specifically, the update adds the ability for the AI-powered tool to look at the contents of your iPhone screen via a screenshot. When you take a screenshot on a supported phone, you'll get on-screen options for searching with Google or ChatGPT. You'll also have contextually relevant commands like translation tools or creating calendar events. And you can highlight specific areas of the screenshot for searching, similar to Android's Circle to Search feature. I spent some hands-on time with Visual Intelligence in iOS 26 if you want to see examples of what the new capabilities allow you to do. iOS 26 Shortcuts and Reminders One of Apple's goals with iOS 26 has been to work Apple Intelligence into more of the iPhone's built-in apps. That's evident in the new versions of Shortcuts and Reminders, both of which now support some of Apple's AI features. In Shortcuts, you can now create workflows that tap into Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools or Image Playground. For example, you could now make a shortcut that summarize text, pasting that summary into a document. Apple Intelligence support also extends to Apple Intelligence's on-device models and ChatGPT. We've got a look at what Shortcuts' integration with Apple Intelligence means for you. As for Reminders, the app can now look at text in emails and on websites to find and create relevant tasks. It also works with recipes in the Apple News Plus service to automatically create grocery lists. And reminders can now be automatically categorized in a list thanks to Apple Intelligence integration. Apple Maps The first time you launch the iOS 26 Maps app, you'll be asked if you want the app to log all the places you visit. The idea behind this Visited Places feature is that it will help you remember favorite locations for later reference without any additional action on your part. I took a look at why Visited Places figures to be a great addition in iOS 26 Maps. Another new Maps feature takes note of your preferred routes for frequent trips like commutes, school drop-offs and errands, showing you a preview of that route in a Maps widget. There are also notification alerts when there's likely to be a delay on that route so you can look for an alternative way of getting to Point B. iOS 26 Games iOS 26 adds a couple of new apps — Preview, which is an iPhone addition of the PDF viewing app on your Mac, and Games, which is entirely new. Apple treats Games like a one-stop shop for all the games installed on your iPhone, and indeed every game you've ever tried. You can launch games directly from the app or re-download them from the App Store if you've discovered something you haven't played in a while. You'll find recommendations, especially from the Apple Arcade subscription service. The true value of the Games app may not emerge until the fall when app makers starting releasing their iOS 26-inspired updates. There's a Play Together tab in which you can challenge friends to see who can post a better score in specific games, and there's clearly a push for app to add challenges that you'll be able to access from the Games app. iOS 26 CarPlay Liquid Glass also comes to CarPlay in iOS 26, but our CarPlay hands-on found the most welcome changes to be the addition of widgets and the ability to respond to text messages with tapbacks. Both of those features let you glance at information and respond quickly without distracting you from your drive. Other iOS 26 features By now, you've probably surmised that there's a lot to this iOS 26 update. Here's a quick round-up of other features and additions you should be aware of as you try out the public beta. iOS 26 Safari gets a redesign toolbar, though you have some control over how that redesign looks. iOS 26 Music adds an AutoMix feature for Apple Music subscribers, and anyone can now pin their favorite songs, albums. artists and playlists to the top of the app's Library tab. iOS 26 Wallet will let you create a digital passport that you can use as ID at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights, though this feature isn't available in the iOS 26 public beta. Genmoji and Image Playground both gain new features, as you can now combine two emoji to make a new one or add expressions to the genmoji of people. Expressions are also available in Image Playground which gains access to ChatGPT for more images styles. iOS 26 outlook The iOS 26 public beta released on July 24 is just the first of what figures to be many versions rolled out during the summer. Check back with this guide, which we'll update as Apple adds more features and we get the chance to put them to the test. More from Tom's Guide iOS 26: The game-changing features 5 iOS 26 settings to change right away Helpful gesture controls for your iPhone
Phone Arena
15-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Apple iOS 26 Developer Beta 3 hands-on: Liquid Glass takes the back seat, and I love that
I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Liquid Glass at first, and getting used to it is still an ongoing process for me. It's not because of the aesthetics themselves but due to the execution of the redesign, which felt too abrupt and intensive. As someone who has grown roots into the older iOS design language, this change was too sudden and too harsh. Thankfully, Developer Beta 3 addressed this paradigm shift in the new new style of iOS. With Developer Beta 3, Liquid Glass has undergone the most significant round of changes so far. I've actually been giving it a spin for the past few days, and in this time, it has become clear that Apple has fortunately addressed many of the initial issues with the Liquid Glass design language. I applaud the toning down of the new transparency effect in most apps, which not only improves the synergy with the older design language but also fixes some accessibility issues from the prior betas. iOS 26 DB1 iOS 26 DB3 A much subtler Liquid Glass effect goes a long way in DB3, giving us a less busy background that just feels right The main change is the vastly increased opacity of most stock apps' navigation bars, as well as a slight toning down of the see-through transparency effect with app and folder icons. The difference is subtle but definitely improves the overall style and legibility of most interface elements. In fact, it makes me like Liquid Glass a bit more and makes the transition towards the new design language easier to stomach. To me, the newer "frosted glass" effect feels way more iOS-like than the translucent glass in the first two betas, which felt greasy and intrusive. iOS 26 DB1 iOS 26 DB3 That's a major change for the better, in my opinion. I wasn't a fan of the translucent navigation bars in the stock apps, which felt gaudy and actually worsened the user experience for me. This new stained glass look of sorts is much better from a usability standpoint and subjectively looks better. iOS 26 DB3 iOS 26 DB3 Music has been one of the many stock apps that has been blessed with an opaque navigation bar at the bottom Music is the app where this change is best seen. Previously, we had a translucent glass effect at the bottom navigation bar that was too over the top and was rather distracting, not blending well with the rest of the app's aesthetics. With DB3, this effect has been toned down a lot, and as a result, the essential navigation bar down there is more opaque, which does wonders for the app. iOS 26 DB1 iOS 26 DB3 Safari has also scored some changes in terms of appearance and menu layout However, depending on who you ask, DB3 appears to be criticized as a major setback in iOS's quest for a new identity, as that's what most new-fangled fans of Liquid Glass seem to be voicing online. In my opinion, they are all wrong; it was obvious from day one that Liquid Glass was in dire need of a subduing. It's not all roses, though. I am yet to get used to the new Control Center, which feels a bit too detached from the rest of the interface. One of my New Year's resolutions was to switch back to Android in 2025, which I successfully did, but my previous daily driver (an iPhone 13 Pro Max) still had a dedicated spot on my desk at home as a backup device and a beta-testing machine. It's still a fairly capable phone, but it's definitely starting to show signs of aging; it's by no means fast in comparison with newer iPhones, the battery life is a shadow of its former self (thanks to the 86% battery health), and the design is already too retro, especially if you put it next to a newer titanium flagship. That said, none of the iOS 26 Developer Betas have run particularly well on the iPhone 13 Pro Max . The first one was the worst offender, as it nearly rendered the phone unusable. The second beta was slightly better in terms of performance, and thankfully, the latest Developer Beta 3 feels like the best one in terms of performance so far. There's still a lot to be done in terms of optimization here, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max dropping frames left and right and more prone to overheating than usual. I tried iOS 26 DB3 on an iPhone 16 Plus, and the experience is much better, as one would imagine. Still, I do hope Apple improves the overall optimization of the upcoming update, as it wouldn't chime too well with the millions of users of older iPhones. Standby battery life is fairly okay for a beta. I don't have battery life figures of my specific usage pre-beta, but I have the feeling I get between one and two hours of less screen-on time right now, which is what I'd expect from a software in such a fairly early stage of development. I hope it gets fixed to iOS 18 levels of battery life, though. Of these, we have lots of tiny and not-so-tiny gremlins lurking around everywhere around the interface. Generally, I think previous iOS betas were buggier, as most of the issues within iOS 26 are mostly related to the visuals, while previous iOS betas had more serious issues. Scroll through your camera roll, open a video, and if you flick it away without pressing pause, it will continue playing in the background while you browse the rest of your photos, requiring you to go back to the video in question, open it, and deliberately press the pause button to stop it. Moreover, if you open another video, and the audio from the first one will play alongside the other one. Lo and behold, I found out you can actually play up to four audio streams from your videos simultaneously for the ultimate cacophony before the Photos app would seemingly crash and no longer play videos at all. Try to cycle between your saved wallpaper pairs too fast, and the Settings app will throw a tantrum and crash. The same applies to quick scrolling in the mail app: do it too fast and the app will cease to register your inputs. I've reported all of these in the Feedback app, which should definitely be considered by anyone who runs the beta and encounters a bug or an issue that shouldn't hit the official release this fall. To me, iOS 26 Developer Beta 3 is a step in the right direction in almost all important aspects. First, it addresses some of my ire with the earlier iterations of Liquid Glass and makes the new design language palpable. Optimization still has a long way to go here, as both performance and battery life are far from their pre- iOS 26 levels. There are small bugs and tiny issues present, as befits beta software,
Phone Arena
07-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Apple releases iOS 26 Beta 3 which fixes a major iPhone issue and adds new features
Those of you riding on the iOS 26 beta track should know that iOS 26 Beta 3 has been disseminated by Apple. If you're subscribed to the Apple Beta Software Program you can install this update by going to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the directions. This is actually the third developer beta release of iOS 26 , but you don't have to be a developer to install it. The public beta for iOS 26 will begin in the middle of the current month. The update takes care of a major bug that prevented ringtones from working when someone called affected iPhone units. This happened to my iPhone 15 Pro Max and with the update, thankfully this bug has been exterminated. Apple releases iOS 26 Beta 3. | Image credit-PhoneArena One new feature found in the beta uses Visual Intelligence to recognize screenshots. When you look at a screenshot, two buttons at the bottom of the page, "Ask" and "Image Search," show up in the bottom left and right corners respectively. "Ask" let's you ask a question about the screenshot on your screen. Image search uses any photo found on the screenshot to search for further information that might be relevant to the screenshot. Visual Intelligence now recognizes screenshots after installing the iOS 26 Beta 3. | Image credit-PhoneArena Apple has added more color options for the default iOS wallpaper. Usually offered in multiple color options, previous iOS 26 beta releases offered the wallpaper in blue only. With the update, the default wallpaper is now available in Shadow, Dusk, Sky, and Halo. New colors for the iOS 26 default wallpaper. | Image credit-PhoneArena Improvements have also been made to the battery life of iPhone units running the iOS 26 beta. Certain models also have stopped overheating and lagging once the new beta version was installed. The stable version of iOS 26 should be ready in September, around the time that Apple releases the new iPhone 17 line. Until then, you can expect to see each new beta release introduce some new features for the iPhone along with some patches for serious bugs. We tell you all of the time that losing important features is the risk one takes when installing beta software, especially when it is a major OS release like iOS 26 . Losing the ringtone for incoming calls is pretty serious, which is why we usually warn you not to use your daily driver when installing beta software. After approximately one week, those affected by this bug will now hear their ringtone when receiving a call. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
iOS 26 Now Available for Everyone! How to Test the New Features
Apple Tests New iOS Versions Months Before Official Launch Apple tests new iOS versions months ahead of their official release. Those who participate in the beta program can try out new features before anyone else. TECHBOOK explains how it works. It will still be a while before the final version of iOS 26 is actually available for all owners of compatible iPhones. The launch is planned for September–along with the iPhone 17. However, the public beta version is now available for testers. Those who want to try it out in advance can register for iOS beta updates. iPhone owners with developer accounts have been able to test the new iOS versions for a few weeks now. The so-called 'Developer Beta' is not freely accessible to everyone. Non-developers had to wait for the launch of the 'Public Beta'–which has now started. Registering for the beta is quick and easy. However, users should be aware that the software is a test version and may be unstable: crashes, freezing, and delays are possible during operation. There are new requirements for the iOS 26 beta. iPhone Xr, Xs/Xs Max are no longer supported. Instead, an iPhone 11, 11 Pro/Pro Max or newer, or an iPhone SE of the 2nd and 3rd generation is required. Also interesting: 15 secret iOS features you should know Before installing the iOS beta, you should always create a backup of your data, as data loss due to unstable software cannot be ruled out. 1. Go to this page and click on Enroll. 2. Sign in with your Apple ID. 3. Confirm the agreement for the 'Apple Beta Software' program. 4. Starting with iOS version 16.4, new entries now appear in Settings under General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Depending on the account status and available betas, different options are available here: 'Off,' 'Developer Beta,' or 'Public Beta.' Click on the beta channel through which you want to receive updates. Note: For iOS 16.3 and older, installing a configuration profile is necessary beforehand. Open the link and sign in again with your Apple ID to download the profile. In some cases, it must be manually installed in Settings under 'Software Update' before the beta update appears. 5. You can now install the beta like any other iOS update under Software Update. Not only is the name brand new, but the interface of iOS 26 has been completely revamped to match the new Liquid Glass design language. While the transparent design looks fresh, it currently causes readability issues, which is why Apple is continuing to make adjustments. The post iOS 26 Now Available for Everyone! How to Test the New Features appeared first on TECHBOOK.
Phone Arena
23-06-2025
- Phone Arena
Apple releases iOS 26 Developer Beta 2 with new features and a clue about the iPhone 17 Air
If you are subscribed to the Apple Beta program, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the directions to install iOS 26 Developer Beta 2. If you haven't yet signed up with the iOS 26 Beta program, go to or tap on this link. Tap the blue "Sign up" button and follow the directions. Apple releases iOS 26 Developer Beta 2. | Image credit-PhoneArena To make sure you receive the prompt to install iOS 26 Developer Beta 2, go to the top of the Software Update page, tap on Beta Updates, and on the next page, tap on iOS 26 Developer Beta. A check mark will appear indicating that you've selected the Developer Beta to receive. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update and you should receive the prompt to install iOS 26 Developer Beta 2. Follow the directions to download it on your handset. Make sure you've backed up your iPhone first. Most of the changes are minor. For example, if you have less than four app icons in the dock, it will now be left-aligned instead of center-aligned. This might be the result of a bug, so we will have to keep an eye out for this. Also, a new Live Radio widget for Apple Music has been made available. To add it to your home screen, long press on some empty real estate on your phone until you go into jiggle mode. This is the setting when all the apps are shaking. At the top of the screen is the new Live Radio widget for the Apple Music app. | Image credit-PhoneArena Tap the Edit button in the top left corner and press on "Add Widget." Scroll down to Music, tap on it, and scroll through the widgets until you see the one that says Live Radio. Press the Add Widget button and that's it! You've now added the Apple Music Live Radio widget to your home screen. Another change can be found in the Safari app. Open the app and tap the three-button "More" menu icon on the bottom right. This now shows a revised and cleaned-up menu giving you the opportunity to share what is on the screen, add a Bookmark, add a Bookmark to a certain location, add a new tab, and add a new private tab. You'll also be able to view all of your Safari bookmarks and tabs from this menu. The iOS 26 Developer Beta 2 release includes a new version of the iconic Reflection ringtone. | Image credit-PhoneArena Apple has created an Alternate version of the iconic Reflections ringtone. Go to Settings > Sound & Haptics > Ringtone > Reflection . Tap on Alt 1. This might just be a temporary name for the sound which might have a new title by the time the stable version of iOS 26 is released in September. It also turns out that iOS 26 Developer Beta 2 might give away some information about the display on the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. A new version of the clownfish wallpaper is available in the iOS 26 Developer Beta 2 release with a resolution of 420×912@3x which can be translated into a resolution of 1260 × 2736. This is a resolution not used on any released iPhone. It also comes close to the 1260 x 2740 resolution for the iPhone 17 Air forecast by super Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
