Latest news with #DeveloperBeta4
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Phone Arena
iOS 26 Public Beta hands-on: Liquid Glass is back in the front seat
Apple has just released the iOS 26 Public Beta. It's been a month and a half since Apple's latest software update with a newfound nomenclature broke cover at WWDC'25, giving us a sneak peek at the major design overhaul, spearheaded by the Liquid Glass restyling. We've received four developer betas up until now, with the iOS 26 Public Beta and the latest Developer Beta 4 being pretty much identical in terms of features and changes in comparison with previous beta releases. And changes, there have been plenty. With each developer beta, Apple has experimented with the strength of the Liquid Glass effect, which has so far varied from nearly transparent and lustrous to frosted matte glass. This has clearly shown that two major juxtaposing camps exist: those who simply adore the overexaggerated Liquid Glass effect, and those who call for a more moderate effect that tones down the Liquid Glass and feels more Apple-like. In all honesty, I belong to the latter camp, as I'm averse to major changes in interfaces I'm accustomed to, but judging from the Public Beta/Developer Beta 4, it might be the other team that will be victorious this September when iOS 26 rolls out. Well, if you loved Liquid Glass from the start, then strap in, as it's pretty much back. Gone is the frosted matte glass effect that served as a surprising change we welcomed in Developer Beta 3, substituted for a Liquid Glass look in its purest and most translucent form, mostly similar to Developer Betas 1 or 2. Can't say I'm a fan of it, but judging froom the discourse online, I'm in the minority. Navigation bars, buttons, and other interface elements are now generally less opaque and more translucent, which certainly makes some interface elements a bit less legible than what we saw in Developer Beta 3 and slightly hurts the accessibility of iOS as a whole. But let's not forget that this is what betas are for: to experiment and tune things before an official release. Who knows what future betas will bring to the mix, but I do hope Apple makes up its mind about how intense the Liquid Glass effect should be sooner rather than later. Some of the notable changes between Developer Beta 3 and Public Beta/Developer Beta 4 are detailed below. iOS 26 PB/DB4 iOS 26 DB3 Photos is one of the stock apps that best showcases the changes to iOS 26 's Public Beta. The navigation bar at the bottom appears significantly more translucent in the Public Beta in contrast with the more opaque one in the previous beta release. Here we can notice how the overall legibility drops inversely to the increase in the Liquid Glass effect. iOS 26 PB/DB4 iOS 26 DB3 The same can be observed in Apple Music. Although it looks slightly more interesting, the Liquid Glass navigation bar in the Public Beta is significantly harder to make out in comparison with the cleaner and significantly more legible in the DB3 release. I know for a fact that I'm significantly more inclined to pick DB3 as the better visual choice for iOS 26 , but Apple's software design team clearly has other plans in tow. iOS 26 PB/DB4 iOS 26 DB3 The App Store navigation bar is another example of this effect that objectively hurts the accessibility of iOS 26 . Sure, it looks new and fancy, but I can see it getting old really fast. Good news for me and probably anyone else who is not that infatuated with the translucent appearance of Liquid Glass is that enabling the "Reduce Transparency" option in Accessibility > Display & Text Size gets rid of the Liquid Glass effect and makes all of iOS appear just like Developer Beta 3, with nicely legible navigation buttons, bars, and other interface elements. A great thing about Apple's public betas is that they usually fix many (but not all) of the major bugs and issues that have been introduced by the earlier developer betas. Performance and battery life are also much better as a rule of thumb. That's precisely the case with the iOS 26 Public Beta. It performs much better than iOS 26 DB3 and lacks most of the annoying bugs. However, some notable bugs still exist. Open any of your recorded videos in the Photos app, and the audio will continue playing in a loop even if you flick away the video itself. You can actually simultaneously play up to four audio streams at the same time, which is a serious bug. The only way to fix this currently is to manually play pause on any video you've finished watching, which is not the expected behavior. It's definitely worth it to report whatever bugs you encounter in the Feedback app, it's the only way to get them fixed. Performance- and battery life-wise, the iOS 26 Public Beta is definitely an improvement from previous betas. The UX performance is smoother, and the battery life is slightly better. I didn't notice the iPhone running the software get hot too often, which was sadly the case with earlier builds of iOS 26 . Well, that's the question that in hindsight, I always say "no" to, but I always make the mistake of installing new developer betas as soon as they are available. That's why I'm probably not the person who should be telling you what to do. That said, the iOS 26 Public Beta is decent. Performance and battery life are good, the bugs are annoying but not that major, and the Liquid Glass redesign is, well, an acquired taste, something you should experience yourself. Apple gets a thumbs up for handling the iOS beta season this season, even though the zigzagging between the different levels of Liquid Glass intensity could have been handled a bit more consistently.
Geeky Gadgets
4 days ago
- Geeky Gadgets
iPadOS 26 Beta 4: Uncovering Even More New Features!
Apple has unveiled iPadOS 26 Developer Beta 4, bringing a range of new features, enhancements, and fixes aimed at refining the iPad experience. This latest update, while still in its testing phase, introduces notable changes to notifications, wallpapers, battery performance, and more. Below is a detailed breakdown of the most significant updates and their potential impact on your device. The video below from 9 to 5 Mac gives us more details about the latest beta of iPadOS 26. Watch this video on YouTube. What's in the Update? The iPadOS 26 Beta 4 update varies in size depending on your specific device model, so it is recommended to ensure you have at least 10–15 GB of free storage before initiating the download. The build number for this release is 23A5297i. While this version is currently available as a developer beta, a public beta is expected to follow soon. It is important to note that some features may still be incomplete or exhibit minor issues as Apple continues to refine the software. Top Features and Changes This update introduces several features designed to enhance usability and functionality. Here are the standout additions and improvements: Summarized Notifications: Notifications are now grouped into summaries, making it easier to manage updates from apps like news, social media, and entertainment. This feature can be customized on a per-app basis, although some users have reported occasional inaccuracies in the summaries. Notifications are now grouped into summaries, making it easier to manage updates from apps like news, social media, and entertainment. This feature can be customized on a per-app basis, although some users have reported occasional inaccuracies in the summaries. Dynamic Wallpapers: A new collection of dynamic wallpapers has been introduced, offering real-time visual changes to your lock screen. These wallpapers provide a more engaging and personalized aesthetic for your device. A new collection of dynamic wallpapers has been introduced, offering real-time visual changes to your lock screen. These wallpapers provide a more engaging and personalized aesthetic for your device. Weather App Enhancements: The Weather app now features a distinct blue color scheme to differentiate between the main screen and saved cities. This update improves clarity and simplifies navigation within the app. The Weather app now features a distinct blue color scheme to differentiate between the main screen and saved cities. This update improves clarity and simplifies navigation within the app. Settings Search Suggestions: The settings search bar now includes recent and suggested settings, allowing users to locate specific options more efficiently without navigating through multiple menus. The settings search bar now includes recent and suggested settings, allowing users to locate specific options more efficiently without navigating through multiple menus. Shortcuts Widget Update: Widgets now display app icons for easier identification. However, minor visual glitches have been reported, which Apple is expected to address in future updates. Widgets now display app icons for easier identification. However, minor visual glitches have been reported, which Apple is expected to address in future updates. Unknown Caller Screening: A new feature prompts unknown callers to state their reason for calling before your device rings. This gives users greater control over incoming calls and helps reduce interruptions from spam or unsolicited calls. Performance and Battery Life The performance of iPadOS 26 Beta 4 remains consistent with previous versions, delivering approximately 7–8 hours of screen time under moderate to heavy usage. However, some workflow-related issues persist. For instance, external SSD support and file management occasionally experience glitches, which could pose challenges for users who rely on these features for productivity tasks. Despite these issues, the overall performance is stable enough for testing purposes. Known Issues As with any beta release, iPadOS 26 Beta 4 includes a few bugs and inconsistencies that users should be aware of. Some of the reported issues include: Visual glitches: Updated widgets occasionally display minor graphical errors, which may affect their appearance but not their functionality. Updated widgets occasionally display minor graphical errors, which may affect their appearance but not their functionality. Screen dimming: Accessing the notification center can cause the screen to dim unexpectedly, which some users may find inconvenient or distracting. These issues are expected to be resolved in future updates as Apple continues to refine the software and address user feedback. What's Next? Looking ahead, Apple is likely to introduce additional refinements and optimizations in subsequent beta releases. Speculation suggests that new customization options, such as transparency sliders for UI elements, could be on the horizon. These potential updates, combined with ongoing bug fixes, highlight Apple's commitment to enhancing the iPadOS experience. Users can anticipate further improvements as the software moves closer to its official release. iPadOS 26 Beta 4: A Step Forward iPadOS 26 Beta 4 provides a glimpse into the future of Apple's tablet operating system. While some features remain in development and minor bugs persist, the update demonstrates Apple's focus on blending innovation with practicality. With the public beta release expected soon, users can look forward to additional enhancements that will further refine and elevate the iPad experience. Find more information on iPadOS 26 Beta 4 by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. Source: 9to5Mac Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPad, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
