The iOS 17.4 beta has been available to developers and beta testers since last month and brings many significant changes such as App Stores for installations of applications outside the App Store in the EU. As the Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust deadline approaches, it looks like Apple is preparing to release iOS 17.4 RC tomorrow.
iOS 17.4 RC release coming soon ahead of DMA deadline
According to X user @aaronp613, who has become famous for posting juicy news about Apple software updates, the company is quietly making some changes to the App Store backend to officially enable App Marketplace support. The EU has set March 6, 2024 as the deadline for tech companies to comply with the DMA.
As for Apple, the company was forced to allow iPhone users to install apps from alternative app stores. which will be possible with iOS 17.4. The update also allows web browsers to have their own engine instead of using Apple's WebKit, which was also required by the EU with DMA.
Apple typically distributes a Release Candidate (RC), collected several days before the official release of a major update, to ensure that everything works as intended. If iOS 17.4 RC becomes available to beta testers tomorrow, the final version will likely be released to everyone next Monday or Tuesday.
More about iOS 17.4
For non-EU users, iOS 17.4 also contains some other changes and new features. For example, the update improves protection against stolen devices by adding a new option to always require a security delay, not just in unknown locations. Also added new emoji, transcriptions in Apple Podcasts and improvements to CarPlay.
Along with iOS 17.4, Apple is also expected to release watchOS 10.4, tvOS 17.4 and macOS Sonoma 14.4.
- How to keep iMessage quantum secure on your iPhone (and why it's useful)
- iOS 17.4 makes it easier to know if your iPhone's battery is healthy
- Apple confirms iOS 17.4 removes web Home screen apps in EU. Here's why.
- Apple may finally turn off camera responsiveness in iOS 17 and macOS 14 by default.
- iOS 17.4 adds a new “Virtual Card”. Number feature in Apple Cash
