It's official: iOS 17.4 is here, and we can now install it on our iPhones to enjoy all the new features. A long list of new features, in fact, since among the update of iMessage encryption to make it resistant to quantum computers, the new emojis, and the improvements in Podcasts, this update significantly changes what our iPhone can do.
The most significant changes in this update are due to the adaptation to the European Union's Digital Markets Act. In this context, and only within Europe, it will now be possible to install third-party app stores, use alternative payment systems within apps, and use navigation engines beyond WebKit.
A long list of new features for the spring update
Beyond that, the list of new features in this version is considerable. The so-called spring update, the one we are discussing, is always the most significant system update before the presentation of the next version at the WWDC in June. Thus, the new features we can enjoy after updating are as follows:
Here is a detailed list of the new features and improvements introduced in the iOS 17.4 update, with a description of each section:
- New emojis: new designs such as the mushroom, the phoenix, the lime, the broken chain, and the head emojis saying yes or no are added to the emoji keyboard.
- Orientation of some emojis: introduces the possibility to orient the 18 people and body emojis in the right direction, in addition to the usual left, offering us greater flexibility in communication.
- Transcriptions in the Podcasts app: which now allow us to follow an episode with a text that syncs with the audio we listen to in English, Spanish, French, and German.
- Interaction with text: the text of the episodes can be read as if it were an article, search for specific words or phrases, tap to play from a specific point, and use with accessibility features like Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver.
- Music recognition: now we can add songs that we have identified with Siri to our playlists and our Apple Music library, included in Apple Music Classical.
- Siri learns more languages: in iOS 17.4, Siri can announce the messages we receive in more languages. Regardless of the assistant's language, it can read our communications in any supported language. We just need to activate it in the Settings app.
- More protection for stolen devices: which now offers us the option to increase security through a one-hour delay for certain actions in all locations, not just those that are not trusted.
- Battery health: in Settings, the system now shows us the battery cycle count, the manufacturing date, and the first use of the battery in iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.
- Caller ID: now shows, for an incoming call, the business name verified by Apple, the logo, and the department name, when available.
- Messages for Business: now provides us with trustworthy information about the status of our orders, flight notifications, fraud alerts, or other transactions we participate in.
- Virtual card numbers for Apple Cash: with which we can pay with Apple Cash in stores that do not yet accept Apple Pay without having to give our real data.
- Bug fixes: in addition to all the previous new features, iOS 17.4 fixes a bug where contact images disappeared in the Find app and a bug affecting dual SIMs where the phone number could change from primary to secondary and be visible to a group to which messages had been sent.
Clearly, iOS 17.4 is a really complete update. In addition to the changes in Europe, the list of new features is more than considerable. And many of them also arrive on our iPad and Mac, as Apple has also released iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, watchOS 10.4, and tvOS 17.4. All of them are updates that we can now install from the Settings app on our device, we just have to go to General > Software Update and enjoy the new features after the update.
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