Apple remains on track with development of iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and other new operating systems announced at WWDC earlier this month, releasing the second developer beta of the updates this week with a host of new changes and additions. A public beta is expected to be released sometime next month ahead of a full public launch in the fall.
Other news and rumors from this week included the international launch of the Vision Pro headset, upcoming expansion of support for third-party display and battery replacement parts for iPhone, and the debut of an improved Beats Pill speaker, so read on for more details.
Everything new in iOS 18 Beta 2
Apple opened up the second beta of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and more to developers for testing this week. The second beta of iOS 18 spotted several changes to iPhone, which are outlined in the full list of new features.
According to Apple, the first public beta of iOS 18 will be released sometime in July. However, you no longer need a $99/year Apple Developer Program membership for this purpose, so anyone with a free Apple developer account can install the developer beta. As always, be sure to back up your device before installing any beta software.
Apple Vision Pro now available in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore
This marks the first time Apple Vision Pro is available outside the US with the headset currently available in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, and is also available to pre-order in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK ahead of its July 12 launch.
At WWDC earlier this month, Apple announced the first major update to its Vision Pro operating system, visionOS 2. visionOS 2 includes several new features and changes, including a redesigned Photos app with SharePlay support, the ability to convert existing 2D photos into spatial photos, a larger ultra-wide version of the Mac Virtual Display that’s the equivalent of two 4K monitors side-by-side, and support for a physical mouse.
Apple announces improved third-party display and battery support for iPhones later this year
Apple published a lengthy white paper this week highlighting the company’s commitment to the repairability and durability of its devices, in which it revealed that iPhones coming in the second half of 2024 will have better support for third-party displays and batteries.
More specifically, Apple said that third-party iPhone displays will support True Tone and that third-party batteries will show battery health indicators, though Apple said it can’t guarantee that these features will work properly.
Beats Pill speaker returns with improved sound quality, waterproofing and a lower price
More than two and a half years after Apple discontinued the Beats Pill, the company has brought back the portable Bluetooth speaker.
The new Beats Pill features improved sound quality, water resistance, a lower price of $149.99, an optional strap, Find My support, and other enhancements over the previous version. The speaker comes in three colors and is available to order now from Apple’s online store.
iOS 18 adds five new features to AirPods Pro
The upcoming iOS 18 update for iPhones will include five notable new features for AirPods Pro, with details provided in the list.
One of the special features that Apple showed off during the WWDC 2024 keynote was hands-free Siri interaction. With the second-generation AirPods Pro and iOS 18, you can answer or reject a call without speaking by simply nodding your head to say “yes” or shaking your head to say “no.”
iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 60+ upgrades you can expect
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have yet to be announced, but there are already a number of rumours of new features and changes for these devices.
If you still have a three-year-old iPhone 13 Pro model and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro model launching later this year, read our in-depth iPhone 13 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro guide, which outlines over 60 changes you can expect if you upgrade.
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