U današnjem članku, predstavljamo vam sve nove promjene koje donosi iOS 17.4 beta 1. Apple je danas predstavio prve bete iOS 17.4 i iPadOS 17.4 za programere, donoseći neke revolucionarne nadogradnje za iPhone i iPad u Europi. Iako će većina velikih promjena utjecati samo na korisnike u EU, također su dostupne i nadogradnje operativnog sistema širom svijeta. U ovom članku smo objedinili sve nove promjene u iOS 17.4 beta 1.

EU Changes

Apple has made significant changes to the App Store and apps operating within the European Union (EU) as a result of the Digital Markets Act. These changes, implemented in iOS 17.4, are specific to countries within the European Economic Area (EEA).

Alternative App Stores and New App Store Terms

In the EU, app developers now have the option to provide alternative app stores or distribute their apps through alternative means. Apple has introduced a new fee structure to accompany this change. Developers can choose to opt into a new business structure that applies to apps distributed both in the App Store and through alternative stores.

Under the new system, developers are required to pay a standard fee of 0.50 euros per user per year. The first million installs are offered free of charge. Apps distributed through alternative app stores will not be subject to any commission. However, apps distributed through the App Store will pay a reduced commission of 17 percent, or 10 percent for small businesses or user subscriptions older than one year.

Developers can also choose to remain within the existing system, which maintains a commission rate of 15/30 percent. Apple provides a fee calculator to assist developers in determining the fees associated with each setup.

Users in the EU now have the ability to set their preferred alternative app store as the default app store on their devices. This option is available in the Settings app.

In addition to these changes, various updates have been made behind the scenes to facilitate this feature in the EU. These updates include improvements to system messaging, such as pop-up warnings for apps containing malware from alternative app stores and new screens for verifying information from alternative apps.

Furthermore, a Screen Time setting has been introduced, allowing parents to manage whether their children’s devices can install apps from alternative app marketplaces.

Alternative Payment Options

Apple now permits apps to utilize alternative payment options within their apps. The requirement to use in-app purchase has been removed. Developers who distribute their apps through the App Store and utilize an alternative payment option will receive a three percent discount on their App Store fees.

Developers who distribute their apps through alternative app stores and also use alternative payment options will not incur any additional fees beyond the standard 0.50 euro fee per user.

With alternative payments, users can make purchases for digital goods and services directly within an app, or developers can choose to redirect users to their website for payment. Apple stipulates that developers must use a secure payment provider for these transactions.

Third-Party Browser Updates

Following the update to iOS 17.4, EU users opening Safari will encounter a pop-up allowing them to select a new default browser from a list of popular browsers available for iOS.

Apple now permits the use of alternative browser engines, expanding the browser options beyond WebKit. This means that browsers like Chrome can run on iOS using their own engines.

NFC Access

In iOS 17.4, third-party payment apps and banks in the EU now have access to the NFC chip within the iPhone. This allows them to offer contactless payments directly through the iPhone, without requiring Apple Pay or the Wallet app. Users can set a default contactless payment provider that activates when tapping to pay or pressing the Side button on the iPhone twice.

The option to set a default contactless payment provider is available within the Settings app. This section also provides details on all apps that have requested and been granted contactless payment access. Furthermore, EU users have the ability to change the default Wallet app on their iPhones.

Gaming App Changes

Streaming Game Apps

Streaming game apps, such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce NOW, are now permitted on the App Store worldwide. Previously, these services were only available through the web. With the iOS 17.4 update, dedicated apps that allow users to stream games directly from servers are now allowed.

In-App Purchases for Mini-Apps and Plug-Ins

In-app purchases are now available for mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins. This expansion of the in-app purchase system provides developers with more flexibility in monetizing their apps and offerings.

New Emoji

iOS 17.4 beta introduces new emoji characters to the platform. These include a lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, and gestures for shaking the head vertically (indicating a nod) and horizontally (indicating a negative response). These new emoji characters are part of the Unicode 15.1 update approved in September 2023.

Messaging with Siri

The „Automatically Send Messages“ setting in Siri & Search has been renamed „Messaging with Siri.“ This updated setting allows users to configure Siri to read incoming messages in specific languages, such as Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and more. It is important to note that this change does not modify the primary language Siri responds to, but only affects message playback.

Podcasts and Music

The „Listen Now“ tabs in Apple Music and Podcasts have been rebranded as „Home.“ This change aims to provide a more intuitive and engaging user experience.

Podcast Transcripts

The Podcasts app now offers transcripts, similar to the lyrics feature in Apple Music. This addition enhances accessibility and allows users to read along with podcasts.

Safari

The URL/search bar in Safari has been widened, offering a more visually appealing browsing experience.

More Features

If there is any additional information about the new features in iOS 17.4 that we have missed, please let us know in the comments below.

This article, „iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Changes,“ provides an overview of the updates introduced in the iOS 17.4 beta 1 release. These changes primarily affect EU users but also include a variety of updates applicable worldwide. For more information and discussions about iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, please visit our related roundups and forums.

References:

• iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Changes. Retrieved from MacRumors
• iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 roundups and forums. Retrieved from MacRumors