A FRESH Apple update awaits iPhone users, and with it will come a new battery boosting feature, as well as a bonus Siri and security upgrade.
It doesn’t stop there, there’s some bug fixes coming too that will fix issues with the Find My app and an annoying problem currently faced by Dual SIM users.
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iOS 17.4 is expected to land on phones in about a week.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro users will receive a revamp to their Battery Health page in Settings.
It will start showing users a battery cycle count, alongside a manufacture date.
An iPhones battery cycle count is important is an important indicator of your handset’s lifespan.
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Knowing the battery cycle can be used to figure out when you need to replace your battery.
According to Apple, “Batteries of iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions.
“Batteries of iPhone 15 models are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions.”
Siri upgrade
With iOS 17.4, Siri will gain a new option to announce messages you receive in any supported language.
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Inside Settings > Siri & Search the option Messaging with Siri has replaced Automatically Send Messages.
In the Messaging with Siri option will be the ability to add a new language.
If you tap this, you can have Siri send messages in other languages, like Arabic, Spanish and Thai.
Prior to this update, Siri could only send messages in English.
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iOS 17.4: the biggest Apple change ever?
Apple’s iOS 17.4 update could be its biggest ever, as the tech company is forced to make some significant changes to its App Store rules.
The Silicon Valley giant will soon allow alternative app stores to appear on iPhones purchased inside the EU, following a regulatory spat with the bloc.
This not only offers iPhone owners a new selection of free apps – but reduced fees in Apple’s official App Store.
Currently, iPhone users across the globe can only download apps via Apple’s own App Store.
But it has been accused of creating a monopoly in the app world, by giving developers no choice but to go through its own channels and paying for the privilege to do so.
Apple charges developers up to 30 per cent commission on all in-app purchases.
This regime has meant that developers who either fail to meet Apple’s standards, or do not agree to paying its fees, are excluded from all Apple gadgets and their users.
It is this rule that led to Fortnite being banned from the App Store in 2020, after its developer Epic Games violated in-app payment guidelines.
Stolen Device Protection
The Stolen Device Protection feature that rolled out to iPhones in the last update is also about to get better.
It is intended to keep some actions, such as accessing your saved passwords or iCloud, behind a Face ID or Touch ID passcode in case a thief ever gets their hands on the device.
It works by requesting identity verification via Face ID or Touch ID for sensitive actions like changing your Apple ID password.
With iOS 17.4, users will soon have the option to choose between the feature switching on automatically in all unfamiliar locations, or “Always.”
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Bug fixes
Bug fixes in iOS 17.4 include a remedy for Dual SIM users where the phone number changes from primary to secondary and is visible to a group they have messaged.
And a fix for the issue where contact pictures are blank in the Find My app.
