{"id":3984,"date":"2024-03-06T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T08:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/guide\/ios-17-4-features&post_date=1709688516\/"},"modified":"2024-03-06T08:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T08:00:09","slug":"ios-17-4-features-whats-new-in-ios-17-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.amobil.online\/ios-17-4-features-whats-new-in-ios-17-4\/","title":{"rendered":"iOS 17.4 Features: What’s New in iOS 17.4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apple today released the iOS 17.4 update that brings some major changes to the iPhone<\/a> (and the iPad<\/a>) in Europe. Many of the biggest changes in iOS 17.4 are limited to people in the European Union, but there new additions in the update that are available worldwide.<\/p>\n

\"iOS
In this article, we’ve rounded up everything new in iOS 17.4.<\/p>\n

EU Changes<\/h2>\n

Apple is changing the way the App Store<\/a> and apps operate in the European Union in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act. These changes are included in iOS 17.4, but are limited to countries that are in the European Union.<\/p>\n

\"iOS<\/p>\n

App developers in the EU can opt to offer alternative app stores or install their apps through alternative stores, and Apple has a whole new fee structure that goes along with this change. There’s a new business structure that developers can opt in to, which applies to both apps distributed in the \u200cApp Store\u200c and apps that are distributed through alternative means.<\/p>\n

App developers using the new system will need to pay a standard fee of 0.50 euros per user per year, with the first million installs offered for free. Apps distributed through alternative app stores will have no commission. Apps distributed through the \u200cApp Store\u200c will pay a reduced 17 percent commission, or 10 percent for those in the small business program or for user subscriptions older than a year.<\/p>\n

Developers can choose not to opt in to the new system and can use the existing system with the same 15\/30 percent commission that’s available elsewhere in the world. Apple has a fee calculator to help developers determine what they’ll pay with the existing setup, with the new setup, with the new setup using alternative app stores, and with the new setup using the \u200cApp Store\u200c.<\/p>\n

Users are able to set their preferred alternative app store as the default app store on their device if desired. EU users will see an option for this in the Settings app.<\/p>\n

There are a huge number of behind-the-scene changes that are enabling this feature in the EU, with updates to all kinds of system messaging. Users in the EU will, for example, get a pop up warning when an app from an alternative app store contains malware, and there are new screens for verifying the information from an alternative app.<\/p>\n

A Screen Time setting will allow parents to decide whether their children’s devices are able to install apps from alternative app marketplaces.<\/p>\n

Alternative Payment Options (EU)<\/h3>\n

Apple is also allowing apps to use alternative payment options in their apps, and there is no longer a requirement to use in-app purchase. Developers who distribute apps through the \u200cApp Store\u200c and use an alternative payment option will see a three percent discount in their \u200cApp Store\u200c fees.<\/p>\n

Developers who distribute through alternative apps and also use an alternative payment option will pay Apple no fees beyond the set 0.50 euro fee per user.<\/p>\n

With alternative payments, purchases for digital goods and services can be made directly in an app or a developer can choose to link to their website to have a user make a payment. Apple is requiring developers to use a known, secure payment provider.<\/p>\n

Third-Party Browser Updates (EU)<\/h3>\n

After updating to iOS 17.4, EU users that open Safari will see a pop up that allows them to choose a new default browser option from a list of the most popular browsers on iOS.<\/p>\n

Apple is also allowing alternative browser engines, and will not limit browsers like Chrome to the WebKit engine.<\/p>\n

NFC Access (EEA)<\/h3>\n

Third-party payment apps and banks have access to the NFC chip in the \u200ciPhone\u200c in iOS 17.4, and can offer contactless payments directly on the \u200ciPhone\u200c without using Apple Pay<\/a> or the Wallet app in the European Economic Area. Users can set a default contactless payment provider that activates at tap-to-pay terminals or when the Side button on the \u200ciPhone\u200c is pressed twice.<\/p>\n

The option for setting a default contactless payment provider is available in the Settings app in the European Economic Area, and this section will also provide details on all apps that have requested and been granted contactless payment access.<\/p>\n

EEA users can also change the default Wallet app on the \u200ciPhone\u200c.<\/p>\n

Web Apps (EU)<\/h3>\n

Apple initially restricted the functionality<\/a> of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the European Union in iOS 17.4, but after a negative response from EU users, Apple walked the decision back.<\/p>\n

Home Screen<\/a> Web Apps will no longer be disabled, but WebKit is required<\/a>. Web apps added to the \u200ciPhone\u200c from a browser that does not support WebKit will not work.<\/p>\n

Gaming App Changes (Worldwide)<\/h2>\n

Streaming game apps are now allowed on the \u200cApp Store\u200c worldwide, which means services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce NOW can be offered as standalone \u200ciPhone\u200c and \u200ciPad\u200c apps.<\/p>\n

Apple previously only allowed cloud gaming services to be offered via the web, but dedicated apps that let users stream games from servers are now permitted.<\/p>\n

Mini games, chatbots, and plug-ins are also now able to use the in-app purchase system.<\/p>\n

New Emoji<\/h2>\n

iOS 17.4 introduces new emoji characters that include lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, shaking head vertically (as in a “yes” nod), and shaking head horizontally (a “no” head shake).<\/p>\n

\"iOS<\/p>\n

These emoji are part of the Unicode 15.1 update that was approved in September 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Messaging with Siri<\/h2>\n

The Automatically Send Messages setting under Siri<\/a> & Search has been renamed “Messaging with \u200cSiri\u200c,” and there is an option to set \u200cSiri\u200c to read incoming messages in a specific language like Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and many more.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Podcasts and Music<\/h2>\n

The “Listen Now” tabs in the Apple Music<\/a> and Podcasts apps have been renamed to “Home.”<\/p>\n

\"apple<\/p>\n

Podcast Transcripts<\/h2>\n

The Podcasts app now offers transcripts, similar to how lyrics work in the \u200cApple Music\u200c app. You can follow along with an episode as the text is highlighted in sync with the audio.<\/p>\n

\"podcast<\/p>\n

Music Recognition<\/h2>\n

Songs that have been identified with music recognition can be added to \u200cApple Music\u200c Playlists, the \u200cApple Music\u200c Library, and \u200cApple Music\u200c Classical.<\/p>\n

New iMessage Security Protocol<\/h2>\n

With iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 Apple is introducing a “state-of-the-art” post-quantum cryptographic protocol<\/a> for iMessage called PQ3.<\/p>\n

\"General<\/p>\n

iPhone 15 Battery Health<\/h2>\n

Apple in iOS 17.4 changed the Battery interface<\/a> in the Settings app on iPhone 15<\/a> models. These devices now show Battery Health with a readout such as “Normal,” for a quick at-a-glance way to see the status of the \u200ciPhone\u200c’s battery.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Apple also updated the support information for the battery, as the company retested and found that the \u200ciPhone 15\u200c battery can maintain 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stolen Device Protection<\/h2>\n

In the Stolen Device Protection section of the Settings app, there is now an option to require a security delay always or only when away from familiar locations.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Apple says that this feature is designed to give users the option for increased security in all locations.<\/p>\n

Stopwatch Live Activity<\/h2>\n

iOS 17.4 adds a Live Activity function for the Stopwatch feature on the \u200ciPhone\u200c. When activated through the Clock app, the Stopwatch now shows up in the Dynamic Island<\/a> and on the Lock Screen.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Call Identification<\/h2>\n

Call identification in iOS 17.4 displays Apple-verified business names, logos, and department names when the information is available.<\/p>\n

Messages for Business<\/h2>\n

With Messages for Business, businesses can provide opt-in information for order statuses, flight notifications, fraud alerts, and other transactions.<\/p>\n

Apple TV App<\/h2>\n

The “How to Watch” section in the Apple TV<\/a> app that shows where a movie or TV show can be viewed now has a list interface rather than a card interface.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

App Store<\/h2>\n

The \u200cApp Store\u200c’s Purchase feature now shows account-wide purchase history for an Apple ID<\/a>. It includes TV and movie purchases, music purchases, subscriptions, and app purchases, and it is the same interface that is available when accessing the purchase information for any \u200cApple ID\u200c.<\/p>\n

\"app<\/p>\n

There’s a new City Digital Clock widget that can be added to the \u200cHome Screen\u200c or Lock Screen.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Apple Cash Virtual Card Numbers<\/h2>\n

In the Wallet app, Apple Cash users can generate a virtual card number to make purchases when \u200cApple Pay\u200c is not an option.<\/p>\n

\"apple<\/p>\n

Real-Time Apple Card, Apple Savings, and Apple Cash Budget App Integration<\/h2>\n

Apple in iOS 17.4 is giving third-party budget apps real-time information<\/a> on Apple Card<\/a>, Apple Cash, and Apple Savings accounts transactions for up-to-the-minute budget reporting.<\/p>\n

Hand Gesture Reactions in Video Apps<\/h2>\n

With iOS 17.4, there’s a new API for developers that can be used to turn off hand gesture reactions in video calls. iOS 17<\/a> added a gesture reactions that are enabled by default in all video calling apps, leading to awkwardness when moving the hands in certain ways during serious calls.<\/p>\n

\"ios<\/p>\n

Hey Siri<\/h2>\n

With iOS 17.4, the option to say \u200cSiri\u200c instead of Hey \u200cSiri\u200c is now available for French, German, and Spanish speakers.<\/p>\n

CarPlay Instrument Cluster Update<\/h2>\n

In supported CarPlay<\/a> vehicles, there’s now an Apple Maps<\/a> option to show information about upcoming turn-by-turn maneuvers in the instrument cluster. \u200cCarPlay\u200c users will be able to swap the display type between the main and instrument cluster by tapping on the map configuration button located in the upper right of the main Maps screen.<\/p>\n

\"volvo<\/p>\n

Next-Generation CarPlay Support<\/h2>\n

Next-generation \u200cCarPlay\u200c is set to launch in the U.S. later in 2024, and code in iOS 17.4 references eight new \u200cCarPlay\u200c apps.<\/p>\n