Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of iOS 11.4 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4 update to developers, one week after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing iOS 11.3, a major update that introduced several new features.

Registered developers can download the new iOS 11.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

ios114beta
The iOS 11.4 update introduces a new ClassKit framework for educational institutions, which supports new features announced at Apple's March 27 education-focused event.

For regular users, the iOS 11.4 update adds features that were originally present in the iOS 11.3 beta but removed ahead of release.

It includes support for Messages on iCloud, designed to store your iMessages in iCloud rather than on each individual device, allowing for improved syncing capabilities. Currently, incoming iMessages are sent to all devices where you're signed in to your Apple ID, but there is no true cross-device syncing.

Messages on iCloud will allow you to download all of your iMessages on new devices, and a message deleted on one device will remove it on all devices. Older messages and attachments are also stored in iCloud rather than on-device, saving valuable storage space.

The iOS 11.4 update also includes AirPlay 2 features, with the Apple TV once again available in the Home app. With AirPlay 2, the same audio content can be played in multiple rooms on devices that support AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 includes a feature that lets you ask Siri on one device to play content on another AirPlay 2-enabled device. So, for example, you can ask Siri on iPhone to play content on your Apple TV in another room if you're running the iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4 betas.

There were initially signs of support for HomePod stereo sound in the first iOS 11.4 beta, a long-promised feature, but stereo sound didn't work properly and the mention was removed in the second beta. It's not clear if it will return for the update's release.

For the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, there is a new (PRODUCT)RED wallpaper available, which is not available on iPhone X.

iOS 11.3, the previous update to iOS 11, introduced a new Battery Health feature for monitoring the status of your iPhone's battery, Business Chat for iMessage, which lets you communicate with companies directly in the Messages app, ARKit 1.5 with augmented reality improvements, new Animoji on iPhone X, Health Records from participating medical providers, and more.

Update: Apple has also released a new version of iOS 11.4 for public beta testers.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

Saipher Avatar
64 months ago


Messages on iCloud will allow you to download all of your iMessages on new devices, and a message deleted on one device will remove it on all devices. Older messages and attachments are also stored in iCloud rather than on-device, saving valuable storage space.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of iOS 11.4 to Developers ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/14/apple-seeds-ios-11-4-beta-5-to-developers/')
Yes please! I've been waiting for this feature for a while. I guess we all have....
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lec0rsaire Avatar
64 months ago
ClassKit sounds cool. I wish I were growing up today with notebooks and tablets with all of this new software. I still like the analog nature of pen and paper as well as chalk and a chalkboard, but kids today are having classroom experiences that we could only have dreamed about. School computer use when I was growing up was limited to playing the Oregon Trail on Apple IIe's and Carmen Sandiego and Flight Sim on a couple of early '90s Performas my school had. I remember installing all of the ID and 3D Realms shareware available on PCs in middle school. Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Blood, good times!
[doublepost=1526347104][/doublepost]
Shoot... only 1.5GB available on my iPhone 6 16GB, and the update needs 2.35GB. I would have to delete a bunch of apps to make space and redownload. Tried the iTunes route but since it’s beta, 11.4b5 doesn’t appear. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions? Or am I going to have to delete to high heaven?

I’m waiting on the iPhone SE2 to upgrade, so no, “time for a new phone” won’t be helpful. ;)
I feel for you. 16 GB was enough back in the 3G days but not by 2014 and definitely not in 2018! My only current 16 GB device is my iPad Air. Even my ATV has more storage! I'm limited to only having some essential apps, photo stream and iTunes match to make room for the cool Swift Playgrounds which takes up the largest percentage of storage. I bought it for $300 sealed right before the iPad Air 2 was released. I couldn't pass up on that price even knowing that the lack of more storage would limit my enjoyment.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lec0rsaire Avatar
64 months ago
Just like the old times. Good’ol fashion computer. Vintage. But just good.

I also start knowing more about 1980s computers and find they are indeed rough to use but also fun to use.
My first computer was an IBM clone with an orange monochrome screen. A hand my down from my cousin in '93. I learned how to use DOS and the command line with it. While I was limited to using Lotus 123 and some basic text editor, it helped me learn how filesystems work which was great before I got my first real PC, a Pentium 75Mhz, 8 MB RAM Windows '95 PC that cost about $1800 in '95.

I must say that while using them today would be really rough and a struggle, they were more exciting to me back then than the latest tech we have today. It's like going back to standard def video after being used to 720p, 1080p and now even 4K. I guess because it was all so new to me. Using AOL was really like magic! I was also mesmerized by stuff like MS Encarta and playing back MPEG 1 video on a computer screen. There was really no on demand content back then except for movies on VHS, cassettes and CDs and of course my own recorded tapes. But to see video and play music on a computer for the first time was really special.

The more we have the more we take things for granted and the less we truly appreciate all of it. Today for a couple of hundred bucks one can build a PC, use a Linux distro (more easy to setup than ever) with tons of great open source software like Audacity, VLC, Gimp, Inkscape, DOSBox, MAME, the browser of your choice, an IDE like Eclipse and have an awesome first PC great for learning and playing. Or just an iPad for $329 that can do all sorts of things.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
64 months ago
I wonder if Apple can get out all the features that should have been launched with iOS 11 before they even announce iOS 12.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shirasaki Avatar
64 months ago
My first computer was an IBM clone with an orange monochrome screen. A hand my down from my cousin in '93. I learned how to use DOS and the command line with it. While I was limited to using Lotus 123 and some basic text editor, it helped me learn how filesystems work which was great before I got my first real PC, a Pentium 75Mhz, 8 MB RAM Windows '95 PC that cost about $1800 in '95.

I must say that while using them today would be really rough and a struggle, they were more exciting to me back then than the latest tech we have today. It's like going back to standard def video after being used to 720p, 1080p and now even 4K. I guess because it was all so new to me. Using AOL was really like magic! I was also mesmerized by stuff like MS Encarta and playing back MPEG 1 video on a computer screen. There was really no on demand content back then except for movies on VHS, cassettes and CDs and of course my own recorded tapes. But to see video and play music on a computer for the first time was really special.

The more we have the more we take things for granted and the less we truly appreciate all of it. Today for a couple of hundred bucks one can build a PC, use a Linux distro (more easy to setup than ever) with tons of great open source software like Audacity, VLC, Gimp, Inkscape, DOSBox, MAME, the browser of your choice, an IDE like Eclipse and have an awesome first PC great for learning and playing. Or just an iPad for $329 that can do all sorts of things.
People says the millennium generation is the information generation. They know more about using modern tech than us, who are rapidly moving towards 30+. But, they also do not have the opportunity to experience the excitement we experienced. Back when I was still below 10, I played red alert after my parents leaving for an overnight shift. That was a very fun time. I knew how to play RTS and now I play Starcraft.
Now we have iOS 11.4, an operating system with features people from 1980 could only dream, but in turn, the iOS is less exciting and more boring as time goes on. I use iPhone every single day, but I do not think using iOS is that exciting anymore. It’s the small things like 3D Touch cursor ties me to this system.
Someone can probably open a new thread entirely for nostalgia purpose, and relive old memories from 1980s and 1990s. I will stop here for now.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tagmut Avatar
64 months ago
Yes please! I've been waiting for this feature for a while. I guess we all have....
Except Apple Watch.....
[doublepost=1526318912][/doublepost]
I hope this fixes the USB photos syncing issues between iTunes and many iOS devices that have been plaguing people since at least September.

iCloud messages will be a great feature to clean out Apple Watch messages.

(See:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8079251
)
Does not sync with Apple watch when deleting messages, only incoming...unless it does with this latest release
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

dynamic island

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...
apple park at night 1

Apple 'Tracking Employee Attendance' in Crackdown on Remote Working

Thursday March 23, 2023 3:41 am PDT by
Apple is tracking the attendance of its employees at offices using badge records in order to ensure they are coming in at least three times a week, according to Platformer's Zoë Schiffer. Since April 2022, Apple employees have been operating on a hybrid home/office work policy as part of a gradual return strategy following the pandemic, with staff required to work from the office at least...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes to Expect

Thursday March 23, 2023 6:42 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular. Below, we have recapped 10 changes rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A1...
maxresdefault

Nothing Launches $149 Ear (2) Wireless Earbuds to Compete With AirPods Pro 2

Wednesday March 22, 2023 9:48 am PDT by
Nothing today announced the launch of its second-generation wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear (2), which offer many of the same features as Apple's AirPods Pro 2 at a lower price point. We went hands-on with the Ear (2) earbuds to see whether they're a viable alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 for those who want to save some cash. The Ear (2) earbuds are the successor to the Nothing Ear (1),...
TMobile Sprint

Apple Stops Allowing Sprint iPhone Activations, Removes Sprint References From Online Store

Thursday March 23, 2023 12:06 pm PDT by
Apple is no longer allowing customers who purchase an iPhone, cellular iPad, or Apple Watch to activate a device with now-defunct mobile carrier Sprint. Apple has also removed remaining references to Sprint from its online store. When checking out with a new purchase, Sprint is no longer an option for connectivity, a change that Apple appears to have implemented today. Prior to now, Sprint...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
Hero0009

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 Gets Massive $250 Discount, Along With Year's Best AirPods Prices

Friday March 24, 2023 10:23 am PDT by
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...