We're likely less than a month away from the launch of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, which means beta testing will soon be wrapping up. Apple is now providing weekly beta updates, seeding out the sixth beta today.
As we approach the end of the beta testing period, updates are getting smaller with Apple focusing on crucial refinements and polish, but there are still a few changes in the latest beta worth highlighting.
Messages App
In the Messages app, you can now long press on the "+" button to bring up the photo picker rather than tapping and having to choose the Photos option from the list.
Phone App
In an earlier beta, Apple moved the red end call button in the Phone app from the bottom middle of the interface to the bottom right. Given that people are so used to tapping in the middle, this was not a popular change.
In beta 6, Apple moved the end call button back to the middle, returning it to where it is located in iOS 16 and earlier.
Mood Tracking
Apple has further tweaked the animations that are used for the moods in the mood tracking feature. The rings around each mood now animate quicker around each shape, and there are more rings.
Photos Splash Screen
There's a new splash screen when you first open the Photos app, and it lets you know about the new features.
Display & Brightness
In the Display & Brightness section of the Settings app, the wallpaper icon has been updated to an iOS 17 wallpaper.
More iOS 17 Beta 6 Features
Know of a feature that we left out in this list? Let us know in the comments below.
Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by Joe Rossignol
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week.
Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far.
Apple Intelligence for Siri
Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19.
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech.
iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech
In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
Friday February 14, 2025 3:41 am PST by Tim Hardwick
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like.
The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...
Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again.
This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by Joe Rossignol
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note.
Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal.
That's no longer...
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19.
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag.
The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle.
Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead.
There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event:
...
Apple needs new software designers. This is ridiculous.
Example: the long-press on + to immediately go to the photo picker.
STUPID. Not intuitive at all, even in the slightest.
Most people send PHOTOS in their texts more than they use stickers, avatars, location data and other features.
So rather than make a PHOTO button front and center and easily accessible, they expect you to think of long-pressing a simple button in order to introduce the shortcut.
Who thinks that way? Nobody. No one. Not a single person would think, intuitively, to hold down + as a fast way to bring up photos.
Ridiculous. I’m so tired of having to use Google or YouTube to search how to perform simple functions that a 3-year old used to be able to figure out with iOS. It’s like nothing matters anymore.
Apple needs new software designers. This is ridiculous.
Example: the long-press on + to immediately go to the photo picker.
STUPID. Not intuitive at all, even in the slightest.
Most people send PHOTOS in their texts more than they use stickers, avatars, location data and other features.
So rather than make a PHOTO button front and center and easily accessible, they expect you to think of long-pressing a simple button in order to introduce the shortcut.
Who thinks that way? Nobody. No one. Not a single person would think, intuitively, to hold down + as a fast way to bring up photos.
Ridiculous. I’m so tired of having to use Google or YouTube to search how to perform simple functions that a 3-year old used to be able to figure out with iOS. It’s like nothing matters anymore.
Well let us know when you apply and get the job to make the design decisions for them.