iOS 17 Speculation Thread

[Realityck]

FYI
To devs today

• iOS 17.4 beta 3 (21E5200d) - February 13, 2024
• iPadOS 17.4 beta 3 (21E5200d) - February 13, 2024
• macOS 14.4 beta 3 (23E5196e) - February 13, 2024
• tvOS 17.4 beta 3 (21L5212d) - February 13, 2024
• visionOS 1.1 beta 2 (21O5188c) - February 13, 2024
• watchOS 10.4 beta 3 (21T5202e) - February 13, 2024

 

[Abthevolfan92]

Thought it was worth sharing some important apple guy is leaving. Apple’s longest-serving industrial designer and holder of most patents, who joined the company in 1992 alongside Jony Ive, is leaving,

 

[kvlq]

Thought it was worth sharing some important apple guy is leaving. Apple’s longest-serving industrial designer and holder of most patents, who joined the company in 1992 alongside Jony Ive, is leaving,

Huh? Jony Ive left Apple in 2019.
And no longer collaborate with him since 2022.

 

[gwhizkids]

Thought it was worth sharing some important apple guy is leaving. Apple’s longest-serving industrial designer and holder of most patents, who joined the company in 1992 alongside Jony Ive, is leaving,

Huh? Jony Ive left Apple in 2019.
And no longer collaborate with him since 2022.

One, this is not speculation and should be posted elsewhere. Secondly, he didn’t say Jony Ive was leaving, he said (correctly, though in the wrong thread) that a colleague of Jony Ive was leaving.

 

[Kal Madda]

Do we think that iOS/iPadOS 17.5 will have more features and improvements for the rest of the world than this update offered since it won’t have to focus so much on the EU changes? I really want to see AirPlay Receiver on iOS and iPadOS support more than just the Vision Pro.

 

[gwhizkids]

Do we think that iOS/iPadOS 17.5 will have more features and improvements for the rest of the world than this update offered since it won’t have to focus so much on the EU changes? I really want to see AirPlay Receiver on iOS and iPadOS support more than just the Vision Pro.

I would say that any significant new features (I.e., any not announced at WWDC 2023) are unlikely. 17.5 will likely be released shortly before WWDC 2024.

I think all hands are now on deck for iOS/iPadOS 18.

 

[Kal Madda]

I would say that any significant new features (I.e., any not announced at WWDC 2023) are unlikely. 17.5 will likely be released shortly before WWDC 2024.

I think all hands are now on deck for iOS/iPadOS 18.

I hope that AirPlay Receiver is improved either in a later 17 update, or iPadOS 18. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

So far the iPadOS 17.4 beta 3 has been running pretty smoothly on my iPad. 👍🏻. So maybe we’ll be seeing weekly updates from here on out.

 

[mariuskv]

So far the iPadOS 17.4 beta 3 has been running pretty smoothly on my iPad. 👍🏻

And on my 15 p Max

 

[Kal Madda]

Two features I’ve been really hoping to see in an iOS/iPadOS 17 update is better PWA support similar to macOS Sonoma’s new system, and AirPlay Receiver functionality similar to macOS. It feels like we’re so agonizingly close to both of those things. In the case of AirPlay Receiver, we literally have a setting for it, and all the sub-settings for it are exactly identical to the setting labeled “AirPlay Receiver” on macOS. The only difference is that it currently only supports the Vision Pro. Hopefully, a future update will expand support to other devices as well. If they don’t, I think it wouldn’t make much sense and would be a major miss.

I’m curious if they may take the opportunity to improve PWA support when they hopefully reintroduce it in the EU with a new setup to accommodate other browser engines. Currently, any website can be saved to the Home Screen on iOS and iPadOS, but only some (where web developers have coded things a certain way as I understand) will open in their own separate windows. Everything else will just open in Safari. On macOS Sonoma, every website you use the “Add to Dock” feature on will open in it’s own separate window, just like a native app. I’m hoping this will come to the iOS and iPadOS “Add to Home Screen” feature, so that any and every website that’s added to your Home Screen will open in it’s own separate window. In the meantime, there is a Siri Shortcut you can use with configuration profiles that allows you to replicate this functionality called “Make App from URL”. It works pretty well, and I use it for several sites that don’t automatically generate their own separate window.

I’m hopeful for both of these improvements. I think Apple is very close to both already, so I think and hope that these changes could either come in a later version of iOS/iPadOS 17, or possibly 18.

 

[Kylo83]

I know its early but I made iOS 18 speculation because iOS 17 isnt getting much more so we can talk about what we would like to see in the big iOS 18 release and then once the first beta is out we can use it for normal beta chat enjoy guys

iOS 18 Speculation Thread

Welcome I know this is early but as iOS 17 isnt getting much more until iOS 18 release in June, lets start this chat with what we would like to see and what think iOS 18 will bring, its going to be a big release and very exciting. Once the first beta in June is released we will use this chat...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Kal Madda]

I know its early but I made iOS 18 speculation because iOS 17 isnt getting much more so we can talk about what we would like to see in the big iOS 18 release and then once the first beta is out we can use it for normal beta chat enjoy guys

iOS 18 Speculation Thread

Welcome I know this is early but as iOS 17 isnt getting much more until iOS 18 release in June, lets start this chat with what we would like to see and what think iOS 18 will bring, its going to be a big release and very exciting. Once the first beta in June is released we will use this chat...

forums.macrumors.com

Thank you! 👍🏻. I think the rest of iOS 17 will be pretty minor. 👍🏻

 

[Abthevolfan92]

17.3 no longer being signed, we about to get 17.3.2 or is 17.4 coming earlier than expected?

 

[Realityck]

Thank you! 👍🏻. I think the rest of iOS 17 will be pretty minor. 👍🏻

IMHO Apple has its hands full with getting 17.4 out the door against the EU changes which they been planning for the last year. Revisions to how Safari and other browsers work on iOS could come in steps with 17.5, 17.6 among other things not accomplished yet. CarPlay update, Classical working with that, to name a couple of examples.

Working towards an early march release for iOS 17.4, we'l likely have beta 4 Feb 20th, RC Feb 27th, and Public please March 4.

That gives both 17.5, 17.6 a five beta cycle over 3 months before WWDC 2024. The more Apple can accomplish the better the next IOS (18) will run, as well as satisfy existing 17.x users.

 

[Paddle1]

17.3 no longer being signed, we about to get 17.3.2 or is 17.4 coming earlier than expected?

My guess is Apple doesn't want people dealing with that text issue.

 

[one more]

17.3 no longer being signed, we about to get 17.3.2 or is 17.4 coming earlier than expected?

Why earlier 17.4, what’s wrong with running iOS 17.3.1 until 17.4 rolls out in March?

 

[Abthevolfan92]

Why earlier 17.4, what’s wrong with running iOS 17.3.1 until 17.4 rolls out in March?

There is nothing wrong with it I was just speculating the fact they quit signing. Usually when they do that a new update is immenent

 

[gank41]

There is nothing wrong with it I was just speculating the fact they quit signing. Usually when they do that a new update is immenent

It's sort of Apple's way of 'moving the chains'

 

[teeshot44]

17.3 no longer being signed, we about to get 17.3.2 or is 17.4 coming earlier than expected?

Apple usually stops signing previous versions a week or 10 days +/- after a new release. Not necessarily tied to the next version.

 

[one more]

There is nothing wrong with it I was just speculating the fact they quit signing. Usually when they do that a new update is immenent

They stopped signing 17.3, so they are probably just encouraging people to use 17.3.1 until 17.4 is out.

 

[gwhizkids]

They stopped signing 17.3, so they are probably just encouraging people to use 17.3.1 until 17.4 is out.

They are also more apt to do this when the point release (17.3) had a security flaw that the minor/security update (here, 17.3.1) was released to address. They don’t want anyone attempting to downgrade to a version that puts the user (and others) at risk.

 

[Realityck]

They are also more apt to do this when the point release (17.3) had a security flaw that the minor/security update (here, 17.3.1) was released to address. They don’t want anyone attempting to downgrade to a version that puts the user (and others) at risk.

A interesting way to look at this is because of iOS's dependency on annual iPhone architecture changes, not all known security issues are addressed in previous versions of iOS.

 

[sbailey4]

Two features I’ve been really hoping to see in an iOS/iPadOS 17 update is better PWA support similar to macOS Sonoma’s new system, and AirPlay Receiver functionality similar to macOS. It feels like we’re so agonizingly close to both of those things. In the case of AirPlay Receiver, we literally have a setting for it, and all the sub-settings for it are exactly identical to the setting labeled “AirPlay Receiver” on macOS. The only difference is that it currently only supports the Vision Pro. Hopefully, a future update will expand support to other devices as well. If they don’t, I think it wouldn’t make much sense and would be a major miss.

I’m curious if they may take the opportunity to improve PWA support when they hopefully reintroduce it in the EU with a new setup to accommodate other browser engines. Currently, any website can be saved to the Home Screen on iOS and iPadOS, but only some (where web developers have coded things a certain way as I understand) will open in their own separate windows. Everything else will just open in Safari. On macOS Sonoma, every website you use the “Add to Dock” feature on will open in it’s own separate window, just like a native app. I’m hoping this will come to the iOS and iPadOS “Add to Home Screen” feature, so that any and every website that’s added to your Home Screen will open in it’s own separate window. In the meantime, there is a Siri Shortcut you can use with configuration profiles that allows you to replicate this functionality called “Make App from URL”. It works pretty well, and I use it for several sites that don’t automatically generate their own separate window.

I’m hopeful for both of these improvements. I think Apple is very close to both already, so I think and hope that these changes could either come in a later version of iOS/iPadOS 17, or possibly 18.

Well actually they are canning PWA totally in the EU and won't be supporting any browsers. There is a thread here discussing at length. So its doubtful they will be focusing on any improvements for it anywhere else based on their reasoning for killing it there.

Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Disables Home Screen Web Apps in the European Union

With the second beta of iOS 17.4, Apple disabled much of the functionality of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the European Union. There was some speculation that it could be a temporary change or a bug related to some of the updates to the app ecosystem in Europe, but Apple has confirmed that...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Kal Madda]

Well actually they are canning PWA totally in the EU and won't be supporting any browsers. There is a thread here discussing at length. So its doubtful they will be focusing on any improvements for it anywhere else based on their reasoning for killing it there.

Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Disables Home Screen Web Apps in the European Union

With the second beta of iOS 17.4, Apple disabled much of the functionality of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the European Union. There was some speculation that it could be a temporary change or a bug related to some of the updates to the app ecosystem in Europe, but Apple has confirmed that...

forums.macrumors.com

I’m not sure that I agree that that follows though. The reason it’s been canned in the EU is due to having to add an entirely new and secure platform for any browser engine to be able to plug into to get system level access required for PWAs. But in the rest of the world, this isn’t an issue. And I’m guessing they may eventually introduce a system like that for iOS to enable PWAs on any browser engine, they just had to remove PWAs temporarily at the very least in the EU to comply with the immediate demands, and didn’t have the time or resources to roll out such a system.

 

[Realityck]

Well actually they are canning PWA totally in the EU and won't be supporting any browsers. There is a thread here discussing at length. So its doubtful they will be focusing on any improvements for it anywhere else based on their reasoning for killing it there.

Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Disables Home Screen Web Apps in the European Union

With the second beta of iOS 17.4, Apple disabled much of the functionality of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the European Union. There was some speculation that it could be a temporary change or a bug related to some of the updates to the app ecosystem in Europe, but Apple has confirmed that...

forums.macrumors.com

To clarify that if one is looking for the exact wording from Apple of this 17.4 beta change, here it is using a spoiler.

Spoiler: Why don't users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?

To comply with the Digital Markets Act, Apple has done an enormous amount of engineering work to add new functionality and capabilities for developers and users in the European Union — including more than 600 new APIs and a wide range of developer tools.

The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of system prompts to access privacy impacting capabilities on a per-site basis.

Without this type of isolation and enforcement, malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a user’s camera, microphone or location without a user’s consent. Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a user’s awareness and consent. Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps. And so, to comply with the DMA’s requirements, we had to remove the Home Screen web apps feature in the EU.

EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark with minimal impact to their functionality. We expect this change to affect a small number of users. Still, we regret any impact this change — that was made as part of the work to comply with the DMA — may have on developers of Home Screen web apps and our users.

This is not to say it won't return in a future iOS version.

Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps.

All the press/online articles out there can't speculate any better then the rest of us against iOS 17.x or iOS 18 future.