New iOS
These changes are coming to Apple devices
Once the update to iOS 17.4 has been completed, EU users can set their own default browser.
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Apple’s update of its devices to iOS version 17.4 brings long-awaited features to users within the EU. That depends on the user.
With the release of the operating system scheduled for the first week of March iOS 17.4 is an update for users of Apple devices that brings a variety of new features and improvements. The most notable is that Apple will have to allow its customers (within the European Union) to set a default app in the future. But the update brings numerous other changes. What will change for users of Apple devices as a result of the upcoming iOS update.
The most notable changes in iOS 17.4 is the introduction of a selection dialog that allows users to select their preferred default browser. The dialog appears when opening Safari for the first time after the update, with users choosing from an extensive list of browsers including Aloha, Brave, Chrome, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Edge, Firefox, Web@Work, Onion Browser, Opera, Safari and you.com can. This development is an adaptation of the Digital Markets Act in the EU (DMA), which is intended to promote greater competition and choice for consumers.
Apple cancels function and calls EU into action
The DMA also forces Apple to make further changes: The company must open the NFC protocol for payment systems other than its own Apple Pay; alternative app stores must be accessible on Apple devices; and browser engines other than Apple’s WebKit engine have to work. In practice, this is likely to be most noticeable when it comes to payment methods: the streaming giants Netflix and Spotify have already announced that they want to bill themselves in the future. Subscriptions that were previously paid for via Apple Pay may then even be paid for quit.
Apple, on the other hand, sees the forced opening as “risks to the data protection and security of users and developers,” which is why “Progressive Web Apps” will no longer be available under iOS 17.4. Until now, they have made it possible to save and use a website directly on the home screen instead of having to open it in the browser. According to the Financial Times The European Commission is already reviewing this process.
New emojis, brighter Siri and other adjustments
With iOS 17.4, Apple is introducing a number of new emojis, including a phoenix, a lime, head-shaking smileys, a brown mushroom, and emojis that indicate the direction of people. In addition, interaction with Siri is now also easier for German-speaking users as they can activate the voice assistant with the command “Siri” without prefixing it with “Hey”. The innovation must be activated under “Settings” → “Siri & Search” → “Pay attention to”.
Also new is the function of viewing transcripts of current podcasts in Apple Podcasts, which increases the accessibility and usability of the service. In addition, iOS 17.4 brings the option of always being able to request the “security delay” for changing sensitive data, instead of only when you are in unfamiliar places, as was previously the case.