Apple this week released its fourth beta update for developers of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS 12 Monterey, bringing small and large changes. These developer beta updates were released yesterday (July 27), and Apple plans to release the new versions to public beta testers within the next week if all goes well.
Even if you are not running these developer betas, the changes Apple is making to get a better picture of what to expect in the public betas and the final versions of each software update Apple expects to release this fall This may help.
Safari seems to be a big focus of these beta updates, and Apple's browser is getting an overhaul to make navigation and sharing a little easier. macOS Monterey's Live Text feature is also getting an overhaul, as is Apple's powerful M1 chip on the Mac, but will also be extended to work on all Macs.
Read on to learn more about the new features of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey's fourth beta.
Safari Overhaul: The revamped version of Safari now available on iOS 15 has been updated to make the mobile browser a bit more functional. First, a share button has been added to the tab bar at the bottom of the window. Additionally, the reload button has finally returned to the tab bar and is also in the share menu.
A reader button has also been added to the tab bar for easy access to reader mode (if the website supports it). Additionally, a long press on a URL in the tab bar now has a "Show Bookmarks" option for quick access to favorites.
Shareable Memories: The Photos app has been updated with a new interface for sharing "memories" (photo packages generated for you in the "To You" section).
Visual tweaks: iOS 15 developer beta version 4 includes a variety of small interface tweaks, including a redesign of the Settings app notification icons and menus, a new layout for the Settings app account page, and slight changes to the lock screen camera icon.
The new "Notifications" menu also includes an option to turn off notifications when the screen is shared or mirrored, which is nice for privacy.
MagSafe compatibility: The fourth beta version of iOS 15 also includes improved support for the new Apple MagSafe Battery Pack. This means that the current charge level will be displayed in the Settings app and the Battery widget.
Sharing Focus: The Messages app also has a new option to toggle sharing focus status with specific contacts. To access this feature, simply tap the contact's name.
Safari update: The 4th beta of iPadOS 15 is a bit more subtle than the betas on other Apple devices.
In previous versions of the iPadOS 15 beta, Safari's compact tab bar was very similar to that of the iOS 15 version of Safari; with Apple's new tweaks, Safari in iPadOS 15 has a larger tab bar and a URL field and always on by default, bringing it closer to the macOS Monterey version of the browser.
However, the iPad OS 15 Beta 4 version of Safari provides an option to switch back and forth between the old compact tab bar layout and the new separate tab bar layout, so if you prefer the old way, you can revert back.
Intel-based Macs get Live Text: A major change in macOS Monterey beta 4 is that Apple's new Live Text feature has been added to all Macs that can run Monterey, not just Apple Silicon-based Macs to which Monterey can be run, not just Apple Silicon-based Macs.
Live Text is one of the more exciting features coming to Apple devices, and it is good to see that older Macs are not being left behind. Just like on the iPhone, Live Text on macOS allows you to select text in an image and do whatever you want with it, including pasting it into other applications.
Live Text should work with any image, not just images taken after installing Monterey. It is a system-wide technology, so it should work in many apps, including Photos, Preview, and the Safari app, as well as the Finder's Quick View window. Live Text may not work well if the text is not clear or the image is dark.
As mentioned above, if you already have the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or macOS Monterey developer beta installed on your device, you can receive the 4th beta update over the air.
If you are (wisely) only running the public beta, Apple typically waits a bit to make sure the developer beta is stable before releasing it to the public, so these updates will be delivered to your device a few days to a Expect these updates to be delivered to your devices in a few days to a week from now.
If you have not yet installed these betas and feel like living dangerously, take advantage of the following guide to install them on your device with minimal hassle:
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