iPadOS 26 Beta 4: New Features & Improvements Explained!
Watch this video on YouTube. Refined Interface Design
The interface in iPadOS 26 Beta 4 has received several subtle yet impactful updates aimed at improving usability and aesthetics. The 'liquid glass' effect, which provides a polished and translucent appearance across various apps, has been further refined for a more cohesive and modern look. Notifications now dim the background when they appear, making alerts easier to read and less intrusive.
Additionally, app icons such as Camera and Maps have undergone minor design tweaks to align with the updated visual language. The Weather app now features a redesigned sidebar, offering a more intuitive navigation experience. These changes collectively contribute to a cleaner and more user-friendly interface. Dynamic Wallpapers for a Personalized Experience
Dynamic wallpapers are one of the standout features in this beta release. These wallpapers adapt seamlessly to the time of day or system settings, transitioning between light and dark modes to create a visually engaging experience. This feature not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your device but also reflects Apple's commitment to adaptive and user-centric design principles.
By integrating dynamic wallpapers, Apple provides users with a simple yet effective way to personalize their devices while maintaining a consistent and polished look. Enhanced Notification Management
Notifications have been significantly improved with the introduction of the 'Summarize Notifications' feature. This new functionality allows you to group alerts by priority or time, helping to reduce clutter and streamline your notification center. Customization options enable you to tailor these summaries to your specific preferences, making sure that you only see the most relevant information at a glance.
Apple has also included a cautionary note about the potential for misinterpreting summarized headlines, demonstrating its effort to balance functionality with user awareness. This thoughtful approach highlights the company's focus on delivering practical solutions while addressing potential user concerns. App-Specific Improvements
Several core apps have received targeted updates in iPadOS 26 Beta 4, enhancing their functionality and usability: Safari: Navigation has been improved with edge swiping, reducing the likelihood of accidental gestures and making browsing more intuitive.
Navigation has been improved with edge swiping, reducing the likelihood of accidental gestures and making browsing more intuitive. Files: The new 'Quicklook' feature allows you to preview files without needing to open them in other apps, saving time and improving workflow efficiency.
The new 'Quicklook' feature allows you to preview files without needing to open them in other apps, saving time and improving workflow efficiency. Podcasts: Users can now customize settings for individual shows, offering greater control over playback preferences and notification management.
These updates are designed to provide users with more control and a smoother experience when interacting with their favorite apps. Improved Caller Handling
Managing incoming calls from unknown numbers has become more intuitive with a new feature that requests a reason for the call before your device rings. This addition allows you to make informed decisions about whether to answer, enhancing privacy and reducing interruptions from unsolicited calls. This feature is particularly useful for users who frequently receive calls from unknown numbers and want to minimize disruptions. Gestures and Multitasking Updates
Multitasking gestures have been refined in this beta, addressing user feedback and improving overall functionality. The ability to swipe between apps in windowed mode has been restored, making multitasking more seamless and efficient. However, the absence of the Slide-over multitasking feature remains a notable gap for users who rely on this functionality.
These updates reflect Apple's ongoing efforts to enhance multitasking capabilities while responding to user needs. While progress has been made, there is still room for further improvement in future releases. Bug Fixes and Remaining Issues
Apple has resolved several bugs in iPadOS 26 Beta 4, contributing to a more stable and reliable user experience. Key fixes include: Addressing widget icon inconsistencies that affected the visual coherence of the home screen.
Improving contact search functionality, making it easier to locate specific entries in your address book.
Despite these improvements, some issues persist. Users may still encounter graphical glitches and performance inconsistencies, particularly with ProMotion's 120Hz refresh rate. While these bugs do not significantly hinder usability, they serve as a reminder that this is a beta release and not yet a finalized product. Battery Life: Incremental Gains
Battery optimization has seen slight improvements in Beta 4 compared to its predecessor. Users may notice marginally longer usage times, particularly during light to moderate use. However, further refinements are necessary to achieve optimal battery performance in the final release. These incremental gains suggest that Apple is making progress in this area, albeit at a measured pace. What's Next?
As the public beta release approaches, Apple is expected to focus on resolving the remaining bugs and fine-tuning the features introduced in Beta 4. While this beta version offers a glimpse into the future of iPadOS, it is important to remember that beta software is inherently a work in progress. If you are eager to explore the new features, it is advisable to install the beta on a secondary device to avoid potential disruptions on your primary one.
Here are more detailed guides and articles that you may find helpful on iPadOS 26 Beta 4.
Source & Image Credit: zollotech Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPad, Top News
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Star Trek legend William Shatner discovers powerful new way to live forever
A groundbreaking program has now made it possible to preserve your life stories and wisdom, allowing you to speak to loved ones decades into the future. StoryFile, an innovative AI company, has developed lifelike, interactive 3D avatars that allow people to 'live on' after death, sharing memories and answering questions in the same natural and conversational manner of a real person. Individuals like philanthropist Michael Staenberg, 71, and Star Trek star William Shatner, 94, have used StoryFile to immortalize both their experiences and personalities. Staenberg, a property developer and philanthropist who has given away more than $850 million, said: 'I hope to pass my knowledge on, and the good I've created.' The technology captures video interviews, transforming them into hologram-style avatars that use generative AI, similar to ChatGPT, to respond dynamically to questions. StoryFile's avatars have been employed in museums since 2021 to preserve the voices of historical figures like WWII veterans and Holocaust survivors, and by terminally ill individuals to connect with family after death. Until now, the company has offered a premium service costing tens of thousands of dollars, but a new, affordable app launching this summer will allow everyday people to record their own AI avatars for less than the cost of a monthly cellphone plan. Staenberg added that he'd like to imagine other business people and family members still having a chance to interact with him 30 years from now. 'It's important to get my version so the details aren't forgotten. I've had quite a crazy life, so I'd have a lot of stories that I don't want people to forget,' Staenberg said. More than 2,000 users have used the previous version. However, the new Storyfile app will allow users to interview themselves on video and create an intelligent avatar they can keep adding chapters to as they answer more questions about their lives. Previously, the Storyfile avatars could understand the intent of people talking to them, but could only respond with pre-recorded video answers. Storyfile's newer AI avatars will be able to generate an answer based on the persona from the recorded interviews, and it will be able to approximate an answer to any question. The company has gotten a huge number of daily queries from people who have been diagnosed with terminal illness and who hope to preserve their legacy in an avatar. Storyfile CEO Alex Quinn said: 'Every day we'll get very sad and heart-wrenching emails, saying things like "My son was just diagnosed with terminal cancer."' Others have expressed fear over their parents aging, asking for a way to keep their memories intact for the future. Quinn added that Storyfile would never be able to accommodate all those requests if they had to send their video production team to all of those customers. The solution was to make a 'DIY' version, where people record their own answers to an AI 'interviewer' using the app - answering questions on everything from their career to their family to their tastes in food. The app will come with 'permanent cold storage' so that avatars remain safe once recorded, and users can keep adding new video and new information. Quinn admitted that because Storyfile avatars use generative AI there is a possibility it could initially say 'crazy' stuff, but noted that the replica of the person will become more and more realistic the more users speak to the program. 'It's almost like an AI FaceTime where you're interviewed by an AI interviewer, and it's able to probe and go deep on certain topics,' the CEO said. 'If you've got a couple days, or you've got free time, and you want to understand your question every now and then, you're just going to keep on adding to your digital memories, and it's going to get more and more sophisticated, more and more personalized,' he continued. Tech pioneers such as inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil have already used AI to recreate lost relatives. Kurzweil created a 'dad bot' based on information about his father Fred in 2016. The 'Fredbot' could converse with Kurzweil, revealing that what his father loved about topics like gardening. It even remembered his father's belief that the meaning of life was love. 'I actually had a conversation with him, which felt a lot like talking to him,' Kurzweil told Rolling Stone Magazine in 2023. He believed that some form of his dad bot AI would be released to the public one day, enabling everyone to stay in touch with their dead relatives from beyond the grave. 'We'll be able to actually create something like a large language model that really represents somebody else by having enough information,' he predicted.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The ugly monoliths quietly desecrating America's most sacred sites… and driving locals to the brink
They were once hallowed grounds where cannon smoke filled the skies and musket balls tore through blue and gray uniforms - sites of blood, brotherhood and the brutal birth of a nation. Today, America's most sacred battlefield sites face a different kind of invasion - one of cold, hulking mega-structures filled not with soldiers, but with servers.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Target staff praise new anti-theft cases
Target is changing how it tackles theft — and it should speed things up for shoppers. For years, the retailer has used locked plexiglass cases to protect high-theft items like toiletries, cleaning products, and even clothing. But the system — which often requires a staffer with a manager's key — has long frustrated customers who say it slows them down , especially when they're just trying to grab toothpaste, laundry detergent, or underwear. Now, the company is updating the system. So far, employees seem happy. Target employees on Reddit say the new design uses QR codes that can be unlocked with handheld devices carried by every floor associate, speeding up the process for everyone. 'This looks amazing, to be honest,' a Target employee said on Reddit. But the rollout isn't going perfectly. Some staff say the new system is confusing guests — especially since the QR codes are visible. They say leads shoppers to think that they can open it by scanning the code using their smartphone. Target didn't immediately respond to request for comment. For years, Target has been attempting to stop guests from using the five-finger discount in their stores. In 2023, CEO Brian Cornell said the company lost $500 million each year to shoplifters. To respond, the company has removed self-checkout registers from stores, closed high-theft locations , and added safety locks to hundreds of products — all in hopes of deterring sticky-fingered guests. But those changes have come at a cost. For years, Target has set itself apart from other big-box retailers through high-end marketing, thoughtful lighting, and exclusive clothing lines. Locks on simple products often cut against that branding image. 'The problem with Target is a lot of decisions are being taken centrally without proper thought about what they mean on the ground,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, previously told Security tags and hard locks also pose logistical issues for store staff. They make it harder to fold garments, merchandise accessories on racks, and fit products onto crowded shelves — adding to disarray on the sales floor. The disconnect between colorful merchandising and anti-theft hardware has only worsened the look of some apparel sections , independent retail experts told Customers have taken to social media to complain about hangers on the floor, ripped-out security tags, and unfolded T-shirt displays. 'I hate to pile on (pun intended), but Target's apparel merchandising and maintenance is an ongoing issue,' Carol Spieckerman, a retail consultant, previously said. 'When shoppers are shopping off the floor, it undermines Target's core brand promise of accessible style.'
