
iOS 26 Beta 5: Release Date & What to Expect!
Watch this video on YouTube. Key Highlights from iOS 26 Beta 4
iOS 26 Beta 4 introduced a range of updates aimed at enhancing performance, usability, and functionality. These changes reflect Apple's ongoing commitment to delivering a seamless and efficient operating system. Key improvements include: Performance and Stability: Faster app launches and reduced system crashes, making sure a smoother and more reliable experience.
Faster app launches and reduced system crashes, making sure a smoother and more reliable experience. Battery Life: Improved energy efficiency, allowing devices to last longer on a single charge, even during intensive use.
Improved energy efficiency, allowing devices to last longer on a single charge, even during intensive use. Safari Updates: Haptic feedback when initiating downloads, providing a tactile response to user actions for better interaction.
Haptic feedback when initiating downloads, providing a tactile response to user actions for better interaction. Battery Usage Tracking: A new feature that mirrors iPhone activity, offering detailed insights into energy consumption patterns.
A new feature that mirrors iPhone activity, offering detailed insights into energy consumption patterns. FaceTime and CarPlay Integration: Hands-free video calls via FaceTime on CarPlay, enhancing convenience and safety while driving.
Hands-free video calls via FaceTime on CarPlay, enhancing convenience and safety while driving. Customizable CarPlay Dashboard: The ability to remove Siri suggestions for a cleaner and more personalized interface.
These updates demonstrate Apple's focus on integrating hardware and software to create a cohesive and user-friendly ecosystem. Podcast App Enhancements
The Podcast app received significant updates in Beta 4, offering users greater control and customization over their listening experience. These enhancements include: Custom Playback Settings: The ability to tailor playback preferences for individual podcasts, making sure an optimized experience for each show.
The ability to tailor playback preferences for individual podcasts, making sure an optimized experience for each show. Audio Enhancements: Tools for adjustable playback speeds and dialogue enhancement, improving clarity and comprehension for diverse listening needs.
These updates make the Podcast app more versatile, catering to a wide range of user preferences and listening habits. What to Expect in iOS 26 Beta 5
Scheduled for release on August 4, iOS 26 Beta 5 is expected to build upon the foundation laid by Beta 4. Anticipated updates include: Liquid Glass Design Refinements: Further visual enhancements to the interface, making it more polished and visually appealing.
Further visual enhancements to the interface, making it more polished and visually appealing. Minor Feature Updates: Additional tweaks and adjustments aimed at optimizing the overall user experience.
As Apple approaches the final stages of development, there is speculation that the company may shift to a weekly beta release schedule after Beta 5. This accelerated timeline would allow for more rapid testing and refinement ahead of the official launch. Performance Metrics and iPhone 15 Integration
The iOS 26 Beta series has shown impressive performance, particularly when paired with Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max. Benchmarks from Geekbench 6 highlight notable gains in processing power and efficiency, showcasing the synergy between iOS 26 and Apple's latest hardware. These improvements are expected to enhance: Multitasking capabilities allow users to switch between apps more seamlessly.
Gaming performance, with smoother graphics and faster load times.
Overall device responsiveness, making sure a more fluid and intuitive user experience.
This integration underscores Apple's focus on delivering a cohesive experience across its devices, using both hardware and software advancements to maximize performance. Release Timeline and Final Launch
Apple's iOS 26 release schedule aligns with its annual iPhone launch, making sure the operating system is optimized for the latest devices while maintaining compatibility with older models. Key dates to note include: September 8: Official announcement of the iPhone 15 lineup.
Official announcement of the iPhone 15 lineup. September 12: Pre-orders for the new iPhones begin.
Pre-orders for the new iPhones begin. September 15: Final release of iOS 26, coinciding with the iPhone 15 launch.
Final release of iOS 26, coinciding with the iPhone 15 launch. September 19: Shipping of the new iPhones starts, with iOS 26 pre-installed.
This timeline ensures that iOS 26 is ready to complement the capabilities of the iPhone 15 series while providing a polished experience for users of older devices. Looking Ahead
The iOS 26 Beta program continues to deliver meaningful updates, with Beta 5 poised to bring additional refinements. From performance improvements and battery optimization to enhanced app functionality, Apple is setting a high standard for its next major operating system release. As the final launch approaches, users can anticipate a feature-rich experience designed to complement the advanced capabilities of the iPhone 15 lineup.
Gain further expertise in iOS 26 Beta by checking out these recommendations.
Source & Image Credit: iReviews Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Top News
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Apple Watch Series 7 discounted to £155 in rare deal
Tech fans can save £244 on the Apple Watch when they shop this refurbished deal Monitoring daily step counts, fitness targets, or the crucial sleep score, there are countless extra advantages to sporting a smartwatch beyond the convenience of connecting to a mobile phone. That's why brands such as Apple, Samsung, Google Pixel, and Garmin have gained such popularity, though their costs can be deterring. The latest Apple watch for example, the Series 10, debuted at £399, though a current Argos offer reduced the cost to £299. Its incredibly sleek design and cutting-edge OLED display are two premium features that some might argue warrant the expense, yet it remains a substantial outlay in one go. This is why affordable tech is gaining momentum, and in the most recent offer, customers can secure a different Apple Watch for £155. Wowcher has introduced the Series 7 model to its money-saving platform at a considerably reduced rate, purely because it is refurbished. Back in 2021 this model debuted for hundreds more, though for those who don't object to a few marks of usage the model costs much less. Customers can select between a 41mm or 45mm screen size and the conditions of their preferred pre-owned device. Having reported on numerous Apple launches we understand it originally retailed for £399 for the GPS model - not the £419 Wowcher suggests. Regardless, that's still a reduction of £244, as we reported for the Liverpool Echo. Wowcher categorises the state of the models by grades B or C. The platform explains: "A few signs of wear-and-tear show that it's clearly seen use, but overall it's in good shape. There might be minor surface marks, but functionality is completely intact." The latest Apple Watch Series 10 (from 2024) operates on watchOS 11, and the Series 7 remains compatible with that system, despite being three years older. This means users will be able to receive updates and maintain their device as current as possible. Regarding features, the model includes everything we'd anticipate from an Apple wearable - there's robust battery life, fitness monitoring, and intelligent notifications (provided you own an iPhone). The model can also monitor blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and features ECG capability. All functions which are proving hit with customers, as reviews on a competing Amazon listing demonstrate - the Prime retailer is offering a refurbished Watch7 for £158. One customer commented: "So far I love every aspect of the watch, the app is much better than some. I use the watch with Strava app as do running and workouts. I find the GPS, calorie, Heart monitor, and step count all good!". Another buyer remarked: "The ECG and oxygen reader has been a life saver too, it's been great for piece of mind. The only reason it's lost a star is because I can't work out why the notifications are not so prominent anymore." Nevertheless, there are some drawbacks to the Wowcher offer our shopping team believes is worth highlighting. The first concerns the delivery cost. Despite being a £155 deal, customers will need to pay an additional £8.99 for postage. Another issue relates to the Wowcher voucher redemption process. Wowcher operates by highlighting vouchers, which shoppers have a fortnight to claim after purchase. After completing the checkout process, customers receive an email containing a voucher code and instructions on how to redeem it.


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
My journey to the heart of the forgotten internet
Slowly but surely, huge swaths of the internet are vanishing. But the artefacts of the early web are still out there, and they have lessons for the future. When my family got our first computer in 2003, I watched in awe as the components were set up the living room. Our wooden desk groaned under the weight of the hefty monitor. The computer tower left dents in the carpet. The future was here. And it was big. But it was more than just a computer. It was a portal to a new world for me – a way to access something called the internet. My parents let me log in for one hour per day. My early excursions in cyberspace left me feeling like a pioneer chopping through bushes in a strange land, browsing esoteric websites with bad graphics, message boards and clunky Flash games. At night, I snuck downstairs to boot the computer back up, looking over my shoulder at every creak of an upstairs floorboard. But these days the internet can seem mundane by comparison. I have 24-hour access, and my go-to sites are dreary and familiar: social media platforms that can feel better suited for doomscrolling than exploration. Algorithms lead the way, like a strict tour guide on sanctioned trails cut through a once enigmatic wilderness. So a few months ago, I went in search of some of the earliest corners of the web to see how much of it still there and find out what it has to teach us. The web you and I know may be ending. Because of AI and some radical changes to Google Search, some worry the tools that used to send us to websites will simply give us the answers we're looking for instead. If fewer people visit websites, it could be harder for sites to make money. Some experts fear we've entered a new era that could derail the economic system that encouraged people to create websites in the first place. It's likely that this chapter of digital history is closing. We've lost alarming amounts of our digital history. Some 38% of webpages that existed in 2013 are no longer accessible, according to the Pew Research Center. Niels Brügger, a professor in media and internet history at Aarhus University in Denmark, began noticing it as early as the 1990s. "The average lifetime of a website, it's around a couple of months," he says. (Read more about why there is so little left of the early internet.) This decay has been happening since the web was created. But the older, simpler, stranger net hasn't vanished yet. Ruins of a bygone internet live on, waiting to be explored. You only need to know where to look. 'Welcome Cybernauts!' There's no better place to start than the world's first website, built by the researchers who invented the World Wide Web. Today, it's dedicated to the history of the web itself. But you can also experience the first website as it existed back in 1992, thanks to a tool that simulates the first readily-accessible web browser, called the Line-Mode Browser. It's text only, and you couldn't even use a mouse in its original iteration. To visit pages about bioscience, for example, you typed the number three. "The web existed in the early '90s, but it really was academic and had a very small user base," says Ian Milligan, associate vice-president of research, oversight and analysis at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and a historian who studies web archives. If you want to see the dawn of the modern web, he says you should start in 1996. "That's when the web really begins to pick up as the central communication medium for Western society and then international society," Milligan says. Today, the website for the Liberal Party of Canada, the country's leading political party, is a slick and modern affair. Look back to an archived copy of the Liberal's very first site, however, and you'll find a different atmosphere. "Welcome Cybernauts!" reads a message posted in October 1996, greeting visitors on behalf of then Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. "We Liberals are excited about the potential of the World Wide Web... the potential for interactive communication with you!" There's a similar tone on the site for former US Senator Bob Dole's failed 1996 presidential run. "There's a wholesomeness to the early web, an earnestness that's hard to find online these days," Milligan says. "Today we live on the internet. It's where our social lives are, where our commerce is, where we interact with our governments, where we decide what university we're going to. As a result, archived websites are the historical record of the last 25 years. They are the primary sources of today." The chronicles of ancient websites have a deep and important history to unveil – but of course, there's also the pull of nostalgia. Dial-up dreams Growing up, the slowness of the web was incredibly frustrating. All that buffering and loading ate into my one allotted hour of internet time – though it did make webpages somewhat more thrilling when it finally loaded. To my delight, I discovered a website that recreates that experience. recreates the sluggish interfaces of outdated web browsers, from Internet Explorer 6 to prehistoric options such as MacLynx 2 and Navigator 3. If you want to go all out, you can even try "Old Google", which replicates former designs of the search engine dating from between 1998 and 2013. But Old Google can't link you directly to the past; you have to find the old websites yourself. One method is to trawl through your own memories. One day in school, while my teacher's back was turned, I logged on to their desktop computer and loaded up a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-themed chat room I had discovered during one of my illicit night-time excursions online. It was my first experience of instant messaging. My friends and I watched wide-eyed as strangers chimed in from other continents. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, the Buffy site is no more. Enter the Internet Archive, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the web. Perhaps it's no coincidence, as Milligan points out, that the Archive was founded in 1996, just as the internet's popularity exploded. "In many cases, archives of the web, like those available from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, offer the only access to those otherwise-lost records," says Mark Graham, director of the Wayback Machine. "News stories, obituaries, poems, fan-fiction, travel reports, family histories and other pages that have special and unique meaning to people all over the world." The Internet Archive has scraped more than 946 billion webpages, sometimes saving different versions of the same page multiple times a day. You can paste URLs in its search engine to find copies of decades-old sites. I looked up "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and there was the login screen, frozen in time since October 2003. I then tried Bebo, the long-gone social media platform I used in my pre-teens, and found 34,000 captures taken since 2000. My profile may be gone, but countless others have been saved, tiny windows into the lives of anonymous strangers from the past. It reminded me of another site I spent hours bouncing around: eBaum's World, famous for viral videos, games, crude humour and stolen content – a repository for memes before they even had a name. The archived copies of eBaum's World perfectly encapsulate my early 2000s online experiences: a chaotic mish-mish of disparate interests. I found a page I remembered dedicated to celebrity soundboards. You could play audio clips through the phone and trick friends into thinking Jim Carrey was calling. There it was, saved for posterity. Lost and found One of Milligan's favourite research subjects is GeoCities, one of the first platforms that made it easy for anyone to host their own page online. GeoCities shut down in 2009, but much is preserved in the Internet Archive. Browsing its pages is like a trip back in time, a vision of an era when the internet seemed as private as it was public. "People felt that not everything they would say would be tracked back to them," Milligan says. "There's a refreshing candour to it, a sense that people are really engaging without self-censoring themselves." GeoCities is perhaps best known for its graphic design, full of text in written in the font Comic Sans and the generous use of gifs. In fact, there's an entire search engine dedicated to it called GifCities. Type in a word or phrase, and you'll uncover mountains of animated digital folk art on the subject. The Internet Archive isn't the web's only digital repository. In 2005, for example, Brügger helped launch the Danish Web Archive, committed to recording the nation's one million web pages. "It's really important that we preserve this cultural heritage, because it's an important part of our life," Brügger says. Then there are the online artefacts that haven't gone offline. I was four years old in 1996 when a website promoting Space Jam, a live-action movie where Michael Jordan plays basketball with the Looney Tunes, was created. It's still intact in an archived form – a living relic from ancient times. The site is resplendent with an overbearing, repeating background pattern (a staple of early web design) and pages with barely enough information to justify their existence, at least by today's standards. I dug up another old website dedicated to the study of sporks, a perfect example of early internet humour seemingly untouched since – you guessed it – 1996. It felt wonderfully handmade: white and yellow text sitting on a plain black-background, with simple animations decorating the page. It captures a time when nothing was too niche or inane to warrant its own site. An archive can feel more like visiting a museum than actively surfing the net, however, but that experience isn't totally lost either. In the early 2010s, I let strangers send me to unexpected places on the web using StumbleUpon, a site that would take you to random webpages added by other users, full of obscure blogs or quirky homepages. StumbleUpon shut down in 2018, but the concept has been reborn, this time with a nostalgic twist. A new tool called Wiby has a similar randomising button, but its library consists entirely of the handmade, idiosyncratic sites of the early web. You can enter a specific word using the search box to find related pages or click "surprise me" to land on a random ancient site. I encountered a website dedicated to photos of someone's pet fish, a random gnome generator and Starsky and Hutch fan-fiction. The pages are endearingly under-developed, filled with pixelated images, overbearing graphics and dense text in jarring colours. More like this: In a world of polished, algorithmically optimised content, the old internet is a testament to individuality and experimentation. People didn't necessarily care about appealing to big online followings or going viral. They made things for the sake of it. Because they loved whatever it was they were into. Now, as some worry that AI is ushering in an increasingly impersonal online experience, where human output is filtered and regurgitated via chatbots, the early internet reminds us that personality and human creativity was once far more prized. It's hard to argue that today's internet isn't more useful, or at least more functional. But the internet used to feel like wandering through a college dorm, knocking on doors and seeing how each person had decorated their room to their individual tastes. You never knew what to expect, who you'd meet, or where you'd end up. It wasn't necessarily "better", but it was weirder, freer and far more personal. As the web enters its next chapter, perhaps those memories can steer us towards a more human online world. -- For more technology news and insights, sign up to our Tech Decoded newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights to your inbox twice a week. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.


Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Shoppers 'won't go back to Apple Watch' after using Fitbit Versa 4 with 'unbelievable' battery
The smartwatch's incredible charge is one of its key features, boasting six days or more of battery life. Smartwatches are a crucial part of everyday life for many of us. As well as telling the time, they help us monitor our steps, track our fitness, receive texts and calls, and record our workouts. Top tech brands have launched their own timepieces, with the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 two popular models from big names. But another popular brand is Fitbit, which is known for having incredible battery life compared to its rivals. And the Google Fitbit Versa 4 even has shoppers saying they'll "never go back" to Apple. You can snap up this smartwatch at a £20 discount on Amazon, with it coming down to £128.99. The Versa 4 is available in four colours; waterfall blue, black, beet, and pink sand - with the latter two designs costing £126. As expected, the smartwatch's incredible charge is one of its key features, boasting six days or more of battery life. It is compatible with iOS 15 or higher and Android OS 9.0 or higher and allows users to get calls, texts, and notifications through Bluetooth. The water-resistant Versa 4 model has been "built for better fitness results," according to Amazon. It has a built-in GPS and workout intensity map, a daily readiness score, dozens of exercise modes, while also offering 24.7 heart-rate tracking and a daily sleep score. For anyone looking for something from one of the bigger names, the Apple Watch SE 2 can be snapped up for £219 on Amazon, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is currently £279 at Argos, its lowest ever price. Shoppers on a budget may want to consider the Cillso Smart Watch. It is the number one best-seller for smartwatches on Amazon and is now just £23.99, down 82 per cent from £129.99. Back to the Google Fitbit Versa 4, it has a 4.3-rating from around 1,800 reviews and is a designated Amazon's Choice product, which means it is highly rated, well-priced, and available to ship immediately. One satisfied customer said: "I've had a fair few smart watches over the last year or so; Versa 2, Galaxy Watch 4, Apple Watch SE, and now this. I can honestly say I prefer this one over the rest. "The battery is unbelievable. From fully charged , I have worn it every day for around 9 to 10 hours including using at the gym, getting notifications, and using it to accept calls, and it is now a full week later and the battery is still on 40 per cent. Considering the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch had to be charged every single day, this is amazing. "It's easy to understand unlike the apple watch when it comes to fitness tracking as it just gives you the info you want. Overall, after a year of searching for the perfect smart watch, this one is easily the perfect one for me." Another five-star reviewer hailed it as an excellent fitness tracker. They said: "In my opinion, a fitness watch should be a fitness watch, and not a mini phone on your wrist. I replaced my Apple Watch with this and would never go back. Tech deal of the week Shoppers keen to take their fitness to the next level would benefit from purchasing a smartwatch. One of which is on the popular Jugeman Smartwatch. Normally retailing for £99.99, shoppers can now snap up this 4.8 star rated gadget with the pink strap for only £22.79 in a limited time deal. Boasting a 1.92-inch HD touch screen, shoppers can truly make this smartwatch their own as it comes with over 220 personalised watch faces to choose from. Featuring an ultra lightweight design to provide a comfortable and relaxed fit, the smartwatch will monitor your heart rate throughout the day as well as analyse your sleep. On top of this, the budget watch can track over 113 sports and monitor how many calories you have burned. Shoppers will also be able to use a range of other features, such as music control, weather forecast, find my phone, as well as receive calls, texts and social media notifications One delighted shopper said: "I'm genuinely impressed with this smartwatch! It looks sleek and modern, and the bright display is easy to read even in daylight. The features are exactly what I need fitness tracking, notifications, heart rate monitoring, and more. "The orange strap adds a fun and sporty touch, and it's surprisingly comfortable to wear all day. Setup was quick and straightforward, and the battery life is better than expected. For the price, this watch offers outstanding value. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an affordable yet high-quality fitness tracker!" To buy the Jugeman Smartwatch, click HERE. "I also like the fact you can turn all notifications off so it just focuses on what it's supposed to do, tell the time and track your daily movements and fitness/activities." However, not all reviews were overwhelmingly positive. One person, who took issue with the strap and connectivity, said: "The Fitbit Versa 4 itself felt nice quality and lightweight but the strap for it is horrible, it felt so cheaply made, I replaced it with a nylon band which improved the feel but again for a premium product you shouldn't have to pay for new bands. "The versa 4 itself worked fine for about 4 days but then I started noticing issues, like it not syncing with the app, the gps would not connect at random times on the same walking routes and the touch screen would just stop working or it would turn off the option I had set to stay on." But others were delighted with their choice, with one saying: "I was deciding between the Fitbit Versa 4 and a Samsung smartwatch. Both covered everything I needed, with the Samsung offering a few extra bells and whistles. However, I kept coming back to the battery life. "With the Fitbit Versa 4, I haven't really had to worry about battery life — it lasts long enough, and it doesn't take much time to fully recharge. On the other hand, the Samsung was reported to last only around two days at best, and I knew I'd likely find it dead when I needed it or charging when I wanted to be active. "My main focus was the fitness and health features rather than the general "smart" functionalities, and after a few weeks of use, I'm glad I chose the Fitbit. It's easy to use, does all I need it to, synced smoothly with my other apps, and overall, I'm very happy with this purchase." Some shoppers kept their praise short but sweet. One person said: "Love it, I never take it off." While another added: "Great price, easy to set up. I love my watch." Get the Google Fitbit Versa 4 HERE.