Latest news with #DeveloperBeta
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
iOS 26 Developer Beta 5 hands-on: Subtle design changes, but Liquid Glass still feels off
A week after Apple released the first iOS 26 Public Beta, we get a brand new Developer Beta 5, and just like all previous releases, this one introduces a hefty amount of changes once again. The iOS 26 beta release has been nothing short of a rollercoaster change for all those riding the beta train, with each particular beta release introducing major changes to Apple's new Liquid Glass design language. Granted, changes are expected for beta software, but it appears as if Apple doesn't really know how intense it wants the Liquid Glass effect to be. Some like it as extreme as possible, others don't really care for it too much, and a third group of people is just vibing along the way. I'm definitely among the conservatives here and can't really stand the greasy transparency of Liquid Glass, but let's give Apple the chance to perfect its new design language, shall we? Read more: Surprisingly, this new beta doesn't play around with the Liquid Glass intensity itself. It's just as translucent as in the previous Developer Beta 4 and the Public Beta itself. Those two introduced a slightly more legible level of transparency that wasn't as intensive as the very first Developer Beta back in June, but also wasn't as mellow as the frosted glass effect in DB3, which weirdly backtracked the Liquid Glass language. Among the more interesting new features we're getting with iOS 26 DB5 is a new AirDrop icon that's a fairly stark change from the previous one we've grown used to over the years. This change will probably make you double-check what you're clicking, which is precisely what happened with me despite the muscle memory. New AirDrop icon in iOS 26 DB5 Old AirDrop icon Another small and change in iOS 26 DB5 that's only immediately visible if you directly compare the new interface with the old one is the dock at the bottom of the screen, which now boasts a slightly more frosted and not as refractive background as the older dock. Here's a comparison between the old and new iOS 26 docks with the same wallpaper behind to illustrate the difference. It's a small improvement that isn't something you should lose sleep over. Another playful change has also come to the Control Center: iOS 26 now features an exaggerated "stretching" effect when you pull the menu all the way down. It's a pretty nice animation that doesn't really add much to the overall utility of iOS but feels very natural and responsive. May I even suggest it looks… responsive in a Material Design type of way? Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Other than that, Apple has introduced many small changes to the iOS 26 interface as well. Here are some of them, in no particular order: There's an updated low battery pop-up notification in the Dynamic Island. The new icons are more expressive and colorful, which makes them a bit more accessible. I definitely like that change, as it makes the interface a bit more user-friendly and intuitive, at least from a visual point of view. iOS 26 DB5 new Dynamic Island icons for low-power mode and battery saver There's a new button that lets you clear all calls in your Dialer app. It beats me why you'd want to clear the calls database, but hey - you do you. New Clear All button in Dialer app It probably wouldn't be surprising to say that iOS 26 DB5 is the best-performing one so far. Performance is pretty much on the level of iOS 18.6, and if it weren't for the new design language and the larger amount of small bugs, you probably wouldn't be able to discern the new iOS from the old one. That's good. Speaking of bugs, there are still many lurking around every corner, but your mileage may vary as to which gremlins affect you and which ones don't. One of the major ones, the Photos app bug when a video would still play even after you switch to another video, has finally been fixed in DB5. But of course, many others still exist and will hopefully be addressed in further betas down the road. iOS 26 is slowly assuming a pretty decent shape. Apple seems to be on a good track improving the stability and fixing the bugs, while all the changes to Liquid Glass seem to cater to the most common denominator of iOS users who will possibly enjoy the changes without needing too long a time to readjust. Most of these changes will possibly arrive as Public Beta 2 in the coming days.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Apple releases iOS 26 developer beta 5 with some changes you need to see
On Tuesday, just weeks before Apple is expected to release iOS 26, the tech giant pushed out iOS 26 developer beta 5. The latest iOS 26 developer beta comes just two weeks after Apple released the fourth developer beta. Developer beta 5 carries a build number of 23A5308g. To install it on your iPhone, you need to be subscribed to the iOS Beta Software Program. If you have your phone set to receive the iOS 26 Developer Beta, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the directions. iOS developer beta 5 is here and it features a new splash screen for Apple Music. | Image credit-PhoneArena On the other wrist (as opposed to 'on the other hand'), should the pixel density remain at 335.83 ppi on the upcoming version of the timepiece, the screen size will rise 3.1% to 1.98 inches. Of course, there is the possibility that the Apple Watch-related image on the new developer beta release has nothing to do with the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 at all. Liquid glass for the minus sign when editing the home screen, and a new mode switching tab on the bottom of the Camera app. | Image credit-PhoneArena The iOS 26 developer beta 5 release features new splash screens for the Apple Music, Journal, and Notes apps. For those of you who have enabled Adaptive Power for your battery ( Settings > Battery > Power Mode ), you already know that when your battery usage on any particular day is higher than usual, iPhone can make small adjustments to extend your battery life, including lowering the screen brightness or reducing the speed of some activities. With the latest developer beta, users are receiving notifications when the feature is adjusting the performance of their iPhones in order to extend battery life. New share sheet and AirPlay icon (circled in red). | Image credit-PhoneArena Also spotted in the latest iOS 26 beta release: A new AirDrop icon. A new bouncy look to the boxes in the Control Center when you swipe down on the screen. A new share sheet. Liquid glass look for the "-" when you are editing the home screen. If the new mode switching at the bottom of the Photo app isn't your cup of tea, you can use the new Classic Mode Switching tab to return to the older, or Classic, way to choose between Photos and Video on the Camera app. Since we are getting closer to the release of the stable iOS26, the time between beta releases could shrink significantly. When you switch to Total Wireless, keep your number & grab 3 mo. of 5G We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
You Can Download iOS 26 Developer Beta 5 on Your iPhone Right Now. Here's How
The official iOS 26 public beta is out now for anyone to try, but it's not the latest version available. No, that's reserved exclusively for the developer beta, and Apple has just released the fifth version. It brings a few new design tweaks, bug fixes, smoother animations and more. It mostly seems like a polishing of the last version. The biggest news in iOS 26 is Liquid Glass, Apple's new cohesive design language across all its devices, as well as two long anticipated phone features -- Call Screening picks up unknown numbers on your behalf, asks why callers are calling and shows a live transcript so you can decide whether to answer the call; while its sidekick, Hold Assist, listens to hold music for you and alerts you the instant a real person is available. By jumping straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26, Apple is aligning its mobile OS naming with the rest of its platforms and signaling a generational leap rather than the usual annual tune-up. It's the biggest OS update since iOS 7, with updates and enhancements to nearly every facet of the iPhone. If you want to try out any of these features, you can do so right now. Here's how you can download the iOS 26 developer beta. Watch this: I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better 05:40 Warning: Download the iOS 26 developer beta at your own risk Yes, the iOS 26 developer beta is free, but remember it's meant for developers, not day-to-day use. Early builds often carry bugs that can crash apps, drain your battery, overheat your phone and generally make your device feel sluggish. Unless you need to test software against Apple's next release, it's smarter to stick with the public beta, which should be released very soon, on your main iPhone. The iPhone 17, when it's announced, will support iOS 26. Viva Tung/CNET Which iPhone models support iOS 26? As long as you own an iPhone 11 or newer, you can download iOS 26. That means the iPhone XR/XS generation is out, while every A13 Bionic handset forward, including the forthcoming iPhone 17 models, are included. Here's the full list of compatible iPhone models that can run iOS 26: Apple Intelligence works only on compatible phones, which include any iPhone 16 model and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. How to prepare your iPhone to install the iOS 26 developer beta Before you get too excited and start downloading the iOS 26 developer beta, there are a few things you need to do: Check your hardware first. This beta runs only on iPhone 11 and newer . If you want the headline Apple Intelligence features, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or anything in the forthcoming iPhone 17 lineup . This beta runs only on . If you want the headline Apple Intelligence features, you'll need an . Update to the latest public release. Make sure your phone is already on the most current stable build (right now that's iOS 18.5). This helps prevent any issues that arise from updating with outdated software. Make sure your phone is already on the most current stable build (right now that's iOS 18.5). This helps prevent any issues that arise from updating with outdated software. Have a good Wi-Fi connection . You want the install to go flawlessly, which means you should be connected to some pretty decent Wi-Fi. . You want the install to go flawlessly, which means you should be connected to some pretty decent Wi-Fi. Have enough space on your phone . You need at least 15GB of space on your phone to download the iOS 26 developer beta. . You need at least 15GB of space on your phone to download the iOS 26 developer beta. Archive a backup. A normal iCloud backup can be overwritten; you need one that can't. On your Mac , connect your iPhone, open Finder , select your device, hit Back Up Now > Manage Backups , right-click the new backup and click Archive . On Windows , it's pretty similar. Open iTunes , click Back Up Now, locate the backup in Preferences and archive it. A normal iCloud backup can be overwritten; you need one that can't. On your , connect your iPhone, open , select your device, hit > , right-click the new backup and click . On , it's pretty similar. Open , click Back Up Now, locate the backup in and archive it. Know the escape hatch. If the beta breaks your phone for any reason (this has never happened to me), you'll have to put the phone in Recovery Mode, restore iOS 18.5, and then pull that archived backup back onto the device. Once you've followed these steps, you're pretty much ready to go. How to install the iOS 26 developer beta on your iPhone Apple now lets anyone install developer betas without paying the $99 annual fee. To do so, visit the Apple Developer site on the device you plan to update, open the ☰ menu, choose Account, and sign in with that device's Apple ID. Agree to the terms, tick the required boxes, and tap Submit. You may also need to enable Developer Mode in Settings > Privacy and Security. Now you can install the iOS 26 developer beta on your phone as an over-the-air update: After you sign up for the Apple Developer program, you should see the option to download the iOS 26 developer beta in your settings. On your device, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS 26 Developer Beta. Go back and tap Download and Install under the new "iOS 26 Developer Beta" option that appears. The iOS 26 developer beta is 15.28GB in size. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Finally, punch in your passcode, accept the T&C, and let the installer do its thing. On a decent Wi-Fi connection, the download-and-reboot routine should take roughly 10 to 15 minutes, but that may vary. When your iPhone powers back on, you'll be running the iOS 26 developer beta.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
iOS 26 is here — how to download the developer beta
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Editors' Note: Apple released the iOS 26 public beta on July 24, and you can read our guide on how to download the iOS 26 public beta if you want to update to the new software. What follows are instructions for the developer beta, which should continue to receive updates throughout the summer ahead of the iOS 26 full release coming this fall. Apple's not wasting any time getting the newly unveiled iOS 26 on to people's phones. Immediately after previewing the upcoming software update on June 9 at WWDC 2025, Apple released an iOS 26 developer beta. And you don't even have to be a developer to download it. iOS 26 introduces a new Liquid Glass design to the iPhone, the same interface overhaul coming to Apple's other software platforms this year. But there are other changes to familiar apps, including the Phone, Messages, Camera and Maps app, among others. In addition, iOS 26 will see the launch of an Apple Games app for managing your mobile gaming in one location. If you can't wait to see iOS 26 in action for yourself, we'll walk you through the steps of downloading the developer beta. That said, as we'll discuss below, you may want to turn to the iOS 26 public beta, which is now available. (Here's our iOS 26 first look for more on what's new.) The full iOS 26 release will come to iPhones in the fall, likely around the same time that the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup debuts. Here's what you need to know about the iOS 26 developer beta, which is now up to version 4 as of this writing. iOS 26 developer beta: Are you eligible? While Apple intends its developer betas to be used by developers for updating their own software to run on the new operating system, a change in policy a few years ago means that anyone with an Apple ID can download developer betas like the one for iOS 26. You'll also have to enroll in Apple's developer program, which has a free tier. To enroll, go to the enrollment page on Apple's developer website and select "Start Your Enrollment." You'll be prompted to sign in with an Apple ID — use the same Apple ID associated with the iPhone where you plan to install the beta. You'll also have to be enrolled in Apple's beta program. Go to the Apple beta program website on your iPhone and select Sign Up. On the next page select Enroll Your iOS device then tap Open Beta Updates. You'll jump to a screen in the Settings app where you'll be prompted to turn on beta updates. This makes it possible for Apple's software betas to be available for download on your phone. What devices run iOS 26 Before you install the iOS 26 developer beta, make sure you have a phone that supports the new software. The same iPhones that use the current iOS 18 also support iOS 26 — with three notable exceptions. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max may run iOS 18 just fine, but they won't be able to run iOS 26. That's understandable as the phones did first ship in 2018, and that's at the outer edge of Apple's support window. Even though the iOS 26 developer beta will run on the iPhone 11 or later, you'll still need a phone with at least an A17 Bionic chipset to take advantage of any Apple Intelligence features in the new software. That means you need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 including the iPhone 16e. How to download the iOS 26 developer beta Once you've enrolled in the developer program and backed up your iPhone, it's time to get that developer beta on your device. 1. Go to Settings (Image: © Future) In the Settings app on the phone you wish to update, select General and then on the ensuing screen, tap Software Update. 2. Select which beta you want (Image: © Future) On the Software Update screen, select Beta Updates. From the list on the next screen, select iOS 26 Developer Beta; then, hit the Back button. 3. Download the beta (Image: © Future) The iOS 26 Beta will now appear as a downloadable option. Tap Update Now and follow the onscreen instructions. Should you download the iOS 26 developer beta? To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum from the first "Jurassic Park" movie, don't be so preoccupied that you can download the iOS 26 developer beta to not consider whether you should download it. Beta software is exactly that — it's unfinished and unproven. There could be bugs in it, and some of the apps you rely on regularly may not function properly, especially in early betas. For that reason, I always advise people to not install beta software on any device they depend on for their daily use. Instead, use a backup iPhone if you have one lying around. And if you don't, maybe consider waiting a month until the public beta arrives, as that version of iOS 26 figures to be more stable. More from Tom's Guide Apple's stunning 'Liquid Glass' design could change everything — here's what's new iOS 26 just stole these 3 big features from Android — and that's great news iPadOS 26 — all the new features for your tablet
Geeky Gadgets
28-07-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
Apple Re-releases iOS 26 Beta 4 with Crucial Changes
Apple has officially re-released iOS 26 Developer Beta 4, alongside the first public beta, introducing a series of updates aimed at enhancing performance, resolving issues, and improving the overall user experience. Whether you are a developer, a beta tester, or simply an Apple enthusiast, this release offers a closer look at the company's ongoing efforts to refine its ecosystem and deliver meaningful advancements. The video below from iDeviceHelp gives us more details on what is included in the re-release. Watch this video on YouTube. ProMotion Fixes and Performance Enhancements One of the standout improvements in iOS 26 Beta 4 is the resolution of issues affecting ProMotion, Apple's high refresh rate display technology. Users of ProMotion-enabled iPhones may have previously encountered stuttering or inconsistent refresh rates, which could disrupt the fluidity of the user interface. This update addresses those concerns, making sure smoother scrolling and more consistent animations, particularly in apps that rely heavily on dynamic visuals. In addition to ProMotion fixes, the update brings slight improvements to multi-core performance, optimizing the efficiency of supported devices. These enhancements contribute to faster app launches, improved multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience. However, certain apps, such as Image Playground, may still exhibit minor functionality issues, which Apple is expected to address in future updates. Enhanced Features for AirPods Users AirPods users can look forward to several new features introduced in the public beta, designed to enhance convenience and functionality. These updates are available for AirPods Pro 2 and the 4th generation AirPods, offering a more seamless integration into daily life. Key features include: Charging Reminders: Notifications that prompt you to charge your AirPods, making sure they are always ready for use when you need them most. Notifications that prompt you to charge your AirPods, making sure they are always ready for use when you need them most. Sleep Detection: A smart feature that pauses audio playback when it detects you have fallen asleep, helping to conserve battery life and improve usability. A smart feature that pauses audio playback when it detects you have fallen asleep, helping to conserve battery life and improve usability. Gesture-based Camera Controls: The ability to use the AirPods stem as a remote control for capturing photos or videos, adding a new layer of utility to your wireless earbuds. These updates are designed to make AirPods more intuitive and adaptable, whether you are listening to music, capturing moments, or winding down for the night. Apple Care 1: Simplified Device Protection Apple has introduced Apple Care 1, a new subscription model aimed at simplifying device protection for users with multiple Apple devices. Priced at $20 per month, the plan covers up to three devices, with the option to add additional devices for $6 per month each. This service includes all the benefits of Apple Care Plus, offering comprehensive protection and support. Key features include: Accidental Damage Protection: Coverage for repairs related to drops, spills, and other unexpected mishaps. Coverage for repairs related to drops, spills, and other unexpected mishaps. Battery Support: Assistance in maintaining optimal battery performance, making sure your devices remain reliable over time. This subscription model is particularly advantageous for users who own multiple Apple products, providing a cost-effective and convenient way to manage device protection under a single plan. What This Update Means for Users The re-release of iOS 26 Beta 4 underscores Apple's commitment to refining its software and hardware ecosystem. By addressing ProMotion issues, introducing innovative AirPods features, and launching a flexible subscription service, Apple continues to prioritize user feedback and deliver meaningful improvements. For beta testers, this update offers an opportunity to explore Apple's latest advancements and provide valuable insights that contribute to the final release. For general users, it provides a preview of the enhancements that will soon be available across Apple's devices. As Apple moves closer to the official release of iOS 26, these updates highlight the company's dedication to delivering a seamless and enriched experience. Stay tuned for further developments as Apple continues to fine-tune its offerings and expand the possibilities of its ecosystem. Advance your skills in iOS 26 Beta Updates by reading more of our detailed content. Source & Image Credit: iDeviceHelp Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, 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.
