Latest news with #beta
Geeky Gadgets
14 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
iOS 26 AirPods Public Beta: Top Features You Need to Try First
Apple has officially launched the iOS 26 public beta, marking a significant milestone with the introduction of the first-ever public beta firmware for AirPods. This update is designed to bring a host of advanced features to AirPods equipped with the H2 chipset, including the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. However, it's important to note that older models, such as the AirPods Max and earlier generations, are not supported. While the beta firmware introduces exciting new capabilities, it comes with a critical limitation: once installed, the firmware cannot be downgraded without assistance from an Apple Store. The video below from zollotech gives us more details. Watch this video on YouTube. Which AirPods Are Supported? The beta firmware is specifically available for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, both of which are powered by Apple's advanced H2 chipset. This chipset is a key differentiator, allowing features such as adaptive noise cancellation and studio-quality audio, which elevate the listening experience to new heights. These capabilities set these models apart from their predecessors, offering a more immersive and refined audio experience. Unfortunately, older models, including the AirPods Max, AirPods 3, and earlier versions, are excluded from this beta program. This limitation underscores Apple's focus on using the H2 chipset's capabilities to deliver innovative features. How to Install the Beta Firmware Installing the beta firmware requires a few specific steps to ensure a smooth process. Follow these instructions carefully: Ensure your iPhone is updated to iOS 26, either through the public beta or developer beta program. Navigate to the AirPods settings menu on your iPhone and enable beta firmware updates. Place your AirPods on charge near your iPhone, making sure they have a battery level of at least 50%. Once these steps are completed, the update will install automatically. However, it's worth noting that the installation process may take some time, so patience is essential. Avoid interrupting the process to ensure the firmware is applied correctly. What's New in the Beta? The iOS 26 beta introduces a range of innovative features designed to enhance the functionality and usability of your AirPods. These updates aim to improve convenience, audio quality, and overall user experience: Camera Remote: Use the AirPods' stem to control your iPhone's camera, making it easier to capture photos or videos hands-free. Use the AirPods' stem to control your iPhone's camera, making it easier to capture photos or videos hands-free. Sleep Detection: Automatically pauses audio playback when the system detects you've fallen asleep, making sure a seamless and restful experience. Automatically pauses audio playback when the system detects you've fallen asleep, making sure a seamless and restful experience. Battery Notifications: Receive alerts for low battery levels and full charge status, helping you manage your AirPods' power more effectively. Receive alerts for low battery levels and full charge status, helping you manage your AirPods' power more effectively. Audio Quality Enhancements: Enjoy clearer vocals, natural sound reproduction, and studio-quality audio for calls, recordings, and podcasts. Enjoy clearer vocals, natural sound reproduction, and for calls, recordings, and podcasts. Device Audio Retention: Prevents audio from switching to other devices, such as CarPlay, while your AirPods remain connected to your iPhone. These features collectively aim to make AirPods more intuitive and functional, catering to a wide range of user needs. Improvements in Noise Cancellation and Transparency Modes The beta firmware also brings significant enhancements to noise cancellation and transparency modes, further refining the listening experience: Adaptive Noise Cancellation: Dynamically adjusts to your surroundings, providing an optimized listening experience in various environments, whether you're in a noisy café or a quiet office. Dynamically adjusts to your surroundings, providing an optimized listening experience in various environments, whether you're in a noisy café or a quiet office. Refined Transparency Mode: Delivers clearer ambient sound, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without needing to remove your AirPods. These updates are designed to create a more immersive and seamless audio experience, making it easier to transition between different environments without compromising sound quality or awareness. What Are the Limitations? While the beta firmware offers numerous benefits, there are some important limitations and considerations to keep in mind before opting into the program: Irreversible Installation: Once the beta firmware is installed, it cannot be downgraded by the user. If issues arise, you'll need to visit an Apple Store for assistance. Once the beta firmware is installed, it cannot be downgraded by the user. If issues arise, you'll need to visit an Apple Store for assistance. Specific Update Conditions: The update process requires your AirPods to have a minimum battery level of 50% and be charging near your iPhone. These conditions must be met for the installation to proceed. These constraints highlight the importance of careful consideration before enrolling in the beta program, particularly for users who rely heavily on their AirPods for daily use. Looking Ahead: Future Updates Apple is expected to release additional beta updates in the coming weeks, leading up to the official public launch of iOS 26. These updates are likely to coincide with the release of the next iPhone, anticipated in mid-September. As the beta program progresses, users can expect further refinements and potentially new features, offering an evolving and dynamic experience for those participating in the program. Should You Try the Beta? The iOS 26 public beta and accompanying AirPods beta firmware represent Apple's ongoing commitment to innovation and user experience. Features such as enhanced audio quality, adaptive noise cancellation, and the new camera remote functionality provide a glimpse into the future of AirPods technology. However, the inability to downgrade the firmware and the potential for bugs or performance issues make it essential to weigh the risks carefully. For users who are eager to explore innovative technology and are comfortable with the limitations, the beta offers an exciting opportunity to experience Apple's latest advancements firsthand. On the other hand, those who prioritize stability and reliability may find it more prudent to wait for the official release. The decision ultimately depends on your individual needs and willingness to navigate the challenges of beta software. Below are more guides on iOS 26 Public Beta from our extensive range of articles. Source & Image Credit: zollotech 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.
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
I Tried iOS 26 for a Month. These 3 Features Stand Out Most
Apple released the first public beta of iOS 26 on July 24, more than a month after the company announced the next iOS version at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. That means developers and public beta testers can try the upcoming iPhone features before others get them this fall. And this is an important iOS version for Apple. According to Bloomberg, some Apple investors are frustrated with the company's delay in artificial intelligence features. Apple is also facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice that alleges the company leveraged the iPhone's dominance to enrich itself while smothering competition. So in order to bolster confidence in the company and shore up investor funding, Apple really needs iOS 26 to be a slam dunk. I've lived with the developer betas of iOS 26 for more than a month -- checking out new features, including the customizable snooze timer. Here are my thoughts on the update so far. Before we go any further, remember that this is a beta version of iOS 26. Because this isn't the final version of iOS 26, the update might be buggy for you, and your device's battery life may be affected, so it's best to keep those troubles off your primary device. If you want to try the beta out, I recommend downloading it on a secondary device. Plus, being a beta version, it's also possible that Apple could add more features to the update before the final version of iOS 26 is released this fall. Liquid Glass design is impressive -- mostly After Apple tweaked the design during the beta process, Liquid Glass looks great. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET When Apple first introduced iOS 26's Liquid Glass at WWDC, people online were torn about the design. Some were excited about it, but others were concerned about readability with the new design -- myself included. But after Apple tweaked iOS 26's Liquid Glass design during the beta process, it's now a pretty nice display scheme. The way color and images refract through the glass-like panels on my home screen is impressive, reminding me of glass block designs. It's kind of like when a movie renders CGI liquid really well. You know it's not real, but it can be hard to tell the difference between the digital and real thing. In early beta versions of the software, I had a hard time reading some menus when they were in front of other text. The glass was too glass-like, making all the words looked jumbled together. At the time, I toggled on both Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast to dull the glass effect. But now, the glass design looks good without turning on additional settings to make things legible. The "glass" menus in apps such as Messages are also much better and easier to read now. My one complaint about the design is the new option to turn your apps Clear. This option is like the Tinted one introduced in iOS 18 and it removes all color from the app icon. Every app icon and widget turns semi-translucent, too. But since every app is the same color, as soon as I take my glasses off, I can't tell which is which without touching my homescreen to my nose. I don't use the Tinted option for a similar reason, but the Clear option could make it difficult to recognize apps if your background is particularly busy. If you have a visual impairment, you might have trouble with the Clear option. Messages keeps getting better Message backgrounds are an easy way to distinguish between texting groups. Apple/Screenshot by Joseph Maldonado/CNET When Apple launched iOS 18 in 2024, it brought new features to Messages, including RCS messaging, more Tapbacks and a Send Later function, which I really enjoyed and thought made texting more fun. The iOS 26 beta adds even more fun enhancements to Messages. The new chat backgrounds are a great way to differentiate between chats, and typing indicators in group chats are a nice way to see who is and isn't active at any given moment. Plus, message filters are nice to have; they filter out spam and scam messages without notifying you. That way, any messages from "recruiters" or the "IRS" don't even hit my inbox. You can change the settings to allow notifications from certain unknown numbers, too, such as messages with verification codes or receipts, so you aren't blocking all unknown senders. The Games app is a nice touch, but could use some work Games is a step in the right direction. Apple/Screenshot by Joe Maldonado/CNET I cover Apple Arcade and some other mobile gaming services such as Netflix Games, and sometimes I like to play Xbox Cloud Gaming on my iPhone. So when Apple said it would have a dedicated Games app in iOS 26, I was pretty excited. But it fell short in a few areas for me. The main thing I like about the Games app is that it acts as a hub for all the games attached to your Apple ID. So while I deleted certain games such as Downwell from my device to make room for others, I can still find those games in the app if I ever want to dowload and revisit them. (And I totally want to revisit Downwell.) However, the app isn't always helpful with some older games attached to your account. For instance, I downloaded Crazy Taxi onto an older iPhone before Sega removed the game from the App Store, and the game appears in Games on my newer device. But since Crazy Taxi was removed from the App Store, if I try to download the game onto my new device, I get a continuously-rotating pinwheel, like it's trying to load. So now, despite Apple attaching Crazy Taxi to my account, I can't play it. Instead, it taunts me with its inaccessible soundtrack full of the Offspring and Bad Religion. And while Games stores information about all the mobile games attached to your account, it isn't integrated with other gaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming or Steam.I use a shortcut to open Xbox Cloud Gaming on my iPhone, so I understand it not registering as a gaming app -- but Steam is clearly a gaming app, and yet Games doesn't recognize it. In the future, I'd like for Games to recognize these other services, or at least have the option to add them to the app so everything gaming related is in one neat spot. The beta is packed with features… but it has room for improvement It's a beta, so bugs aren't that surprising. Jeff Carlson/CNET While Liquid Glass, Messages improvements and the Games app are a few of the new features in the iOS 26 beta you can try now, I came across a few issues in the beta, which is to be expected. Some of these problems were more noticeable than others, and these are the ones I hope Apple will address first. The most prevalent issue I ran into was that after unlocking my iPhone with Face ID, my lock screen would stay in place for a split second before switching to my home screen. When I slowly swiped up on my lock screen after unlocking it, I could see the Liquid Glass layer slide up over my lock screen background but not pull my background with it. In past iOS versions, when you swiped up on your lock screen after unlocking it with Face ID, your lock screen background would roll up your screen to reveal your home screen. But in the beta, the Liquid Glass layer moves while your background doesn't. While this never caused my iPhone to crash, it was really annoying. I also had issues with Visual Intelligence -- both the new screenshot search and the previous way of searching for images. Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhones can use Apple's AI to perform a Google Image search for items in screenshots and photos. I used it to look up some home decor items and shoes from images on Instagram. The search function usually found what I was looking for, but dismissing the search menu felt clunky. After performing a search, I'd try to swipe the menu down -- like dismissing a keyboard in Messages -- but it would bounce back, even after dragging it all the way down the screen. Only after dragging it down again would it finally disappear, and having to do that multiple times was frustrating. I bring up these issues to remind you that iOS 26 is still in beta, so running into these hiccups isn't that unusual. Betas are meant to test features, make improvements and find bugs so they can be patched out. Apple said it will release iOS 26 to the general public this fall, so there's plenty of time for the company to address these issues and any others that might appear in future betas. For more on Apple, here's what you need to know about iOS 26 and everything the company announced at WWDC 2025.
Digital Trends
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Splitgate 2 retreats back into beta, aims for a 2026 re-release
After a rocky, controversial launch, Splitgate 2 is going back to the drawing board. In a post shared on Steam and social media, developer 1047 acknowledged player feedback and said 'we launched too early.' The team announced plans to revamp and overhaul the game by adding more portals, better monetization, and doubling down on classic game modes. This means the game is going 'back to beta,' according to the posts. Splitgate 2 will remain in a playable state, and the team still intends to ship chapter three along with major bug fixes. However, further development will slow until sometime in early 2026 when a more finalized version of the game is released. Recommended Videos Unfortunately, the news comes alongside layoff announcements. 'Rebuilding the core experience isn't a quick fix; it's a long-term commitment. To give ourselves the time to build the Splitgate you deserve, we've made the incredibly difficult decision to reduce certain roles and shift our resources to focus on this rework. This is heartbreaking. These are our teammates and our friends, and they helped build what we have today. They're receiving severance and job placement support, and we're committed to doing everything we can to help them through this transition. We hope to bring them back when we can.' To the Splitgate community, We believe in Splitgate 2. This game means everything to us – it's been our life for almost 10 years, starting in our dorm room, and we're more committed than ever to delivering the incredible experience you deserve. We've heard your feedback, and we… — Splitgate 2 – Beta (@Splitgate) July 22, 2025 The original Splitgate is also shutting down in a cost-saving attempt. The studio says it would like to keep the servers online indefinitely, but that it's prioritizing the team over the original game. 'Like us, we know this game means a lot to so many of you, so we are exploring the possibility of supporting offline or peer-to-peer matches.' A dedicated Splitgate 2 mode that closely resembles the gameplay of the first game has also been promised. The announcement demonstrates a dedication to the game and its community that sometimes feels rare in the modern landscape. 1047 is treating Splitgate 2 like a passion project rather than a simple cash grab and asks that players continue to provide feedback on changes and updates. 'Now more than ever, wqe need your help,' the studio says.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Splitgate 2 is yanked back to beta a month after release
Splitgate 2, the follow-up to the hugely successful 2021 Quake-Portal hybrid concept, is returning to beta. The game launched last month, but developer 1047 Games is pulling it after deciding the release had been rushed. The company doesn't plan to release the project again until 2026. "We'll be heads down until early next year, rebuilding major parts of the game to capture the spirit of what made Splitgate special," the founders said in a post to the game's Reddit community. "That means reworking progression from the ground up, adding more portals to our maps, simplifying monetization, refocusing on classic game modes you've been asking for, and more, which we'll share soon." Not only will the sequel go back into development, but 1047 Games is also cutting jobs. And that's after it already laid off some team members shortly after Splitgate 2's initial release. The company said it will shut down the servers for the original Splitgate in order to reduce expenses and keep more of its team members employed. 1047 Games has been brutalized in the public eye after co-founder Ian Proulx appeared at Summer Games Fest wearing a hat that read "Make FPS Great Again," which infuriated many of the original Splitgate's players. After the initial stance, posted to the studio's X account on Splitgate 2's release date, that he was both "not here to apologize" and that the hat was "not a political statement," Proulx finally landed on the line that it was all basically a publicity stunt.
Android Authority
22-07-2025
- Android Authority
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 delivers fix for persistent Galaxy Watch connection problems
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Galaxy Watch owners have been experiencing issues when attempting to use their wearable with a device running any version of the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Reports say the issue results in connection drops, compatibility problems, and crashes. The recently released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 update appears to fix the bug. As with beta, there's always the threat of running into a bug. That's exactly what happened recently to some Android 16 beta testers who own a Samsung smartwatch. Thankfully, a recent update seems to have fixed the issue. There have been a growing number of reports of Samsung's smartwatches not playing well with devices running on any version of the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Specifically, the bug would cause problems like connection drops, crashes, and compatibility issues. The problem is said to be related to the connected phone trying to download Samsung's Watch Manager plugin and failing. At the time, the only fix was to go back to a stable version of Android 16. If your Galaxy Watch was affected by this bug, there's now another solution to fix the problem. Google released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 last week, which includes the July 2025 security patch and several bug fixes. According to 9to5Google, this rollout solves the issue blocking the Galaxy Watch Manager plugin from installing. The outlet states that after installing the update, their Pixel 9 Pro Fold was able to switch a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic paired on a Galaxy S25 over, without resetting. So if you don't want to go back to the stable channel, you'll want to make sure to download Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3. Once it's installed, your smartwatch should start working like normal again. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
