Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With New Wireless Data Migration When Setting Up a New iPhone and Apple News+ Improvements

[MacRumors]

Apple will today release iOS 12.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 12 operating system that first launched in September 2018. iOS 12.4 comes more two months after the release of iOS 12.3, another major update that brought the new TV app.

The iOS 12.4 update is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.4 is free to download, but it may take some time for iOS 12.4 to propagate to all iOS users.

During the beta testing process, there were no outward-facing features or major changes discovered in iOS 12.4. According to Apple's release notes, the update introduces a new iPhone migration option to directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, and it introduces enhancements to Apple News+. From Apple's release notes:

iOS 12.4 introduces iPhone migration to directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, includes enhancements to Apple News+ and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:

iPhone migration
- Introduces the ability to wirelessly transfer data and migrate directly from an old iPhone to a new iPhone during setup

Apple News
- Makes downloaded issues accessible in the My Magazines section, both offline and online
- Adds all publications in Apple News+, including newspapers, to the catalog at the top of the News+ feed
- Adds the ability to clear downloaded magazine issues by selecting History > Clear > Clear All

Other improvements and fixes
- Includes a security fix for the Walkie-Talkie app on Apple Watch and re-enables Walkie-Talkie functionality

This release also includes support for HomePod in Japan and Taiwan.

The update was believed to include support for Apple Card, laying the foundation for Apple's new credit card, though the release notes make no mention of this. It could still add the underlying framework for Apple Card, which is set to be launching this summer and could come at any time.

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With New Wireless Data Migration When Setting Up a New iPhone and Apple News+ Improvements

 

[sniffies]

I hope beta 5 will be here too

 

[now i see it]

I suppose both devices will need to be running iOS 12.4 in order for the wireless data migration feature to work ?

 

[ghostface147]

Build 16G57 or something very close to that. Any takers?

 

[xpxp2002]

The Walkie-Talkie security fix is in the iOS update notes, not the watchOS update?

 

[brinary001]

Very disappointed that there's no mention of Apple Card in this update... I'm eagerly waiting for that to debut and I was hoping that 12.4's release would see a side-by-side launch of the card

 

[macduke]

Hah, this wireless upgrading thing will be great for the person or two who actually upgrades to the 2019 iPhone. Restoring from iCloud is really slow.

I've been on vacation and come back to see fugly hands-on mockups and lackluster specs compared to the 2020 model leaks. Hopefully they get their crap together.

I'm just glad the walkie-talkie functionality will be restored. My wife and I use it all the time and I find it hilarious that it was essentially broken only during my vacation when I needed it most.

 

[ohernan]

Very disappointed that there's no mention of Apple Card in this update... I'm eagerly waiting for that to debut and I was hoping that 12.4's release would see a side-by-side launch of the card

https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/22/ios-12-4-apple-card-release/

 

[AppleFan91]

W

I suppose both devices will need to be running iOS 12.4 in order for the wireless data migration feature to work ?

Would be my guess. Also why I think it is out now and not in iOS 13 which will be on many iPhones people purchase this fall. By then, most will have 12.4 and it will be an easy move

 

[TechRemarker]

Also disappointed to here the card isn't launching along side it. Perhaps it does add full support, and later this week they will announce card availability. Or we will have to wait for another update to iOS later this year and the card launch is being delayed.

 

[zorinlynx]

The wireless migration feature was probably introduced to reduce crowds in Apple Stores.

When people upgrade to a new phone, they tend to hang around in the store until their new device restores from an iCloud backup, which could take 15-20 minutes or more. A direct transfer from the old phone to the new will allow this step to be skipped, moving along customers more quickly.

This is just a hunch; I wouldn't be surprised if it was the main driver behind the feature though.

 

[cannono]

I want that dang Card to go live today

 

[i007]

Very disappointed that there's no mention of Apple Card in this update... I'm eagerly waiting for that to debut and I was hoping that 12.4's release would see a side-by-side launch of the card

This is extremely disappointing. There has been zero info since the keynote. Apple releases are getting less and less exciting.

 

[Flojomojo]

The wireless migration feature was probably introduced to reduce crowds in Apple Stores.

When people upgrade to a new phone, they tend to hang around in the store until their new device restores from an iCloud backup, which could take 15-20 minutes or more. A direct transfer from the old phone to the new will allow this step to be skipped, moving along customers more quickly.

Sure, but it's useful for everyone else, too. Transfer your data in the car on the way home, without wifi! Transfer data from your broken phone to a working one while on vacation, without wifi! Give a new corporate-owned phone to an employee and transfer all the data, without wifi!

Now the bottleneck at the Apple store and everyone else will just be people who don't know/remember their own passwords, as has and will always be the case.

 

[newyorksole]

I suppose both devices will need to be running iOS 12.4 in order for the wireless data migration feature to work ?

Question. If I’m on the 12.4 Beta, how do I upgrade to the final 12.4 release?

 

[ghostface147]

Question. If I’m on the 12.4 Beta, how do I upgrade to the final 12.4 release?

Sometimes you have to remove the beta profile and restart.

 

[AppleTO]

This is interesting. I wonder if Apple Card will just appear as available in 12.4 at some point.

If it requires iOS 13, the iPhone 6, which supports Apple Pay, will never be compatible.

On the other hand, I wonder long it will be until Apply Pay is permanently disabled in the iPhone 6 due to lack of security updates...

 

[jimmirehman]

4 minutes in, nothing showing up. I call BS

 

[JessWinter]

Nothing yet. Give it 10 more mins.

 

[lanegandy]

Nothing yet here in LA. Restarted my phone and everything

*Scratch that. Now showing up at 10:07am Pacific Time

 

[jimmirehman]

Nothing yet. Give it 10 more mins.

Its live now. GO!
[doublepost=1563815238][/doublepost]It's live in Florida.

 

[JessWinter]

Its live now. GO!
[doublepost=1563815238][/doublepost]It's live in Florida.

Hitting it with a reboot real quick to see if that does it

 

[asv56kx3088]

4 minutes in, nothing showing up. I call BS

Except it just dropped.

 

[Root777]

Very disappointed that there's no mention of Apple Card in this update... I'm eagerly waiting for that to debut and I was hoping that 12.4's release would see a side-by-side launch of the card

These are considerably lame features for a "major"ish release. I'd imagine they're waiting a week to let users update before launching the card, it's likely in the 12.4 update but only time will tell.

 

[dsampley]

Downloading now