Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 11.2.5 to Developers [Updated: Public Beta Available]

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.2.5 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta and almost a month after releasing iOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit vulnerability.

Registered developers can download the iOS 11.2.5 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

iOS 11.2.5 introduces a new feature that allows Siri to play daily news podcasts when queried about the current news. Siri will offer up news from The Washington Post by default, but you can also choose to switch to Fox News, CNN, or NPR.

The new audio news feature, which appears to have been developed for use with Apple's upcoming HomePod speaker, is invoked when using Hey Siri or asking Siri about the news when using CarPlay or with headphones connected - essentially any situation where you're not looking at the display of an iOS device. If you activate Siri using the side button or Home button of a device, standard Apple news headlines are provided instead of the audio-based news highlights.

It's not clear what other new features, if any, will be included in the iOS 11.2.5 beta. We didn't discover other noticeable outward-facing changes in the first three iOS 11.2.5 betas, so it's possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes and security improvements aside from the Siri news update.

If that's the case, we may not know the extent of what's in the update until it sees a public release.

Apple is supposed to be releasing an iCloud Messages feature that was pulled from the iOS 11 release, but there has been no indication of when we can expect iCloud Messages to be reintroduced. Should new features be discovered in the fourth beta of iOS 11.2.5, we'll update this post.

Update: Apple has also seeded a new public beta of iOS 11.2.5 to public beta testers.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 11.2.5 to Developers [Updated: Public Beta Available]

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Appears there have been adjustments to IPT, Safari handling of cookies, further Meltdown and Spectre protections, and a number of other changes in this build.

 

[scrapesleon]

Did they fix the loud speakers issue?

 

[Paddle1]

"and almost a month week after releasing iOS 11.2.1,"

Edit: Fixed now

 

[blacktape242]

hoping for PB soon

 

[nt5672]

I am wondering if they release an update without downgrading performance or removing some functionality?

 

[AsherMenezes]

Did they fix the loud speakers issue?

I have reported it to them and they said within the month of January they will issue an update !

I can't understand why this isn't a big issue ! It should have been !

 

[riverfreak]

If it takes an update to iOS to add Siri support for a couple of apparently hard-coded podcasts, then Apple has totally and completely lost the AI voice assistant race.

 

[vdgroodt]

Coming from 11.2.2; its faster(face id!!, opening app’s, slightly faster animations)

 

[viettanium]

Coming from 11.2.2; its faster(face id!!, opening app’s, slightly faster animations)

wow

 

[C DM]

I have reported it to them and they said within the month of January they will issue an update !

I can't understand why this isn't a big issue ! It should have been !

It seems like that was just a glitch that was only there in beta 3.

 

[ronno]

Waiting for an update which:
1. fixes the memory management issue so this thing does not reload pages all the time.
2. moves the throttling to the Low Power Mode option instead of leaving it enabled for all to enjoy

 

[sevvere]

Can documents6, Google Music, Audible , comixology, Amazon Music, and An assortment of other apps continue to download files in the background when you turn your screen off and put your phone in your pocket or go into another App like a Web browser?

Still no?

..... gives a quick, yearning look Pixel 2s way ......

 

[Baymowe335]

Coming from 11.2.2; its faster(face id!!, opening app’s, slightly faster animations)

Does it fix ram management or at least improve it?

 

[DaveOP]

Can documents6, Google Music, Audible , comixology, Amazon Music, and An assortment of other apps continue to download files in the background when you turn your screen off and put your phone in your pocket or go into another App like. Web browser?

Still no?

..... gives a quick, yearning look Pixel 2s way ......

If that is a regular workflow for you, you should absolutely go buy that Pixel.

 

[fhopper]

Where is the "new" battery life diagnostic? I thought it was ready for prime time but was not in the latest update...

 

[GIZBUG]

hoping for PB soon

Are these posTs necessary every time a developer beta pops??
We all know PB will be out later today..........

 

[avanpelt]

At this point, I fully expect that iCloud Messages will be released as part of iOS 12. They'd better make sure that thing is fully baked and flawless. I have text messages on my iPhone that go back to 2009. Call me sentimental, but I don't want to lose those. If iCloud Messages does to text messages with Apple Music did to some locally-stored music libraries, I'll pass.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Are these posTs necessary every time a developer beta pops??
We all know PB will be out later today..........

Or they can just download and install the developer profile which is widely available instead of posting this if they really have to have it when we do.

 

[Bacillus]

Appears there have been adjustments to IPT, Safari handling of cookies, further Meltdown and Spectre protections, and a number of other changes in this build.

Thx (on behalf of the incommunicables@apple)
[doublepost=1515524678][/doublepost]

If it takes an update to iOS to add Siri support for a couple of apparently hard-coded podcasts, then Apple has totally and completely lost the AI voice assistant race.

Unless queries get re-routed to Alexa
(as per my preference)

 

[LarryJoe33]

At this point, I fully expect that iCloud Messages will be released as part of iOS 12. They'd better make sure that thing is fully baked and flawless. I have text messages on my iPhone that go back to 2009. Call me sentimental, but I don't want to lose those. If iCloud Messages does to text messages with Apple Music did to some locally-stored music libraries, I'll pass.

Crap, if I had text messages going back to 2009 I would be in BIG trouble with the now ex.wife. Some words of legal advice, if it ain't there, it ain't discoverable!

 

[itsmilo]

Where is the "new" battery life diagnostic? I thought it was ready for prime time but was not in the latest update...

lol ... iCloud Messages was announced a millenia ago and it still has not arrived. What makes you think they are going to develop those battery life diagnostic tools within like 2 weeks since the backlash started

 

[LarryJoe33]

lol ... iCloud Messages was announced a millenia ago and it still has not arrived. What makes you think they are going to develop those battery life diagnostic tools within like 2 weeks since the backlash started

Great point

 

[Hoot26]

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.2.5 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta and almost a month after releasing iOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit vulnerability.

Registered developers can download the iOS 11.2.5 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

iOS 11.2.5 introduces a new feature that allows Siri to play daily news podcasts when queried about the current news. Siri will offer up news from The Washington Post by default, but you can also choose to switch to Fox News, CNN, or NPR.

The new audio news feature, which appears to have been developed for use with Apple's upcoming HomePod speaker, is invoked when using Hey Siri or asking Siri about the news when using CarPlay or with headphones connected - essentially any situation where you're not looking at the display of an iOS device. If you activate Siri using the side button or Home button of a device, standard Apple news headlines are provided instead of the audio-based news highlights.

It's not clear what other new features, if any, will be included in the iOS 11.2.5 beta. We didn't discover other noticeable outward-facing changes in the first three iOS 11.2.5 betas, so it's possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes and security improvements aside from the Siri news update.

If that's the case, we may not know the extent of what's in the update until it sees a public release.

Apple is supposed to be releasing an iCloud Messages feature that was pulled from the iOS 11 release, but there has been no indication of when we can expect iCloud Messages to be reintroduced. Should new features be discovered in the fourth beta of iOS 11.2.5, we'll update this post.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 11.2.5 to Developers

Does anyone know if the sound issues are fixed?

 

[roncito]

Did they fix the loud speakers issue?

Seems like it.