Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new betas coming a month after Apple released the first betas.

iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.

Paired with the HomePod 14.4 beta that is only available to a limited number of testers, iOS 14.4 adds new HomePod mini functionality that takes advantage of the mini's U1 chip.

There are now visual, audio, and haptic effects when songs are transferred from a HomePod mini to a U1-enabled iPhone 11 or iPhone 12. When an iPhone is near the HomePod mini it begins a soft haptic touch rhythm that gets faster and faster as the ‌iPhone‌ gets closer until the interface to transfer a song between the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ opens.

This functionality will make handoff quicker and more reliable on a ‌HomePod mini‌ and an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, all of which are equipped with U1 chips that let the devices better understand where they are in relation to one another.

In the Workout section of the Apple Watch app on iPhone there's a new "Time to Walk" feature that includes a toggle to "Add Newest Workouts to Watch." This suggests that Apple could be planning to add guided walking workouts in the watchOS 7.3 beta. "Time to Walk Workouts are downloaded when Apple Watch is connected to power and near your iPhone. Completed workouts are deleted automatically," reads the setting. This is not functional in the first beta of watchOS 7.3 and iOS 14.4, but could be activated later.

No other new features or changes were discovered in the first beta. The update likely focuses on performance improvements and bug fixes that weren't able to be addressed in the iOS 14.3 update, but it's also possible there are additional features that will be unlocked at a later date.

Update: iOS 14.4 includes a new setting to specify a device type for third-party Bluetooth-connected audio devices so that Headphone Audio Level measurements can be taken correctly. Apple tracks headphone audio levels to send alerts if music is playing at a level that has the potential to damage hearing health over time.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

 

[The Barron]

Any guesses how long it will be until we see the full blown versions released by Apple?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Finally new Beta! Apple is back at it.

Build number please.

 

[C DM]

Any guesses how long it will be until we see the full blown versions released by Apple?

Full blown versions? As in when iOS 14.4 final public version will be released?

 

[themick4u]

I do hope this fixes all the Bluetooth issues

 

[Homme]

And Banglazed will make a thread about it in 3.... 2..... 1.....😁

 

[Lemon Olive]

The handoff feature of iPhone to HomePod is such a gimmick. There are so many ways to initiate audio playback that this isn't even needed at all.

Kind of annoying to see them spending even more time polishing it when there are so many other features that are long overdue.

 

[roncron]

It's been a long month.

 

[tubular]

I hope this addresses the really spectacular battery drain issues on the iPhone SE (original).

 

[icanhazmac]

Finally new Beta! Apple is back at it.

Was Apple late with this one? Have they fallen short of your beta release schedule expectations?

 

[DaveOP]

The handoff feature of iPhone to HomePod is such a gimmick. There are so many ways to initiate audio playback that this isn't even needed at all.

Kind of annoying to see them spending even more time polishing it when there are so many other features that are long overdue.

I find it incredibly useful coming home after a workout transferring from airpods to the homepod. I agree it doesnt need to be MORE fancy, but it feels very broken lately, so hopefully this resolves the basic functionality.

 

[DimaVR]

Biggest issues are screen stutter and sms/txt messages

 

[C DM]

And Banglazed will make a thread about it in 3.... 2..... 1.....😁

Something that has been in place since the news of this beta coming out:

iOS 14.4 Beta 2 ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

iOS 14.4 Beta 2 Release Date ― January 13, 2020 Build Number ― 18D5043d Darwin Kernel Version ― Darwin Kernel Version 20.3.0: Mon Jan 4 21:55:12 PST 2021; root:xnu-7195.80.30~9 iOS 14.4 Beta 2 Release Notes New Features & Changes New Issues Remaining Issues Resolved Issues Additional Notes...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[falkirk81]

Build on my iPhone X is 18D5043d

 

[roland.g]

Just like Lock Screen Notification Groupings, Beta Announcement article Groupings.

Apple releases Beta 2s.

iOS
iPad OS
Big Sur
Watch OS
tvOS

What do I know.

 

[scouser75]

I'm hoping this fixes the issue where some don't have the slide to answer function. And also where deleted emails are placed back in the inbox and when you delete emails on one device they don't sync across to the other device.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Was Apple late with this one? Have they fallen short of your beta release schedule expectations?

See this post below.

 

[Mr Todhunter]

I hope this addresses the really spectacular battery drain issues on the iPhone SE (original).

And iPhone 7

 

[andychelt]

Good, 14.4 beta 1 is an absolute dog on my XS.
Screen lag when scrolling, lag between switching apps, regular lockups, battery drain, not to mention random restarts all the time....

 

[**maestro**]

I hope this will fix the huge sync issues between iOS 14 and iCloud. Reminders not syncing, emails not always syncing (as someone mentioned above), calendar events not always syncing. Just been a pain in the bottom!

 

[honglong1976]

I hope this addresses the really spectacular battery drain issues on the iPhone SE (original).

And the iPhone 6S

 

[LFC2020]

Does it fix the green tint issue on the iPhone 12 series?

I want my grey colours to look grey not yellow/green. 🤬

 

[douglasb7]

Was Apple late with this one? Have they fallen short of your beta release schedule expectations?

A bit snarky this morning are you? Ha! I too am glad the betas are back, looking forward to a few fixes! Cheers!

 

[Antes]

Yeah so are they ever going to acknowledge the green tint issue? I’ve been holding out for a software fix.

 

[kycophpd]

The lag I have seen with apps loading in beta 1 appears to be fixed. Everything is loading really quick.