Beta 3 for iOS and iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4 and watchOS 11.4 are out

By TheBlindGuy07, 10 March, 2025

Forum
Apple Beta Releases

We can share our findings here.

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If you're using a beta version, use the Feedback Assistant on your device to submit feedback and bug reports. If you're using a public release, follow the instructions on this page.

Comments

By peter on Monday, March 10, 2025 - 20:27

Before updating to the latest iOS beta, I see links for the Apple Beta program and the Apple Developer Program. When I open these in Saffari, the web pages are loaded with information about all different platforms, information about betas, etc.

What I am really looking for is a short list of what is new in the latest beta, sort of what we see when we update to a new normal release. Is there some place one can find a short list of what is new or fixed? I haven't been able to find such a short list easily on any of the Saffari pages that I cited above.

Thanks for any suggestions so that I can find and test what Apple thinks is new and what might need testing.

--Pete

By TheBlindGuy07 on Monday, March 10, 2025 - 20:27

I believe Apple Developer has information for each beta? I get mine in Feedback Assistant but these are generally irrelevant for us, generally not always as they are talking about a problem with m4 macs that's been fixed now...

By Justin Harris on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

Usually, I have heard that Apple doesn't do the best job at updating these on the web site. But more detail is given in feedback from what I understand.
I'm always eager to try out the public betas whenever getting ready for a major release, but once that hits, I go back to regular releases. Unless I hear of some bug that was driving me nuts being fixed, then I could be persuaded to go back on beta.

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

FYI. Apple now you will be able to stop the banner from showing when you do double tap on the back of phone. Go to setting, accessibility, touch and turn it off. Now you have a choice.

By TheBlindGuy07 on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

……This was becoming quite annoying.

By PaulMartz on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

When you select text, do you still get a chime telling you that writing tools is in the actions menu? They pulled the verbal announcement in the previous beta. I'm still holding out hope that they'll kill the chime too.

By TheBlindGuy07 on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

No, nothing after selection. It's awesome. We still have a sound when in the wt it's done generating, it's useful but I just hope we can have them bringing a braille equivalent for that as well. Otherwise it's completely fine now.

By Mert Ozer on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

Does AI consume too much battery on a Mac? The only thing I would want to use on my Mac is writing tools, but I kept it off, especially because of the chine.

By TheBlindGuy07 on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

I don't think it does after the first download phase, I let it enabled.

By Dave Nason on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 20:27

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Thanks for that Holger, great spot. That’s a relief.
Also good to hear about the writing tools thing.
I’ve only dipped my toes in Apple Intelligence on iOS so far, and not at all yet on Mac. But I do wish you could switch it on on a feature by feature basis. For example I don’t like the email summaries, but I may like to use writing tools.
Dave

By PaulMartz on Friday, March 14, 2025 - 20:27

Apple sent me a response on an old feedback issue, claiming it's fixed in the latest (build 22E5222f). Since I'm not on the iOS beta, I was hoping someone might test this and verify.

Here's how to reproduce the bug.
1. Open the clock app.
2. Select the stopwatch tab.
3. Navigate to the start button and double-tap it.

Expected behavior: VoiceOver focus will stay on the start button, which has now changed to a stop button. VoiceOver will not announce the incrementing time display.
Actual behavior: VoiceOver focus jumps from the start button to the time display, and every few seconds, VoiceOver announces the elapsed time.

Are people still seeing this incorrect behavior in the current beta? Or has it been fixed so that VoiceOver focus no longer jumps by itself? Thanks.

By Levi Gobin on Friday, March 14, 2025 - 20:27

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Whenever I start the stopwatch by pressing the start button or doing the two finger double tap, voiceover focus remains on the start button.
If I navigate somewhere else, such as the time, and start the stopwatch with the two finger double tap, after a second voiceover focus moves to the start button.

By PaulMartz on Friday, March 14, 2025 - 20:27

I'm looking forward to the new iOS and MacOS. Looks like Apple really gave them some love.

By Brian on Saturday, March 15, 2025 - 20:27

I use a custom gesture for navigating by headings and controls, so this bug is not too terrible for me. Still, I will be glad for the new iOS fix. ☺️