Less than a month before Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference, where the new operating system (OS) for iPhones and iPads will be introduced, Apple has released an update of its current OS called iOS 17.5. It comes with several changes, including a tracking alert feature and app downloads from third-party developers for users in the EU.
With the previous update, 17.4, Apple users in the EU were able to download apps from third-party stores. The update was a direct result of the Digital Markets Act, which enabled Apple to comply with EU regulations.
iOS 17.5 brings even more changes, enabling users to download content directly from developer websites without using the App Store. A developer must be a member of the Apple Developer Program for at least two continuous years and have an app that had more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU, Apple says.
After hitting a million downloads, they will have to pay a core technology fee.
Another notable feature of iOS 17.5 is a third-party alert tracker that the company has been working on since last year together with Google. Now, users of iOS and Android platforms can be notified if an unwanted Bluetooth tracking device is unknowingly being used to track them.
They will get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.
There’s also an update coming that affects those who bring an iPhone for repair. Previously, users who brought iPhones for repair were asked to turn off the Find My function. With the new feature called Repair State, Apple users can now track their iPhones with Find My while they’re being repaired.
With iOS 17.5 comes a few news items for Apple Plus subscribers. Now, all users who pay a premium fee can play a game called Quartiles. According to Apple, Quartiles challenges players to form words by selecting tiles containing two to four letters, and users collect points based on word length. New puzzles are available each day.
Another feature for Apple News+ users is Offline Mode, which automatically provides recent and personalized News content for subscribers when they’re not connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
The new update by Apple was released on Monday and should be downloaded automatically for those who have turned Automatic Updates on.
The update can also be downloaded manually by going to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
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