All articles tagged with #ios 264
The iOS 26.4 beta adds a built-in Apple TV app and video streaming to CarPlay (watchable only when the car is parked via AirPlay), and introduces third‑party AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) as in‑car apps that cannot control vehicle functions; a public rollout is not confirmed, with a spring window hinted.
MacRumors rounds up Apple’s March 4 media experience across New York, London, and Shanghai, the first iOS 26.4 beta with new features such as CarPlay video over AirPlay, and ongoing chatter about iPhone 18 Pro/Max upgrades, alongside a Toyota Wallet car keys rollout and a rebranded Sales Coach app for Apple Store staff.
iOS 26.4 adds CarPlay support for third‑party AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) with a new voice-control screen for voice-based conversations. Apps must have a CarPlay entitlement and be updated to support the screen; users can interact hands‑free but cannot control vehicle or iPhone functions, and there’s no wake word. The feature is in beta and expected to launch in spring.
In the iOS 26.4 beta, Apple Music adds Playlist Playground, a text-prompt tool that automatically generates a 25-song playlist with a custom title, cover, and description; playlists can be refined with additional prompts and shared on profiles. The feature is currently for developers, with a public beta and spring launch planned.
iOS 26.4 will enable Stolen Device Protection by default for all iPhones, requiring biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID) for sensitive actions and adding a one-hour security delay for others. A familiar-location option can disable protection there. The feature, first introduced in 2023, is currently in developer beta with a public beta and a spring release planned.
Apple has released the first developer betas of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, available to download via Settings > General > Software Update. The updates are expected to include new emoji and at least some Siri enhancements, though a fuller Siri revamp may be delayed to iOS 26.5 or 27; a public beta is anticipated within the next week or two.
Rumors suggest Apple’s 2026 lineup will include a budget iPhone 17e, a cheaper MacBook, refreshed iPads (base, Air, mini) with in‑house chips, a potential OLED upgrade for the iPad mini 8, and iOS 26.4 featuring Siri 2.0, with more devices like the iPhone 18 Pro later in the year and WWDC 2026 likely to reveal iOS 27.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says iOS 27, to be unveiled at WWDC 2026, will be a relatively modest release focused on bug fixes, performance improvements, and design refinements, with a more personalized Siri via a chatbot interface. A first beta of iOS 26.4 is expected the week of February 23, and major updates will be previewed for developers at WWDC ahead of a fall public release.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple will release the first iOS 26.4 beta to developers in the week of Feb. 23, previewing Apple Intelligence features and a more personalized Siri, as Apple focuses on performance and bug fixes ahead of iOS 27.
Apple’s week of hardware and software chatter centers on iOS 26.3 RC and the first iOS 26.4 beta, leaked details for a foldable iPhone (relocated buttons, black camera plate, smaller Dynamic Island, and a rumored ~5500 mAh battery), anticipated CarPlay Ultra expansion to more brands, a revamped Mac ordering process, and new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro/Max tied to macOS 26.3, plus a February 10 Home app upgrade deadline.
Apple is set to unveil a revamped, AI-powered Siri with new features like personal context, on-screen awareness, and app actions, expected with iOS 26.4 around March or April 2024. Additionally, Apple is developing its own generative AI search engine, potentially launching as soon as March, to compete with other AI tools and integrate into Safari and Spotlight. These updates follow delays caused by engineering challenges and may utilize Google Gemini for AI processing.
Apple's upcoming Siri update in iOS 26.4 is rumored to secretly use Google Gemini models, with Apple paying Google to develop a custom version that runs on its private cloud, while publicly branding the AI as its own.
A new report suggests that iOS 27 will feature significant updates to Apple Intelligence, building on the AI enhancements expected in iOS 26.4, including a major Siri overhaul, with broader AI strategy updates anticipated. These updates are expected to be announced at WWDC in June, signaling a focus on advanced AI features across Apple devices.
Apple's upcoming Siri update, expected with iOS 26.4 in spring, will secretly utilize Google Gemini models on Apple’s servers to enhance its capabilities, including personal queries and general knowledge, while maintaining user privacy. The integration aims to fill technology gaps without overt promotion, similar to Samsung's use of Google Gemini features, and will be part of a broader AI-driven smart home device launch.
Apple's CEO Tim Cook announced that the company is making good progress on a more personalized version of Siri, with a planned release next year, amidst ongoing development challenges and recent AI feature launches.