iOS 14.6: New AirTags features and every other iPhone update we're expecting
iOS 14.6: New AirTags features and
every other iPhone update we're expecting
iOS 14.6 appears to be a far smaller update than
14.5, but will still bring some useful new features, including another way to
locate lost AirTags trackers, and a rumored high-fidelity
Apple Music tier, as well as bug fixes. If you just can't wait for the
general release, you can download iOS 14.6 as a public beta now -- we'll tell
you how below.
Here's what we know about iOS 14.6 so far. We've
also collected all of the rumors about the upcoming iOS 15 update.
When is the iOS 14.6 release
date?
iOS 14 was first launched in
September, ahead of the release of the iPhone 12.
New versions of Apple's mobile operating system typically arrive once a month
with new features and bug fixes. However, iOS 14.5 was a larger update than
usual, and took about three months to arrive.
The latest
version of Apple's operating system, iOS 14.6, is now available as a public
beta. That means you can download it, but it may contain some bugs, as Apple is
still working on it before its final release. We don't recommend downloading
any beta on the device you use regularly.
Apple doesn't
publicly announce when it will release a new version of iOS, but we can follow
some clues. Since the public beta became available on April 23, and releases
come out roughly once a month, we expect to see the final version of iOS 14.6
sometime in May, especially since this is likely to be a smaller update. Plus,
we're expecting Apple to unveil iOS 15 at
its Worldwide Developers Conference in
June.
When is the iOS 14.6 release
date?
iOS 14 was first launched in
September, ahead of the release of the iPhone 12.
New versions of Apple's mobile operating system typically arrive once a month
with new features and bug fixes. However, iOS 14.5 was a larger update than
usual, and took about three months to arrive.
The latest
version of Apple's operating system, iOS 14.6, is now available as a public
beta. That means you can download it, but it may contain some bugs, as Apple is
still working on it before its final release. We don't recommend downloading
any beta on the device you use regularly.
Apple doesn't
publicly announce when it will release a new version of iOS, but we can follow
some clues. Since the public beta became available on April 23, and releases
come out roughly once a month, we expect to see the final version of iOS 14.6
sometime in May, especially since this is likely to be a smaller update. Plus,
we're expecting Apple to unveil iOS 15 at
its Worldwide Developers Conference in
June.
How will I download iOS 14.6
once it's generally available?
When it's
released, you should get a prompt telling you that iOS 14.6 is now available
and asking if you'd like to download it. Or you can do the following:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select General.
3. Tap Software Update.
Your device will
connect to Apple's servers and prompt you to download and install the update.
Follow the prompts to complete the installation. When your device reboots, it
will be running iOS 14.6. (Check out our full instructions on preparing
your phone and downloading iOS 14 here.)
What
devices are compatible with iOS 14.6?
iOS 14.6 will be
compatible with all the same devices as iOS 14. Generally, these include the iPhone 6S ($250 at Best Buy) all the way up
through the iPhone 12, along with the iPhone SE ($85 at Back Market) and the
seventh-gen iPod Touch ($140 at Back Market). For the full list of devices compatible
with iOS 14, click here.
What new features does iOS
14.6 include?
We're slowly
finding out more about what new features iOS 14.6 will bring. Again, since iOS 14.5 was a larger update
with a lot of new features, it's likely that this one
will be smaller, and more focused on under-the-hood changes. The beta download
page says that it "contains bug fixes and improvements."
Here are a couple
of new features we've seen in the iOS 14.6 beta, along with some rumors about
what the new OS could include.
Add
a contact email when your AirTag is in Lost Mode
If you've bought
one of Apple's new AirTag tracker devices (here's how to set up your AirTags),
you may know that if you lose the item the AirTag is attached to, you can put
the tag in Lost Mode and get a notification when it's within range of the Find My network.
If someone else finds your AirTag, they can use an iPhone or NFC-capable device
to view your contact number and get in touch with you. The latest version of the iOS 14.6
beta adds the ability to enter a contact email
instead of a phone number.
Better
beta tools
The beta versions
of iOS 14.6 include a tool that lets app developers and public beta testers upgrade to an iOS release
candidate without removing their developer or beta profile.
Before iOS 14.5 went live to the public, developers could choose between
upgrading their device to the iOS 14.5 release candidate or to the beta version
of iOS 14.6. Under the Software Update menu in Settings, there's a new Also
Available section where you can find this option.
Hi-fi
support for Apple Music
iOS 14.6 could
bring a new high-fidelity audio streaming tier in Apple Music. The rumor was
first reported by music site Hits Daily Double on April 29, citing label
sources. On May 1, 9to5Mac found code added to the Music app
in the first iOS 14.6 beta that mentions the Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio
formats, which have not been supported before. That code appears to have been
removed in the second beta, suggesting that Apple wants to hide it from users.
If high-fidelity streaming does come to fruition, it could help Apple Music
compete with Spotify, which in February said it was adding a high-fidelity tier
sometime this year.
We'll update this
story once we learn more.
For more, check
out how to download iOS 14.5,
and some of the best hidden iPhone features
we've found in iOS 14. And before you make any OS
updates, make sure your iPhone and iPad
are ready to do so.
Comments
Post a Comment