What you should know
- Apple has released the first iOS 17.3 beta following the official release of iOS 17.2. The update is expected to be released in late January or early February.
- The latest iOS 17.3 beta 2 has been pulled by Apple due to an issue causing iPhones with the Back Tap feature to get stuck in a bootloop. Users are advised to roll back to a previous iOS version to avoid this problem.
- iOS 17.3 introduces a new feature called Stolen Device Protection, which adds multiple protection layers to iOS, making it harder for unauthorized users to change essential security settings. This feature can be enabled through the device’s settings.
- The first iOS 17.3 beta includes the upcoming Apple Music functionality of collaborative playlists, a feature that was missing from the official iOS 17.2 release. This feature allows multiple people to edit public Apple Music playlists.
Full Story
So, you know how Apple loves to drop a fresh iOS beta right after a big update? Yeah, that’s exactly what went down after iOS 17.2 hit the scene. Apple didn’t waste any time and rolled out the first iOS 17.3 beta.
Now, it’s a bit too soon to say if iOS 17.3 is gonna be a big deal or just a minor update. But, judging from the new features, it’s shaping up to be pretty interesting. Minor iOS updates can be tricky to pin down a release date for, but we’re guessing iOS 17.3 could drop sometime late January or maybe early February.
But here’s the thing. Apple’s had to pull the latest iOS 17.3 beta 2. Why? It seems to be causing iPhones with the Back Tap feature to get stuck in a bootloop. Doesn’t matter if you had Double Tap or Triple Tap set up, your device would just keep bootlooping. This just goes to show, beta software can be a bit unstable and cause some headaches for your device.
So, what can you do? Well, you could roll back to a previous iOS version like iOS 17.3 beta 1 or iOS 17.2.1. That is, if you’ve got a recent backup handy to restore your data and apps (and you really should have one).
Now, let’s talk new features in iOS 17.3. First up, Stolen Device Protection. This feature adds a bunch of protection layers to iOS that’ll make it tougher for bad guys to mess with your security settings. You’ll need to pass a biometric authentication test to change your iCloud password, turn off Lost Mode, or erase an iPhone in an unfamiliar location.
Why’s this important? It’s to stop thieves who’ve somehow got your iPhone and passcode from locking you out of your device. Turning on Stolen Device Protection is as easy as flipping a switch in Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Turning it off, though, needs a successful Face ID authentication. So, even if thieves know about the feature, they can’t disable it.
Another cool feature? Collaborative playlists on Apple Music. This lets multiple people edit public Apple Music playlists. It was supposed to be in the official iOS 17.2 release but didn’t make it. However, it’s included in the first iOS 17.3 beta and, fingers crossed, it’ll make it to the final release. The doomed iOS 17.3 beta 2 also had collaborative playlists, so it seems they’re on the way.
