Here’s what’s new in iOS 14 beta 5

Earlier today, Apple seeded the fifth beta of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers. This is a quick list of what’s new in the latest prerelease software.

As is par for the course, each new beta opens the possibility for Apple to add new elements, new features, and make changes to the software ahead of its public release. That is the case with the latest beta as well. While there aren’t a lot of new features, there are some noteworthy new additions, which we’ve listed below.

But first, before we get to that, here’s what Apple added in the third and fourth developer betas of iOS 14:

And now, the newest of the new.

iOS 14 beta 5 new additions

A new widget for Apple News

  • The Apple News app is getting a new widget option in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. Interestingly, the new option, which is called the “Tall” widget, is only available in the Today view on either platform, so users won’t be able to add it to their Home screen. With the new option, Apple News users will now get seven news stories in the widget view, rather than five. Image via 9to5Mac.

Widget privacy

  • This new feature is for the apps that access a user’s location. iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 will now offer a pop-up asking users if they want to let the widget for that app access their location as well. Widgets will use location data for up to 15 minutes.

Availability alerts

  • With “Availability Alerts”, iOS 14 will inform users if their region has an Exposure Notification app available in their region. If you turn this notification on, you’ll be made aware when a supported app launches in your neck of the woods, so you can choose to start using it or not.

The Hidden Photos album

  • There is a new option to disable the “Hidden” folder in the Photos app. The new option in the Settings app reads, “When enabled, the Hidden album will appear in the Albums tab, under Utilities. The Hidden album is always available in the image picker”.

Alarm clock time selection

  • Apple brought back the spinning wheel for choosing a specific time in the Clock app. Users will be able to type in their time of choice if they want, and the wheel is much smaller now.

Control Center in HomeKit

  • The favorites section in Control Center for HomeKit features better organization and smaller tiles.

If there are any new additions discovered in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, we will update this post accordingly.