Aside from a bunch of known major new features coming to iPhone and iPad via iOS 11.3 this spring, we're constantly discovering interesting tidbits that have gone largely unnoticed.
iOS 11.3 lets you sort App Store reviews
Apple
Apple seeds first beta of watchOS 4.3 to developers
Apple on Thursday seeded the first beta of watchOS 4.3 to developers (build number is 15T5165e). The update can be installed by registered developers using the Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 11.3 beta (which, as of today, is available to public beta testers as well).
Apple dramatically increases the number of self-driving SUVs it’s testing
Having obtained a California permit a year ago to test three self-driving cars on the road, Apple has now dramatically increased the number of SUVs in its self-driving test fleet.
iBooks may gain new sections: Want to Read, Award Winners, Staff Picks & Rave Reviews
Apple is working on a major overhaul of the iBooks app and the underlying iBooks Store centered around iOS 11's App Store styling and all-new Audiobooks and Reading Now sections, Bloomberg reported today, and now we're learning about other changes coming to the app.
Is Apple working on a standalone Podcasts app for Mac?
Enthusiasts have discovered that the macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 developer beta code comes with subtle hints at a desktop Podcasts app, possibly indicating that podcasts might be unbundled from iTunes in favor of a standalone app.
iOS 11.3 references “modern iPad,” possibly hinting at TrueDepth camera & Face ID upgrades
Code strings unearthed from the iOS 11.3 developer beta code reference something called a “modern iPad,” potentially referring to an upcoming refresh of Apple's tablet lineup with new features like iPhone X's TrueDepth camera and its advanced Face ID facial recognition system.
ARKit 1.5 can detect walls and identify 2D images such as posters, signs & artwork
Alongside previewing the new iOS 11.3 features and releasing the forthcoming new software for early developer testing yesterday, Apple also announced that app makers can now take advantage of ARKit 1.5, its framework for building augmented reality apps for iOS.
Apple is introducing a new privacy feature
Apple is introducing a new privacy feature for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.
Apple reportedly redesigning iBooks with App Store styling, Reading Now, audiobooks & more
Apple is allegedly working on a major redesign for its iBooks app for iPhone and iPad and iBooks Store, bringing a few new features like a Reading Now section, audiobooks and more.
Swift Playgrounds 2.0 is here: subscriptions, new robots, content gallery & more
Swift Playgrounds, Apple's excellent iPad-only app aimed at children and wannabe developers that makes it fun to learn and experiment with code—has gotten even better.
Video: hands-on with AirPlay 2 on iOS 11.3 & tvOS 11.3
iOS 11.3 brought a laundry list of new features to iPhone and iPad today, including iMessages in iCloud, new Animoji, new health features, ARKit enhancements and more. Among those is support for AirPlay 2.
tvOS 11.3 brings improved content matching, automatic mode switching for AirPlay & more
Happy beta day, everyone!