You may recall that Apple recently started signing iOS & iPadOS 17.3.1 again for unknown reasons after initially unsigning it. In effect, this meant that iPhone and iPad users could downgrade to iOS & iPadOS 17.3.1 from newer firmware again because Apple’s online servers would have provided the green flag necessary to move forward with it.
iOS 17.4
Apple stops signing iOS 17.3.1 to stop downgrades from iOS 17.4
Apple on Tuesday stopped signing iOS & iPadOS 17.3.1, a rather predictable move on the Cupertino-based company’s part intended to end voluntary downgrades from the newer iOS & iPadOS 17.4 firmware that the company released just one week ago.
Apple launches iOS 17.4 with new iPhone emoji, Apple Podcasts transcripts, changes for users in the EU and more
In addition to bringing new iPhone features to everyone, iOS 17.4 includes App Store changes like sideloading for users in the European Union.
Apple backtracks, saying Home Screen web apps in the EU are here to stay
Apple’s iOS 17.4 software won’t prevent people in Europe from saving progressive web apps to the Home Screen of their iPhones after all.
iOS 17.4 lets you access your purchase history faster via the App Store
iOS 17.4 lets you access your purchase history a bit faster via the App Store instead of having to dig several menus deep in the Settings app, like before.
iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 release notes: Shaking heads and other new emoji, Apple Podcasts transcripts and a bunch of fixes
Read Apple’s release notes for iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to learn about all the new features and fixes these updates brings to your iPhone and iPad.
It’s about… time Apple brought a digital clock widget for custom city locations
Apple has added a convenient new digital clock widget to your iPhone that you can use to check the current time for any city around the word.
Apple has spitefully crippled iPhone web apps in Europe, and now competition regulators in Brussels are investigating
Apple has intentionally crippled iPhone web apps in Europe, and now competition regulators in Brussels are taking a closer look at the user-hostile move.
Apple says App Store asking permission before it downloads is a bug that will be fixed before iOS 17.4 is released [u]
In Europe, downloading an app from Apple’s own App Store won't require an extra step after authenticating with Face ID because this is actually a bug.
iOS 17.4 tweaks battery health reporting on the iPhone 15 models
iOS 17.4 features a more comprehensive at-a-glance overview of battery health information on your iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro within the Settings app.
iOS 17.4 brings stopwatch controls to the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island [u]
With a new live activity in iOS 17.4, you can pause your stopwatch, reset it or start a new lap right from your iPhone’s Lock Screen or Dynamic Island.