iOS 17.4 is now out, with several changes for EU and non-EU users

The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has began rolling out the iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to compatible iPhones and tablets. Reportedly, the new update has several new changes and features. It also focuses on the upcoming implementation of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, customers within the EU are the only ones who can benefit from these changes.

For the European Union users, the iOS 17.4 enables installation of apps from other app stores. Notably, users can download another browser that runs on alternate browser engines. As soon as the update is installed, users will get the notification to choose the default web browser. The update indicates that NFC on iPhone is no longer restricted to Apple Pay instead it will be compatible with other banking and wallet apps.

In addition to the EU specific changes, there are some non-EU-specific changes in this update. Automatic podcast transcriptions are now available in English, Spanish, French, and German with the iOS 17.4 update. Every episode’s whole text is displayed with highlights that correspond to the audio. For those who have hearing impairments, this is quite helpful. In addition, users can perform a word or phrase search and take advantage of accessibility features such as voiceover, larger text, and more.

Five new emojis including phoenix, lime, mushroom, broken chain, and shaking heads are also the part of iOS 17.4 update. The Battery Health section now shows details about the battery cycle count and more for iPhone 15 users. Siri can notify users about an incoming message in any language. The Stolen Device Protection function is now even stronger. When using the device in a new place, sensitive data cannot be accessed or altered.