iOS 14.5 Starts Losing Features As Apple Rolls Out Public Beta 7

That’s right, iOS 14.5 has dragged on for so long at this point that Apple is actually undercutting its own release! This year has been interesting in regards to iOS development. iOS 14’s fifth release has, so far, the longest beta cycle of any release other than the original iOS 14 beta.

But take heart, while it feels like iOS 14.5 might never be released at this point, it’s not the longest beta ever (that honor goes to the original release of iOS 5 at over 120 days, iOS 14.5 is just breaking 60). Nor is it the most point releases ever (yet – iOS 13.7 is still the winner there). Is could be worse.

It actually speaks to how efficient Apple’s developers have been so far in this past year. iOS 14 betas have been speedy affairs, usually lasting around 40ish days. Given how much they’ve crammed into this release, I’m willing to cut them some slack.

what’s new

The iOS 14.5 beta has gone on for so long that we’re actually seeing things drop off the list at this point as they’re released outside of the iOS update cycle! The Find My app had a curious tab for Items added way back at the beginning of the beta.

Today, however, Apple went ahead and released that functionality as a separate app update. This was probably done in coordination with Chipolo (bluetooth tracker), VanMoof (incredibly cool e-bike), and Belkin (headphones) who all announced compatible products today.

That doesn’t mean that this release isn’t still bursting with features!

• New US English Siri voices! Now you can choose between an additional female and two male voices.
• Automatic battery recalibration. If iOS determines that your device is experience unexpected drain or performing suboptimally, it will try to recalibrate its battery life algorithm to compensate.
• Dual-SIM 5G is now available.
• You can now give Siri directions as to what app you’d like to default to for certain media like podcasts and songs. This isn’t the “default apps” feature that a lost of us (including me) thought it was, but it’s a step in the right direction.
• Emojis! Lots of emojis. 217 of them to be precise.
• Unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch (click here to see how).
• You can now swipe to add songs to your queue in Apple Music.
• The Shortcuts app has a few new tricks to enable and disable orientation lock, change cellular modes, and take screenshots.
• Now, when you launch an app that collects your activity data or tracks you around your iDevice, you have the option of disallowing that intrusion (as you should). Some companies, like Facebook, who’ve made their money off selling activity data that consumers unknowingly agreed to share in the legal agreements that no one ever reads are rather peeved. Personally, I fully support it as it gives folks who might not have realized what they were agreeing to a chance to change their minds.
• The new Software Update splash screen (with the current iOS version as well as notification of when you last checked for a software update) has been tweaked slightly to remove the green check.
• Testing on an iPad? iPadOS now has a horizontal boot screen when your iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard.
• For some carriers like T-Mobile, there’s a 5G only switch (but only use it if you absolutely know what you’re doing).
• Worldwide dual SIM support is available with this release. This means that you can get 5G coverage when available even if you have both SIMs activated.
• You can now add the Apple Music “Made for You” mixes to your library in the Music app. The Music app also now includes the exact release date for albums and tracks. And scrolling metadata for the Now Playing lock screen widget is back!
• The Podcasts app also gets some love with a Music app-like redesign. That’s most evident on the Search page. Also, tapping on a podcast entry will take you to the details page for the podcast rather than start playing immediately (there’s now a dedicated smaller button for that). Extremely helpful for when you’re trying to find a specific episode for a podcast with a long title. Each podcast gets new headers in the library as well to make them really shine.
• Fan of Apple News? There’s now a dedicated search tab in the News app.
• You can finally sort your reminders due date, creation date, due date, or a manual sort of your choosing in the Reminders app. You can now print reminders as well.
• Have a PS5 or XBox Series X? Lucky you. Now those controllers will work with your iDevice.
• Great news for those of you with a smart TV! Apple Fitness + now has AirPlay 2 support. You won’t see your live Apple Watch data like you do if you’re connected via an Apple TV, but it’s better than no support at all.
• Map app guides get a huge glow-up in iOS 14.5 with spiffed up images and headers and much more polished looking content.
• Type to Siri no longer pulls you out of your current location when invoked, just like it does when you’re not using the type interface. It’s a nice bit of consistency.
• Responding to a message with Siri has the same type of upgrade, maintaining context wherever you are when it’s invoked instead of pulling you into a grayed out screen.

What’s Broken / What’s Fixed?

There are no iOS 14.5 Public Beta 7 specific notes in the official release notes. To me, that signals that the release is ready to launch, they’re just holding onto it for business reasons.

What’s Next?

It’s possible that we’ll see a golden master release next week (as, obviously, the rumored April 6th press event never happened). With the release of the updated Find My app to the general public, it’s likely that the culprit we all suspected for the delay, AirTags, has been shelved yet again.

With AirTags seemingly dead again, there are still rumors swirling around a new iPad launching this month. When or if that happens, it’s possible that that’s what’s holding up iOS 14.5’s release. At this point, I’m not holding out hope that we’ll see any sort of coordinated media event and iOS rollout.

That said, we live in uncertain times and Apple has proven to be anything but predictable in the past year. When whatever’s coming this week hits, I’ll let you know!