Apple seeds the eighth beta versions of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers so they can check it for bugs and other issues.
Apple seeded today the eighth beta version of iOS 14 and iPad OS 14 updates so developers can begin testing the builds and check for any issue. The release of the eighth beta versions came about one week after the company seeded the seventh betas of the updates and more than two months after the builds were unveiled at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 22. WWDC is an event where developers attend sessions and get to meet engineers from the Cupertino-based company.
Registered developers can download the eighth betas over the air after they have installed a proper Apple Developer Center profile. Among the freshest features is the redesigned Home Screen in iOS 14, which allows users to use widgets for the first time on iPhones. The company also redesigned plus widgets, which users can customize in three sizes using the new widgets gallery. In the eighth beta of iOS 14 and iPad OS 14, FaceTime calls and incoming phone calls do not take up the entire iPhone or iPad display. There is also an App Library that displays in one place all the apps installed on an iPhone. Users can switch between alphabetical list and icon view.
Another feature of Apple's eighth beta version of iOS 14 and iPad OS 14 is that Siri is smarter and can send audio messages. Dictation can also now run on the iOS device. Siri requests are also minimized, which means that Siri will not monopolize the screen whenever you summon it.
The Picture in Picture mode on devices running on the eighth beta version of iOS 14 and iPad OS 14 lets users use FaceTime or watch videos while using other apps. There is also an App Clips that allow users to take advantage of a couple of app features without downloading the full app. This function is particularly useful for prompt actions like making a restaurant reservation, renting a scooter, or buying coffee, where downloading the whole app can be a hassle. Apple users can scan NFC tags or QR codes to activate App Clips, or you can also use the Apple-designed App Clip Codes.
Users with Apple devices running the eighth beta version of the new iOS 14 or iPad OS 14 can now use @mentions in group chats, pin important conversations, and take advantage of inline replies so their multi-person conversations are better organized. There is also a new Memoji option which allows the assignment of icons with images, emoji, or Memoji.
Users will also benefit a lot from the latest Sleep Tracking feature on the Apple Watch's Health app. There is also the Health Checklist, which comes in handy when managing health settings. Users of Apple devices with the eighth beta version of iOS 14 or iPad OS 14 will also surely notice that their Weather app will have more info when it comes to various weather events.
There are many other features that the eighth beta version of the new iOS 14 or iPad OS 14 brings to a range of Apple devices. These include the Maps app showing cycling directions and Digital Car Keys that lets iPhones unlock a car instead of using a physical key, a notable feature that new BMWs will soon have. There is also the latest Translate app that provides voice and text translations to and from 11 languages and a new Safari Privacy Report that informs you which websites have trackers. At this time, Apple's new updates are only available to public beta testers and registered developers. Beta testing is expected to last for a few months, with the update scheduled for release in the fall along with the new iPhones.
