iOS 17.5 released: what are its new features for iPhone and iPad?
Apple has released iOS 17.5 for iPhones and iPadOS 17.5 for iPads. It’s a massive deal for those in Europe, but UK users also get a healthy selection of new features.
The biggest news of iOS 17.5 is it brings support for iPhone apps downloaded direct from developer websites, but only for people in the European Union.
Such free-wheeling app downloads can prove a major security risk, but Apple has guardrails in place. Developers offering downloads need to have an Apple Developer account, and have had more than a million installs in the year prior.
Apple will also charge 50 Euro cents (around 43p) per download, for downloads beyond a million per app, making such an offer unappealing or flat-out unfeasible for some developers.
None of this applies to UK iPhone users, but is a preview of what could happen if the UK decides to follow the EU in introducing legislation that mandates the opening-up of Apple’s closed ecosystem. The EU’s Digital Markets Act has forced Apple into allowing alternate app stores on iPhone, and these website downloads are a follow-up.
Just want to know about the features that do apply in the UK? Here’s the rundown.
iOS 17.5 Features: Repair State
Repair State is a new mode that lets you send your iPhone in for servicing and repair without having to factory reset it in order to keep your data safe.
It also obviates the need to turn off the Find My feature, for continued tracking of your iPhone while it’s in for repair. This is particularly handy for those using mail-in repair services, if largely just for peace of mind.
iPhone owners should still back up their data before sending in a device for repair, though, as there’s no guarantee your phone will be successfully repaired, or that it won’t require a full reset as part of the process.
Tracker-detection alerts
iOS 17.5 also introduces an anti-stalking feature that will alert iPhone users if a Bluetooth device is found that appears to be tracking them.
“With this new capability, users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with,” says Apple.
The iPhone can than make the “tracker play a sound to help locate it”, while “Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee have committed that future tags will be compatible”, according to Apple.
This is the fruit of a collaboration between Apple and Google on cross-platform tracker detection, a partnership announced in 2023.
Apple News+ games and offline
Apple News+ also gets a significant upgrade in iOS 17.5. It now has an offline mode that provides access to the core Today and News+ tabs without an internet connection.
The service has a new game, too; Quartiles. Players are shown an array of tiles, each bearing two to four letters. These need to be combined to create words, and up to four tiles can be used for each word. Sounds like fun for those who got hooked on Wordle during the great craze of 2022.
iOS 17.5 also features some new Pride-themed wallpapers in time for June’s Pride month. These were announced on May 6, are available across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and are dynamic animated designs.
