Wesley Hilliard
The first developer betas of iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, and watchOS 7.4 are here and available for testing by developers.
The latest builds of each operating system can be acquired from the Apple Developer Center for devices enrolled within the testing program, as well as via an over-the-air update on hardware already using beta software. A public beta build usually arrives some time after the developer counterparts, as part of the Apple Beta Software Program.
Apple announced that the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature would launch in the spring and show up in the next developer beta, but the release notes suggest the betas are only bug fixes so far, with no mention of ATT. The controversial feature will surface any tracking being performed by apps and give users the ability to opt out of cross-app tracking.
The first developer beta of iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, and watchOS 7.4 feature the usual bug fixes and minor improvements.
Apple released the latest public versions of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, tvOS 14.4, and watchOS 7.3 on Tuesday. The primary features for those releases included third-party Find My Item support and the new Unity Apple Watch face.
AppleInsider, and Apple itself, strongly suggest users avoid installing betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. It is instead recommended to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data beforehand.
Find any changes in the new betas? Reach out to us on Twitter at @AppleInsider or @Andrew_OSU, or send Andrew an email at andrew@AppleInsider.com.
Update, Feb. 4: Apple has released a public beta version of iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4. Members can download the release through the Apple Beta Software Program website.
Amber Neely
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
1 Comment
When there are complaints about tracking notification/limiting features, by companies that abuse people via data-mining them, there’s no “controversy”. It’s just the whining of self-entitled mega-corporations. They’ve had free reign to abuse and exploit for decades and now they’re bitching because there’s finally some semblance of attention to, and effort at stopping, their abusive business model.