Just two days after the release of iOS 14.3 with some significant new features like ProRAW Photos and Fitness + (Germany is still excluded from the new service), Apple is starting the beta testing process for iOS 14.4. Since this is a whole point release number and not a minor one (e.g. iOS 14.3.1), we expect there will be some user-oriented changes.
Apple has released the first developer beta; the public beta usually follows within about a day.
What's new in iOS 14.4
Improved handoff feature
With iOS 14.4, the improved handoff feature already presented in the last keynote is used for the first time. All devices with a built-in U1 chip benefit from this, for example the new Homepod Mini or the iPhones of this and last year's generation. The U1 chip is able to spatially locate other Apple devices with the same chip and can thus control the device. For example, you can point your iPhone in the direction of your Homepod Mini and then pass the music playback with one tap.
Shortcuts app: Perspective zoom
If you change your background image with a shortcut, you can also activate the perspective zoom directly since iOS 14.4. To do this, open the app and press an on / off switch in the shortcut to change the background image, which sets the perspective zoom.
VoiceOver simplified
With the first beta of iOS 14.4, Apple introduced a way for VoiceOver users to operate the apps with just one tap, the function is called Direct Touch Apps. Normally when VoiceOver is activated, the device reads the name of the element in an app with the first tap, in order to operate it, the user has to tap twice. If the visually impaired user is so familiar with the app that they don't even need to read the elements, they can activate Direct Touch from iOS 14.4 and operate the app as if they were without VoiceOver - with just one tap. The function can be switched on and off in individual apps.
How to get the iOS 14.4 beta
Registered developers can download the beta profile to their iPhone or iPad by visiting developer.apple.com/download on the device they want to run the beta on . Log in there, download the beta profile and activate it under "Settings> General> Profile". You need your iPhone or iPad restart and then open "Settings> Software Update" to download and install the new version of iOS.
If you are not a developer and want to take part in the public beta test, go to beta.apple.com on the iPhone or iPad that you want to run the beta on. Tap "Sign In" to sign in with your Apple ID and follow the instructions to load the beta profile.
You need to make sure it's enabled by going to Settings> General> Profile and tapping on the beta profile and then making sure it's enabled. You can then download the beta via the software update
