Aug 19, 01:42 PM

iOS 26 Beta Restores Watch Blood Oxygen, Expands AI as iPhone 17 Rumors Grow

Apple on Monday released the seventh developer betas of iOS 26 and watchOS 26, and the code once again activates a redesigned Blood Oxygen measurement tool on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2 units sold in the United States. The feature had been disabled in January after the U.S. International Trade Commission found the original implementation infringed Masimo patents, forcing Apple to remove it from new watches and ship a software workaround. Documentation and early testing of the latest beta show Apple continuing to widen its generative-AI package, Apple Intelligence, with more than 20 additional capabilities, including natural-language search in Messages, live translation for calls and polls that can be suggested automatically in group chats. The update also ushers in a new “Liquid Glass” user-interface style across the system and extends Messages with draft filtering and end-to-end encryption for RCS conversations between iPhone and Android devices. Separate supply-chain and media leaks point to notable hardware changes in September’s expected iPhone 17 family. Reports suggest every model will gain a 24-megapixel front camera, while the Pro versions may adopt a horizontal rear camera bar. Apple is also said to be weighing the removal of the year-old Camera Control button to cut costs and is testing a synthetic fabric case material to replace the widely criticised FineWoven accessory line introduced in 2024. Apple typically announces new iPhones and the accompanying iOS release during the second week of September. Carrier guidance and Bloomberg reporting indicate invitations could be issued later this month, positioning iOS 26’s public rollout and the debut of the iPhone 17 range for the week of 8 September.

#Apple #iOS 26 #Blood Oxygen #Series 10 #United States #Masimo #Apple Intelligence #Messages #RCS #iPhone #Android #iPhone 17 #Pro #Camera Control #FineWoven #iPhones #iOS #Carrier #Bloomberg

Written with ChatGPT .

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