iOS 26.4 beta 2: Here’s what’s new
Summary
iOS 26.4 beta 2 has been released, enhancing features for iPhone users. This update includes improvements to RCS encryption and the Games app, further refining the user experience. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving software.
Key Insights
What is RCS encryption and why does it matter for iPhone and Android users?
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a messaging standard that enables advanced text features like high-resolution photos, group chats, and read receipts between different phone platforms. Apple is testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS in iOS 26.4 beta 2, which will encrypt text conversations between iPhone and Android users. Currently, messages between iPhones and Android devices lack the encryption that iMessage provides between Apple devices, making this development significant for cross-platform messaging security.
How does the new Apple Music Playlist Playground feature work?
Playlist Playground is an AI-powered feature in Apple Music that generates custom 25-song playlists based on text prompts you provide. You can describe a mood, activity, or aesthetic—such as 'indie folk that sounds like a misty morning in the Pacific Northwest'—and the feature creates a playlist matching that description. If you're unsatisfied with the results, you can refine the playlist using additional prompts like 'exclude any heavy metal' or 'make it more acoustic sounding,' allowing for personalized music curation without manually selecting individual songs.