All articles tagged with #beta
Apple has released the first iOS 26.6 developer beta, a light early update arriving ahead of WWDC where iOS 27 is expected; the release suggests 26.6 will be feature-light as Apple shifts focus to iOS 27, with beta versions for macOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 also in progress.
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 and One UI 9 are not rivals but consecutive updates: 8.5 is a major skin refresh built on Android 16 (with features like Quick Share) rolling out globally in May 2026, while 9 is a new engine built on Android 17 that’s currently in beta for the Galaxy S26 with a planned full release around July 2026 for foldables. You can’t skip directly from 8.5 to 9, and not every device will receive 9 due to hardware/upgrade limits. If you’re on a supported device, install 8.5 when offered; 9 will follow later if eligible, but it’s not guaranteed for all.
Google has released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 for Pixel 6 and newer ahead of the June Pixel Feature Drop, with two build versions for different models, fixes for media playback, Wi-Fi drops, and widget disappearance after reboot, and adds a bounce-back effect to Quick Settings along with a blur UI on the power menu. It also outlines opt-out steps (downgrade may wipe data) and notes that a stable Android 17 release is expected next month.
Samsung launches the One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26 series, built on Android 17, with expanded creativity and customization tools, improved accessibility and enhanced security. Notable updates include new Notes tools, direct Creative Studio access from Contacts, a revamped Quick Panel, adjustable brightness/sound/media, Text Spotlight, and stronger protection against high-risk apps. The beta is available in select markets, including the UK, via the Samsung Members app, with full One UI 9 features to come on later flagship devices.
Spotify is launching a Save to Spotify beta that lets users turn AI-generated daily briefs, class notes, or itineraries into Personal Podcasts saved directly to Your Library and accessible on all devices. The feature works with agents like OpenClaw, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex via a desktop CLI, and is available to eligible Free and Premium users worldwide, with beta limits as the service evolves.
A new leak says the Galaxy S25 will finally get the stable One UI 8.5 update this week, with a broader global rollout around May 8 and Canada around May 9. The rollout should begin in South Korea and expand to North America and Europe, after Samsung accelerated work to fix earlier Android 15/One UI 7 delays. The update is expected to bring smoother performance, UI refinements, and upgraded agentic AI features that better predict tasks, following months of beta testing on the S25 series.
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta for the Galaxy S23 mainly fixes bugs (black screen on incoming calls, proximity behavior, green video lines in some apps, Bluetooth stability, and multi-touch with accessibility) but adds no notable S26 features. The Beta 2 rollout in India and Korea targets existing S23 users who signed up for the first beta, and it’s not universally available. The update highlights that while Samsung keeps the S23 somewhat current, several AI features (Nudge/Brief, AirDrop) and newer Galaxy S26 capabilities are missing, and the path to Android 17 remains uncertain amid hardware limits that may curb on-device AI.
Google released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 for Pixel devices, signaling platform stability and a future focus on bug fixes rather than base-feature changes. The CP31.260403.005.A1 build is rolling out to Pixel 6–Pixel 10 devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program and includes fixes for a Default Print Service crash under low ink, Terminal app ANR, and VoIP audio distortion. OTA rollout has begun and factory images are available; the stable Android 17 is expected mid-2026, with additional QPR1 improvements arriving later in the year.
Google released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 for Pixel devices, launching the quarterly QPR beta cycle ahead of the Android 17 stable release. The build CP31.260403.005.A1 is available to Android Beta Program members on most Pixel devices (from Pixel 6 to the Pixel Tablet line). The update includes bug fixes and feature tweaks as part of the QPR, with the final stable version expected during the September Feature Drop; notable fixes address crashes in Default Print Service, Terminal app ANR issues, VoIP audio distortions, and AIDL audio HAL improvements.
iOS 26.5 is a relatively minor beta that lays groundwork for end-to-end encryption of RCS in Messages and introduces ads in Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada with privacy protections; Apple also plans to extend iPhone features to third-party wearables in the EU under the Digital Markets Act, with iOS 27 set to be unveiled at WWDC 2026 and a fall release window, and iOS 26.5 expected to arrive in May after beta testing.
Adobe Premiere Pro’s public beta adds a dedicated Color Mode—an editor-focused color workspace with its own monitor, new scopes, color management, and module-based controls for clip and sequence grading—replacing the Lumetri panel in this mode. It enables a non-node workflow, supports Mercury Transmit and third-party control surfaces, and will evolve with updates; a final ship date remains TBD, with learning resources from Adobe and color expert Alexis Van Hurkman available.
Apple released the second beta builds of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 to developers—two weeks after the first betas. The update avoids new Siri features (likely saved for iOS 27) and adds Maps Suggested Places with groundwork for ads. It also continues testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android, while the EU is trialing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third‑party wearables to mirror many Apple Watch/AirPods capabilities. Details are summarized in the iOS 26.5 beta features guide.
Sony is beta-testing a redesigned PS5 home menu with a top ribbon navigable by L1/R1 to switch between Games, Library, Media Apps, PS Plus, and the PS Store, shifting emphasis toward games and trimming clutter; rollout date for all users is not yet announced.
A November 2007 GTA IV beta build leaked from a Rockstar North Xbox 360 dev kit reveals features that didn’t make the final game, including working ferries, zombie minigame assets, radio station and dialogue tweaks, and other minor changes to vehicles and NPCs, with the leak still being explored by fans.
Apple’s iOS 26.5 beta 1 introduces groundwork for ads in Maps with a new Suggested Places feature, re-enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android, rolls out EU interoperability features for third‑party wearables (proximity pairing, notifications, and Live Activities), enables Magic Accessories to pair over USB‑C via Bluetooth, adds an iPhone‑to‑Android transfer option for selecting which attachments to migrate, and notes mentions of Apple Books awards plus an Inuktitut keyboard layout.