Apple Seeds First Public Betas for New OS Versions
Apple has released the first public betas for its upcoming operating systems, including iOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4, and visionOS 26.5. The updates include changes to the Music, Messages, and Podcasts apps, along with system-wide enhancements. Code snippets in the iOS 26.4 beta also suggest continued development of an AI-powered health coach.
- Public betas are released after developer-focused versions and are considered more stable, designed for a broader audience to test new features. - The AI health coach feature was previously reported as a potential subscription service, internally codenamed "Health+," that was later said to be scaled back under the oversight of Apple's services chief Eddy Cue. - The beta testing cycle for an update of this scale typically lasts between four and six weeks, pointing to a potential public release in late March or early April 2026. - For context on what minor updates include, the recent iOS 17.3 update introduced Stolen Device Protection, while both it and macOS 14.3 added collaborative Apple Music playlists. - Apple's broader AI development has included significant leadership changes and a reported partnership with Google to use its Gemini models to power new Siri features expected in the iOS 26 cycle. - The release of these betas aligns with an upcoming developer deadline; starting April 28, 2026, all apps submitted to the App Store must be built with the iOS 26 SDK or later.
