Now that Apple has released the second beta for iOS 14.4 developers, we’ve downloaded it to see what changes Apple has in store when the update is finally released to the public.
Despite the long distance between the first beta version of iOS 14.4 and the second, not everything that has happened has changed.
The most visible change is the continuous improvement of the updated HomePod mini transfer experience. This updated experience is based on the ultra U1 broadband chip found on the HomePod mini, as well as on recent iPhones.
Transmission to HomePod mini
This enhanced experience has auditory, physical, and visual cues to indicate the transfer of your audio from your phone to the HomePod mini and back. This feature was present in the first beta, but is much smoother in the beta compared to the very failed initial implementation. It was so failed that it was difficult to run the procedure reliably and iPhones often froze on the processor or did not recognize the HomePod mini at all.
By returning the audio to the iPhone from the HomePod mini, the transfer button on the iPhone now works properly, whereas before it was just a placeholder.
New home screen in the Find Mine app
The other notable change is in the Find Mine app. After upgrading to the second beta version of iOS 14.4, when you start Find My a new presentation screen appears explaining the new features of the application.
New features include support for third-party accessories, enhanced notifications for your friends and family, and Find My Network, which helps you locate lost items, even when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.
Belkin is the first to support the Find My app with the upcoming SoundForm Freedom True Wireless headphones that were announced at CES 2021.
All of this seems to be further paving the way for AirTags that are expected to arrive in the near future. Recently, a new URL scheme was discovered that would launch a new dashboard in the Find Mine app for use with compatible accessories. However, it is also compatible with iOS 14.3.