**Apple Releases iOS 17.5 Beta: Here's What's New**

Apple has just released the first beta of iOS 17.5, and we've got our hands on it to bring you all the new features and changes. We'll dive into each of these updates in detail.

**Build Number and Download Size**

Before we get started, let's take a look at the build number and download size of this iOS 17.5 beta. According to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was successfully updated, the build number is 21F-5048-F. This build number gives us an idea of how close Apple is to releasing the final software. As we get closer to the release date, the build numbers will become more stable, and the letter at the end of the number will move closer to the beginning of the alphabet.

**Podcast Widget**

One of the most exciting new features in iOS 17.5 is the podcast widget. When I added this feature to my home screen, I discovered that when we play a podcast, the color of the widget changes to match the podcast being played. This is achieved through a clever use of dynamic colors and our own creativity.

Let's try it out with an episode of HomeKit Insider, my smart home podcast. When we tap play, the color of the widget morphs to match the podcast playing. I've also tried this feature with another podcast, "This Time It's Always Sunny," and again, the color changes. This is a great addition to our iOS experience, and it's perfect for those who love podcasts.

**Direct App Downloads from Websites**

In a major update, Apple has introduced a new way to download apps directly from websites. This feature is not available in all regions and is intended for EU users specifically. According to Apple's pre-announcement, this will make it easier for developers to reach users directly through their own websites.

**Bug: Settings App Battery Section**

In the first iOS 17.5 beta, we noticed a bug in the settings app battery section. If you scroll down to the "Battery" section, you'll see that some of the variables are still left as placeholders. These variables were introduced by Apple but have not been fully implemented yet.

We also don't see some features that were present in iOS 17.4 during its beta process, such as a QR code scanner for sharing play with HomePods and Apple TV, and a wider search bar for Safari. However, we're keeping our fingers crossed that these features will make it back in the final release.

**Timeline**

While we don't know exactly when iOS 17.5 will be released, we can look at last year's schedule to estimate. If Apple follows its previous track record, we could see another six-week beta period for this update. This would put us into early May. We're also speculating that the release might coincide with the launch of some rumored new hardware.

If you want to learn more about these new iPads or stay up-to-date on all things Apple, be sure to check out my linked video or follow us on social media for the latest news and updates. Don't miss any of our upcoming releases by subscribing to our channel with notifications turned on.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enApple just released the first beta of iOS 17.5 here are all of the new features and even a couple things that we didn't get I've got my iPhone 15 Pro Max successfully updated so let's go ahead and jump into it starting with the build number and download size so here we are before I installed this beta I took this screenshot so iOS 17.5 weighed in at 6.48 gigs for my iPhone 15 Pro Max your mileage may vary depending on your device and of course what update you're coming from so 6.48 a little bit more on the higher side but not terribly out of the norm let's go ahead and take a look at the build number as you can see we are looking at iOS 17.5 with build number 21f 5048 f for those of you that aren't familiar we can infer quite a bit from that last letter of the build number as Apple gets closer to the release of the software and the builds become more stable that letter will get closer to the beginning of the alphabet let's first take a look at the podcast widget I have it added here to my home screen now when we go to play a podcast I want you to watch the color of the podcast widget by the way we're going to play an episode of homekit Insider which if you don't already please go ahead and subscribe to that that's my smart home podcast we talk about everything new with homekit so when I tap play it actually morphed the color of the widget to match the podcast that is currently playing now it has gone to that gray color to match the podcast let's try another podcast This Time It's Always Sunny podcast play the latest episode go go back now watch the widget it's going to update boom match the color of the podcast that's playing we can try this one here for parks and recollection again matching color very cool this one is just for EU users but you don't have to use the App Store to download apps you're actually able to download apps directly from websites thanks to the new iOS 17.5 update there is a lot of asterisks here about how this works but Apple did pre-announce this so this makes sense and it was something we expected to see with 17.5 lastly this isn't so much a feature as it is a bug but if we go into the settings application and scroll down to battery if you notice where it says charging title Apple has left the variables in here it does this because it sets these variables and then it change for languages around the world um but these variables were left in place in this first beta so we still have charging uncore title charging uncore fixed uncore limit and charging uncore off here optimized battery charging is enabled or as like actual text but the other ones are just left in as variables I'm sure that will be corrected by the time we get the next beta of iOS 17.5 there's actually a couple features that we didn't get in this beta that I kind of thought that we would we saw these in iOS 17.4 during its beta process but they were removed before iOS 17.4 was released I thought we'd see them return here in iOS 17.5 and perhaps they will but they are not here in this first beta for example Apple had previously introduced a way to you share play with homepods and Apple TV just by scanning a QR code there's also a wider search bar for Safari that had been introduced kind of remove those little extra tabs there on the side and we had seen a live activity for the stopwatch now if you start the stopwatch it just stays in the clock app in that original beta of 17.4 it showed up in the dynamic Island and as a live activity on the lock screen I'm really hoping that this one comes back so when will iOS 17.5 be released Apple doesn't publicize when its updates will be coming out but if we look at last year's schedule Apple spent about 6 weeks in the beta process for iOS 16.5 if Apple keeps with its track record we could see another 6- we window for iOS 17.5 that would put us into early May it's entirely possible that apple is planning to coincide the launch of iOS and iPad OS 17.5 with the launch of some rumored new hardware but if you want to learn more about those new iPads you can go out and check my linked video otherwise stay tuned to Apple Insider and be sure you are subscribed with notifications turned on so you don't miss any of Apple's upcoming releasesApple just released the first beta of iOS 17.5 here are all of the new features and even a couple things that we didn't get I've got my iPhone 15 Pro Max successfully updated so let's go ahead and jump into it starting with the build number and download size so here we are before I installed this beta I took this screenshot so iOS 17.5 weighed in at 6.48 gigs for my iPhone 15 Pro Max your mileage may vary depending on your device and of course what update you're coming from so 6.48 a little bit more on the higher side but not terribly out of the norm let's go ahead and take a look at the build number as you can see we are looking at iOS 17.5 with build number 21f 5048 f for those of you that aren't familiar we can infer quite a bit from that last letter of the build number as Apple gets closer to the release of the software and the builds become more stable that letter will get closer to the beginning of the alphabet let's first take a look at the podcast widget I have it added here to my home screen now when we go to play a podcast I want you to watch the color of the podcast widget by the way we're going to play an episode of homekit Insider which if you don't already please go ahead and subscribe to that that's my smart home podcast we talk about everything new with homekit so when I tap play it actually morphed the color of the widget to match the podcast that is currently playing now it has gone to that gray color to match the podcast let's try another podcast This Time It's Always Sunny podcast play the latest episode go go back now watch the widget it's going to update boom match the color of the podcast that's playing we can try this one here for parks and recollection again matching color very cool this one is just for EU users but you don't have to use the App Store to download apps you're actually able to download apps directly from websites thanks to the new iOS 17.5 update there is a lot of asterisks here about how this works but Apple did pre-announce this so this makes sense and it was something we expected to see with 17.5 lastly this isn't so much a feature as it is a bug but if we go into the settings application and scroll down to battery if you notice where it says charging title Apple has left the variables in here it does this because it sets these variables and then it change for languages around the world um but these variables were left in place in this first beta so we still have charging uncore title charging uncore fixed uncore limit and charging uncore off here optimized battery charging is enabled or as like actual text but the other ones are just left in as variables I'm sure that will be corrected by the time we get the next beta of iOS 17.5 there's actually a couple features that we didn't get in this beta that I kind of thought that we would we saw these in iOS 17.4 during its beta process but they were removed before iOS 17.4 was released I thought we'd see them return here in iOS 17.5 and perhaps they will but they are not here in this first beta for example Apple had previously introduced a way to you share play with homepods and Apple TV just by scanning a QR code there's also a wider search bar for Safari that had been introduced kind of remove those little extra tabs there on the side and we had seen a live activity for the stopwatch now if you start the stopwatch it just stays in the clock app in that original beta of 17.4 it showed up in the dynamic Island and as a live activity on the lock screen I'm really hoping that this one comes back so when will iOS 17.5 be released Apple doesn't publicize when its updates will be coming out but if we look at last year's schedule Apple spent about 6 weeks in the beta process for iOS 16.5 if Apple keeps with its track record we could see another 6- we window for iOS 17.5 that would put us into early May it's entirely possible that apple is planning to coincide the launch of iOS and iPad OS 17.5 with the launch of some rumored new hardware but if you want to learn more about those new iPads you can go out and check my linked video otherwise stay tuned to Apple Insider and be sure you are subscribed with notifications turned on so you don't miss any of Apple's upcoming releasesApple just released the first beta of iOS 17.5 here are all of the new features and even a couple things that we didn't get I've got my iPhone 15 Pro Max successfully updated so let's go ahead and jump into it starting with the build number and download size so here we are before I installed this beta I took this screenshot so iOS 17.5 weighed in at 6.48 gigs for my iPhone 15 Pro Max your mileage may vary depending on your device and of course what update you're coming from so 6.48 a little bit more on the higher side but not terribly out of the norm let's go ahead and take a look at the build number as you can see we are looking at iOS 17.5 with build number 21f 5048 f for those of you that aren't familiar we can infer quite a bit from that last letter of the build number as Apple gets closer to the release of the software and the builds become more stable that letter will get closer to the beginning of the alphabet let's first take a look at the podcast widget I have it added here to my home screen now when we go to play a podcast I want you to watch the color of the podcast widget by the way we're going to play an episode of homekit Insider which if you don't already please go ahead and subscribe to that that's my smart home podcast we talk about everything new with homekit so when I tap play it actually morphed the color of the widget to match the podcast that is currently playing now it has gone to that gray color to match the podcast let's try another podcast This Time It's Always Sunny podcast play the latest episode go go back now watch the widget it's going to update boom match the color of the podcast that's playing we can try this one here for parks and recollection again matching color very cool this one is just for EU users but you don't have to use the App Store to download apps you're actually able to download apps directly from websites thanks to the new iOS 17.5 update there is a lot of asterisks here about how this works but Apple did pre-announce this so this makes sense and it was something we expected to see with 17.5 lastly this isn't so much a feature as it is a bug but if we go into the settings application and scroll down to battery if you notice where it says charging title Apple has left the variables in here it does this because it sets these variables and then it change for languages around the world um but these variables were left in place in this first beta so we still have charging uncore title charging uncore fixed uncore limit and charging uncore off here optimized battery charging is enabled or as like actual text but the other ones are just left in as variables I'm sure that will be corrected by the time we get the next beta of iOS 17.5 there's actually a couple features that we didn't get in this beta that I kind of thought that we would we saw these in iOS 17.4 during its beta process but they were removed before iOS 17.4 was released I thought we'd see them return here in iOS 17.5 and perhaps they will but they are not here in this first beta for example Apple had previously introduced a way to you share play with homepods and Apple TV just by scanning a QR code there's also a wider search bar for Safari that had been introduced kind of remove those little extra tabs there on the side and we had seen a live activity for the stopwatch now if you start the stopwatch it just stays in the clock app in that original beta of 17.4 it showed up in the dynamic Island and as a live activity on the lock screen I'm really hoping that this one comes back so when will iOS 17.5 be released Apple doesn't publicize when its updates will be coming out but if we look at last year's schedule Apple spent about 6 weeks in the beta process for iOS 16.5 if Apple keeps with its track record we could see another 6- we window for iOS 17.5 that would put us into early May it's entirely possible that apple is planning to coincide the launch of iOS and iPad OS 17.5 with the launch of some rumored new hardware but if you want to learn more about those new iPads you can go out and check my linked video otherwise stay tuned to Apple Insider and be sure you are subscribed with notifications turned on so you don't miss any of Apple's upcoming releases\n"