Apple Officially Releases iOS 12 Beta 4 to the Public

Apple on Tuesday released the fourth public beta version of its upcoming iOS 12 software update, which corresponds to iOS 12 developer beta 5.

The update seems to be mostly focused on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements. But it also hints at new features for Apple’s HomePod smart speaker.

Learn More: 5 Great Reasons to Install Apple’s iOS 12 Public Beta Now

As spotted by 9to5Mac, a new image in beta 4 reveals that HomePod “Personal Requests” may allow users to send and read messages, make phone calls, create notes, and add reminders, among other functionality. The ability to make cellular calls directly from a HomePod device was first hinted earlier this month.

iOS 12 Public Beta 4 Bug Fixes

Some of the bugs that the latest beta squashes include the following.

• A bug in the App Store that resulted in error messages when trying to download an app.
• Inaccurate signal strength indicators on the Home or Lock screen.
• A bug that caused the Wallet app to consistently crash on launch.
• Issues with cross-device syncing for Apple’s Screen Time app.
• Addressed an issue with Siri Shortcuts functionality in CarPlay.

New Bugs Found in iOS 12 Public Beta 4

Beta testers should be aware that iOS 12 public beta 4 does introduce several new bugs, including glitchy Bluetooth pairing on a device restart, problems sending cash in Apple Pay, and an inability for Siri to open an app by name in CarPlay.

How to Install iOS 12 Public Beta 4

As always, we recommended refraining from downloading beta software on your primary smartphone or other “mission critical” devices. Similarly, always create a full backup via iTunes or iCloud before proceeding.

• The fourth public beta of iOS 12 should now be available to registered public software testers as an over-the-air update on devices with the proper certificate installed.
• If you’re not a registered beta tester but would like to sign up, you can do so at Apple’s beta testing hub.

iOS 12 Overview

iOS 12 itself will be a major update to Apple’s mobile operating system. Perhaps most notably, iOS 12 will introduce significant performance and stability improvements across all compatible devices.

It also includes major features like Group FaceTime; an overhauled Apple Maps experience; new Animoji and customizable Memoji characters; a “digital health” Screen Time app; additional features for Do Not Disturb; and a suite of Siri updates including a voice-activated automation app called Shortcuts.

The software update will see a public rollout in the fall alongside new iPhones and other devices.