Apple Released iOS 17.3 Beta 3, macOS Sonoma 14.3 B3 and More: What's New
Introduction
Just a week after the disastrous release of iOS 17.3 Beta 2, Apple has released iOS 17.3 Beta 3. This new beta is initially available to developers and will soon be accessible to public beta testers. A highly anticipated feature in iOS 17.3 is the introduction of the brand new Stolen Device Protection and the return of Collaborative Playlists. Last week, the release of iOS 17.3 Beta 2 resulted in a critical issue, forcing many devices into an endless boot loop state that required users to restore their affected devices from a backup. Subsequently, Apple withdrew the update and did not release a fixed version until this third beta of iOS 17.3.
The rollout doesn't stop at iOS – Apple has also seeded the third beta versions of watchOS 10.3, iPadOS 17.3, macOS Sonoma 14.3, and tvOS 17.3.
New Software Version Build Numbers
iOS 17.3 Beta 3 build number: 21D5044a
watchOS 10.3 Beta 3 build number: 21S5642a
macOS Sonoma 14.3 Beta 3 build number: 23D5051b
iPadOS 17.3 Beta 3 build number: 21D5044a
tvOS 17.3 Beta 3 build number: 21K5643b
New Features
Stolen Device Protection
iOS 17.3 users are now able to test the brand new “Stolen Device Protection” feature. According to Apple:
“This new feature adds an additional layer of security in the case that someone has stolen your iPhone and also obtained your passcode. Accessing your saved passwords requires Face ID to be sure it's you. Changing sensitive settings like your Apple ID password is protected by a security delay. No delay is required when iPhone is at familiar locations such as home and work.”
Apple Music Collaborative Playlists
You can now invite your friends to join in the musical fun with Collaborative Playlists on Apple Music with iOS 17.3. This means everyone can contribute by adding, reordering, and removing songs, making it easier than ever to curate the perfect playlist for any occasion. Plus, in the "Now Playing" view, music enthusiasts can express their reactions using emojis, adding a playful and interactive element to your listening sessions.
You can check more details about collaborative playlists here.
New Spatial Video Splash Screen
Apple in Beta 2 introduced a new splash screen in iOS 17.3 that appears the first time users try to use Spatial Video. This message is displayed immediately after tapping the spatial video icon in the iPhone's native camera app. It informs users about the features and limitations of Spatial Video."
This is the message that appears on screen: “Record spatial video for viewing in three dimensions in the Photos app on Apple Vision Pro. For best results, keep iPhone in landscape orientation and stable when recording. Video is recorded at 30 fps at 1080p in SDR. A minute of spatial video is approximately 130 MB.”
Hitting continue will ditch this message.
