Apple released iOS 17.4 on March 5, 2024 – one of the most important operating system updates in recent years. Read why this is so here.
With the update, Cupertino is introducing numerous innovations. Not entirely voluntarily, but mainly due to pressure from the EU. With its “Digital Markets Act” (DMA), it is enforcing new rules that affect all so-called gatekeepers, including Apple. The aim is to break up monopolies and strengthen competition. For iPhone users, this specifically means: Apple now actively offers the use of browsers other than Safari – and grants access to third-party app stores.
iOS 17.4: Free choice of browser and contactless payment
If you install the update to iOS 17.4, you will receive the first innovation immediately after restarting: In addition to Safari, many browser alternatives are displayed on the iPhone, which you can download as your primary browser – if you have not already done so. This happened before too; What is new, however, is that iOS actively points out or has to point out competitor browsers. Also new: From iOS 17.4, contactless payment via NFC works not only with Apple Pay, but also with other payment services. Here too, Cupertino had to bow to the DMA.
Apple: Third-party app stores integrated into iOS 17.4
However, the following feature is almost even more important: In addition to the in-house App Store, iOS 17.4 now also provides access to third-party offers. This brings many apps (finally) to the iPhone and numerous applications return to the Apple smartphone. This includes the popular game “Fortnite,” which Epic removed from the iPhone some time ago in a dispute over App Store guidelines.
