Apple Releases iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and watchOS 10.5

Apple has just released new updates for its software platforms with iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and watchOS 10.5. After iOS 17.4 enabled third-party app stores support and alternative browser engines in the EU, iOS 17.5 brings another DMA-related feature by allowing iPhone users in the region to download apps directly from the web.

iOS 17.5 also improves tracking notifications with cross-platform tracking detection: To better protect users from unknown trackers, iOS will now notify iPhone users when a Bluetooth tracker they don’t own is moving with them, regardless of what operating system the device is paired with.

The Apple News app, which remains only available in Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK is also getting new features for Apple News+ subscribers. There’s an Offline mode for the Today feed and the News+ tab, a new daily world game named Quartiles, and a new Scoreboard to check player data for Crossword, Mini Crossword and Quartiles. The new word game and Scoreboard are available on macOS Sonoma 14.5, which doesn’t bring any other new features.

The last addition in iOS 17.5 is a new Pride Radiance wallpaper for the Lock Screen. For Apple Watch users, watchOS 10.5 also brings a new Pride watch face and various bug fixes, but there are no new features. Lastly, tvOS 17.5 and the HomePod Software 17.5 are also available for Apple TV and HomePod devices, but these are just bug fixing updates.