Apple Rolls Out iOS 11 Beta 9 Ahead Of iPhone 8 Launch

Aside from preparing new hardware that it is launching during its Sept. 12 event, Apple is also hard at work in finalizing the major software updates it intends to release alongside its new products this fall. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that the the tech giant is rolling out the ninth beta of iOS 11 ahead of the iPhone 8’s unveiling.

On Thursday, Apple seeded a new pre-release version of iOS 11 to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes. The release comes just three days since the eighth beta was launched and more than two months since Apple proudly announced iOS 11 during the Worldwide Developers Conference, as pointed out by MacRumors.

Details on the changes the new beta with build number 15A5370a brings are still not available, but iOS 11 is expected to introduce new design tweaks for the Control Center and the Lock screen. Previous betas leaked that the Control Center will henceforth be more customizable. There’s also information about the Lock screen merging with the Notification Center.

Other notable changes that will come with iOS 11 pertain to the improved voice for Siri and other refinements for the voice assistant. Apple Pay and Photos services are also getting enhancements and new features, according to Apple Insider. It’s also worth noting that the second iOS 11 beta introduced the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which is meant to help drivers stay focused on the road.

It’s not clear why Apple quickly rolled out iOS 11 beta 9 days after the pre-release version with build number 15A5368a was launched. However, ValueWalk opined that this could be related to the App Store bug that was apparently affecting some users of previous iOS 11 betas. The publication surmised that either Apple or some third-party security firm became aware of the bug and pushed for the release of a safer update.

Developers and beta testers can now download and install the ninth beta of iOS 11. For developers, they can download the software from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air provided they have configured their device for testing. On the other hand, public testers should head to their device’s Settings menu, then select General > Software Update to obtain the new pre-release software.

The ninth beta of iOS 11 was released on the same day when Apple sent out invites for a Sept. 12 press event. It is being speculated that it is during this event that Apple will be unveiling its new iPhones: the 10th anniversary model called iPhone 8 and the yearly upgrades iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus. Several leaks already revealed that the iPhone 8 will come with an all-screen design, a vertically aligned dual-camera module and an iris scanner.

Earlier reports have also claimed that Apple could be introducing the Apple Watch Series 3 and fifth-generation Apple TV alongside the new iPhones. The new smartwatch is expected to debut with LTE support. On the other hand, the upgraded Apple TV is expected to come with support for 4K and HDR technologies.