Apple has released a beta version of iOS 17.5 for developers. However, the changes that have been discovered so far are already quite interesting.

For one, European iPhone users can now download apps from a developer website. This is one of several steps that Apple is taking to comply with the EU's new technology antitrust law (DMA).

Apple initially stated that only approved third-party app stores could sell apps outside of the official Apple App Store. Now, however, sufficiently successful developers who agree to Apple's terms can offer their products directly to iPhone users from their own sites.

Another major addition is an update to anti-stalking for non-Find My trackers, found in new code within the Find My app by 9to5Mac. Currently, this feature appears to be disabled even for beta users of the development version, but there is a pop-up that warns of the tracker's presence and a text string that prompts users to check the manufacturer's website if they want to disable it.

Since launching the AirTag trackers, Apple has faced a lot of pressure to reduce the harm these can cause. Apple has moved forward to limit their use to stalking, but since that change only applies to "Find My" certified trackers, Apple is also working with Google to create a unified system that will warn users if someone else's tracker is stalking them The company is working on this. Presumably, Android 15 will be released soon.

Meanwhile, iOS 17.5 will soon be available in public beta, and a stable version will probably be released within a few weeks. iOS 18, the next generation of iPhone software, should be announced at WWDC 2024, which begins on June 10.