- Apple is rolling out the second public beta update for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
- The update features similar changes seen in the latest developer beta 5, including new animations, Classic Mode Switching in Camera, and a new AirDrop icon.
- The update is available for early testers and can be downloaded from Settings > General > Software Update.
Apple has released the second public beta update for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, building on improvements and changes seen in the latest developer beta. It brings some visual changes, like when you swipe up on the lock screen to enter the passcode, you will see a bouncy animation on the buttons. This animation is also visible on other Liquid Glass UI elements like the Control Center.
The iOS 26 public beta 2 comes just weeks after the first iOS 26 public beta release, and it is available for everyone signed up for public builds. It echoes everything we have seen in iOS 26 developer beta 5, but for those of you who are not in the know, here are the key improvements in this update.
There’s a new welcome screen for Apple Notes, Journal, and Music apps, highlighting what’s new. Liquid Glass has been implemented in the edit button that appears next to the app icons on the home screen. There’s a new battery low animation when your iPhone or iPad battery reaches 20%.
The AirDrop icon has also seen a makeover, and it matches the design language of other Apple apps. The Wi-Fi list now shows a padlock icon indicating which is a secure connection and which is not.
Apple changed the camera mode slider in developer beta 4 , but not many people liked that change, which is why there’s a new Classic Mode Switching toggle in Camera settings. It lets you change the scroll direction according to your preference.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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