iOS 8.4 Beta 1 Released for Developers
Apple has released the first beta version of iOS 8.4 to those registered with the iOS Developer program. The first iOS 8.4 build arrives as 12H407d and looks to prominently feature a freshly redesigned Music app with several new features.
Users who are registered in the iOS Developer program can find the appropriate firmware for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch available to download at the iOS developer website.
Presumably, iOS 8.4 betas will launch in those participating in the iOS Public Beta program at a later time.
The release notes accompanying iOS 8.4, which heavily emphasize the all new Music app, are included below, courtesy of 9to5mac, where you can see also images of the refreshed Music app:
The iOS 8.4 Beta includes an early preview of the the all-new Music app. With powerful features and an elegant new look, enjoying your music is easier than ever. This preview provides a sneak peek into what we’ve been working on, and what’s to come — the music is just getting started.
– All-New Design. Music app has a beautiful new design that makes exploring your music collection easier and more fun. Personalize playlists by adding your own image and description. Enjoy stunning pictures of your favorite artists in the Artists view. Start playing an album right from the album list. The music you love is never more than a tap away.
– Recently Added. Albums and playlists you’ve recently added are now at the top of your library, making it effortless to find something new to play. Simply tap play on the artwork to listen.
– Streamlined iTunes Radio. Discovering music with iTunes Radio is easier than ever. You can now quickly return to your favorite stations in Recently Played. Choose from a selection of hand-curated stations in Featured Stations, or start a new one from your favorite artist or song.
– New MiniPlayer. With the new MiniPlayer, you can see what’s playing and control playback while browsing your music collection. To open Now Playing, just tap on the MiniPlayer.
– Improved Now Playing. Now Playing has a stunning new design that showcases your album artwork the way it was meant to be. In addition, you can begin wirelessly streaming your music using AirPlay without leaving Now Playing.
– Up Next. It’s now simple to find out which songs from your library will play next — just tap the Up Next icon in Now Playing. You can even reorder, add, or skip songs whenever you like.
– Global Search. You can now search from anywhere in the Music app — just tap the magnifying glass. Search results are conveniently organized to help you quickly find that perfect song. You can even start an iTunes Radio station right from Search.
Presumably, other changes and improvements are to be offered in iOS 8.4 as well, even if the music application will be a primary focus.
Apparently there are still someone left out there who cares about these madman-like updates…? I had enough of Apple updates. I use iOS 7 and Mavericks and they both work just fine for me. I install any security updates and call it a day.
This is how Apple can keep people on a vicious update cycle. They just inroduce something new (like a red background as opposed to blue), but put a few bugs in it. Of course people will start complaining about the bugs (which Apple already fixed of course) and later they will release the “fix” but now with new “bugs” introduced. And of course those “bugs” will need “fixes” and this goes round and round and round. And this is how you sucked into battery drains, and slow devices, so you end up getting a new device. But that device already has the latest OS and your Mac won’t “sync” to it unless you also upgrade the OS on your Mac, but now that one has bugs and… reapeat all this forever… until you realize that you need a nee Mac, too because now that machine is slow and you can’t upgrade the RAM cuz that is soldered onto the board…maaaaaaan….
No thanks, but good luck with all your updates!
That actually makes a lot of sense and is scary!
Then don’t become a windows user. The change between MS OS’s are massively stark and they don’t make incremental changes to allow users to gradually adapt. Is that how you want Apple to make changes to their OS’s too? No thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m happy with what Apple offer. It may not be to your liking but at least it isn’t windowz.
I’m getting to that point with Apple. I’ve had enough of updates bricking or bugging my iDevices and my OS X.
I moved to Mac and OS X in 2013 after being with MSO for decades. It’s too stressful and big time tiring spending hours on end trying to fix the update bugs yourself, but in most cases it’s Apple who has to fix them for it to get resolved. Then you wait and wait. No thanks.
Just make iOS faster, more efficient, and more stable, who cares about the stuff nobody uses. That is my 2 cents.
I have to respect a man who knows the value of his opinion…
+1.
When do I start regarding Apple as the maker of mediocre, shallow, consumerist products that burden my life by sheer necessity, instead of the delightful, life-improving products they formerly made?
I’m on the point of aborting OS X. I need iOS only for the accessibility features, though those are now degrading as well (but not as fast as OS X, yet).
I wish they’d settle down and stop with this nonsense. :(