Apple has released iOS 13.5 & iPadOS 13.5 beta 3 to developers exactly two weeks after they released iOS 13.4.5 & iPadOS 13.4.5 Developer Beta 2/ Public Beta 1. The build number for this update is 17F5054h. This build number indicates that iOS 13.5 & iPadOS 13.5 will have a long beta cycle until the final release in Mid-May. Apple may shift to a weekly release schedule for iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5 to finally release it in Mid-May.
Currently, this update is only available for registered Developers, and can be downloaded over the air or from Apple’s Developer portal. Apple is expected to release a public beta version soon for this update.
Changes to this version:
1. Apple has intentionally changed the version number from iOS/iPadOS 13.4.5 to iOS/iPadOS 13.5 because Apple has also released a new Xcode beta update (Xcode 11.5) alongside this update which includes a new API for the Exposure Notification Platform. iOS 13.4 & iPadOS 13.4 have a different SDK than iOS 13.5 & iPadOS 13.5.
2. COVID-19 Exposure Notifications: Apple has added a toggle to Settings>Privacy>Health>COVID-19 Exposure Notifications, which enables you to opt out of this feature. In Settings>Privacy>Health>COVID-19 Exposure Notifications, Apple mentions,
“ iPhone is using Bluetooth to securely share your random IDs with nearby devices and collect their IDs. This enables an app to notify you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19. Random IDs are deleted after 14 days.
Apps you authorize can notify you if you’re exposed to COVID-19. You can also choose to anonymously share your COVID-19 diagnosis.”
This is the result of the partnership between Apple & Google to create a contact tracing technology for COVID-19.
Read more about Apple’s Privacy-Preserving Contact Tracing Technology here.
3. iOS & iPadOS 13.5 beta 3 fixes two security vulnerabilities which could remotely infect an iPhone through the Mail app upon the attacker sending a specific email which would take up a lot of RAM on the iPhone and another vulnerable allowed remote code executions.
4. Connectivity: Apple has fixed a vulnerability present from iOS 13.3.1 which prevented VPNs from encrypting traffic. This update also fixes an issue with Personal Hotspots, which was not working for some users.
Read Apple’s release notes on iOS & iPadOS 13.5 Developer Beta 3 here.
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Author: Pururaj Dutta
Pururaj is the Vice President of Appleosophy and Silicon Report, in addition to being the Manager of popular Redfruit Media platforms such as TechPod Social and Apple Summit. His seasoned experience plays a pivotal role in the success of Redfruit Media, contributing significantly to shaping the ever-evolving tech landscape. As a tech aficionado, he enjoys exploring & reviewing new products, and sharing his insights with the community. With an unwavering passion for technology, Pururaj is committed to delivering accurate and insightful information to his readers.
