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Public Betas Of iOS 17, iPadOS 17 & watchOS 10 Are Here
Early adopters can use an Apple Beta Software Program account to download the latest updates.
For many tech fans, there’s something exciting about taking new versions of an operating system for a test drive — especially if we get to do it before an official release. For Apple aficionados looking to freshen up their old devices, it’s a great time to join the free Apple Beta Software Program and download a copy of the just-released betas of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and even macOS Sonoma.
The new iOS 17 includes a host of updates, from a fresh new design to practical improvements. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Users can customize what people see when called — whether that’s a cute emoji or a photo.
- Calls sent to voicemail can be viewed as live transcriptions across the screen.
- Video or audio messages can be sent to people who don’t pick up a FaceTime call.
- Your voice can be muted and unmuted right from your AirPods.
- More accurate autocorrect and sentence predictions will improve text inputs.
Additional features include the ability to automatically check in to let friends know you’ve arrived home safely and a way to locate car charging stations in real-time within Maps routes.
Also Read: Google Launches Arabic Version Of AI Chat Tool Bard
Much like previous updates, iPadOS 17 seems to be playing catch up yet again. The latest version adds custom lock screens, the health app, and interactive widgets. Meanwhile, WatchOS 10 is a more substantial revamp for Apple Watch fans, overhauling major apps and improving several fitness features. For desktop users, MacOS Sonoma brings iOS-style widgets, upgrades the Safari browser with multiple user profiles, and adds polish to video calls.
Official versions of Apple’s various operating symptoms will most likely drop in early Q4 of 2023, but you can sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program if you want to try the beta versions now.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.