iOS 17.2 Beta adds one more function to Action button

The iPhone 15 Pro was unveiled with 10 customization options to its new Action button of which nine were rolled out leaving one as ‘coming later’. Turns out that the remaining customization option has rolled out with the new iOS 17.2 beta and along with it, Apple is also testing the ability to remotely install software updated on sealed iPhones.

iOS 17.2 Beta Rolls Out

Starting iOS 17.2, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users can assign ‘Translate’ as one of the tasks on their Action button. You will find this ‘Translate’ option between Voice Memo and Magnifier under Settings >> Action Button section.

What the feature does, which should be apparent, is translate conversations upon pressing the Action button and display translations from the Dynamic Island. Yep, there’s no need to launch the app specifically for the translation, everything you need is available and neatly placed on the Dynamic Island itself. The ‘Translate’ app has been around on iPhones since iOS 14 in 2020 and uses Neural Engine for the on-device processes and works both online and offline.

With that being said, there are now 10 Action button tasks you can do on iPhone 15 Pro and later. Here’s the list.

• Silent Mode: Turn ON/OFF the Silent mode 
• Focus: turn ON/OFF Specific Focus
• Camera: Open the Camera app to take photos, videos, portrait selfies, videos, etc.
• Translate: Yep, that’s the one that we mentioned earlier, it pretty much does translations from one language to another.
• Magnifier: It launches the Magnifier app.
• Voice Memo: Turns on the ability to record a voice memo promptly.
• Shortcut: Turns the Action button into a shortcut key to access any app with a click.
• Accessibility: Access your suite of accessibility features with this option.
• No Action: As apparent, it does nothing.

iOS 17.2 Beta testing out remote software updates

Starting iOS 17.2 Beta, Apple is testing out the ability to install software updates on sealed iPhones remotely. What does that mean though? When you buy a phone, it necessarily has the latest software update available at the time of manufacturing and may not be the latest version available currently, right?

With iOS 17.2 beta, Apple is working on the ability to remotely install the latest software patches on sealed iPhones bought from Apple Stores. It means when a buyer takes the phone out of the box, it should be on the latest iOS version. Apple is reported testing out a pad-like device that will be used to wirelessly turn on the iPhone while within the box update to the latest software and turn it off. Seems like some space tech but that’s what Apple is doing at the moment and the system is expected to be available in stores by the end of this year if all goes well.

Doing so benefits both Apple and the customers as the iPhone syncs with the latest iOS version available at the moment of purchase. It will help the Cupertino-based giant tackle the PR dilemma of phones unable to start during setup or unable to transfer data from older iPhones, etc.[Check out: iOS 17.2 Beta Release Notes]

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