Apple iOS 18 Beta 2 is here, iPadOS 18 Beta 2 brings alternative app stores
Apple released the first betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 earlier this month during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Now the Californians have released the second beta for both systems – iOS 18 Beta 2 and iPadOS 18 Beta 2 are here. However, these are not public betas. Instead, they are intended for developers and can therefore only be installed by developers. Public betas will be available from next month.
In addition, iPadOS 18 Beta 2 now offers support for alternative app stores in the EU. In addition, there are the appropriate alternative payment options in Apple’s App Store, a standard web browser selection screen and the ability for browsers to use engines other than Safari.
All of this is a consequence of the European Commission’s classification of iPadOS as a “gatekeeper platform”. This makes the provision of these functions mandatory under the EU Digital Markets Act. All of these concessions were first added by Apple to iOS 17.4 in March. Now they’re finally coming to iPads.
In the meantime, iOS 18 Beta 2 offers support for iPhone mirroring on macOS Sequoia Beta 2. This lets you control your iPhone completely from your Mac, with the iPhone remaining locked the entire time. Apple announced the feature at WWDC.
There’s also a new switch for the RCS protocol, which Apple finally supports in iOS 18. This will appear if your carrier supports RCS.
