Apple Releases First iOS 17.3 Developer Beta (Image: Unsplash)

Apple started rolling out the first beta for iOS 17.3 to registered developers. Apple released iOS 17.3 beta 1 a day after the public release of iOS 17.2. The tech giant officially rolled out iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 for the iPhone and iPad on December 11.

Apart from iOS 17.3 Beta 1, Apple has also released iPadOS 17.3 Beta 1, watchOS 10.3 Beta 1, and macOS Sonoma 14.3 Beta 1. Stolen Device Protection is said to be the main highlight of iOS 17.3. The new feature was developed to protect iPhone users in the event that their device is stolen and the password is known to the thief. Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported on how thieves watch their victims type in their iPhone passcodes and then steal their devices. The new feature, which will act as a second layer of security, is expected to be Apple”s response to these concerns.

According to CNBC, the Stolen Device Protection feature will use the device’s location to determine whether the user is at home or at work. Notably, it is an opt-in feature, and users will be able to turn it on by navigating to Face ID and Passcode in the Settings menu in iOS 17.3 Beta. After enabling this feature, users are required to enter their Face ID or Touch ID to perform various tasks, including viewing passwords stored in the iCloud Keychain, resetting their device, and turning off Lost Mode. Apart from this enhanced security option, Apple may also introduce collaborative playlists on Apple Music and AirPlay’s expansion to hotel rooms in iOS 17.3.