iOS 18 beta 2 is out, iPadOS 18 beta 2 brings support for alternative app stores in the EU

Apple released the first betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 earlier this month during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and today the company is pushing the second beta for both. Note that these are not public betas - they are developer-focused, and as such, can only be installed by developers. Public betas will arrive next month.

iPadOS 18 beta 2 brings support for alternative app stores in the EU, along with alternative payment options in Apple's App Store, a default web browser selection screen, and the ability for browsers to use engines other than Safari's.

All of these come as a consequence of the European Commission designating iPadOS as a "gatekeeper platform", which makes it obligatory for these features to be offered under the EU's Digital Markets Act. All of these concessions were first added by Apple to iOS 17.4 back in March, and now they're coming to iPadOS too.

In the meantime, iOS 18 beta 2 brings support for iPhone mirroring on macOS Sequoia beta 2. This lets you fully control your iPhone using your Mac, with the iPhone staying locked throughout. The feature was announced at WWDC.

There's also a new toggle for the RCS protocol that Apple is finally supporting in iOS 18. This will show up if your carrier supports RCS.

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