Ahead of its big event next week, Apple today launched another iOS 14 beta update.
iOS 14 beta 8 and iPadOS 14 beta 8 updates are now available to developers (via MacRumors). They're not yet rolling out to public testers, but they should be soon. If you're not already a public tester, you can try iOS 14 for free by enrolling in the Apple Beta Software Program.
Apple has said that iOS 14 is launching this fall, and we could get a more specific launch date at next week's event. You can find the full list of devices that'll get the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates right here.
Included with the update to iOS 14 is support for home screen widgets, one of the biggest changes to iOS since the original iPhone. Currently, widgets are stuck on the "Today" screen that's to the left of your first home screen, but iOS 14 will let you place resizable widgets on any of your home screens for more glanceable info.
A new App Library will be your last home screen and will show all of the apps installed on your iPhone. They'll be placed inside folders with specific categories and will also be available in an alphabetical list, and you'll also have the option to hide home screens rather than having pages full of random apps.
iOS 14 brings less intrusive incoming call notifications so that your whole screen won't be taken over when someone calls you. Siri will also take up less space, showing up as a small circle at the bottom of your screen when you activate the assistant rather than taking up your whole screen.
Messages is getting an upgrade in iOS 14, too, including the ability to pin important conversations to the top of the app. Group chats are getting improved with @mentions and in-line replies.
Some of the other notable new features of iOS 14 include cycling directions in Apple Maps, a new Translate app with support for 11 languages, App Clips to help you use a single part of an app (like paying for a parking meter) without installing the whole thing, and picture-in-picture so that you can watch videos and be on FaceTime calls while doing other things on your phone.
Also rolling out today is watchOS 7 beta 8 (via MacRumors). The update to watchOS 7 is rolling out this fall, too, and will include features like native sleep tracking, watch face sharing, and automatic hand washing detection that'll give you a 20-second countdown.