iOS 17.6 Will Bring New Sports Features But Not Much Else
Credit: Jannik Skorna
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Although nearly all eyes are on iOS 18, a beta of iOS 17.6 has also been making the rounds over the past few weeks. Now, a new report suggests the release of that version is imminent, but it appears to be mostly made up of bug fixes and other relatively minor improvements.
The first iOS 17.6 beta arrived a week after Apple unveiled iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and the release notes at the time only mentioned two fixing some bugs related to Bluetooth headphones and third-party apps that were having problems with the front cameras on this year’s new iPads.
The iPadOS 17.6 betas also reference putting the Apple Pencil Pro into Lost Mode. This would presumably work in the same way as marking AirPods lost, showing the owner information for anyone who finds the stylus and preventing it from being paired with another device.
The most significant user-facing change in iOS 17.6 is a “Catch Up” feature for MLS Season Pass. This will allow soccer fans who subscribe to Apple’s streaming service to view a quick series of clips and highlights of Key Plays when joining a game that’s already in progress. This will also be available in iPadOS 17.6 and tvOS 17.6, but it won’t be exclusive to Apple devices, as Apple also plans to roll it out in the TV app on other platforms, including smart TVs, set-top boxes and game consoles.
According to information from a private social media account “with a strong track record” shared by 9to5Mac, the release of iOS 17.6 is “imminent,” suggesting it could happen very soon. In light of the Catch Up feature, this may also be hinted at by Apple’s release of an update to Apple Sports, its standalone app for tracking real-time scores and stats for various teams and leagues.
Apple Sports 1.5
Apple Sports was released in February, just in time for the 2024 MLB and MLS seasons, although it also covered a plethora of other sports, including the NBA and NHL, men’s and women’s NCAA basketball, and Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, Premier League, and Serie A soccer. A later update added more detail for Major League Baseball (MLB) and NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
Today’s update again expands the MLB data with indicators to the MLB box scores for pitcher wins, losses, and saves. However, perhaps more significantly to tie into Apple’s MLS Season Pass service, it adds the ability to follow Leagues Cup tournament matches live for both MLS and Liga MX club teams. That will be a handy companion to Catch Up on MLS Season Pass when iOS 17.6 and its sibling updates arrive.
MLS Season Pass typically costs $99 for an entire season if you sign up in February. However, Apple dropped that to $69 for the remaining season in May and then cut it to $49 at the end of June to try and entice fans who want to follow the bottom half of the season, similar to what it did last year. This means it’s more affordable than ever to jump in and follow the action, and Catch Up will make that even easier for those who don’t always have time to watch a full match.
