iOS 26.4 Public Beta Introduces AI-Powered Music Playlists, Video Podcasts, and Enhanced Security Features

Apple has rolled out the public beta version of iOS 26.4, introducing a comprehensive suite of new features and enhancements across its mobile ecosystem. The update is scheduled for public release in March or April and includes significant improvements to Apple Music, Podcasts, messaging security, and CarPlay functionality.

AI-Driven Playlist Generation in Apple Music

The most prominent addition to iOS 26.4 is the "Playlist Playground" feature in Apple Music, powered by Apple Intelligence. This AI-driven functionality enables users to generate customized 25-track playlists through natural language prompts, such as "upbeat workout mix" or "calm evening." Users can iteratively refine generated results and select matching cover artwork to personalize their listening experience.

Additionally, Apple Music's user interface has been redesigned to display full-screen artwork for albums and playlists. A new "Concerts Near You" section has been implemented, allowing users to discover live performances from their preferred artists with filtering options by date, genre, and location.

Video Podcast Support

Following industry trends toward multimedia content, Apple Podcasts now supports video episodes through HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. This implementation allows seamless transitions between audio and video playback within individual episodes, with full horizontal display capabilities.

Key technical features include:

• Adaptive quality adjustment for optimal performance across Wi-Fi and cellular networks
• Offline download capability for video episodes
• Integration with personalized recommendations and editorial curation
• Support for dynamic video ad insertion, including host-read segments

At launch, HLS is supported by major podcast infrastructure providers including Acast, Amazon's ART19, Triton's Omny Studio, and SiriusXM's suite of services (SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast). Apple will introduce an impression-based fee structure for participating ad networks delivering dynamic ads in HLS videos later this year.

End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messaging

iOS 26.4 introduces beta testing for end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging. This security enhancement aims to provide parity between iPhone-to-Android communications and iMessage conversations. Currently limited to iPhone-to-iPhone communication in beta, encrypted RCS conversations are clearly labeled and protected during transmission.

Apple has indicated that E2EE for RCS will be released publicly in a subsequent software update across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS platforms, with availability varying by device and carrier.

Enhanced Security with Stolen Device Protection

The Stolen Device Protection feature is now enabled by default in iOS 26.4, requiring biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID) for sensitive operations such as password access and critical account modifications. This implementation significantly reduces unauthorized access risk in scenarios where a device is stolen and the passcode is compromised.

CarPlay Enhancements

Apple CarPlay receives substantial upgrades, including:

• In-car video playback support for select applications (including Apple TV app) when the vehicle is parked
• Integration with third-party AI services including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude

Camera App Audio Zoom

The Camera application introduces Audio Zoom functionality, which dynamically focuses microphone capture on the subject as users zoom in during video recording. This feature reduces background noise and enhances audio clarity, eliminating the need for external audio equipment in many scenarios.

Additional Feature Updates

iOS 26.4 includes numerous incremental improvements:

• Ambient Music widget: Direct Home Screen access to soundscapes for focus, sleep, or relaxation
• Urgent reminders: New priority section in Reminders app with enhanced alert notifications
• Unified Apple Account Hub: Consolidated account management across App Store, Apple Music, and other Apple services
• Redesigned Wallpaper Gallery: Reorganized categories including Weather, Astronomy, and Emoji sections
• Multi-playlist song addition: Simultaneous addition of tracks to multiple Apple Music playlists
• Health app enhancements: Average Bedtime metric and blood oxygen level integration in Vitals section
• Personal Hotspot data usage: Detailed tracking of connected devices and data consumption
• Live Captions language support: Added Chinese (Taiwan) language option
• Battery charge limit Shortcuts action: Programmatic control of charging thresholds
• App Store UI refinement: Search bar repositioned to top of screen
• iCloud.com promotion: Enhanced visibility within Settings app

Notable Omission

Despite Apple's announced AI ambitions for Siri, the next-generation voice assistant experience is notably absent from iOS 26.4, with reports indicating further delays in its development timeline.

Sources:

Apple Beta Software Program

iOS 26.4 Release Notes - Apple Developer

Apple Newsroom - Video Podcast Experience

Apple CarPlay Developer Documentation