Apple to Release iOS 15 iCloud Private Relay as a Public Beta

[MacRumors]

When iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 launch this fall, iCloud Private Relay will be included, but Apple plans to provide the features as a public beta rather than a finalized addition.

According to Apple's release notes for the seventh beta of iOS 15, iCloud Private Relay is being released as a public beta to allow Apple to "gather additional feedback and improve website compatibility" before the official launch of the feature.

So when iOS 15 and the other updates are released, iCloud Private Relay will be available for customers to use, but it will officially be usable in a beta capacity.

In the latest iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 betas, iCloud Private Relay is now listed as a feature that's in beta, with Apple providing the following information: "Private Relay is currently in beta. Some websites may have issues, like showing content for the wrong region or requiring extra steps to sign in."

iCloud Private Relay is a service that's designed to ensure Safari traffic leaving an iPhone, iPad, or Mac is encrypted through two separate internet relays so that companies can't use personal information like IP address, location, and browsing activity to build detailed profiles about Apple device users.

Apple's release notes for the new updates made available today also confirm that several issues have been addressed.

• The Bay Bridge now scales correctly at high zoom levels in the Maps app.
• Siri can be used to switch to a Focus other than Do Not Disturb.
• Safari Extensions now correctly appear in the Smart Search field when Show Separate Tab Bar is selected.
• The clear button in the search bar in Safari is no longer clipped.
• VPN apps now connect if they use a private API that no longer exists in iOS 15.
• Collapsing the hardware keyboard shortcut bar now properly invokes leading and trailing edge changes for UIKeyboardLayoutGuide.

With seven betas now released, we are getting close to the end of the testing period for iOS 15. We can expect the new software to launch ahead of refreshed iPhones, likely in September.

Article Link: Apple to Release iOS 15 iCloud Private Relay as a Public Beta

 

[Mimiron]

I’ve been testing this feature since iOS 15 Beta 1, but it’s still unreliable. Oftentimes, the relay / VPN is slow and websites won‘t even load, so I have to disable it all the time.

 

[zoomp]

Anyone tested it? How fast (or slower) it is?

 

[JFK1979]

So what actually will be released when ios 15 is officially released??? Less and less features announced at wwdc will be available at launch. Feels like it should be called 14.9

 

[Blkant]

Private, until Apple decides to compare domains you visit to a list of hashes that may or may not include sites hosting information similar to the Panama Papers or other journalistic information their buddies at the CIA blacklist. At which point, genuine journalists best expect to be at the mercy of the patriot act for “reasons”.

But of course, rebranded as “think of the children!”.

You cannot have privacy without trust Apple. Such potential pissed away…

 

[TheDailyApple]

I think I’ll stick to my VPN which safeguards all device traffic, not just web browsing.

 

[Airforcekid]

Anyone tested it? How fast (or slower) it is?

Depends on your location it always routes me to a Cloudflare server you can download the 1.1.1.1 app by Cloudflare and get a good idea of how it will perform for you and its system wide vs just Safari.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

When I heard someone say that Apple has, like, one guy whose sole job it is to code Reminders.app I thought they were kidding.

I’m now starting to believe them.

 

[jk1221]

So what actually will be released when ios 15 is officially released??? Less and less features announced at wwdc will be available at launch. Feels like it should be called 14.9

I was just about to say. Most of the 'tentpole" features aren't even shipping with public release or are in "beta" now.

A very slightly tweaked iOS14 right now at best.

Very sloppy for Apple.

 

[boak]

Apple getting into the habit of announcing features prematurely

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I hope it really does stay private and it's not misinformation. Hoping it stays private.

 

[david0128]

I was just about to say. Most of the 'tentpole" features aren't even shipping with public release or are in "beta" now.

A very slightly tweaked iOS14 right now at best.

Very sloppy for Apple.

But we can all sleep better knowing that the Bay Bridge scales correctly ???

 

[sean02]

I guess you can blame me lol I reported issues with private relay messing with authentication on YT Studio but I suggested them to have the option to blacklist sites

 

[AndyMers]

I hope this pairs nicely with watch OS!

 

[Beelzbub]

I am not a big fan of 1.1.1.1, assuming that is what Apple is using. I have tried their app and their DNS servers, and it seems to work ok at first, but eventually things come to a grinding halt on the network. I change back to a different DNS provider, like OpenDNS or Google, and everything on the network comes back to life. I am sure Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 works for some, I've just not had good long term results with them. And I have tried them on multiple ISP's, different routers, etc.., same result. Managing some wireless access points for someone on multiple internet providers, changing the guest network to use them, works at first and then stops, even trying their 1.1.1.1 for families, using 1.1.1.2 for no malware and 1.1.1.3 for no malware and adult content, works good at first and then craps out. For now I will stick with OpenDNS.

 

[Johnny907]

Unreliable. I’ll stick with PIA VPN, thanks. I don’t trust Apple’s “Privacy Pledge” as far as I can throw a Gen 1 Mac Pro at this point.

 

[contacos]

So barely anything changed on iOS 15 in the first place and the features they did highlight are pretty much all delayed ?

 

[hagar]

Unreliable. I’ll stick with PIA VPN, thanks. I don’t trust Apple’s “Privacy Pledge” as far as I can throw a Gen 1 Mac Pro at this point.

Private, until Apple decides to compare domains you visit to a list of hashes that may or may not include sites hosting information similar to the Panama Papers or other journalistic information their buddies at the CIA blacklist. At which point, genuine journalists best expect to be at the mercy of the patriot act for “reasons”.

But of course, rebranded as “think of the children!”.

You cannot have privacy without trust Apple. Such potential pissed away…

I hope it really does stay private and it's not misinformation. Hoping it stays private.

I assume this is the future of these forums? Every time Apple announces a privacy feature, people will complain they don’t trust Apple.

 

[boak]

Safari got the option to roll back.
SharePlay is not ready.
Private Relay is not ready.
Universal Control is not ready.

 

[indychris]

Oh, the irony, Apple...

 

[lolOwO]

Private Relay has been incredibly unreliable to me. turns itself off multiple times a day without warning

 

[antiprotest]

I assume this is the future of these forums? Every time Apple announces a privacy feature, people will complain they don’t trust Apple.

Trust is everything and this is evidence of it. Apple did this to themselves.

 

[bivalvegruff]

I assume this is the future of these forums? Every time Apple announces a privacy feature, people will complain they don’t trust Apple.

Well, yes. Trust takes time to build up, but you only need to break it once to shatter it completely.

 

[Amack21]

What about hide IP for Trackers, will that also be beta? Btw is hide IP for trackers enabled or disabled by default at the moment?

 

[zakarhino]

Private, until Apple decides to compare domains you visit to a list of hashes that may or may not include sites hosting information similar to the Panama Papers or other journalistic information their buddies at the CIA blacklist. At which point, genuine journalists best expect to be at the mercy of the patriot act for “reasons”.

But of course, rebranded as “think of the children!”.

You cannot have privacy without trust Apple. Such potential pissed away…

People might think you're joking but Cloudflare (the people Apple partnered with for this feature) have a history of taking websites offline that they disagree with politically.