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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Apple rolls out new iOS 26.4, new features added from Live Translation to new emojis

Apple rolls out new iOS 26.4, new features added from Live Translation to new emojis

Published Mar 25, 2026 07:37 pm
Apple has pushed out a fresh batch of operating system features spanning messaging, health, creativity, and communication. The update is incremental but wide-reaching, touching everything from real-time message translation to on-hold call detection and a new crop of emoji.
Live Translation in Messages 
Apple Intelligence now automatically translates incoming texts to a user's preferred language. This release expands coverage to include Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African, Irish, Indian, and Singaporean English; Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong); French and German in Switzerland; Italian in Switzerland; Spanish in Mexico and the US; Swedish; Norwegian; Danish; and Portuguese from Portugal.
Hold Assist expands to new regions
Hold Assist — which alerts users when a live agent finally picks up after a long wait — now supports English in New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland, as well as Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, Korean, and French in Canada.
Ambient Music Widgets 
Users can now place Ambient Music widgets directly on their Home Screen or in Today View. Four mood-based playlists are available: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing — and no Apple Music subscription is required to use them.
Freeform joins Apple Creator Studio
Freeform is now part of Apple Creator Studio. The updated app includes a Content Hub with curated photos, graphics, and illustrations; on-device AI for Super Resolution image upscaling and Auto Crop for better photo compositions; and advanced image generation powered by generative models from OpenAI, with additional style options.
Sleep highlight in Health App
The Health app gains a new Sleep Highlight that shows how last night's bedtime stacked up against the user's two-week average — making it easier to spot trends and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
Eight new Emoji arrive
The latest update adds eight new emoji across all Apple platforms, including an orca, a trombone, a landslide, a ballet dancer, and a distorted face, among others.
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