§ Product Launch
Apple releases iOS 26.4 beta 1 with encrypted RCS messages, Apple Music enhancements, Smart List for Reminders, third-party CarPlay voice apps.
[Apple](https://startupintros.com/orgs/apple) released iOS 26.4 beta 1 on February 16, 2026 with several notable features: encrypted RCS messages (bringing iMessage-level security to cross-platform texts), Apple Music enhancements, a new Smart List feature for Reminders, and the opening of CarPlay to third-party voice apps for the first time.
The CarPlay change is particularly significant — it gives developers access to the car dashboard, creating new opportunities for navigation, communication, and AI assistant startups to reach drivers directly. CarPlay has been a walled garden since launch, and opening it to voice apps is a major platform play.
The encrypted RCS support also matters: it closes the security gap between iMessage (Apple-to-Apple) and RCS (Apple-to-Android), meaning cross-platform texts finally get end-to-end encryption.
Apple: Designs, manufactures, and markets consumer electronics, personal computers, software, and digital services for global consumers.
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