A breakdown of the changes included by Apple in its latest iOS release for developers

Jul 9, 2013 12:02 GMT  ·  By

iOS 7 Beta 3 is on the scene and, as expected, it brings numerous new features, enhancements, tweaks, bug fixes, and even a glitch or two, making it a typical beta release for developers.

Probably the biggest change in iOS 7 beta 3 is the stronger typography. Apple is now using Helvetica Neue Regular instead of Ultra Light, making every menu easier to read (especially for users with poor eyesight).

The change is part of a bigger effort to make the entire UI easier on the eyes.

Graphics and text in various parts of the operating system are stronger now (as in bolded). Examples include the Weather App, Notification Center, and Control Center.

The Status Bar has been redesigned to make every element more visible, including the signal-strength dots, the WiFi symbol, the clock, and the battery meter.

Folders are more transparent now, and Calendar shows gray dots underneath every day that has an event assigned to it.

Safari is also redesigned, and the new version replaces the .com button with a simple period button. To access .com, .net, and .org domain extensions, users will simply hold down on the button.

The Music app boasts new icons, tweaked controls, ratings, and an overall better organized interface. While playing music, users will be able to see the clock and the player controls on the lock-screen.

The Podcasts app is now functional again, and Siri includes development versions of new male and female voices for U.S. English and French, as well as a new male voice for German speakers.

A new application download animation has been included, replacing the standard progress bar with a progressing dial that resembles oven timers.

Control Center features a redesigned Clock icon which, at least from where we stand, looks a bit like the LG logo.

A new feature of Find My iPhone, Activation Lock, is turned on automatically in iOS 7 beta 3 when Find My iPhone is enabled. The feature requires users to enter their Apple ID and password to turn off Find My iPhone, sign out of iCloud, erase the device, or reactivate the unit.

Apple tells developers it’s important to sign out of iCloud and turn off Activation Lock in Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone before transferring a device to a new user.

Other changes and subtle tweaks include:

- Passbook passes now appear as what they are (passes) when used in emails; - Several UI tweaks to Notification Center; - New fonts and UI tweaks in Weather app; - Tweaked search bar and pull-to-refresh in Mail; - Slightly redesigned Game Center; - Silent control in Control Center on iPad; - New tab bar in the App Store.