iOS 14 has been released since last fall, but Apple continues to add new features to its mobile software The next update, iOS 145, is currently in beta Apple has already distributed this beta to developers, giving them a strict timeline to implement the new app tracking transparency requirements into their apps iOS 145 public beta versions are also available
While privacy transparency is the highlight of the upcoming release, we found more iOS 145 features worth noting Among them, Apple added a way to use Face ID to unlock an iPhone while wearing a mask This workaround uses the Apple Watch for biometric authentication
Once iOS 145 becomes final, many users will update to iOS 145 apple recently revealed that iOS 14 is installed on 80% of active iPhones and 86% of iPhones released in the past four years
We dug into the beta version of iOS 145 to find the most important additions, but this is not a final list It is also possible that Apple will continue to add or tweak features before the final iOS 145 is released in a few weeks
iOS 145 is currently available for download as a public beta If you wish to try the beta version, we recommend trying it on a secondary device We expect the final version of iOS 145 to be released this month
We all learned about the shortcomings of Face ID when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out Face masks confused the Face ID sensor and forced people to manually unlock their iPhones in the last year or so Thankfully, Apple has found a workaround, but it comes with one major caveat
Unlocking with the Apple Watch is a perfect example Apple's wearable can be used to unlock an iPhone bypassing Face ID Both devices must be in very close proximity to each other, otherwise they must be unlocked manually; the Apple Watch must also be unlocked
Once you get iOS 145 and watchOS 74, you can access Face ID and Passcode in Settings; remember that you cannot use Unlock with Apple Watch to authenticate Apple Pay or App Store purchases I want you to These authentications require a face or passcode
iOS145 adds a new app tracking transparency policy, which is a big change that Apple has been planning to roll out since it launched iOS last summer app developers like Facebook need to get your permission to access your ad ID to access your ad ID That ID allows them to track you across apps and websites
Some of these privacy features are already present in iOS 14, but 145 is the deadline for app developers to implement new policies before their apps are removed from the App Store
When everything goes live, you will see a new pop-up asking if you want your app to track you Apple is once again going for pure simplicity This is a huge step forward for privacy and I look forward to seeing it happen
In iOS 145, Apple Maps is set to copy popular key features from Waze apple Maps is set to crowdsource traffic accidents, speed traps, and other traffic hazards, just as its main competitor can, using real It plans to use drivers Maps will have a dedicated button to report something, and will be available for both phone and CarPlay
iOS 14 will allow users to choose their default browser and email app Continuing its momentum, Apple is looking to release a bit more of its dominance by allowing users to choose their own default music streaming app
When you ask Siri to play a song, it will open whatever app you set up, including Spotify This means you no longer have to specify which app to play the song; Siri will use the app you have set as the default
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X remain in short supply, but new controllers are still readily available If you have a PlayStation 5 DualSense or Xbox Series X|S controller, iOS 145 will allow you to pair it with your iPhone
iOS 145 will enable AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness Plus, allowing you to cast your workouts to AirPlay 2 compatible displays
Note that Apple Watch metrics will not appear on the larger screen These data points must be viewed on an iPhone or iPad
Dual SIM iPhone users can use 5G globally on the iPhone 12 series with iOS 145 Dual SIM means that two separate lines are available on one device This is ideal for people who have separate lines for work and personal use, or for international travel
When iOS 145 is released, both SIMs will be able to use full 5G speeds
There is much more that we didn't cover here, but this update includes many tweaks and new additions Apple plans to make this release a big one, and we look forward to seeing it on the iPhone and iPad
If you don't want to wait for the finished version of iOS 145, you can get the public beta right now by signing up for Apple's beta program The process is simple: simply access Apple's beta page from the browser of the device on which you want to install the beta From there, sign in with your Apple ID and register your iPhone with the program Then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the beta profile on your iPhone
The usual caveat is that while the iOS 145 beta is fairly stable, it is still a beta version and problems can still occur If you rely heavily on your phone during the day, you may not want it to be subjected to the vagaries of beta software If so, hold out until the final version of iOS 145 comes out
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