iOS 14.5 has arrived bringing a swag of new features for iPhone users.

Here’s what you’ll get if you update today.

Customers can now use their Apple Watch to securely unlock iPhone when Face ID is enabled while wearing a face mask.
Customers can now use their Apple Watch to securely unlock iPhone when Face ID is enabled while wearing a face mask. (Supplied)

Use Apple Watch to unlock iPhone

Face masks have all but killed the convenience of unlocking your phone with a glance, but Apple’s found a work around for its Watch owners.

If your Watch is unlocked, and in close proximity to your iPhone, it too will unlock when you look at it even if it can’t recognise your face.

The new feature works with iPhone X and later and Apple Watch Series 3 and later.

There are now four options for Siri’s voice.

You can now choose what Siri sounds like.
You can now choose what Siri sounds like. (Supplied)

This is only for English speakers, but Siri has also upgraded across the board with support for Group FaceTime, the ability to announce incoming calls through AirPods and compatible Beats headphones, and support for calling emergency contacts.

You can now share your ETA when walking or cycling to let friends and family what time you’re likely to arrive, and CarPlay users can do the same using voice and keyboard controls.

Maps users can now report an accident, hazard, or speed check by telling Siri on iPhone or CarPlay.
Maps users can now report an accident, hazard, or speed check by telling Siri on iPhone or CarPlay. (Supplied)

Finally, you don’t need an Apple TV to stream Fitness+ workout videos to the big screen.

AirPlay 2-enabled TV’s and devices just added some significant value to the subscription service.

Surprised this one didn’t already exist, but you can now change the skin tone on the kissing couple emoji and couple with heart emoji.

In addition, there are new emoji including face exhaling, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, heart on fire, mending heart, and woman with a beard.

Users can now select different skin tones for each individual in the couple kissing and couple with heart emoji.
Users can now select different skin tones for each individual in the couple kissing and couple with heart emoji. (Supplied)

App Tracking Transparency

Good one for privacy here. In iOS 14.5, App Tracking Transparency requires apps to get the user’s permission before tracking their data across apps or websites owned by other companies for advertising, or sharing their data with data brokers.

Podcasts got a big plug at Apple’s Springloaded event, and now it’s have a redesign.

Show Pages make it easier to start listening, and now users have an option to save and download episodes to be automatically added to their Library.

Top charts and popular categories have also been added to search.

Just in time for AirTag’s Friday release, the update allows users to track and find important items, such as keys, a wallet, or a backpack, privately and securely in the Find My app.

The Apple News+ tab has been redesigned, allowing subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues with an all-new Search experience.

You can now sort reminders by title, priority, due date, or creation date, and even print reminder lists.



This content first appear on 9news

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