iOS 15.4 beta also unlocks Face ID iPhones with mask

Unsurprisingly, after the release of iOS 15.3, Apple released the first beta for iOS 15.4 (and accompanying operating systems like iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS). At the moment, only registered Apple developers have access to the pre-release, the public beta will follow today or early next week. After the last round, which brought mainly security updates and bug fixes, there are now some new features on board again. Or a well-known one that Apple presented in June of last year but had not yet implemented.

iOS 15.4: New features

Universal Control

The iPadOS 15.4 beta finally brings Universal Control, which was originally supposed to release last fall but was pushed back to spring 2022. The ability to drag and drop files between iPad and Mac (or different Macs) and keyboard sharing and wireless mice can be found under the Airplay & Handoff tab in General Preferences. There you will find a new option “Cursors and Keyboard (Beta)”.

Face ID with mask and without Apple Watch

Better late than never, right? With iOS 14.5 it was possible to unlock the iPhone with the Apple Watch if the user was wearing a mask and as a result, Face ID could not work. Until now, users without Apple Watch had to aim for an iPhone with Touch ID.

In the Face ID and passcode settings, you will find a new Face ID with skin change. When enabled, Face ID “will use the unique features around the eye area for authentication” instead of performing full facial recognition. There is also a new “Add Glasses” setting to help the system correctly recognize your facial features. Apple notes that Face ID is more accurate when the setting is turned off. Apparently unlocking via Face ID on the skin only works on newer iPhones,

9to5Mac points this out
that devices are only compatible with iPhone 12. Once we have a beta version, we will test the new feature.

emoji

The Unicode consortium has approved a new series of emojis in version 14, Apple now adopts the recommendations of the consortium and introduces a dozen new pictograms. These include the melting face, waving face, lip biting face, glass, beans, x-ray, bubbles, and more. (

Wheat beer, white sausages, and white wine are still missing from Unicode. Borscht and kvass are also missing. Indicated. editor

)

DualSense Adaptive Triggers

This version allows developers to support the adaptive wake feature of the Play Station 5 DualSense controller.

iCloud Keychain Notes

You can add notes to a keychain password entry. You can view your keychain entries in Settings > Passwords.

There’s a new Apple Card widget that can be added to your home screen or Today view. Shows your current balance and spending activities. Apple has not yet brought its Apple Card to Germany.

Vaccination card support in the EU

The Health app now supports the EU format for COVID digital certificates, allowing you to add your vaccination card in the Health and Wallet apps in supported regions. The vaccination certificate also reaches the Apple Watch.

iOS 15.4: how to get it

If you’re interested in trying out iOS 15.4 (or iPadOS 15.4), you should do so on a device other than your everyday iPhone or iPad.

Registered developers can

developer.apple.com/download
go and use the device you want to test the beta on. From there you can download a developer beta profile. Go to Settings > General > VPN & device management to enable the beta profile. Your iPhone or iPad will reboot and you can go to Settings > General > Software Update to download the latest version.

To participate in the public beta test (which usually happens a few hours to a day after the developers), go to the device you want to run the beta on.

beta.apple.com
. From there you can download a developer beta profile. Go to Settings > General > VPN & device management to enable the beta profile. Your iPhone or iPad will reboot and you can go to Settings > General > Software Update to download the latest version.

When will the final version of iOS 15.4 arrive?

If Apple follows the pattern of last year, we can draw some conclusions about the release date of iOS 15.4. The current beta version is about the same as iOS 14.5 from 2021, as the first beta version was released on February 1, 2021. If Apple this year an update round

of eight beta versions
plans, the final version of iOS 15.4 can only be expected by the end of April.

iOS 14.5 Beta 1 – February 1, 2021

iOS 14.5 beta 1 release 2: February 4, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 2 – February 16, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 3 – March 3, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 4 – March 15, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 5 – March 23, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 6 – March 31, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 7 – April 7, 2021

iOS 14.5 Beta 8 – April 13, 2021

Apple Keynote “Spring Loaded” – April 20, 2021

iOS 14.5 final – April 26, 2021