One of the announcements today at the Apple event was the release of the highly anticipated iOS 15.4 update which may be set for launch next week. The latest iOS is said to have been in beta since January and has been fully packed with a number of exciting new features and improvements that ultimately guarantees the user that unique experience Apple is known for.
Although A specific release date is yet to be known, chances are that it may be available to the public starting March 18th. The same day Apple’s new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro with the sleek green finishes will debut. According to Apple, the iPhone 13 will ship with the latest iOS 15.4, and it only makes sense that the iOS update will be released on the same date.
One of the most interesting parts the new iOS 15.4 brings to the tech table is the mask-friendly Face ID that makes unlocking your phone while on a face mask possible. A feature that was reported to have worked surprisingly well while in the beta state. Although, Apple previously provided a feature that ultimately addressed issues around the Face ID and using a face mask. The feature was created to bypasses Face ID and instead verifies user identity using your Apple Watch but that wasn’t sustainable because not every Apple user has an Apple watch. However, the new update provides a lot smoother processes for unlocking your phone while practising some form of safety wearing a mask.
On the iOS update is also Apple’s new Tap to Pay feature that is set to transform every compatible iPhones device into terminals for contactless payments. What this translates to is that you might witness more merchants using their iPhones as a sort of digital cash register, potentially replacing card readers that can plug directly into iPhones. The Tap to Pay feature is reportedly said to support payments using Apple Pay, NFC-enabled credit and debit cards, as well as other digital wallets.
Coming along with iOS 15.4 would be the new safety feature for AirTags, that Apple’s item-tracking device that, unfortunately, support certain unsafe practices like stalking people. Apple says the update includes a notification that warns users against the use of airbags to track someone’s location without their consent, building upon the anti-stalking features Apple released in February.
Another notable feature Apple users should expect is the inclusion of a fifth American voice for Siri, which according to Apple belongs to a member of the LGBTQ+ community. iOS 15.4 will also serve up a platter full of 36 new emoji that users can take advantage of to spice up messaging. This set of new emoji will include a melting face, a person peering through their fingers, and an awkward biting lip icon that’s fated to achieve the same notoriety as the eggplant emoji. iOS 15.4 will be compatible with devices ranging from the first generation iPhone 6S to the iPhone 13, as well as any device that ultimately supports iOS 15.
Olagoke Ajibola is a creative writer and content producer with an eye for details and excellence. He has a demonstrated history of telling stories for TV, Film and Online. Aside from being fascinated by the power of imagination, his other interest are travel, sport, reading and meeting people.
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