APPLE is set to release its highly-anticipated iOS 15.4 system upgrade next week.
The iOS update, which has been in beta testing since early January, is expected to come loaded with a number of new features.
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One of the most notable of these features is AirTag’s new privacy notice, which pops up automatically during setup.
The privacy notice first warns users that AirTag devices are linked to their Apple ID, then reminds them that tracking someone without their consent is a crime in “many regions of the world.”
The privacy warning reads: “AirTag is intended solely to track items that belong to you.”
The warning also states that the device is designed to be detected by victims and law enforcement to enable them to “request identifying information about the owner.”
A second innovative update includes Face ID now letting users unlock their phone while wearing a face mask – this feature will only be available on the iPhone 12 and later.
Apple said that its Face ID technology system has advanced to identify a user’s eye area to unlock their iPhone, according to a report by MacRumors.
Apple is also introducing a new Tap to Pay feature on iOS 15.4, which lets compatible iPhones collect contactless payments.
The new payment tool is expected to support Apple Pay, NFC-enabled credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, according to The Verge.
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iPhone users are also getting 36 new emojis with the upgrade to spice up their texting, including a melting face, a person peeking through their fingers, and a biting lip emoticon.
The Verge also reported that Siri’s voice has also been updated for the fifth time, to feature an American voice belonging to a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
While Apple did not specify a release date, experts believe that the update may be available as soon as March 18th – the same day the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are due to launch in forest green.
On Mac and iPads, the update will come equipped with a new tool called Universal Control, which was originally introduced in WWDC 2021.
Universal Control allows users to use one mouse and keyboard across several Macs and iPads for an integrated and seamless user experience.
