APPLE on Tuesday quietly announced that it will soon release a controversial software update to iPhones around the world.
In a press release for Apple’s new AirTag tracker, the California company said it would begin rolling out iOS 14.5 “starting next week”.
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AirTags, which attach to your belongings and can be tracked using your iPhone, will only work with devices running iOS 14.5 or higher.
They’re out April 30, meaning iPhone fans can safely assume that the software update will be released some time before then.
The download will introduce major changes including new emoji and the ability to unlock your mobile while wearing a mask.
Possibly the biggest shakeup, however, comes in the form of Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature.
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Following the release of iOS 14.5, app developers like Facebook will have to ask your permission to access your advertising ID.
That ID allows them to track you across the internet, storing data on your browsing history and more for targeted advertisements.
Around two-thirds of iPhone users are expected to opt out of app tracking to protect their privacy, according to a report from AdWeek.
It could impact free apps like Facebook and Instagram that heavily rely on hoarding user data to generate revenue.
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And it’s thrust Apple into a public spat with Facebook, which has claimed that businesses that advertise with its suite of apps will suffer.
The social network took out full page newspaper ads that aimed to paint Apple as the enemy of small businesses.
Of course, restricted tracking will also hurt Facebook’s bank balance, as it relies on hoards of user data to attract advertisers to its platforms.
Other changes coming with iOS 14.5 include updates to Apple Maps, new voices for Siri and the introduction of six new emoji.
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Apple fans will also get a new way to unlock their mobile while wearing a face covering.
The feature is a clever way to get around now commonly-worn masks – which typically scupper your iPhone’s Face ID scanner.
If you use Face ID and your mobile spots that your mouth and nose are covered, you’ll soon be able to unlock it using your Apple Watch, instead.
The wearable gadget needs to be on your wrist and also unlocked. Simply move it close to your iPhone and, hey presto, your mobile will be unlocked.
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In other news, Apple experts have leaked some interesting details about the 2022 iPhone lineup.
Facebook is trialling a video call speed dating app called Sparked.
And, Google is bringing out a feature to help Android users avoid collisions while texting and walking.
Are you excited for iOS 14.5? Let us know in the comments!
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
