iOS 14.5: 2 Game-Changing New iPhone Features Coming Any Minute Now - Forbes

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Apple’s iOS 14.5 is launching any minute now, with these two game-changing new security and privacy features.

Apple’s iOS 14.5 is launching any minute now, with these two game-changing new security and privacy ... [+] features.

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It’s certainly been a while since Apple’s last big iPhone update—iOS 14.4 launched in January, fixing three major security flaws. Soon afterwards, Apple confirmed that its long-awaited App Tracking Transparency (ATT), an anti-tracking feature that hurts the likes of Facebook, would be coming this spring.

Apple users had been expecting iOS 14.5 in March, but after iOS 14.4.1 and iOS 14.4.2 issued more important security updates, it looks like the big announcement will be in April. 

The fact that Apple released the sixth iOS 14.5 beta this week indicates that iOS 14.5 is pretty close.

Apple’s iPhone updates usually arrive on Tuesday, so keep your eyes peeled (and bookmark my page). Could it be this coming Tuesday? 

In the meantime, here are the two game-changing updates coming with iOS 14.5.

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iOS 14.5’s App Tracking Transparency 

The App Tracking Transparency feature that will hurt the likes of Facebook was actually due when iOS 14 launched last year. However, Apple delayed the major new privacy update to give app developers more time to adjust to the shake-up ATT would cause to the advertising industry.

If you haven’t heard of it yet, ATT effectively does away with the so-called identifier for advertisers (IDFA), a means of helping advertisers to assess how well their campaigns are doing. 

Facebook argues that this will impact the ability to offer personalised advertising, but Apple quite rightly points out that iPhone users have a right to know they are being tracked, and to opt out of this if they wish.

So in iOS 14.5, a pop up will appear asking for your explicit permission to be tracked across apps and services. It’s a win for privacy in many ways: Firstly there’s the transparency that you are being tracked. At the same time, the ability to opt in to tracking is the foundation of privacy regulation such as the EU’s GDPR.

Here’s a video made by tech journalist Naomi Brockwell explaining the new iOS 14.5 feature:

iOS 14.5: Open your phone using your Apple Watch 

The second feature which I’m sure many iPhone users will be excited about is pandemic related. For a year now, it’s been an absolute pain to open your iPhone while out and about wearing a mask. Apple did make an adjustment that makes your passcode come up when it detects a mask, but this can be time-consuming. 

In iOS 14.5, Apple will allow you to use your Apple Watch to open your phone. It’s not as secure as Face ID, and it’s not the Touch ID I had been hoping for in the iPhone 12, but it’s certainly a big improvement.

iOS 14.5: A game-changing iPhone update 

There’s no doubt about it: iOS 14.5 is going to be a huge update for iPhone privacy, with a nifty iPhone unlock feature thrown into the mix. I’m especially excited about ATT, and can’t wait to try it out.

The Link Lonk


April 03, 2021 at 05:28PM
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iOS 14.5: 2 Game-Changing New iPhone Features Coming Any Minute Now - Forbes

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