Apple Releases iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4
15 MARCH 2022 - Apple on Monday released iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4. So much new stuff, it’s kind of difficult to parse. Top of everybody’s list for new features is the ability to use Face ID while wearing a mask. Specific to iPhone, MacRumors says the feature does what it says on the box - letting users unlock their iPhone 12 or newer using Face ID, even when wearing the type of COVID-fighting mask that’s become so common over the past couple of years. Apple Pay and password autofill in applications and Safari will even work with Face ID while wearing a mask, provided you set it up to do so. The update’s kind of unusual, prompting people to set up Face ID right away if you plan to use Faced ID while wearing a mask. You can bypass that if you want and activate it in Settings later.
There are a couple of changes of note for Siri. One lets Apple’s virtual assistant hit you up with Time & Date info even when the phone is offline, provided the phone is an iPhone XS or newer. Also, the less gendered voice for Siri we heard about a few weeks ago has made it into the mix.
Our friends in the European Union get new functionality around Vaccine cards - no physical card required. Apple has added EU Digital COVID Certificate support in Health. This lets folks download verifiable versions of COVID-19 vaccination, lab results, and recovery records and store then in Apple Wallet.
Specifically for iPad, Universal Control has finally made the scene. That’s the one that allows the same the mouse or trackpad and keyboard to control multiple iPads and Macs in close proximity.
And one of my favorites when they come around - new emoji! There are somewhere between 37 and 123 new emoji, depending who you ask. MacRumors puts the number at 37. Apple Insider puts it at 123. I’m pretty sure they’re counting multiple skin tones of a lot of the new ones though. Speaking of what’s new, you get pregnant man, melting face, troll, and a number of handshake combos. Apple says “Handshake emoji allows you to choose separate skin tones for each hand.” Apple Insider puts the possible number of combinations for that one at 25, and you can see how they end up with 123 new emoji to MacRumors’ 37.
Perhaps more important than any of that are the 36 security fixes for the iOS and iPadOS updates listed in Apple’s security notes. The updates are free and easy. They’re available now in Settings on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
