Apple Seeds fourth beta version of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 for developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta updates two weeks after Apple released the third iOS and iPadOS 14.5 betas.

iOS and iPadOS 14.5 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the appropriate profile is installed on an iPhone or iPad.

iOS 14.5 is the biggest update to iOS 14 to date and introduces a number of important new features. First and foremost, Apple makes it easier to unlock an iPhone when wearing a face mask with a new “Unlock with Apple Watch” feature.

This opt-in option allows you to use an unlocked and verified Apple Watch as a secondary verification method to unlock an iPhone in addition to Face ID. With this feature, you no longer need to enter a passcode or remove your mask to unlock your ‌iPhone‌. Both an ‌iPhone‌ with iOS 14.5 and an Apple Watch are required to use this, and the Apple Watch cannot verify Apple Pay or App Store purchases or unlock third-party apps that use Face ID.

The update also includes global support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, so if you’re using multiple lines, both can now connect at 5G speeds. Previously, Dual SIM mode was limited to LTE networks.

With watchOS 7.4, iOS and iPadOS 14.5 include AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness +, so Apple Fitness + subscribers can start a workout on an ‌iPhone‌ or iPAd and then AirPlay it to a compatible smart TV or set-top box. ‌AirPlay‌ 2 supports audio and video, but does not display training data on the screen.

PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers are supported on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 14.5, and the code suggests that Apple will add joint account support for the Apple Card in the near future.

iOS 14.5 includes a Waze-like crowdsourcing feature for reporting accidents, hazards, and speed traps along a route in Maps when requesting directions.

There is a new “Report” button available in the Apple Maps app that allows you to tap to report an accident, hazard or speed camera at your location in the Apple Maps app, a feature provided by the Waze map app. This is directly available on the ‌iPhone‌ and in CarPlay.

There are several new emoji characters in the iOS 14.5 beta, with Apple introducing heart on fire, restoring heart, face exhale, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, along with different gender options for people with beards. There are also new few emojis with new skin tone mixes.

Apple removed the blood from the spray emoji, updated the headphone emoji to look like the AirPods Max instead of generic headphones, and added a helmet to the rock climbing emoji.

A new “Items” tab has been added to the Find My app, which works with non-Apple products such as Beats headphones and Belkin’s wireless earbuds designed to integrate with the “Find My” app. All items using Apple’s ‌Find My‌ API will be listed right next to your Apple devices here, and the Items tab will also work with AirTags when they are finally released.

The iOS 14.5 beta fixes the green tint issue experienced by some iPhone‌ owners, with Apple confirming that the beta has ‘optimizations’ to fix the issue.

“iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 2 include optimization to reduce the appearance of a faint glow that might appear at lower brightness levels with black backgrounds,” Apple’s iOS 14.5 beta notes read. For some users there are improvements thanks to the optimizations, but for others the problem still seems to exist so Apple may have a little more work to do.

iOS and iPadOS 14.5 add a new feature to choose a favorite streaming music service to use with Siri. So, for example, if you prefer Spotify over Apple Music, you can now choose Spotify as the app you want to use with Siri and all Siri song requests go through Spotify without adding ‘on Spotify’ to the end of Siri requests. . . This is a new ‌Siri‌ intelligence feature that works with music apps, podcast apps and audiobook apps.

iOS 14.5 is the update where Apple will require developers to adhere to transparency rules for app tracking. In the future, developers will need to request and receive your permission to access your random advertising ID and track your activity on apps and websites.

Apple has adapted the design to the Apple News and Podcasts apps, and there are new printing and sorting options in Reminders. There are new emergency alert settings, a horizontal loading screen on the ‌iPad‌, and a host of other minor feature tweaks described in our full iOS 14.5 feature guide. Apple says iOS and iPadOS 14.5 will be released in the spring, so we can expect a launch date sometime after March 20.