Just a few days after the release of iOS 15.3, Apple has released the latest iOS developer beta. Among the new features is one that will be very useful for unlocking your iPhone while you are out and about in the current climate. The company is testing a way for people to use Face ID while wearing a mask — without needing an Apple Watch.
“Face ID is most accurate when configured for full face recognition only,” explains Apple when users configure the feature. “To use Face ID while wearing a mask, the iPhone can recognize the unique features around the eyes to authenticate.”
The update comes nearly a year after Apple began allowing users to unlock their iPhone via Face ID while masking themselves. Until now, people used an unlocked Apple Watch as a key.
Apple is trying to get rid of this requirement in the latest beta, which is sure to come as music to the ears of people who are tired of typing their iPhone passcode at the grocery store or gym. Avoiding using your password in public is also a privacy benefit.
Youre gonna need it turn on option manually. In the Face ID & Passcode section of the settings, select the “Use Face ID with a mask” option to get started. The feature will still work for anyone wearing glasses, but you will need to remove them.
Other features in the beta include the option to add notes iCloud Keychain passwords and the ability to copy text from objects using the camera in the Notes and Reminders apps. it’s also new support for adaptive triggers on the PS5 DualSense controller, vaccination records compatible with the EU COVID Digital Certificate in Wallet, an Apple Card widget and, perhaps most importantly for many, dozens of other emojis.
As for iPadOS 15.4, there’s brightness control for the keyboard and (as part of the macOS Monterey 12.3 beta) something many Mac and iPad users have been waiting for: Universal Control. This feature allows people to control multiple Macs and iPads with a single mouse and keyboard. In December, Apple delayed the feature until the spring. It’s not yet clear when Apple plans to release final versions of the latest software more widely.
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