Apple launches fifth Betas from iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 to developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today unveiled the fifth beta of upcoming iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates for development purposes, with the new beta updates appearing one week after Apple unveiled the fourth iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta.

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

iOS 14.5 is the biggest update of iOS 14 so far, introducing several key features. First of all, Apple makes it easier to unlock an iPhone by wearing a face mask with a new “Unlock with Apple Watch” feature.

With this opt-in option, you can use an unlocked and verified Apple Watch as a secondary authentication method to unlock a ‌iPhone‌ next to Face ID. With this feature, you no longer need to enter a password or remove your mask to unlock your ‌iPhone‌. An aniPhone‌ with iOS 14.5 and an Apple Watch is required to use it, and the Apple Watch cannot authorize Apple Pay purchases, App Store purchases, or third-party applications that use Face ID.

The update also provides worldwide support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on the iPhone 12 models, so if you use multiple lines, both can now be connected 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 +, allowing Apple Fitness + subscribers to start on a ‌iPhone‌ or iPAd and then play it on a compatible smart TV or set-top box. PAirPlay‌ 2 supports audio and video, but does not display on-screen workouts.

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

iOS 14.5 includes a Waze-like Crowdsourcing feature to report accidents, hazards, and speed checks along a route in Maps when you get directions.

There’s a new “Report” button available in the Apple Maps app that lets you tap to report an accident, hazard, or speed trap in your location in the Apple Maps app, which is a feature provided by the Waze app . It is available directly on the ‌iPhone‌ and in CarPlay.

There are several new emoji characters in the iOS 14.5 beta, with Apple launching a heart on fire, repairing the heart, the exhaling face, the face with the spiral eyes, the face in the clouds, and different gender options for people with beards. There are also new couple emojis that have new skin tone blends.

Apple removed the blood from the emoji from the syringe, updated the Emoji headphones to look like the AirPods Max rather than a generic headphones, and added a helmet to the rock-climbing emoji.

In the Find My app, a new “Items” tab has been added, which will work with non-Apple products such as Beats headphones and Belkin’s wireless earbuds designed to integrate with the ‌Find My integr app . Anything to track articles that use Apple’s ‘Find My’ API is displayed here next to your Apple devices, and the Items tab will also work with AirTags when it’s finally released.

The iOS 14.5 beta addresses the green tint issue experienced by some iPhone owners, and Apple confirms that the beta has ‘optimizations’ to help with the issue.

“iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 2 contain an optimization to reduce the appearance of a dull glow that may appear at low brightness levels with black backgrounds,” reads Apple’s iOS 14.5 beta notes. For some users there are improvements thanks to the optimization, but for others it seems that the problem still exists, so Apple can still do work.

iOS and iPadOS 14.5 add a new feature for choosing a preferred streaming music service to use with Siri. For example, if you prefer Spotify over Apple Music, you can now select Spotify as the app you want to use with ‌Siri‌, and all ‌Siri‌ song requests will go through Spotify without having to add ‘on Spotify’ at the end of ‌Siri‌ requests add. . This is a new ‌Siri‌ intelligence feature that works with music programs, podcasts, and audiobook programs.

iOS 14.5 is the update where Apple begins to require developers to comply with the transparency rules for app tracking. From now on, developers will need to ask for and receive your permission to access your random ad identifier and track your activity across different programs and sites.

Apple has made design adjustments with the Apple News and Podcasts apps, plus there are new print and sort options in Memories. There are new settings for emergency alerts, a horizontal loading screen on the ‌iPad‌ and numerous other minor feature adjustments set out in our full feature guide for iOS 14.5, which kept us informed during the testing process. Apple says iOS and iPadOS 14.5 will be released in the spring.