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iOS 14.5 available to download now. These are the biggest features coming to your iPhone

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

It’s here! iPhone owners can now dive into their Settings menu and start downloading the latest major update to iOS. Known as iOS 14.5, the new mobile operating system brings all the usual performance tweaks as well as some exciting new features. Apple has included more than 200 new emoji, new tighter privacy controls, a redesigned Podcasts app, and a fix for Covid-19 face coverings stopping Face ID facial recognition unlocking your iPhone.

Apple confirmed that iOS 14.5 would be coming to iPhone owners worldwide following its first event of 2021 last week. During the 60-minute presentation, which was streamed online, Apple announced a number of new gadgets, including a redesigned iMac, an updated iPad Pro with as much power as a MacBook, a new colour for its iPhone 12 and AirTags. The latter can be attached to wallets, camera bags, rucksacks and more – bringing these real-world objects into the Find My app on iOS to help track the location whenever they’re misplaced.

AirTags require iOS 14.5 before they can be set-up and used on your iPhone. Pre-orders for these trackers, which cost £29 for a single AirTag or £99 for a four-pack, launched at the end of last week, with the first units expected to be dropped in the post in the coming days. As such, it makes sense for Apple to make its iOS 14.5 update available today. That means most iPhone owners should have downloaded and installed iOS 14.5 by the time AirTags are available on Apple Store shelves from April 30, 2021 onwards.

If you’re ready to check out iOS 14.5, you should head to Settings > General > Software Update. Be warned though, whenever Apple flips the switch on these feverishly-anticipated operating system upgrades, it can take a little while to appear. With millions of iPhone owners trying to get their hands on the new operating system right now, it might be worth putting down your handset and trying again in a half-hour or so.

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If you have been lucky enough to start your iOS 14.5 download, here are the best features you can expect to see coming to your iPhone today.

Apple is bundling more than 200 new emoji with the new operating system to help jazz-up your text messages. Some of the biggest changes to the emoji library in iPadOS 14.5 resolve around skin tones. The pictograms for couples can now be customised so that each member of the couple has their own distinct skin tone.

Until now, these emoji were still restricted to the default Simpsons-like yellow shade. Apple added the same feature to the icons of couples holding hands back in late 2019.

There are new smiley-style emoji to represent someone exhaling, a face with spiral eyes, and a face covered with clouds. Hearts are some of the most popular emoji, so Apple is adding a heart on fire and one patched-up with plasters. As well as the new additions, Apple has also tweaked some existing emoji.

Most notably, it has removed the two droplets of blood falling from the needle in its syringe emoji, ostensibly to make the whole process seem a little less… bloody. The fluid inside the syringe is changing from red to clear too. People have been increasingly turning to this emoji to represent vaccination, so this change makes the icon look a little more like an Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, and not a blood sample.

A completely redesigned Podcasts app is also coming in iOS 14.5. Apple has overhauled the look of the app, which now includes show and episode pages that look closer to what we see from music streaming service Apple Music. Not only that, it will offer Podcast listeners the chance to pay a subscription fee to unlock advert-free episodes as well as exclusive content.

In addition, Siri no longer has a female voice by default and will now offer more diverse voice options in English.

While helpful at reducing the spread of coronavirus, face-coverings are pretty unhelpful when it comes to Face ID, which is found on iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and the iPad Pro range. It scans your face to authenticate contactless payments, unlock the handset, and open secure apps – like mobile banking.

With iOS 14.5, Apple will allow Face ID to unlock your smartphone whenever it detects a face-covering blocking its scan. To do this without making your iPhone less secure, Apple will look for an unlocked Apple Watch in close proximity.

If the software determines that your Apple Watch is close enough to be on your wrist, unlocked and signed in with the same Apple ID account, it will let Face ID work. That means you’ll be able to check your bank balance before paying with a card, answering WhatsApp texts and check a shopping list on your iPhone without resorting to a PIN code to unlock your smartphone each time.

iOS 14.5 brings tighter privacy controls for iPhone owners too. Dubbed App Tracking Transparency, this new requirement from Apple forces all apps to request your permission before tracking personal data between apps or websites owned by other companies for advertising or sharing their data with data brokers. So, if your searches are going to be shared with advertisers to prompt targeted adverts on the same topic in future, the app will send a pop-up requesting permission before it’s able to act.

In Settings, iPhone users will be able to see which apps have requested permission to track so they can make changes to their choice at any time. The change has caused furore from some of the biggest advertisers on the planet, including Facebook, which has spoken numerous times about the impact App Tracking Transparency could have on ‘small businesses’.

Technology

iOS 14.5 release has arrived: 3 things to do BEFORE you download the iPhone upgrade

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Apple has flipped the switch and started to roll out iOS 14.5 to iPhone owners worldwide. The hotly-anticipated update, which has been in testing for two months, brings 200 new emoji characters, a redesigned Podcasts app, compatibility with Apple’s newly-announced AirTag trackers, and a new trick to ensure Face ID can still unlock your iPhone when wearing a face covering.

To start updating to the latest version of Apple’s hugely successful operating system, you need to head to Settings > General > Software Update.

Apple started to roll out iOS 14.5 at around 10am in California, which works out at around 6pm in the UK. If you are already running iOS 14 on your smartphone, you should have no problems installing iOS 14.5 on your handset. If you haven’t made the jump to iOS 14 yet, here are all the devices that will work with this latest software.

Which iPhone models can update to iOS 14.5?

iPhone 12 / iPhone 12 mini / iPhone 12 Pro / iPhone 12 Pro Max / iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / iPhone 11 Pro Max / iPhone XS / iPhone XS Max / iPhone XR / iPhone X / iPhone 8 / iPhone 8 Plus / iPhone 7 / iPhone 7 Plus / iPhone 6S / iPhone 6S Plus / iPhone SE (1st generation) / iPhone SE (2nd generation) / iPod touch (7th generation)

If your iPhone is on the list above, you’re all set. However, there are three things that are worth doing before you hit the ‘Download and Install’ button in your Settings app.

iOS 14.5 release: 3 things you need to do before installing

First up, it’s always worth backing up your data before making the move to any new version of iOS. With any luck, there won’t be any issues moving your iPhone over to iOS 14.5. However, there have been a few hiccups with iOS upgrades in the past, so we can’t rule anything out.

As such, your first step should be to back-up your iPhone before attempting any update. This can be handled over iCloud – the cloud-based storage option available to every Apple user, or iTunes – provided that you’ve got a Mac or MacBook nearby with the correct cable to complete the back-up. To use iCloud, first you’ll want to connect to a Wi-Fi network, launch the Settings app, then tap your Apple ID at the top of the list. Scroll down and tap on the iCloud tab, then iCloud Backup, and finally, Back Up Now.

Next up, you’ll need some free storage to download the iOS 14.5 update and kickstart the upgrade on your iPhone. If you’re the sort of person who is constantly swatting away warnings about ‘Low Storage’ every time you take a photograph, video, or try to install a new app – you’ll need to make some ruthless cuts before attempting to upgrade.

Technology

iOS 14.5 release time: when can you update your iPhone to the new version of iOS?

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Apple held its first blockbuster event of 2021 last week. Dubbed ‘Spring Loaded’, the Californian company announced a redesigned iMac, super-powered new iPad Pro, AirTags to keep tabs on the location of your bag and wallet, and a gorgeous new purple colour for the iPhone 12. Although CEO Tim Cook and co. didn’t mention iOS 14.5 during the 60-minute keynote, the release date was soon revealed in the small-print published after the curtains closed.

The new iPhone 12 will ship with iOS 14.5 out-of-the-box, suggesting that Apple is pretty confident its new operating system version is ready to be used by customers, when it hits store shelves this Friday. Not only that but AirTags, which were available to pre-order alongside the new iPhone 12 on Friday April 23, require iOS 14.5 to work.

To avoid some very disappointed AirTag customers unable to find their keys – despite spending £29 on the latest Apple gadget – the company needs to get its new operating system out the door pretty sharpish. In the small-print published last Tuesday, Apple confirmed: “AirTag requires iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 14.5 or later, or iPad running iPadOS 14.5 or later. These software updates will be available starting next week.”

But when exactly can we expect to get our hands on iOS 14.5? After all, “these software updates will be available starting next week” is pretty vague.

According to Apple-obsessed blog MacRumors, you could be testing out iOS 14.5 on your iPhone this evening. In an article published on the blog, it claims that Apple has already informed third-party developers that they need to update their software with the iOS 14 SDK (Software Development Kit) and comply with Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency requirements by April 26. The App Tracking Transparency will show-up in apps, warning whenever a developer wants to track your activity or share it with advertisers.

Given that Apple has asked developers to make sure everything is in place by Monday April 26, 2021, it’s possible that iOS 14.5 could launch today. Of course, there’s no guarantee that Apple will flip the switch in its headquarters in Cupertino today. But with AirTags likely to start landing through letterboxes in the coming days, it makes sense that Apple would want to make sure iPhone owners get their hands on the new software as quickly as possible.

iOS 14.5 release time: If Apple does decide to roll-out iOS 14.5 today, when can you expect to download the software?

Apple usually kickstarts the iOS 14.5 update at 10am in Cupertino, California. That means any readers in New York should be checking their Settings menu for the new update around 1pm, while those in the UK should expect to see iOS 14.5 land around 6pm. In mainland Europe, France and Berlin – for example, you’ll be looking at a 7pm release.

Of course, these release times aren’t something you can set your watch by.

In the past, these updates have taken anywhere between 30 minutes to a few hours after the predicted launch time to arrive with iPhone owners. And there’s always the possibility that we won’t see iOS 14.5 until tomorrow, allowing Apple to do some final checks – make sure every developer has updated to the latest SDK, added compliance for its App Tracking Transparency, and more.

The extra information about how companies handle your personal data isn’t the only reason to be excited about the latest update for iPhone.

Apple is bundling more than 200 new emoji with the new operating system to help jazz-up your text messages. Some of the biggest changes to the emoji library in iPadOS 14.5 resolve around skin tones. The pictograms for couples can now be customised so that each member of the couple has their own distinct skin tone. Until now, these emoji were still restricted to the default Simpsons-like yellow shade. Apple added the same feature to the icons of couples holding hands back in late 2019.

There are new smiley-style emoji to represent someone exhaling, a face with spiral eyes, and a face covered with clouds. Hearts are some of the most popular emoji, so Apple is adding a heart on fire and one patched-up with plasters. As well as the new additions, Apple has also tweaked some existing emoji. Most notably, it has removed the two droplets of blood falling from the needle in its syringe emoji, ostensibly to make the whole process seem a little less… bloody. The fluid inside the syringe is changing from red to clear too. People have been increasingly turning to this emoji to represent vaccination, so this change makes the icon look a little more like an Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, and not a blood sample.

An enhanced Apple Podcasts app with the redesigned show and episode pages is also coming in iOS 14.5. It will also offer Podcast listeners the chance to pay a subscription fee to unlock advert-free episodes as well as exclusive content. In addition, Siri no longer has a female voice by default and will now offer more diverse voice options in English.

And finally, and maybe most excitingly, iOS 14.5 will also allow Face ID facial recognition system to work – even when you’re wearing a face covering. The UK, and a number of countries around the world, require everyone to wear a face-covering when inside – in a supermarket, hairdresser, and more.

While helpful at reducing the spread of coronavirus, face-coverings are pretty unhelpful when it comes to Face ID, which is found on iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and the iPad Pro range. It scans your face to authenticate contactless payments, unlock the handset, and open secure apps – like mobile banking.

With iOS 14.5, Apple will allow Face ID to unlock your smartphone whenever it detects a face-covering blocking its scan. To do this without making your iPhone less secure, Apple will look for an unlocked Apple Watch in close proximity.

If the software determines that your Apple Watch is close enough to be on your wrist, unlocked and signed in with the same Apple ID account, it will let Face ID work. That means you’ll be able to check your bank balance before paying with a card, answering WhatsApp texts and check a shopping list on your iPhone without resorting to a PIN code to unlock your smartphone each time.

Technology

Apple confirms when iOS 14.5 update will be available on your iPhone

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Apple held its first showcase event of the year last night from California. Teased ahead of time with the tagline “Spring Loaded”, the event lived up to the title – with a new iPad Pro that’s as powerful as its latest MacBook Pro, a redesigned iMac with half a dozen new colours and boosted camera for video calls, a new colour for the iPhone 12 range, a minor upgrade for the Apple TV and an unrecognisable remote, and its long-awaited AirTags, which allow iPhone owners to pinpoint the location of lost keys and wallets from the Find My app on iOS. 

But one thing that wasn’t mentioned was the feverishly-anticipated iOS 14.5 update. Some had predicted the “Spring Loaded” event would trigger the launch of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 worldwide. Unfortunately, Apple didn’t confirm when its latest software updates would roll-out to eager customers during its 60-minute presentation, which was pre-recorded in its headquarters in Cupertino, California. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t know when the new updates are coming….

In the minutes after the event, Apple confirmed when customers could expect to see iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 begin to land on their gadgets. These details were found buried at the bottom of the press releases for the AirTags and new iPad Pro models. In the former, Apple states: “AirTag requires iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 14.5 or later, or iPad running iPadOS 14.5 or later. These software updates will be available starting next week.”

Apple had already confirmed that its new iPhone 12 model would arrive with iOS 14.5 installed out-of-the-box. Since that hits store shelves on April 30, it’s not a huge surprise that iOS 14.5 will begin rolling out to existing iPhone owners worldwide a little before. 

As you’d expect, Apple isn’t planning to make iPad owners wait any longer for their next operating system update. A release date for iPadOS 14.5 can be found squirrelled away at the bottom of the press release for the new iPad Pro model.

It reads: “iPadOS 14.5, which will be available to iPad customers starting next week, comes with new additions, including expanded language support for Apple Pencil features like Scribble and Smart Selection, new emoji, support for the latest gaming controllers, and the ability to share lyrics and see top songs in cities around the world with Apple Music.”

Just like the iPhone 12 in its fancy new purple colourways, the redesigned iPad Pro will ship with iPadOS 14.5 out of the box. It will be available to pre-order on April 30, with availability in the latter half of May, depending on your region.

iOS 14.5 is an important update. Amongst all the usual performance and stability tweaks, Apple has added a new feature that will allow its Face ID facial recognition system to work – even when you’re wearing a face covering. The UK, and a number of countries around the world, require everyone to wear a face-covering when inside – in a supermarket, hairdresser, and more.

While helpful at reducing the spread of coronavirus, face-coverings are pretty unhelpful when it comes to Face ID, which is found on iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and the iPad Pro range. It scans your face to authenticate contactless payments, unlock the handset, and open secure apps – like mobile banking.

With iOS 14.5, Apple will allow Face ID to unlock your smartphone whenever it detects a face-covering blocking its scan. To do this without making your iPhone less secure, Apple will look for an unlocked Apple Watch in close proximity.

If the software determines that your Apple Watch is close enough to be on your wrist, unlocked and signed in with the same Apple ID account, it will let Face ID work. That means you’ll be able to check your bank balance before paying with a card, answering WhatsApp texts and check a shopping list on your iPhone without resorting to a PIN code to unlock your smartphone each time.

An enhanced Apple Podcasts app with the redesigned show and episode pages is also coming in iOS 14.5. It will also offer Podcast listeners the chance to pay a subscription fee to unlock advert-free episodes as well as exclusive content. iOS 14.5 also brings all-new emoji to the iPhone.

In addition, Siri no longer has a default voice and will include more diverse voice options in English. This latest software update builds on the release of iOS 14, which delivered a major update to the Home Screen with beautifully redesigned widgets and the App Library, new ways to use apps with App Clips, and powerful updates to Messages.

Although it’s unclear exactly when next week iOS 14.5 will appear, you’ll be able to test out all of the new features (and emoji) on your iPhone and iPad before Friday April 30.

Technology

Apple confirms when iOS 14.5 update will be available to iPhone owners worldwide

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Apple held its first showcase event of the year last night from California. Teased ahead of time with the tagline “Spring Loaded”, the event lived up to the title – with a new iPad Pro that’s as powerful as its latest MacBook Pro, a redesigned iMac with half a dozen new colours and boosted camera for video calls, a new colour for the iPhone 12 range, a minor upgrade for the Apple TV and an unrecognisable remote, and its long-awaited AirTags, which allow iPhone owners to pinpoint the location of lost keys and wallets from the Find My app on iOS. 

But one thing that wasn’t mentioned was the feverishly-anticipated iOS 14.5 update. Some had predicted the “Spring Loaded” event would trigger the launch of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 worldwide. Unfortunately, Apple didn’t confirm when its latest software updates would roll-out to eager customers during its 60-minute presentation, which was pre-recorded in its headquarters in Cupertino, California. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t know when the new updates are coming….

In the minutes after the event, Apple confirmed when customers could expect to see iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 begin to land on their gadgets. These details were found buried at the bottom of the press releases for the AirTags and new iPad Pro models. In the former, Apple states: “AirTag requires iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 14.5 or later, or iPad running iPadOS 14.5 or later. These software updates will be available starting next week.”

Apple had already confirmed that its new iPhone 12 model would arrive with iOS 14.5 installed out-of-the-box. Since that hits store shelves on April 30, it’s not a huge surprise that iOS 14.5 will begin rolling out to existing iPhone owners worldwide a little before. 

As you’d expect, Apple isn’t planning to make iPad owners wait any longer for their next operating system update. A release date for iPadOS 14.5 can be found squirrelled away at the bottom of the press release for the new iPad Pro model.

It reads: “iPadOS 14.5, which will be available to iPad customers starting next week, comes with new additions, including expanded language support for Apple Pencil features like Scribble and Smart Selection, new emoji, support for the latest gaming controllers, and the ability to share lyrics and see top songs in cities around the world with Apple Music.”

Just like the iPhone 12 in its fancy new purple colourways, the redesigned iPad Pro will ship with iPadOS 14.5 out of the box. It will be available to pre-order on April 30, with availability in the latter half of May, depending on your region.

iOS 14.5 is an important update. Amongst all the usual performance and stability tweaks, Apple has added a new feature that will allow its Face ID facial recognition system to work – even when you’re wearing a face covering. The UK, and a number of countries around the world, require everyone to wear a face-covering when inside – in a supermarket, hairdresser, and more.

While helpful at reducing the spread of coronavirus, face-coverings are pretty unhelpful when it comes to Face ID, which is found on iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and the iPad Pro range. It scans your face to authenticate contactless payments, unlock the handset, and open secure apps – like mobile banking.

With iOS 14.5, Apple will allow Face ID to unlock your smartphone whenever it detects a face-covering blocking its scan. To do this without making your iPhone less secure, Apple will look for an unlocked Apple Watch in close proximity.

If the software determines that your Apple Watch is close enough to be on your wrist, unlocked and signed in with the same Apple ID account, it will let Face ID work. That means you’ll be able to check your bank balance before paying with a card, answering WhatsApp texts and check a shopping list on your iPhone without resorting to a PIN code to unlock your smartphone each time.

An enhanced Apple Podcasts app with the redesigned show and episode pages is also coming in iOS 14.5. It will also offer Podcast listeners the chance to pay a subscription fee to unlock advert-free episodes as well as exclusive content. iOS 14.5 also brings all-new emoji to the iPhone.

In addition, Siri no longer has a default voice and will include more diverse voice options in English. This latest software update builds on the release of iOS 14, which delivered a major update to the Home Screen with beautifully redesigned widgets and the App Library, new ways to use apps with App Clips, and powerful updates to Messages.

Although it’s unclear exactly when next week iOS 14.5 will appear, you’ll be able to test out all of the new features (and emoji) on your iPhone and iPad before Friday April 30.

Technology

iOS 14.5 could release TODAY – is your iPhone compatible with all these new features?

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There’s a massive day ahead for Apple’s army of loyal fans. The US technology firm is holding a major event later tonight where we expect to see plenty of shiny new devices revealed to the world. An updated iPad Pro, refreshed iPad Mini and redesigned AirPods could all feature at the “Spring Loaded” showcase but that might not be all. Apple has already confirmed that its blockbuster iOS 14.5 update is arriving this spring and what better time to announce a full release date than during tonight’s event.
Of course, there’s no confirmation that this software will be pushed out to devices this evening but it would make perfect sense for Apple to finally reveal when consumers will be able to hit the download button.

We already know plenty about what is in store when iOS 14.5 does finally get a release and here’s a quick guide including all the new features and if your device is compatible.

WHICH iPHONES WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH iOS 14.5?

Basically, if your iPhone is already running iOS 14 you should have no problems installing iOS 14.5. In fact, some may even find their devices update automatically overnight once it is launched.

If you haven’t made the jump to iOS 14 then here are all the devices that will work with this latest software.

Phone 12 • iPhone 12 mini • iPhone 12 Pro • iPhone 12 Pro Max • iPhone 11 • iPhone 11 Pro • iPhone 11 Pro Max • iPhone XS • iPhone XS Max • iPhone XR iPhone X • iPhone 8 8 iPhone 8 Plus • iPhone 7 • iPhone 7 Plus • iPhone 6s • iPhone 6s Plus • iPhone SE (1st generation) •iPhone SE (2nd generation) • iPod touch (7th generation)

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WHAT’S NEW IN iOS 14.5?

There’s plenty of changes coming in this update including a very useful addition for anyone who has an iPhone with Face ID. The Face masks we are all now expected to wear have wreaked havoc with Apple’s security feature with devices simply not unlocking when wearing those all-important coverings when out shopping.

It’s become a massive headache for iPhone users with Apple’s Face ID technology needing a clear view of its owner’s facial features to work.

Luckily iOS 14.5 brings a fix. Anyone who happens to be wearing an Apple Watch will soon get an easy way to unlock their phone when wearing a mask.

When Face ID spots a covering is on your face it instantly links to the Apple Watch. If that device is fully unlocked and on your wrist, the iPhone’s screen will automatically unlock.

The moment that the two devices become separated, this unlock method will no longer work with a code or full Face ID check then needed.

Along with fixing that rather irritating Face ID face mask problem, Apple is also adding another vital change in iOS 14.5 with the launch of a feature called App Tracking Transparency. This change will require all third-party apps downloaded from Apple’s App Store to get the users’ permission before tracking their data across apps or websites owned by other companies.

Tucked inside the Settings menu, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV users will be able to see exactly which apps have requested permission to track them with an easy option to switch it off.

Apple says it wants users to take back control and it hopes this update will help iPhone and iPad users understand what is happening to their data.

Other nice additions include some new emojis with Apple bringing skin tone variations for couples kissing and couples with heart, which can be customised for gender-neutral, two men, two women, and woman and man couples. There’s also new emojis for heart on fire, heart mending, woman with beard, person with beard, face exhaling, face in clouds, and face with spiral eyes.

There’s also compatibility for the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers which means you’ll be able to use these accessories when playing games on the iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.

Apple will be revealing all from 6pm tonight and Express.co.uk will bring you all the news live from this “Spring Loaded” launch event.

This article originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Technology

Why iOS 14.5 could spell good news for your iPhone battery life

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Apple is hard at work on the next version of its iPhone operating system, iOS 14.5. The Californian company has rolled out a new beta version to developers to iron-out any issues before the update ships to millions of iPhone owners in the coming weeks. Interestingly, Apple has sprinkled a couple of exciting new features into this new beta, which weren’t previously available in iOS 14.5.
In fact, iOS 14.5 looks to be shaping up to be one of the biggest updates in a while. One of the new additions will be handy for any iPhone owners frustrated with their battery life. Yes, if your iPhone battery is draining faster than expected, Apple will “recalibrate” its battery life estimates to provide a more accurate estimate of how much juice is left in the tank.

Unfortunately, iPhone 11, 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max seem to be the only handsets eligible for this process in the current beta version of iOS 14.5.

With any luck, Apple will add support for more iPhone ranges in subsequent beta versions or updates to iOS. As the battery cell inside your smartphone ages, the battery life estimate can be thrown. As a result, you might find your smartphone dying when iOS tells you there is still 10% left in the tank.

Based on the latest beta, the recalibration process will be automatic and will take place in the background, so you won’t need to dig deep into the Settings menu to find a button to kickstart the process. Sadly, the entire process takes a little time.

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According to Apple, you’ll need to charge and deplete your iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro battery a few times for the operating system to recalibrate properly. Depending on how much you use your handset, that could take a few weeks to complete. If something goes wrong and the battery somehow fails to be recalibrated, a new battery service message will pop up and an Apple Authorised Service Provider will replace it for free, Apple has clarified in a support article about the as-yet unreleased feature (first spotted by those clever people at 9to5Mac)

Battery life is always one of the biggest issues with any smartphones. As so much of our lives have become dependent on these pocket-sized gadgets – from paying at the check-out, tracking our fitness, online shopping, social media, and keeping in touch with friends and family – making sure you have enough battery to get you through the end of the day is essential.

Having an accurate battery life estimate, so you can judge whether you need to quickly top-up your iPhone with a fast-charger before heading out, is a big part of that.

With any luck, iOS 14.5 will make the battery life estimates more accurate for millions of iPhone 11 owners. It’s unclear when the next iOS update will begin rolling out, but fingers crossed, there isn’t much longer to wait.

The news comes as Apple announced the date for its next developers conference, dubbed WWDC, when it’s likely to offer a sneak peek at the next-generation upgrades to its operating systems, including iOS 15. Here’s hoping Apple will use this next update to bring more functionality to the widgets introduced last year, as well as new camera and Siri features.

As you’d expect, Express.co.uk will have all the news from WWDC 2021 when it arrives in June 2021, so stay tuned.