iOS and iPadOS 15.4 betas arrive with Universal Control

As expected, Apple followed the release of iOS 15.3 with testing betas for iOS 15.4 (and related operating systems like iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS). A few important iOS 15 features are still pending, they are supposed to be released this spring. This beta finally brings a first glimpse of Universal Control (with the macOS 12.3 beta). It’s hoped that over the beta testing these features will appear in iOS 15.4, but Apple may still delay them.

The iPadOS 15.4 beta finally brings the Universal Control feature, which was supposed to come out last fall but was delayed to spring 2022. It offers drag and drop of files between iPad and Mac (or different Mac), as well as share the wireless keyboard and mouse between them. This feature in the AirPlay & Handoff tab of the general settings. There is also a cursor and keyboard (beta) option.

Unlocking and emojis on the menu

Another novelty, the unlocking of an iPhone even with a mask. Better late than never, right? While iOS 14.5 has previously allowed unlocking an iPhone with an Apple Watch when Face ID isn’t working, it’s not much use for those who don’t have a watch but are trying to reduce the spread of the virus. covid-19 by wearing a mask in public spaces. In the Face ID and Passcode settings, everyone will find a toggle button to use Face ID with a mask. When enabled, Face ID will “use the unique features around the eye area to authenticate” rather than full facial recognition. There is also an “Add Glasses” setting so the system can correctly identify facial features. Apple warns that Face ID is more accurate when these settings are disabled.

Several dozen new emoji are part of the Unicode Consortium’s Emoji 14 release. These include the face that melts, the face that greets, X-rays, bank card or identity card. When it rolls out, iOS 15.4 is expected to include 37 additional emoji. Note that their appearance will change from one platform to another. Here is a brief overview of what we will find in our next messages.

Among the 838 new characters in #Unicode14 are 37 new #emoji, along with new emoji sequences, that are expected to show up on 📱s, 💻s, and other platforms sometime next year → https://t.co/deSr1g6m8k#絵文字 pic.twitter.com/xuTf8Os02K

— The Unicode Consortium (@unicode) September 7, 2021

Other small revolutions

Among other minor changes, we note that this version allows developers to support the adaptive triggering function of the DualSense controller of the PlayStation 5. An Apple Card widget has been created and can be added to the home screen ; it displays your current balance and spending.

Apple developers have also thought about the famous vaccination cards in the EU and their support. The Health app now supports the EU Covid-19 digital certificate format, allowing your vaccination record to be added to the Health and Wallet apps in supported regions.

Be part of the beta testers

To test the beta version of iOS 15.4 (or iPadOS 15.4), you must first do so on a device that is not your usual iPhone or iPad. Registered developers can go to developer.apple.com/download using the device they want to run the beta on. From there, it is possible to create a beta developer profile. To do this, go to Settings > General > VPN and device management to activate the beta profile. Then the iPhone or iPad will restart, and the latest version can be downloaded in Settings > General > Software Update.

To participate in the public beta test (which typically receives betas within a few hours to a day from developers), go to beta.apple.com using the device you want to run the beta on. From there, it is possible to create a beta developer profile. This will be enabled in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Then the used device will reboot, and in Settings > General > Software Update, the latest version can be downloaded.