iOS 15.4 is out of beta and is available for all models of iPhones compatible with iOS 15. From iPhone (1 gen), iPhone 6s and up to iPhone 13 Pro Max.
As Apple has been accustomed to for several years, the iOS x.4 update in the spring brings changes and new features, and iOS 15.4 is no exception.
Table of Contents
iOS 15.4 – News and features
Make ID with a sanitary protection mask
Apple adds a new mode to the iPhone biometric authentication. When I was wearing sanitary protection mask, Face ID becomes somewhat useless and is quite inefficient when we are in a store and want to make a payment by Apple Pay. It would involve using Face ID to select the card we want to use silver the POS.
"Face ID with a Mask" makes a more careful facial scan of the area around the eyes, which requires a more careful analysis of this area of the face. This is probably why Apple has limited this feature only to new iPhone models.
Unfortunately, assuming a more careful scan of limited areas of the face, the iOS 15.4 "Face ID with a Mask" feature is only available on iPhone 12 or newer models. iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Being a partial scan of the area around the eyes, it is not necessary to clean the mask when setting a new Face ID.
Apple Watch owners can still use the smart watch as an alternative for unlock iPhone when Face ID cannot be used because of the sanitary protection mask.
A new set of Emoji on iPhone and iPad
In this iOS 15.4 update, a set of 37 new emojis and 75 skin tones were introduced. Skin tones. In total, 112 new emojis.
The new emoji set includes a heart made with palms and fingers, a thumbs-up emoji, hands to face, biting lips, dotted face, military salute, low beat and soap bubbles.
Custom Email Domain in iCloud
We talked before about this feature, since it was in the beta development stage. iCloud Custom Email Domain, through which users can host their own internet domain for email.
In iOS 15.4, support was added to create hosting for the domain directly from the settings iCloud Mail.
Custom Email Domain is only available for iCloud+ subscribers and up to 5 custom domain names can be set. Most likely in my case, due to the maximum iCloud subscription I have.
Family members from the group "Family Sharing” can use domain names added in iCloud Custom Email Domain to create their own personalized email addresses.
iCloud Keychain Notes si Hide Security Recommendations
The electronic wallet for passwords, Keychain (Passwords). An option for notes has been added to each saved password (a very useful function for searching as well) and the possibility to hide notifications for alerts regarding security recommendations. When we have a too weak password for an online account or we use a common password that can be easily guessed.
Apple Card Widget
It is currently available in a very limited number of countries, but who has Apple Card in Wallet, can now add the new Apple Card widget to the Home Screen.
Tap To Pay pe iPhone
"Tap to Pay" is a solution that addresses business customers. Through "Tap to Play", the iPhone can be used as a terminal for contactless payments.
Apple has already provided the API for this technology that uses NFC, and Shopify Point of Sale seems to be the first solution developed for iOS.
More precisely, the seller in a store can collect a contactless payment with his card via Apple Pay, directly with an iPhone that has the store's sales application.
Other features of iOS 15.4
- Possibility to select the camera in the Magnifier application. Front camera or main camera.
- New voices for Siri
- Automation Shortcuts for Personal Automations.
- Performance improvements, the correction of some bugs from the previous version and the solution of some possible security breaches.
iOS 15.4 is available for all iPhone owners worldwide. The update can be done if you have a Wi-Fi connection to download the update and at least 50% battery charge level.
