Excitement for iOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3: Face ID Mask and Universal Control

Although, first of all, you are probably wondering when these versions will arrive . It is the million dollar question and unfortunately there is no officially set date. In any case, based on what has been seen in recent years and knowing Apple’s beta process, it is likely that by mid-March the updates will be ready to be released to the public.

Lots of news for iOS 15.4

This week, after the release of iOS 15.3, many were left cold. It was an important update for incorporating very important security measures to the system, but lacking visual or functional novelties. And yes, it is true that great things are not expected from intermediate versions, but there is always some striking detail. Precisely iOS 15.4 will bring several relevant changes according to what was seen in its first beta.

The most outstanding features that will arrive with this version 15.4 to the iPhone are these:

• Face ID with a mask: Until now, the iPhone’s facial recognition did not allow it, unless you had a linked Apple Watch. With this version you can choose between unlocking or not wearing a mask. And it is that the security of the recognition decreases if we only have to detect the upper part of the face, but at least the user is already given the option. Of course, it will only be valid on iPhone 12 and 13 because they are the ones with a system with the highest recognition points in the sensors.

• New emojis: a classic novelty that loses importance after a few months, but it is never badly received. In this new version, 37 new emoticons and 75 skin tones will be added to other emojis, making a total of 112. Some new gestures with the hands stand out, a mouth biting its lip or a melting emoticon.
• The deactivation of notifications in Shortcuts is finally a reality, thus preventing a banner from appearing at the top every time one is executed. You no longer have to resort to tedious methods to achieve it and their execution becomes less abrupt.
• iCloud Keychain allows you to add notes that will be secretly recorded, a functionality that many password managers had for years and was longed for in the Apple system.
• Custom domains within iCloud Private features, now allowing you to choose an option on which to configure anonymous emails.
• SharePlay can now be activated from the sharing options, now being a much more intuitive and faster method to execute.
• New widget for the Apple Card , something that in any case is secondary for users who are not from the United States, the only territory in which this card can currently be contracted.

It should be noted that iPadOS 15.4 also brings, in addition to the previous ones, its own new features such as these:

• Magic Keyboard brightness control from Control Center.
• Customize corner gestures by choosing between opening a quick note or taking a screenshot.

In addition to all these, and referring in this case to both systems, indications of new features have been found at the level of privacy and even the possibility of self-analyzing the iPhone or iPad in search of damage to find out if a repair is needed.

Universal Control is finally coming to the Mac

If there is something that all Mac users have been waiting for since WWDC 2022, it was Universal Control, a feature that allows you to control multiple devices with the same keyboard and mouse . From being able to unify the controls of a Mac and an iPad, to being able to do it between two computers, one being an iMac and the other a MacBook. Configuring it will be very simple from the settings, and you can even have it always activated.

Holy wow Universal Control is incredible.

This is me moving between a MacBook Pro, an iPad mini, and an iPad Pro using just the MacBook trackpad and keyboard. It’s aware of position, lets you drag files, and supports iPadOS gestures.

The hype was real and it all just works 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PWUTLYZtkW

– Federico Viticci (@viticci) January 27, 2022

This is a function that took longer than expected and, although it has not been officially commented, it could be due to a problem with its development. However, it seems already solved and even Apple itself has taken it upon itself to help developers and press users to use it. Therefore, it would be totally unreasonable if it did not end up arriving in the final version.