Apple Inc finally released the iOS 14.4 updates for the iOS 14 version that had arrived last summer. The iOS 14.4 is the fourth new update since the previous version had been released for iPad and iPhones.
This update, unlike any other average update, is not just an upgrade to 14.3.1 but it’s a huge leap and is a milestone upgrade that comes in with new features, enhancements, and bug fixes. In this article, we will discuss all the features this software update includes and the reason behind its importance.
All the iOS users have been recommended to update this latest version as it is compatible with all the devices mentioned below:
- iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2
- iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
For iPods:
- This software upgrade is compatible with iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and recent ones along with iPad mini 4 or latest and iPad from the fifth-generation onwards.
To summarize the new changes the upgrade involves few tweaks in its camera functioning, QR code scanning, increased Bluetooth capabilities, and several bug fixes. We will check them individually in detail further.
Features of iOS 14.4 Software Update
Here are the features that have been enhanced along with the upgrade that will improve the user experience and make the device more efficient.
QR Code Scanning
The scanning of a QR code with the iPhone’s camera has been improved such that the camera is now able to recognize smaller QR codes also. So overall QR code recognition and its functionality should be better.
Advanced Bluetooth Settings
The Bluetooth settings have been upgraded with an additional provision for the user to be able to choose the type of Bluetooth device being connected with the Apple device.
Specification of a device type for third-party Bluetooth linked audio devices are helpful as the Headphone Audio Level measurements can be taken correctly by the device. Through this Apple tracks the audio levels of headphones to send alerts to the listener if music is being played at a level that has the potential to damage hearing health over time.
For example, you can choose from the different Bluetooth audio devices as listed below:
- Headphones
- Hearing Aid
- Car stereo
- Speaker
- Other
This will help in providing better sound quality and experience to the user as the levels can be controlled accordingly.
Camera Authenticity
The camera also enables new warning signs for the cases where Apple can’t recognize the camera on an iPhone 12 as a first-party camera from Apple.
This is very useful as if you own the latest Apple gadgets like iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 mini, or iPhone pro max which you got repaired or delivered with a non-genuine Apple camera product can be identified easily.
Any non-genuine or recycled Apple camera product in the device would be notified to the user with a camera authentication warning message – ‘unable to be verified as a new, genuine Apple camera’ in the new iPhone 12 models.
Time To Walk Feature
Through this feature, one can listen to the inspiring stories of other users while doing a walking workout. This is possible if you have an Apple watch linked to your Apple device and are connected to Apple Fitness+.
It consists of episodes of various music artists, athletes, and other influential people. The length of these episodes ranges from 20 minutes to 40 minutes. Some of such influential speakers who have shared the episodes are:
- Musician Shawn Mendes
- Actress Uzo Aduba
- NBA player Draymond Green
HomePOD MINI
With the iOS 14.4 update, the HomePod Mini users can enjoy the U1 ultra wideband chip in the device or speaker.
The following advantages are provided to the users:
- The new feature U1 Ultra Wideband is added between the Šumava Homepod Mini AG and the iPhone 11 versions and 12 with the chip U1 when combined with Apple computer with the iOS 14.4 upgrade programme.
- The U1 chip helps to improve:
- The handoff mode with visual, audible, and haptic effects when transferring songs from the iPhone to the HomePod Mini.
- When an iPhone is found near the HomePod mini it will begin a soft haptic touch rhythm that will get faster as the iPhone moves closer. The interface to transfer a song between the HomePod mini and the iPhone is formed or opened.
- These features can be used only in HomePod Mini as HomePod is not equipped with the U1 chip and the latest Apple devices such as Apple 11 or Apple 12 are required.
Bug Fixes
This is one of the most important reasons for which the software upgrade is being recommended to all Apple users with compatible devices. This software update has been proved to fix some of the security glitches that might have already been exploited by hackers. However, Apple didn’t give out the specifics about the bug in order to prevent further penetration of hackers.
The updates on iPhone and iPods help to carry significant kernel and WebKit vulnerability fixes so it is best and recommended to install them on your devices as soon as possible.
According to the official website of Apple, the following changes and fixes are brought in with iOS 14.4 for these issues:
- Image artifacts could appear in HDR photos taken with iPhone 12 Pro.
- Updated exercise data may not appear on the health widget.
- Delayed typing and word suggestions may not appear on the keyboard.
- The keyboard cannot be found in Messages in the right language
- Audio stories from the News app in CarPlay will not resume after being paused for spoken directions or Siri.
- Enabling Switch Control in Accessibility will help to prevent phone calls from being answered from the Lock Screen mode.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered all the important upgrades and changes that iOS 14.4 behold for its users and why it is important to get this software update as soon as possible.
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