MacRumors

Following the release of iOS 14.4 on January 26, Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.3, the prior version of iOS 14. With the software no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade from iOS 14.4 to iOS 14.3 if you've already upgraded.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.

iOS 14.4 introduced some notable security fixes for vulnerabilities that Apple says may have been actively exploited, so if you haven't updated yet, it's a good idea to do so.

The update also brought support for smaller QR codes, a feature for assigning device types to Bluetooth accessories, camera authenticity warnings for iPhone 12 models, and more, with details available in our iOS 14.4 guide.

iOS 14.4 is the current publicly available version of iOS that people can download, but Apple has also seeded an iOS 14.5 beta to developers for testing purposes. iOS 14.5 is one of the biggest updates to iOS 14 to date, introducing a feature for unlocking an ‌iPhone‌ when wearing a mask with an Apple Watch, adding Dual-SIM 5G support, introducing compatibility with the latest gaming controllers, and more.

A leaked Tesla FCC document shared by The Verge suggests that Tesla's next cars will support Ultra Wideband, a technology that's built into the latest iPhones and in vehicles, allows for greater accuracy when unlocking a car with a smartphone.

Tesla in September submitted documentation on new key fobs, a controller, and endpoints that would be installed inside the frame and cabin of a vehicle, some of which support Ultra Wideband communication. Tesla is using a standards-based implementation of Ultra Wideband, so it should be compatible with the iPhone 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models that support the technology if it ultimately ends up in Tesla vehicles.

Apple's ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 devices are equipped with a U1 chip that supports Ultra Wideband technology for improved spatial awareness and indoor location detection. Apple has likened Ultra Wideband to "GPS at the scale of the living room," and it is designed for accurate close proximity tracking.

Right now, Apple is using the U1 chip for a directional AirDrop feature and to interact with the U1-equipped HomePod mini for handing off songs, but it otherwise doesn't do much. In the future, Apple is expected to use the U1 chip for AirTags, and it also has applications like integration with vehicles.

There's no explicit word that Tesla's Ultra Wideband implementation will work with the ‌iPhone‌, but Tesla already has an iPhone app that allows Tesla owners to lock and unlock their cars, among other features. According to the FCC document, Tesla's Ultra Wideband feature will more accurately determine how far a person is from their car for unlocking and activation purposes, and Tesla describes it as more secure.

Future Tesla vehicles will include several Ultra Wideband endpoints in the vehicle for proper location triangulation and to determine whether a person is inside or outside of the car, and these will likely be able to interface with Apple's iPhones.

Other vehicle manufacturers are also working on Ultra Wideband technology that will work with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models. In January, BMW said that it is working on Digital Key Plus, a new Ultra Wideband version of the Apple Car Keys feature that is designed to allow drivers to unlock and start their vehicles without removing their ‌iPhone‌ from their pocket or bag.

BMW's Ultra Wideband technology will be built into the iX electric vehicle set to launch in Europe in late 2021 and in North America in early 2022.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur 11.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming just a few days after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.2, a bug fix update.

Developers can download the ‌‌macOS Big Sur‌‌ 11.3 beta using the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper profile from the Apple Developer Center.

macOS Big Sur 11.3 introduces more customization options for Safari, adding a way to rearrange the different sections on the Start Page like Favorites, Reading List, Siri Suggestions, Privacy Report, and more. Developers also have access for a new integration to develop features for the Start Page.

The update includes optimizations for using iOS apps on M1 Macs. When running iPhone and iPad apps on ‌M1‌ Macs, there's a Touch Alternatives preference pane that allows users to set keyboard commands for touch input alternatives, plus iPadOS apps launch with a larger window if the Mac's display allows it. Touch Alternatives can be enabled for ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ apps by clicking on the app's name in the menu bar and then selecting the Preferences option. Touch Alternatives let you customize taps, swipes, and drags.

macOS Big Sur 11.3 also adds support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X/S controllers for use with macOS games.

In the Reminders app, reminder lists can be sorted by Due Date, Creation Date, Priority, or Title, and there is an option to print lists by going to File > Print. Reminders can also be moved manually across lists with drag and drop, something that wasn't possible before.

Apple is adding a new "Made For You" library shortcut in Apple Music for finding personal mixes and Replay playlists, and the Listen Now section has been updated with support for highlighting live events.

In the Apple News app, there's a redesigned ‌Apple News‌+ tab with a dedicated "For You" section and a new Browse tab that makes it easier to browse through available content. The new For You section is designed to help ‌Apple News‌+ users find favorite magazines and newspapers much faster, plus it adds new tools for managing downloaded issues.

9to5Mac discovered that macOS Big Sur 11.3 includes an updated "Support" interface when accessing "About This Mac." The new design includes details on your warranty and it allows for starting a repair right from the Mac interface.

The tab will work similarly to the AppleCare coverage menu in the iOS Settings app, which lets users request repairs, buy an ‌AppleCare‌ plan, and check their coverage. This updated support menu is not visible in the first beta of macOS Big Sur 11.3, but it could come at a later date. There are also signs that Apple may be planning to bring a support app to the Mac.

macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for HomePod Stereo pairs, allowing a set of paired HomePods to be set as the default sound output option, with the two HomePods showing up as a single selectable speaker rather than separate as in prior versions of macOS.

Apple today began offering refurbished versions of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, marking the first time that the 2019 iPhones have been available at a discounted price directly from Apple.

Savings on the iPhone 11 models ranges from $100 to $170, and for the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, the refurbished store is the only way to get one of these devices from Apple as they have since been discontinued.

Apple has limited stock available as the contents of the refurbished store fluctuate based on what people have sent in for repair. There's a single refurbished ‌iPhone‌ 11 model with 128GB of storage priced at $549, which is a $100 savings.

There are several 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max variants with 64 to 256GB of storage. An entry-level 11 Pro Max with 64GB of storage is available for $849, which Apple says is a $150 discount.

Color availability is limited with Apple offering the ‌iPhone‌ 11 in black, and the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro and Pro Max only in space gray and midnight green, but color options and available capacities will change over time.

Refurbished ‌iPhone‌ 11 models are SIM-free, carrier unlocked and can be used with any supported carrier.

All of Apple's refurbished iPhones include the same one-year warranty provided to a brand new ‌iPhone‌, along with all manuals and accessories. Each refurbished device from Apple goes through a rigorous testing, repair, repackaging, and cleaning process, with Apple providing new outer shells and batteries.

Aside from the plain white box that a refurbished device is shipped in, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between a refurbished ‌iPhone‌ and a new model. Standard one-year warranties can be extended with an AppleCare+ purchase, and there's also a standard 14-day return policy.

Apple has been picking up car experts on an ongoing basis over the course of the last few years as development continues on the rumored Apple Car, and at the end of last year, the Cupertino company hired Manfred Harrer, a Porsche executive with expertise in chassis design.

According to Business Insider Deutschland (via 9to5Mac), Harrer was considered one of the best engineers in the Volkswagen Group, serving as the head of chassis development at Porsche prior to overseeing the Cayenne product line.

A former top Volkswagen manager told Business Insider that Mr. Harrer was a "hidden champion," and the "measure of all things in his field." Harrer worked for Volkswagen Group for more than 13 years before he left at the end of last year without telling his former colleagues where he was heading.

Harrer's LinkedIn profile still lists Porsche as an employer, and there was reportedly a waiting period before Harrer was able to begin working for a new company. Prior to working on chassis development at Porsche, Harrer worked for BMW and Audi.

Current rumors suggest that Apple is pursuing a full Apple-branded car, and right now, it looks like the company will be partnering up with Hyundai. Just this morning, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is likely to use Hyundai's E-GMP Battery Electric Platform for the Apple Car, with the future vehicle set to be marketed as a "very high-end" model.

We've teamed up with Anker again this month, with a new collection of discount codes marking down USB-C wall chargers, surge protectors, portable chargers, USB-C hubs, and a wireless charger. All discount codes in this sale will expire on Sunday, February 7.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The sales also include $100 off Anker's Powerhouse II 777Wh Portable Solar Generator, which has two AC outlets, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, one vehicle-class outlet, and two DC outlets. When it needs to recharge, the Powerhouse can refuel in just under five hours (a solar panel is not included). There's also a smaller solar powered portable charger at $47.99.

Lastly, you'll find a large collection of USB-C accessories on sale this week, including USB-C wall chargers from $17.99, a surge protector with USB-C support at $29.99, and two USB-C MacBook hubs at $44.99. For portable chargers, prices start at $47.99 for Anker's Solar Power Bank with a 20,000 mAh capacity.

Wall Chargers

• Nano USB-C Charger (with 3ft USB-C Cable) - $17.99 with code MRAK2616, down from $21.99
• USB-C Charger - $25.99 with code MRAK2718, down from $32.99
• USB-C Power Strip with 3 AC Outlets - $29.99 with code MRAC9233, down from $37.99
• PowerCore Fusion USB-C Wall Charger + 10,000 mAh Portable Charger - $36.79 with code MRAK1623, down from $45.99

Portable Chargers

• Solar Power Bank 20,000 mAh - $47.99 with code MRAK1650, down from $59.99
• PowerCore III 19,200 mAh - $52.79 with code MRAK1285, down from $65.99
• PowerCore III Elite with USB-C Wall Charger + USB-C Cable - $79.99 with code MRAK1284, down from $99.99
• Portable Power Station (2 AC Outlets, 2 USB-C Ports, 4 USB-A Ports, More) - $599.99 with code MRAK1750, down from $699.99

Hubs

• USB-C Hub with HDMI Port, 2 USB-A, Ethernet, More - $44.99 with code MRAKCHUB, down from $59.99
• USB-C Hub Adapter for MacBook - $44.99 with code MRAKCHUB, down from $59.99

Wireless Charger

• PowerWave 10 Stand with 2 USB-A Ports - $32.99 with code MRAK2529, down from $45.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple may be designing and developing its own "health hardware products," according to a job listing spotted by MyHealthyApple.

Apple is hiring a Senior Engineering Project Manager to join Apple's Health Hardware group, which is part of Apple's Health Technologies division. The listing explicitly states that Apple is developing its own health hardware products, which appear to be separate from the Apple Watch. Unlike the Beddit sleep tracker, which was acquired by Apple in 2017, these "health hardware products" would come directly under the Apple brand.

The Health Hardware group is looking for an Engineering Project Manager (EPM) to lead the design and development of Apple-branded Health Hardware products.

Health Technologies is an interdisciplinary team of engineers and creators at Apple who are involved in a wide range of initiatives, products, and services, such as Apple Fitness+ and partnerships with Biogen and ZimmerBiomet.

The role sits among several other EPM hires on the Jobs at Apple website. The Health Hardware EPM manager is expected to oversee the product build itself as well as be responsible for interfacing with suppliers and even marketing.

EPMs are fearless organizers who are ready to work with the highly skilled Hardware, Software, Mechanical Design and Industrial Design teams to identify and resolve potential risks to the schedule and quality of the product. The EPM will interact with these engineering design disciplines plus Safety, Reliability, Marketing, Packaging, Manufacturing, Component Engineering, and other resources inside and outside Apple.

The EPM is also the key interface to the suppliers, driving build readiness at the factory and managing the build itself. Success is defined in terms of the quality and timeliness of the pre-production builds and the start of mass production.

The listing's emphasis on hardware product development and "driving build readiness at the factory" may suggest that Apple-branded health hardware products are already fairly developed, and could even be set to enter factory production soon.

Apple is increasingly interested in health and fitness innovations. Most Apple health features have been channeled through the Apple Watch and iPhone so far, but with HealthKit and the health infrastructure it has established, it would make sense for Apple to offer a broader range of health hardware products.

The new health hardware product job description does not provide any indications about the nature of these new products, but other HealthKit-compatible products on the market currently include weighing scales, blood-pressure monitors, thermometers, and more.

All four iPhone 13 models will feature an upgraded Ultra Wide camera lens with a wider ƒ/1.8 aperture, compared to ƒ/2.4 on iPhone 12 models, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O'Malley said in an investor note shared with MacRumors.

In an investor note with TF International Securities in November, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed that the Ultra Wide lens will be upgraded to an ƒ/1.8 aperture, but only on iPhone 13 Pro models, so there is conflicting information as to exactly how many models will get the lens upgrade. Kuo expects the upgraded Ultra Wide lens to expand to the rest of the flagship iPhone lineup in the second half of 2022.

A wider aperture would allow for more light to pass through the lens, with the move from a ƒ/2.4 to ƒ/1.8 aperture likely to result in significantly improved low-light performance when shooting in Ultra Wide mode on iPhone 13 models.

Barclays also claimed that the iPhone 12 Pro Max's upgraded Telephoto lens will expand to the standard iPhone 13 Pro, with a 65mm focal length and ƒ/2.2 aperture, a move that is expected to benefit chipmaker Cirrus Logic given that it would be supplying Apple with a camera controller for an additional iPhone model starting later this year.

Apple is expected to stick with the same display sizes and camera setups for the iPhone 13 lineup, including 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch models with dual-lens cameras and 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch models with triple-lens cameras. Other rumored camera features include the expansion of the LiDAR Scanner and sensor-shift image stabilization to more models.

February is Heart Month, and Apple is marking the occasion by offering slightly higher trade-in values on older Apple Watch models in the United States.

A new banner added to Apple's website says customers can get a new Apple Watch Series 6 for as low as $239 after trade-in of an Apple Watch Series 4 in good condition, or a new Apple Watch SE for as low as $199 after trade-in of an Apple Watch Series 2 in good condition. These are only two examples, with many other combinations possible.

The new trade-in values are as follows:

• Apple Watch Series 5: Up to $200 (up to $190 previously)
• Apple Watch Series 4: Up to $160 (up to $150 previously)
• Apple Watch Series 3: Up to $100 (up to $95 previously)
• Apple Watch Series 2: Up to $80 (up to $60 previously)
• Apple Watch Series 1: Up to $40 (up to $35 previously)

Apple has also tweaked the trade-in values of some iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android smartphone models. We've listed some examples below.

• iPhone 11 Pro: Up to $460 (up to $450 previously)
• iPhone 11: Up to $360 (up to $350 previously)
• iPhone XS Max: Up to $340 (up to $370 previously)
• iPhone XS: Up to $270 (up to $300 previously)
• iPhone XR: Up to $220 (up to $250 previously)
• iPad Pro: Up to $535 (up to $525 previously)
• iPad Air: Up to $275 (up to $250 previously)
• iPad mini: Up to $215 (up to $205 previously)
• MacBook Air: Up to $600 (up to $630 previously)
• Samsung Galaxy S20: Up to $240 (up to $255 previously)

Visit the Apple Trade In page for further details. Trade-in values vary in other countries.

After years of hoarding cash, Apple has sold $14 billion in bonds to take advantage of cheap borrowing costs in order to return more cash to shareholders, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The company issued debt in six parts. The longest portion of the offering, a 40-year security, will yield 95 basis points above Treasuries, after initially discussing between 115 and 120 basis points, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified as the details are private.

The report notes that until last year, Apple hadn't borrowed in the U.S. investment-grade market more than once in a calendar year since 2017, but low interest rates were too tempting for the company in its pursuit of aggressive share buybacks and dividends. Apple may also use it in funding for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisition and repayment of debt, according to Bloomberg's source.

Apple is believed to be sitting on $196 billion of cash, but has been working to reduce its net cash position, largely through payouts to stockholders. The company recently reported on earnings on the last quarter in which revenue topped $100 billion for the first time.

A judge presiding over preparatory hearings in the Apple vs. Epic Games court case has ruled that Apple CEO Tim Cook must attend a seven-hour long deposition to testify about how the company views App Store competition, reports Gizmodo.

U.S. magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixon reportedly settled on the seven-hour deposition after Epic Games proposed eight hours to depose Cook and Apple requested four. Apple's concession came after its lawyers attempted to cite the "apex doctrine," which prevents a high-level corporate employee from being deposed.

According to Judge Thomas S. Hixon, however, "this dispute is less than meets the eye." Hixon writes that the apex doctrine "limits the length of a deposition, rather than barring it altogether," and that given the circumstances, the dispute is a question of whether Cook should be deposed for "four hours, eight hours, or some length of time in between." Hence, Hixon's ruling that Cook should be deposed for seven hours.

Judge Hixon also denied Apple's request to subpoena internal documents related to ‌Epic Games‌' relationship with Samsung, which Apple alleged would prove that its ‌App Store‌'s practices are largely consistent with other industry players.

In other words, if Apple can prove that Samsung made similar decisions in how it distributes ‌Epic Games‌' Fortnite, then it could argue that the company's antitrust argument is unconvincing.

However, Hixon called the request "a quirky deep dive" into arrangements between the two companies, which "cannot serve as a stand-in for some larger category of market participants."

In another development, Hixon ordered Apple to make "best efforts" to produce internal payment-processing documents, after it criticized the company as "frustrating and unsatisfactory" in its attempts to stall their release to Epic.

According to Law360, Apple counsel representatives Jay Srinivasan of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher argued that the large size of the company meant the documents would take time to produce, and claimed that ‌Epic Games‌ has not prioritized its requests.

"You're not really offering a solution to this problem," Judge Hixson told Srinivasan. "You're just saying, 'No, we can't do it.' That feels frustrating and unsatisfactory to me."

Epic Games‌ in August added a Fortnite update that allowed customers to purchase in-game currency directly from ‌Epic Games‌, skirting Apple's in-app purchases. That is against Apple's rules, and the move led Apple to pull the app from the App Store.

After that, ‌‌Epic Games‌‌ filed a planned lawsuit against Apple, and Apple ultimately terminated ‌‌Epic Games‌‌' developer account. Fortnite has not been available on iOS devices since August, and as Epic refuses to comply with the ‌‌App Store‌‌ rules, there is no path for it to return to the ‌‌App Store‌‌.

The trial between ‌Epic Games‌ and Apple is scheduled to begin in May 2021.

Update 2/3: As spotted by The 8-Bit, Apple has now reinstated iCloud for Windows version 12 on the Microsoft Store.

Apple has pulled version 12 of iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store, based on user reports. The update included support for the iCloud Passwords Chrome extension released on Monday.

As noted by The 8-Bit, the version of iCloud currently on the Microsoft App Store is 11.6.32.0, which is a downgrade from version 12 that was available yesterday. The description for the iCloud app still mentions support for the iCloud Passwords extension, however.

It's not known why Apple pulled the latest version, but it could be due to issues many users have experienced with the Chrome extension, including problems with two-factor authentication when trying to access websites and the browser extension failing to work at all.

Apple released the iCloud passwords extension for Google's Chrome browser on Windows 10 to allow users to access passwords in Chrome that have been generated in Apple's Safari browser. It also enables ‌iCloud‌ syncing of passwords generated in Chrome, making them available on Apple devices, too.

Apple will collaborate with Hyundai on its first Apple Car model, and if things go well, Apple could work with General Motors and European manufacturer PSA for subsequent models or in other markets, according to noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In his latest TF Securities investor note, seen by MacRumors, Kuo corroborates recent reports of a potential Apple Car partnership with Hyundai and says that he believes Apple's first vehicle chassis will be based on Hyundai's E-GMP battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform.

Announced in December, the E-GMP uses up to two motors, five-link rear suspension, an integrated drive axle, battery cells that can provide range over 500km on a full charge, and can be charged up to 80% within 18 minutes through high-speed charging. A high performance model based on E-GMP is capable of accelerating from 0-60 miles per hour in less than 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 160 miles per hour. Hyundai plans to sell 1 million BEV units worldwide by 2025.

Apple's deep collaboration with current automakers (Hyundai Group, GM, and PSA) who have extensive development, production, and qualification experience will significantly shorten the Apple Car development time and create a time-to- market advantage. We believe that Apple will leverage current automakers' resources and focus on self-driving hardware and software, semiconductors, battery-related technologies, form factor and internal space designs, innovative user experience, and the integration with Apple’s existing ecosystem.

According to Kuo's prediction, Hyundai Mobis will be in charge of design and production for some Apple Car components, and Hyundai Group affiliate Kia will provide the U.S. production line for Apple Cars, although Kuo predicts that Apple may struggle to launch the Apple Car in 2025 because of the more complicated development time and supply chain management involved.

We predict that Apple will launch the Apple Car in 2025 at the earliest. The new iPhone takes about 18–24 months from initial specification definition to mass production based on experience. Given the longer development time, higher validation requirements, more complicated supply chain management, and very different sales/after-sales service channels for the automobiles, we believe that Apple, which lacks car building experience, is already on a tight schedule if it wants to launch the Apple Car in 2025.

Kuo suggests Apple will market the vehicle as a "very high-end" model, or "significantly higher" than a standard electric vehicle, which will benefit the automaker partners. Foxconn, which is already developing electric vehicle parts, will not be involved in Apple Car assembly or casing orders, predicts Kuo.

Rumors that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai about developing an Apple Car have been coming thick and fast over the last few weeks. Rumors that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai first surfaced in early January. Hyundai initially confirmed its electric vehicle discussions with Apple, but then walked back the claims hours later.

The most recent Reuters report suggested the outlook for a deal had dimmed because Hyundai executives were "divided" over the prospect of working with Apple. Hyundai was said to have serious reservations about the prospect of becoming a contract manufacturer for another brand.

Reuters in December reported that ‌‌‌Apple Car‌‌‌ production may begin around 2024. However, a subsequent Bloomberg report said that the ‌‌‌Apple Car‌‌‌ is "nowhere near production stage" and could be ready in around five to seven years.

Multiple MacRumors readers in the UK and Ireland have noticed that the built-in Weather app now supports next-hour precipitation readings, a feature that appears to have rolled out recently.

Next-hour precipitation details have been available in the United States and Canada since the launch of iOS 14, but had not expanded to other countries prior to this week. The new precipitation charts appear to be showing up for those running both iOS 14.4 and iOS 14.5.

Apple added next-hour precipitation to the Weather app after its acquisition of Dark Sky in March 2020. Precipitation charts offer minute-by-minute weather predictions based on precise location.

Update: Dutch website iCulture reports that the precipitation feature is appearing in The Hague, suggesting rollout is happening in the Netherlands and France, too.

Apple today published new App Store guideline updates for developers, tweaking many existing guidelines and adding a new rule pertaining to the App Tracking Transparency requirement in iOS 14.5.

The new 5.1.2(i) rule related to App Tracking Transparency requires developers to ask for explicit permission before tracking user activity, something that Apple has been planning to implement since iOS 14's release. Apple last week said that its App Tracking rules would be enforced starting with the next iOS update, which will be iOS 14.5.

5.1.2(i): Added: "You must receive explicit permission from users via the App Tracking Transparency APIs to track their activity. Learn more about tracking."

Coinciding with the new rule around App Tracking Transparency, Apple today highlighted the SKAdNetwork 2.2 and Private Click Measurement APIs that are available to developers as alternatives to more invasive user tracking methods.

SKAdNetwork 2.2 allows developers to display and measure ad effectiveness while preserving user privacy, while Private Click Measurement, an iOS 14.5 feature, lets ad networks measure the effectiveness of advertisement clicks within iOS apps that navigate to a website, but in a privacy-focused way.

App Tracking Transparency will be enforced when iOS 14.5 is released, and Apple has said that it expects the new update to launch in the early spring.

Apple's ‌App Store‌ Guidelines update also clarifies several existing rules and includes minor wording changes and tweaks, with a full list of changes available on Apple's developer site.

Apple today released the iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 beta updates for developers, and included in the new software is a feature that's designed to make it easier to unlock an iPhone while wearing a mask by leveraging the Apple Watch.

Both iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 are required to enable this feature, and once turned on, you can begin unlocking your ‌iPhone‌ with an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch while wearing a mask. The first time you go to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ with Apple Watch after enabling the feature you'll need to enter a passcode, but after that, Apple Watch unlocking is smooth, seamless, and quick.

When you're wearing a mask and go to use ‌Face ID‌, you'll feel a haptic vibration on your wrist and it will let you know that your ‌iPhone‌ was unlocked with your watch via a notification that pops up on your wrist.

‌Face ID‌ will work like normal on the ‌iPhone‌, so you'll only feel a difference through the Apple Watch, though sometimes there's a slight delay that says "unlocking ‌iPhone‌ with Apple Watch." This seems to depend on the distance between your ‌iPhone‌ and your watch, and if your authenticated watch is too far away, you'll be told to move it closer.

Every time you unlock, you'll feel the vibration and see the pop up, and it's generally an interface that looks like the interface that comes up when you unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch. Unlocking a Mac through an authenticated Apple Watch has long been a feature.

You cannot make an Apple Pay or App Store purchases with the Apple Watch, nor can you use it for authenticating in apps that use ‌Face ID‌. In these situations, you still need to remove your mask and use the standard ‌Face ID‌ authentication or enter a passcode.

For those concerned about security or possible authentication bypasses with this method, the feature is entirely opt-in and is not enabled by default. You do need an unlocked Apple Watch for this to work, so there's no way to use it with an Apple Watch that has not been unlocked via the ‌iPhone‌ or by your Apple Watch passcode.

All in all, unlocking an ‌iPhone‌ with a paired Apple Watch is as seamless as unlocking with standard ‌Face ID‌, and it's just about as quick, so this will be a welcome change for people frustrated with using an ‌iPhone‌ while wearing a mask. Future iPhones may include in-display Touch ID alongside ‌Face ID‌, but for now, this is a useful solution for ‌iPhone‌ owners who also have an Apple Watch.