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| Apple releases the iOS 14.5 update that Facebook is afraid of |
Apple released iOS version 14.5, which is a new software update for iPhones that provides many new features such as updates to Siri and support for the latest game controllers.
New privacy changes in this update have grabbed the headlines for several months because this update gives users more visibility and control over which apps they want to track ads.
Facebook is particularly interested in the changes to privacy as this can limit its ability to effectively target iPhone users.
Here you can see the new features in iOS 14.5.
The app cannot track you:
IOS 14.5 includes an app tracking transparency feature, which is expected to have a big impact on how mobile ads work.
When you open an app that wants to access the advertiser's unique device identifier, you will see a popup asking if you want tracking and why the app is forcing you to subscribe.
Many companies that rely on online advertising claim that the change in privacy will reduce the effectiveness and profitability of targeted advertising.
Facebook has campaigned for this change and it looks like it may lose revenue.
When you wear a mask, your Apple Watch unlocks your iPhone:
Apple added this feature in iOS 14.5 because the latest phones rely on Face ID (they can't be used with a mask) and you can now configure your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone with a mask.
Siri has a new voice:
When setting up an iPhone, Siri's voice assistant no longer converts Siri into a default female voice, but instead prompts you to choose from four default voices when starting a new iPhone.
Siri can announce the call on your AirPods:
Siri now announces the call via AirPods or CarPlay while driving and allows you to answer the call by voice, depending on the functions available, so that Siri can play text messages via AirPods.
Siri learns to play music through Spotify and other services:
In iOS 14.5, Siri first learns the playback of a frequently used music or podcast service and handles your request from that service. However, you cannot change the default Apple Music to Spotify, but if you keep telling Siri to play music from Spotify, then you have started learning to play music from there.
Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PS5 controller support:
IOS 14.5 has Bluetooth support for Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles. Previously, this support was not available for the iPhone.
This means that users of the new system can play games that support the joystick on iPhone and iPad.