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Luxury tech: use an Apple Watch to unlock an iPhone
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
Since it became compulsory to wear a mask in public spaces, Apple's face recognition Face ID has turned from a convenience feature to an obstacle.
Because the iPhone's camera cannot see through the fabric of the mask, you have to enter your passcode to unlock it.
With iOS 13.5, Apple had at least accelerated the process insofar as the system has since immediately displayed the input field for the unlock code when it recognizes a mask on the face of its owner.
With iOS 14.5, of which Apple released a preliminary version for developers on Monday evening, this should become easier - provided that you have an Apple Watch in addition to the iPhone.
The cheapest model costs 219 euros.
After installing the update, you can specify under
Settings / Face ID & Code
that the Smartwatch can also be used as an ID for the iPhone for face recognition.
All you have to do is put the watch on your wrist and unlock it (which it remains until you put it down).
All you have to do is tap the display or press the power button to unlock the phone.
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A short message and a gentle nudge on the wrist report when you have unlocked your iPhone with the Apple Watch
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
Of course, this is of no use at the supermarket checkout.
In order to start a payment process with the face mask on, you must also be running iOS 14.5.
enter the passcode on the iPhone.
But if you have an Apple Watch, you are faster with electronic payments if you use the smartwatch at the cash register, as it does not ask you to enter a code - unless the amount is over 25 or 50 euros.
Anti-tracking function becomes a must
In addition to the new unlock function, Apple also wants to introduce the long-announced anti-tracking function with iOS 14.5, which has led to a heated dispute with Facebook.
It is intended to give Apple users the option of specifying for each app individually whether it is allowed to use a device-specific identification number called IDFA.
This makes it possible to track information about the behavior of a user across different websites and apps.
The process drastically restricts the options for displaying personalized advertising.
Facebook sees its revenue model threatened by this new option to restrict tracking.
Although the function was already built into iOS 14 before, it will only become mandatory for app developers to support it with iOS 14.5.
Functionally, iPhones also offer the option of using the latest game controllers for Playstation and Xbox game consoles.
In addition, you should now be able to call your emergency contacts via Siri by voice command.
The option of using two 5G SIM cards worldwide in parallel is only relevant for the 12 series iPhones.
iPads recognize handwriting
That parallel to iOS 14.5.
iPadOS 14.5, which has been approved for developers, primarily includes the "scribble" function in German.
This means that you can always do it by hand with the Apple Pencil wherever text is expected.
The system then automatically converts the handwritten entries into typed text - at least if you have legible handwriting.
In addition, the update includes a number of functions for handling handwriting, including the ability to search through handwritten text and to recognize data such as e-mail addresses, web addresses and telephone numbers and make them clickable as well as typed text in other documents copy.
How to get the updates
While the updates are currently only available if you have a paid developer account, it usually doesn't take long before the updates can be downloaded from this website as public beta versions for free.
Before installing this, you should be aware of the associated risks: Beta versions are always unfinished software, can contain errors and lead to data loss.
It should therefore only be installed on devices that are not urgently needed in everyday life and that can be done without in the event of a failure.
If you understandably don't want to take such a risk, you should wait until Apple makes the updates to iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 available via the regular update function of the iPhones.
It should be ready in a few weeks.
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