Using an iPhone that exclusively offers Face ID in addition to the traditional passcode has become hell. Apple’s facial recognition was not developed to take into account only the top of your head, it must also analyze your nose, cheeks and mouth. Problem, in the midst of a pandemic, this is impossible when you use your iPhone outside of home.
With iOS 14.5, Apple offers enhanced Face ID with Apple Watch
The new iOS 14.5 version has just been posted this evening for all the developers who are part of the Apple program. If the Cupertino company has remained fairly evasive about the new features that the update brings, the developers who downloaded it have already noticed (probably) the biggest change.
This relates directly to authentication. Apple Park seems to have taken into account the various negative feedback from users who complain about Face ID authentication failures because of the mandatory maskin many countries around the world.
Apple has come up with a new solution for iPhone owners with Face ID and Apple Watch owners!
With iOS 14.5, Apple offers a 50/50 to unlock your iPhone. That is, the smartphone will check the top of your face with the usual procedure and the Apple Watch will take care of filling in the absence of a full-face check.
To do this, the Apple Watch will need to be on your handle and be unlocked. The iPhone will then activate the Face ID, retrieve the authorization of the connected watch and validate access to the iPhone.
The first developers who experimented with this new way to unlock their iPhone explain that they felt haptic feedback on their wrist, with your Apple Watch. There will also be a notification on the Apple Watch to indicate that your iPhone has been successfully unlocked.
This procedure is irreproachable since if a malicious person steals your watch and your iPhone (the losing combo), the Face ID will not recognize the top of the face and the Apple Watch will be locked since, as soon as it leaves your wrist, it engages immediate locking!
In the rest of the new iOS 14.5
Several other new features have been added in this latest version. There is support for the latest controllers from Sony and Microsoft. You will be able to play Apple Arcade games with your PS5 and/or Xbox Series X controller. iOS 14.5 also brings AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness + classes and 5G dual SIM compatibility.
Last novelty which very useful, Siri now has a new command to call emergencies.