- One of the highlights of the upcoming iOS 14.5 update is the App Tracking Transparency feature.
- This feature forces developers to request user permission to track them for ads.
- Social media giant Facebook is worried that this feature could lead to a decline in its ad revenue, and has been blasting Apple for it for a few months now.
During its
Spring Loaded event yesterday, Apple quietly revealed that the iOS 14.5 update will start rolling out next week, along with updates to iPadOS, WatchOS and macOS. It’s the same update that has Facebook worried.
One of the biggest highlights of the iOS 14.5 update is its focus on user privacy. While iOS has several privacy-oriented features already, iOS 14.5 introduces a new feature called App Tracking Transparency.
This feature essentially forces developers to ask users for permission to track them for targeted ads, making it an opt-in feature. As things stand right now, users are required to manually disable tracking from the Settings menu, which means it’s an opt-out feature at the moment.
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Companies like Facebook – which have their business model centered around advertising – have been
blasting Apple for this.
While Google has not gone public against Apple’s new privacy feature yet, it doesn’t have a stellar record when it comes to privacy. More recently, some of Google’s most important apps went
weeks without any update after Apple started enforcing another privacy-oriented feature called privacy labels.
iOS 14.5 – what’s new
Apart from App Tracking Transparency, Apple is bringing a slew of new features to iPhones and iPod touch devices.
Given that the second wave of COVID-19 is upon us, Apple will allow you to use Face Unlock while wearing your mask. However, you will need an Apple Watch connected to your phone if you want to do this.
The update will also include AirTag support, an updated Music app with swipe gestures, AirPlay 2 with support for Fitness+ workouts, and support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X controllers.
On a lighter note, the iOS 14.5 update will bring 217 new emoji, according to
Emojipedia.
The new purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will come with iOS 14.5 installed out of the box. Likewise, the new iPad Pro models will also come with iPadOS 14.5 pre-installed. All other compatible iPhones, iPod touch and iPads will get the update over-the-air starting next week.
iOS 14.5 compatible devices
iOS 14.5 compatible devices |
iPhone 6S and 6S Plus |
iPhone SE |
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus |
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus |
iPhone X |
iPhone XR |
iPhone XS and XS Max |
iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Max |
iPhone SE (2020) |
iPhone 12, 12 Max, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max |
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All the 'first-time from Apple' announcements from its Spring Loaded Event