Apple today announced the release of its first developer beta of iOS 15.4.
It includes updates like the ability to use Face ID while wearing a mask without the need of an Apple Watch, as well as the ability to copy text from objects using the camera while in the Notes or Reminders apps.
The update also previews the support for Emoji 14.0 There are 37 new emojis in 57 skin tones.
Some of the interesting emojis include heart hands, biting lip, pregnant person and pregnant man, and the hamsa – a palm-shaped amulet with an eye in the middle.
Other emojis we found interesting were the melting face, dotted line face, disco ball, and face with a peaking eye.
If you are interested in trying out the developer beta of iOS 15.4 before it is available, you sign up for the beta software program here: https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram.
We recommend that you use a secondary device and backup all your data first. This is a beta after all, so expect some bugs.
You can find the full list of new emojis in version 14.0 here. These emojis will also be available on other devices this year.
Universal Control
Meanwhile, Apple also announced that Universal Control is also now available in the developer beta releases of macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4.
Here’s how to get started with Universal Control:
- When you first connect your Mac and iPad by moving the pointer to the edge of the screen, you will see the icon of the device you are connecting from.
- For desktop Macs that you want to set up all the time for Universal Control, such as a workspace setup with iMac and MacBook, you can set it up to work with Universal Control continuously in Displays System Preferences.
- If at least one device is a portable device such as an iPad or MacBook, you’ll have to reconnect by pushing through each time after the device is in range but has been moved or put to sleep.
- If you want to arrange the devices after connecting, you can always do this in Display Preferences, as you would with an external display. This makes the pointer move smoothly between screens without suddenly jumping higher or lower. This is also useful if, for example, you have a hot corner on the lower right hand corner of the Mac set to “Quick Note” and don’t want that part of the edge to be used for Universal Control.
