Apple Releases iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5; Bringing Accessibility Fixes,
Support for AirTag, Privacy Enhancements, and More
Submitted by AppleVis on Monday, April 26, 2021 - 16:20.
Apple has today released iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5; bringing support for
AirTag, new features, security and privacy enhancements, and bug fixes.
Bug Fixes for Blind and Low Vision Users
Our testing suggests that the following pre-existing accessibility bugs have
been resolved in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5:
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/turn-pages-while-panning-feature-braille-
displays-not-placing-reader-top-next-page-when> The "turn pages while
panning" feature of braille displays once again places the reader at the top
of the next page when the page is turned.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/when-starting-new-conversation-messages-a
pp-using-braille-screen-input-voiceover-does-not> When starting a new
conversation in the Messages app Using Braille Screen Input, VoiceOver once
again speaks words deleted if deleting by word with two-finger swipe left.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/button-install-homepod-software-update-in
accessible-voiceover> The button to install a HomePod software update is now
accessible with VoiceOver.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/voiceover-incorrectly-speaks-pause-button
-play-expanded-mini-player-or-now-playing-screen> VoiceOver no longer
incorrectly speaks Pause button as Play on the expanded mini player (or Now
Playing screen) in Music app.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/more-info-button-apple-podcasts-app-does-
nothing-when-double-tapped> The "More Info" button in the native Podcast app
now once again works as expected.
* The Magic Tap gesture now works as expected in Apple News.
At the time of posting, we are unaware of any new bugs or regressions for
blind and low vision users in these releases.
As we always stress, we can make no claims on the completeness or accuracy
of our testing. We are only a small team, and it is simply impossible for us
to test all devices, configurations, applications, and use cases.
Accordingly, to help us ensure that the information on this page is as
complete and accurate as possible, please let us know in the comments of any
fixes; enhancements; or regressions that you find in your own use of iOS
14.5 and iPadOS 14.5.
New Feature and Enhancement Highlights
iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 introduce a new "Unlock with Apple Watch"" feature
that allows the iPhone to use an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch as a
secondary authentication method; making it easier to unlock an iPhone when
you're wearing a mask. When this feature is enabled in Settings > Face ID &
Passcode, you will not need to take off your mask or enter a passcode to
unlock your iPhone. Note that a full Face ID facial scan or a passcode will
still be required to authenticate Apple Pay or App Store purchases.
Siri gains two new American English voice options, with the list of
available voice options now numbered, rather than being described as male or
female. Additionally, when setting up a new device, you will be prompted to
select your preferred Siri voice rather than there being a default. The new
Siri voices are also available to use with VoiceOver.
These updates add support for
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/26/allow-block-iphone-app-tracking-ios-14/>
Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature, which will require apps to ask
for permission (through a standard iOS prompt) whenever they want to track
your activities outside the app, such as across other apps or websites. It
is also possible to disallow all apps from requesting to track on a
system-wide basis by going to Settings> Privacy> Tracking> Allow Apps to
Request to Track.
iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 bring 217 new emojis. These include a heart on
fire, exhaling face, and gender options for the people with beards. Also
included is a vaccine-friendly syringe emoji, and support for couples with a
mix of skin tones. <https://emojipedia.org/emoji-13.1/> Here's every new
emoji.
iPad users will be pleased to hear that finding emojis has just gotten
easier, as iPadOS 14.5 gains the search for emoji feature that was added to
iPhone in iOS 14.
The first time you ask Siri to play music, a podcast, or an audiobook after
installing these updates, you will be asked to select your preferred app
from a list of those you have installed and which support this feature. Siri
will remember your selection and will use that service whenever you ask it
to play something. So, for example, if you select Spotify to play a song,
the next time that you ask Siri to play a song you will not need to specify
"on Spotify" to prevent iOS from defaulting to Apple Music. Note that
<https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/04/apple-clarifies-you-cant-actually-set-a-d
efault-music-service-in-ios-14-5/> Apple has clarified that this is not a
"default" music service setting, and there is no toggle to select a service
you want to continually use, but it is a feature where Siri will learn your
preferences and adapt to them. Accordingly, Siri will occasionally re-ask
for your preferred services to keep up to date.
The Find My app now has a "Items" tab, which shows the location of licensed
item trackers and devices that use Apple's new licensed location-tracking
system.
You can now request Siri call emergency services. You'll get a three-second
countdown on the screen to cancel the request, after which Siri will call
your local emergency services number.
When using Apple headphones that support "Hey Siri", you now have the
ability to respond to incoming calls by saying either "answer" or "decline".
The new option is part of the Announce Calls with Siri feature, and can be
found under Settings > Phone > Announce Calls.
For an in-depth look at everything new and changed in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS
14.5, we recommend
<https://www.macstories.net/stories/ios-and-ipados-14-5-overview/> this
MacStories article.
iOS 14.5 Release Notes
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch
* Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch Series 3
and later when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask
AirTag and Find My
* Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items
like your keys, wallet, backpack and more, privately and securely in the
Find My app
* Precision Finding uses visual, audible, and haptic feedback to guide
you directly to your nearby AirTag using Ultra Wideband provided by the U1
chip on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models
* AirTag can be located by playing a sound via the built-in speaker
* The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help
you find your AirTag, even when it isn't nearby
* Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter
a phone number where you can be contacted
Emoji
* Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all
variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
* New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji
Siri
* Siri now includes more diverse voice options
* Incoming calls can be announced with Siri, including who is calling,
when you're wearing your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, and you can
answer hands-free
* Group FaceTime calls are supported by asking Siri to FaceTime a list
of contacts or a group name from Messages
* Emergency contacts can be called by asking Siri
Privacy
* App Tracking Transparency lets you control which apps are allowed to
track your activity across other companies' apps and websites for ads or
sharing with data brokers
Apple Music
* Share your favorite lyrics using Messages, Facebook, and Instagram
Stories, and subscribers can play the snippet in Messages without leaving
the conversation
* City charts showcase what's popular in over 100 cities from all over
the world
Podcasts
* Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start
listening
* Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to
your Library for quick access
* Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a
show-by-show basis
* Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new
shows
5G improvements
* Dual SIM support enables 5G connectivity on the line that's using
cellular data on iPhone 12 models
* Smart Data Mode improvements further optimize your experience on 5G
networks for better battery life and data usage on iPhone 12 models
* 5G international roaming enabled on supported carriers on iPhone 12
models
News
* Redesigned News+ tab enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly
find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues
* All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics,
channels, and stories
Maps
* Accidents, hazards, or speed checks along your route can be reported
by telling Siri on your iPhone or on CarPlay
* Estimated time of arrival (ETA) can be shared when cycling or
walking, in addition to driving, by asking Siri or tapping on the route card
at the bottom of the screen, then tapping Share ETA
Reminders
* Ability to sort reminders by Title, Priority, Due Date, or Creation
date
* Option to print your reminder lists
Translate
* Translation playback speed can be adjusted by long pressing the play
button
Gaming
* Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSenseT Wireless
Controller support
Fitness+
* Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+
workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices
CarPlay
* ETA in Apple Maps can be easily shared while driving with new Siri
or keyboard controls in CarPlay
This release also fixes the following issues:
* Messages at the bottom of the thread may be hidden by the keyboard
under certain circumstances
* Deleted messages may still appear in Spotlight search
* Messages may persistently fail to send texts in some threads
* Mail would not load new emails for some users until restarting the
device
* Call blocking and identification section may not appear in Phone
settings
* iCloud Tabs may not appear in Safari
* iCloud Keychain could be prevented from turning off
* Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early
morning hours
* Battery health reporting system will recalibrate maximum battery
capacity and peak performance capability on iPhone 11 models to address
inaccurate estimates of battery health reporting for some users (
https://support.apple.com/HT212247)
* Optimization to reduce the appearance of a dim glow that may appear
at reduced brightness levels with black backgrounds on iPhone 12 models
* AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching
* AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or
duplicated
How to update
iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings >
General > Software Update) via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later,
or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.
Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of
your device (either locally or in iCloud, depending on personal preference).
This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong
during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a
device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend
plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the
download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your
battery going dead during the update.
More information on how to update the software on your device is available
on <https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204> this Apple Support page.
Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.3, watchOS 7.4, and tvOS 14.5; Bringing
Accessibility Fixes, Support for AirTag, Enhancements, and More
Submitted by AppleVis on Monday, April 26, 2021 - 16:23.
Apple has today released macOS Big Sur 11.3, watchOS 7.4, and tvOS 14.5;
bringing support for AirTag, new features, security enhancements, and bug
fixes.
macOS Big Sur 11.3
Our testing suggests that the following issues have been addressed in macOS
Big Sur 11.3:
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/mac/can-typically-not-activate-context-menus-
dock-items-voshiftm-keyboard-shortcut> It is once again possible to trigger
and access context menus on Dock items with the VO+Shift+M keyboard
shortcut, however selecting menu items still does not work as expected. The
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/mac/cannot-select-menu-options-dock-items>
current issue of selecting Dock item menu options is described here.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/mac/cannot-add-widgets-notification-center-us
ing-voiceover> Widgets can now be added to Notification Center using
VoiceOver.
*
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/mac/if-using-siri-voice-voiceover-it-not-poss
ible-change-its-speech-rate> When using a Siri voice as the VoiceOver voice,
it is once again possible to change the speaking rate.
This update also includes
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/02/03/ipad-apps-mac-big-sur-11-3-updates/> an
optimization for using iPad apps on M1 Macs Which may offer added value to
VoiceOver users - when running iPhone and iPad apps on M1 Macs, there's a
new Touch Alternatives preference pane that allows you to set keyboard
commands for touch input alternatives such as taps, swipes, and drags. Touch
Alternatives can be enabled for iPhone or iPad apps by clicking on the app's
name in the menu bar and then selecting the Preferences option. .
watchOS 7.4
At the time of posting, we are unaware of any changes, fixes or regressions
for blind and low vision users in watchOS 7.4. We will update this post if
this changes.
tvOS 14.5
At the time of posting, we are unaware of any changes, fixes or regressions
for blind and low vision users in tvOS 14.5. We will update this post if
this changes.
As we always stress, we can make no claims on the completeness or accuracy
of our testing. We are only a small team, and it is simply impossible for us
to test all devices, configurations, applications, and use cases.
Accordingly, to help us ensure that the information on this page is as
complete and accurate as possible, please let us know in the comments of any
fixes; enhancements; or regressions that you find in your own use of these
updates.
Release Notes
macOS Big Sur 11.3
AirTag and Find My
* Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items
like your keys, wallet, backpack and more, privately and securely in the
Find My app
* The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help
you find your AirTag, even when it isn't nearby
* Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter
a phone number where you can be contacted
iPhone and iPad apps on Macs with M1
* Option to change an iPhone and iPad app's window size
* Support for displaying the highest resolution version of an iPhone
or iPad app in full screen
* Keyboard support for iPhone and iPad games designed to use device
tilt
* Keyboard, mouse and trackpad support for iPhone and iPad games that
support game controllers
Emoji
* Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all
variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
* New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji
Siri
* Siri now includes more diverse voice options
Apple Music
* Autoplay keeps music playing by automatically playing a similar
song, once you've reached the end of a song or playlist
* City charts showcase what's popular in over 100 cities from all over
the world
Podcasts
* Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start
listening
* Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to
your Library for quick access
* Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a
show-by-show basis
* Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new
shows
News
* Redesigned News+ feed enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly
find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues
* All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics,
channels, and stories
Safari
* Start Page section order can now be customized
* Additional WebExtensions API lets developers offer extensions that
replace the new tab page
* Web Speech API lets developers incorporate speech recognition into
their web pages for real-time captioning, dictation, and voice navigation
* WebM and Vorbis video and audio format support
Reminders
* Ability to sort Today Smart list
* Support for syncing the order of reminders in lists across your
devices
* Option to print your reminder lists
Gaming
* Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSenseT Wireless
Controller support
Mac computers with the M1 chip
* Hibernation support
About This Mac
* About this Mac displays Apple warranty status and AppleCare+
coverage in the Service tab when signed in with Apple ID
* Support for purchasing and enrolling in AppleCare+ for eligible Mac
computers from About This Mac
This release also fixes the following issues:
* Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early
morning hours
* iCloud Keychain might not turn off
* AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching
* AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or
duplicated
* External 4K monitors may not display in full resolution when
connected over USB-C
* Login window may not display properly after restarting Mac mini (M1,
2020)
* The Dwell feature may not work in the Accessibility Keyboard
watchOS 7.4
watchOS 7.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
* Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch when you
attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask
* Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct
identification of headphones for audio notifications
* Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+
workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices
* Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in
Australia and Vietnam
* Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and
Vietnam
How to Update
To install macOS Big Sur 11.3, choose System Preferences from the Apple
menu, click the Software Update preference pane, and click the Update Now
button to begin the update process. If other updates are available, you can
click "More info" to see details about them and select specific updates to
install.
More information on how to update the software on your Mac is available on
<https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541> this Apple Support page.
watchOS 7.4 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General >
Software Update) or by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating
to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be
connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.
More information on how to update the software on your Apple Watch is
available on <https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204641> this Apple Support
page.
To install tvOS 14.5 on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, go to the Settings
channel, then look for the System section near the bottom. From here, look
for Software Updates under Maintenance, then select Update Software and
Download and Install.
More information on how to update the software on your Apple TV is available
on <https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202716> this Apple Support page.
If you discover any additional fixes, regressions or changes of note during
your own use of these releases, please let us know by posting a comment
below at.
https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-releases-macos-big-sur-113-watchos-74-an
d-tvos-145-bringing-accessibility-fixes-support
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