14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has just released iOS 13.5 to all supported devices, and this time the Cupertino-based tech giant has included major improvements, including the highly-anticipated Exposure Notification API.
What this new API does is as simple as it could be: it allows public health authorities from all over the world to build apps that would be then used to determine the risk of infection with the new coronavirus in specific regions of the world.
Contact tracing apps are already on the agenda for many governments across the globe, and Apple and Google both developed APIs that would allow authorities to develop these tools that could then run on Android and iOS.
iOS 13.5 introduces this Exposure Notification API, so it’s not just a matter of time until the contact tracing apps make their way to the App Store.
FaceID with a mask
Additionally, this iOS update also introduces a new option for users in the United States that allow them to automatically share health information from the Medical ID and stored on the iPhone when calling 911. This is limited to the US for now, but there’s a chance it would then go live in other markets across the world in the coming months.
FaceID is also getting additional polishing in this update, as Apple says it has simplified the unlocking process for users who wear a mask. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you'll now be able to unlock the iPhone with Face ID when wearing a mask, but getting around the whole thing is a bit easier now.
Furthermore, the passcode field now shows up when swiping up from the bottom of the screen on the lock screen when a mask is detected, thus making the unlocking more convenient even if the face scanning itself fails.
The new update is already available for download on all supported iPhones and iPads, and you can download them from Settings > General > Software Update.