Wesley Hilliard
Apple has released the fourth public beta of iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, tvOS 15.4, watchOS 8.5, and macOS 12.3 to members of its public software testing program.
The fourth public betas should be essentially the same as the third developer betas, which Apple seeded on Tuesday. The builds can be acquired from the Apple Beta Software Program web portal.
Apple included the anti-stalking feature updates in the fourth beta. These include a new popup that warns AirTag owners that misuse of the tracking device for stalking or theft will be linked back to the original Apple ID.
Face ID has been updated to offer two versions to consumers. Acting as an alternative to the standard version of Face ID, the new version can be used when wearing a mask by the user, as a slightly less secure alternative to the regular version.
The update for iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 introduces support for Universal Control. The feature enables a Mac to controll other nearby iPads or Macs using a single mouse and keyboard.
Apple has included code for Tap to Pay on iPhone in the iOS beta. The feature is expected to launch in the spring with Stripe as an initial partner.
Siri has a new non-gendered voice option in the fourth beta. Users who speak Dutch can also give commands to Siri for the first time.
AppleInsider, and Apple itself, strongly recommend users don't install the betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, as there is the remote possibility of data loss or other issues. Instead, testers should install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices and ensure sufficient backups of important data before updating.
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2 Comments
I inadvertently came across the Universal Control feature the other day. I had my M1 laptop and M1 Mini sitting next to each other and I was using my mouse on the Mini. I moved my cursor over to the left side of the screen where my dock was located. My cursor went flying off the screen and onto the laptop screen. Pretty cool stuff!