Apple Released iOS 13.5 With COVID-19 Tracing
The new update comes with the much-discussed contact-tracing and a Face-ID update for face masks
Yesterday we received a new update on our iPhones, and it brings some important features like the much-discussed COVID-19 contact tracing functionality and a nice addition that will save our nerves when we need to unlock our iPhones while wearing a face mask.
Exposure Notification
This release includes the famous feature announced on the 10th of April, developed together with Google, that will use Bluetooth to trace our contacts and will send us a notification if we’ve been in contact with someone that was tested positive for COVID-19.
This will allow to health institutions and public authorities to map the infection in an anonymous way.
How Does it Work?
If you enable the feature, the phone will constantly send and receive Bluetooth signals from and to other phones that enabled the functionality and store a list of contacts that you’ve had.
At least once per day, the device will retrieve a list of people that have been tested positive to COVID-19 and if there’s a match with your list you will receive a notification that alerts you about possible exposure to the virus and suggests you what steps you should take to eventually get tested.
This actually requires a contact-tracing app to be installed on your phones to work, but Apple and Google are planning for a second development phase in which they will integrate this in the operating system, to ensure a broader adoption, without requiring any additional application.
Apple and Google ensure that all the data are collected in an anonymous way and stored exclusively on the user’s smartphones, except for the positive tested list and the list of people that had contacts with them.
They also state that they don’t collect any location data and that nobody can access the data except governments and public health institutions.
We Will Finally Struggle Less to Unlock Our Phones With Face ID While Wearing a Mask
We’ve all been experiencing this annoying problem, which forced us to wait for the failure of Face ID in order to be able to unlock the iPhone inserting the passcode.
With this update, Apple finally made this easier, by showing you the passcode screen immediately if you swipe up to unlock when the phone detects that you’re wearing a face mask
FaceTime Zoom Control
We can finally disable that sometimes annoying feature that zooms on a participant video when he speaks.
To enable this you just need to go to
Settings->FaceTimeand disable “Automatic Prominence”
Official Release Notes
A nice minor change finally allows us to share AppleMusic songs in Instagram stories.
You can read below the full official changelog :
iOS 13.5 speeds up access to the passcode field on devices with Face ID when you are wearing a face mask and introduces the Exposure Notification API to support COVID-19 contact tracing apps from public health authorities. This update also introduces an option to control automatic prominence of video tiles on Group FaceTime calls and includes bug fixes and other improvements.
Face ID and Passcode
Simplified unlock process for devices with Face ID when you are wearing a face mask.
Passcode field automatically presented after swiping up from the bottom of the Lock screen when you are wearing a face mask.
Also works when authenticating with the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Pay, iTunes, and other apps that support signing in with Face ID.
Exposure Notification
Exposure Notification API to support COVID-19 contact tracing apps from public health authorities.
FaceTime
Option to control automatic prominence on Group FaceTime calls so video tiles do not change size when a participant speaks.
Emergency Services
Option to automatically share health and other essential information from your Medical ID with emergency services when you place an emergency call (US only).
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements.
Fixes an issue where users may see a black screen when trying to play streaming video from some websites.
Addresses an issue in the share sheet where suggestions and actions may not load.
Will you use contact tracing applications or you’re afraid this could cause privacy issues?
