Apple has released the iOS and iPadOS 14.4 software updates, bringing new features, improvements, and bug fixes to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
According to release notes accompanying the updates, some of the most notable improvements include a "Time to Walk" feature for Apple Watch owners, warnings for non-genuine cameras, a new Handoff experience for HomePod mini users, and much more.
Tell Me About the New Features
iOS/iPadOS 14.4 will now notify you if it cannot verify the camera in your 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max as a genuine Apple part. This purely exists to inform the user that a non-genuine camera may not have the same quality as the original Apple part.
As discussed on the site already, the new "Time to Walk" feature that's available to Apple Fitness+ subscribers brings audio stories from celebrities to your everyday walking sessions. The "Time to Walk" feature is also available to wheelchair users.
There's a new Handoff experience between the iPhone and the HomePod mini thanks to spatial awareness---an AirPods-like media interface now pops up as you gradually move your iPhone closer to the speaker, augmented with intensifying haptic feedback.
This awesome new Handoff experience takes full advantage of Apple's U1 chip in the HomePod mini and the iPhone 11 or later. Because the U1 is unavailable on the regular HomePod, this particular feature is unsupported on the original Siri speaker.
Apple's new updates also make the Camera app recognize smaller QR codes.
And if your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch has experienced various issues with Bluetooth headsets and audio accessories, don't worry. iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 can help with that as well... in Settings, you can now manually classify Bluetooth device types.
How to Get iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4
The software updates are available at no charge on compatible iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 devices. To update your device, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If a message says an update is available, tap Install Now. Your device must be plugged into the power and connected to the internet with Wi-Fi for the update to finish installing.
Should You Upgrade iOS?
Even if none of the aforementioned features impress you much, you may want to install the updates anyway to increase your security and privacy. For instance, Apple’s new privacy popup lets you opt-out of tracking. On top of that, the annoying keyboard lag has been fixed. And a handy Messages fix finally makes the keyboard appear in the correct language.
The Fitness widget now displays correct Apple Watch data. A bug preventing phone calls from being answered from the Lock screen has also been squished. And weird image artifacts no longer appear in HDR photos taken with the iPhone 12 Pro.
Both iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 bring plenty of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements that elevate your experience, and we wholeheartedly recommend you install the updates.