Apple has just released iOS 13.5 for all supported devices which 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 around the world to develop applications that would then be used to determine the risk of infection with the new coronavirus in specific regions of the world.
For many governments around the globe, contact tracing apps are already on the agenda, and both Apple and Google have developed APIs that would allow the authorities to develop those tools that could then run on Android and iOS.
iOS 13.5 is introducing this Exposure Notification API, so it’s not just a matter of time until the contact tracing apps reach the App Store.
FaceID with a mask
In addition, this iOS update also introduces a new option for US users to automatically share health information from the Medical ID and stored on the iPhone when calling 911. For now, this is limited to the US, but there’s a chance in the coming months that it would then go live in other markets around the world.
Also in this update, FaceID gets additional polishing, as Apple claims it has streamlined the authentication process for users wearing a mask. That doesn’t necessarily mean, though, that you will now be able to unlock the iPhone with Face ID when wearing a mask, but it’s a bit easier now to get around the whole thing.
In addition, the passcode field now appears when swiping up the lock screen from the bottom of the screen when a mask is detected, making it more convenient to unlock 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. (Based on the location)
