The first are the new iOS 14.4 features. And the second is how to rank them. So, I\u2019m going to rank the new iOS 14.4 features from worst to best, because, truly, I have nothing better to do with my time.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get cracking.<\/p>\n
5) The worst new iOS 14.4 feature: Camera authenticity warnings<\/h2>\n
Ugh, a thousand times ugh.<\/p>\n
Basically, if you get the camera repaired on an iPhone 12 range phone and the person doesn\u2019t use official Apple hardware, you\u2019ll now be notified.<\/p>\n
At first, I thought this was absolutely terrible, because I was certain Apple would stop your phone camera working. Instead, it appears you\u2019ll just get a notification about the unofficial hardware.<\/p>\n
If I\u2019m being charitable, I could see this as a way you can ensure you\u2019re getting quality components. If I\u2019m being realistic, this is Apple continuing its fight<\/a> against your right to repair things you fucking paid for<\/em>. Not a fan.<\/p>\n Are these important? Definitely \u2014 we wrote about the iOS 14.4 active exploits here<\/a> and you should update your phone immediately<\/em> if you haven\u2019t already.<\/p>\n But these are also boring. I\u2019m bored. Safety is dull.<\/p>\n There are also some standard bug fixes (you know, like the Fitness widget showing updated data, typing lag, and stopping calls being answered in Lock Screen), but\u2026 yawn. <\/em>(Read them here if you\u2019re a big old nerd<\/a> \u2014 and, yes, I have read them).<\/p>\n This is a pretty badass feature on iOS 14.4. If you\u2019re like me (and who wouldn\u2019t want that??), then you have a whole load of different Bluetooth devices set-up on your iPhone.<\/p>\n Effectively, this new update allows you to label the type<\/em> of connected Bluetooth device. These are the options it gives you:<\/p>\n The reason for this isn\u2019t that exciting; it\u2019s simply so the headphone audio level measurements can be tracked correctly. If you don\u2019t know what that means, it\u2019s basically the alert your iPhone sends if you\u2019re listening to music too loud. Not revolutionary, but useful all the same. This is a totally fine update.<\/p>\n Okay, this is probably the coolest iOS 14.4 update. The HomePod mini has a U1 chip and, now, you can approach it with your iPhone 11 or 12 range phone and transfer whatever\u2019s playing to the speaker.<\/p>\n To put it another way, you can flawlessly move from listening to podcasts, music, and calls on your phone to the HomePod mini by simply putting your device next to it. Badass, right?<\/p>\n You\u2019re probably wondering why I didn\u2019t put this as the top iOS 14.4 feature \u2014 and that\u2019s because I don\u2019t own a HomePod mini, so I don\u2019t really care. Suck it.<\/p>\n Awwyeahhh, this is My Shit. For whatever reason, I\u2019ve used QR codes a lot more in the past year than ever before \u2014 which is odd because it\u2019s such an old technology.<\/p>\n Anyway, this new iOS 14.4 update means your iPhone camera should be better at recognizing teeny-tiny QR codes, making your life slightly less annoying. This is the best new feature and you can\u2019t convince me otherwise. It\u2019s done, it\u2019s over, deal with it.<\/p>\n Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013 and you can subscribe to it right here<\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n Published January 27, 2021 \u2014 09:58 UTC <\/p>\n4) Bug and exploit fixes<\/h2>\n
3) Classifying the Bluetooth device type in Settings<\/h2>\n
![\"iOS](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/01\/iOS-14.4-headphone-type-bluetooth-796x669.jpeg\")
2) The HomePod mini \u201chandoff\u201d feature<\/h2>\n
1) The best new iOS 14.4 feature: the camera recognizing smaller QR codes<\/h2>\n