Apple iOS 15 Archives - Gizmochina

Apple iPhones are recording Siri interactions despite users opting out

Sean — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 09:08:16 +0000

Apple has recently rolled out the iOS 15.4 beta 2 update. This software upgrade brings a number of fixes, including a bug that led to interactions with Siri being recorded, despite users opting out.

According to a ZDNet report, the bug first surfaced with iOS 15. It automatically enabled the “Improve Siri & Dictation” settings that allowed the Cupertino based giant to record, store, and review users’ interactions with its voice assistant. The iPhone maker told ZDNet that it has fixed this issue and has even deleted any recordings collected through this bug. Apple further added that it has turned off this feature for many users with the release of the latest iOS 15.2 update.

So, some users might receive a prompt that asks them for permission to enable the “Improve Siri & Dictation.” The company stated that “With iOS 15.2, we turned off the Improve Siri & Dictation setting for many Siri users while we fixed a bug introduced with iOS 15. This bug inadvertently enabled the setting for a small portion of devices. Since identifying the bug, we stopped reviewing and are deleting audio received from all affected devices.”

While the issue has been fixed, the company should also add a prompt that notifies users to keep their iPhones up to date, especially considering that the bug was related to privacy preferences. So we advise that iPhone users check if they have received the update and upgrade their devices to the latest build.

iPhone 13 is missing noise cancellation for calls due to a glitch

Sudhanshu — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 03:01:30 +0000

Apple iPhones have come with a noise cancellation feature for phone calls for a while now. The feature reduces ambient noise from the surroundings making for a more crisp and clear voice quality while on a call. However, this feature was never available for iPhone 13 users, and they have been waiting for months for Apple to address this issue.

On December 24, 2021, Reddit user throwawayowl999 complained that the iPhone 13 lacks “a front mic used for noise cancellation. The setting can be found in Accessibility -> Audio/Visual.” Other Redditors pointed out that he was right about the feature missing from the iPhone 13. However, the iPhone 13 does not lack the mic that enables this feature (via 9to5Mac).

The issue is indeed a software glitch, as can be observed in a discussion on the Apple forum from October where user rpwils2 wrote, “I am not able to find the toggle to switch off the noise cancellation feature on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Has this been moved or removed? When I use FaceTime and talk via the speaker my voice cuts out.”

An Apple Community Specialist replied that they need to enable ‘noise cancelation’ on their iPhone and linked an article to help users adjust the audio settings on the iPhone. However, the problem is that iPhone 13 users can’t find this specific feature in their settings menu.

User dagocarlito also replied to this query stating, “The iPhone 13 has ‘never’ had this option with iOS 15 because it’s a glitch. I’ve been speaking with apple support regarding this. It’s a known issue they are working on with no resolution timeline at the moment. This issue also creates problems with echos on CarPlay when talking between iPhone 13’s. It is a major flaw that needs to be resolved asap.”

Even after two months and the iOS 15.2 update, the issue remains unsolved. And apparently, the iOS 15.3 beta also fails to address or alleviate this problem. It remains to be seen how much more time Apple will take before addressing this issue or issuing a fix for it. So stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Apple announces iOS 15 with improvements to Facetime, Apple Maps, and a few other tweaks

Jed John Ikoba — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 03:48:06 +0000

Apple has announced the latest software update to its operating system with the new improved iOS 15. The new operating system for iPhones was perhaps the biggest news of the WWDC 2021 event. The iOS 15 is already available to Apple Developer members, while the public beta version will come on stream with a public beta by July 2021.

A major highlight of the iOS 15 is the overhauling of the video chat feature via Facetime to accommodate new features and provide a very compelling real-time communication within the apple device. The iOS 15 will have the spatial audio feature incorporated into Facetime to provide a more exciting video chat experience on the latest operating system from Apple.

The spatial audio feature will enable users to hear the recipients from the direction of the Apple device. The spatial audio will give an all-round quality to the audio setup. Background noise reduction helps to get clearer communication from the other end of the video chat. The purpose of the spatial audio feature is to have a more immersive conversation between several users without interference from their environments. It is possible to generate FaceTime links and share them with your friend who may have an iOS or Android device, meaning that FaceTime calls now have Android support.

The Apple Maps will get a revamped layout. More detailed maps in select cities would be available. Navigation will be seamless with 3D content and a solid experience.

Another addition is the Portrait Mode which will enable users to tinker with the view of their screen background. The SharePlay feature on FaceTime enables you to easily use and share content from one FaceTime user to another FaceTime user. It is also possible to enjoy audio content from several Apple platforms with a FaceTime call.

Apple has also made it easy for developers to add FaceTime support in their apps. Tik Tok, ESPN, NBA, and HBO Max are among several brands that have now interfaced FaceTime into their processes. With the innovations Apple had included on FaceTime, we expect greater use of the app on iOS.

Notifications have also been enhanced, with a Notification Summary present. Unlike a long string of items, the new Notification summary shows a single tile.