iOS 15.4 features: Emojis, Apple Card and everything new

New emojis iOS 15.4

The latest iOS update, iOS 15.4, is bringing new emoji symbols to the table as well. The release includes Emoji 14 support, with 37 emoji and 75 skin tone additions for a total of 112 new symbols.

New faces include melting face, saluting face, face with open eyes and hand over mouth, face with peeking eye, face with diagonal mouth, and dotted line face.

The hand emojis have been updated with new ones, including heart hands, rightwards hands, leftwards hands, palm down hands, palm up hands, hands with fingers and thumbs crossed, and index pointing at the viewer.

There’ll be a new nest with eggs, an empty nest, x-ray, crutch, playground slide, wheelchair, ring buoy, hamsa, mirror ball, jar, identification card and low battery. Plants and animals will include coral and lotus in the fantasy world. A new troll emoji is on the way; eggs, beans and pouring liquid are new food items.

Turn Off Notifications for Personal Automations in Shortcuts

There’s a new “Notify When Run” option in the Shortcuts app for Personal Automations that are established. This feature allows you to turn off notifications for Shortcuts that have been enabled on or off. You can now choose not to be notified when a Shortcut activates, which was not possible with earlier iOS versions.

Apple Card Widget

There’s now a widget for the Apple Card in Today, which may be placed on the Home screen. The ‌Apple Card‌ widget displays your current balance and daily spending breakdowns for each area.

iCloud Keychain Notes

Users of the iCloud Keychain can now add notes to any password input, bringing iCloud Keychain more in line with other password storage systems like 1Password. “iCloud” may be found under “Passwords” in the Settings app on “iPhone” and “iPad.”

Hiding Password Alerts in iCloud Keychain

You can check your iCloud Keychain for weak or compromised passwords, which Apple will suggest changes for. In some cases, though, you won’t be able to alter those passwords.

If that’s the case, in iOS 15.4, you can X off those notifications by tapping on the “x” button next to the alert. The action will hide the security recommendation from appearing in the main Passwords section of the Settings app.

The alert can be found under Password settings’ Hidden Security Recommendations’ if you need it again.

120Hz Animations on iPhone 13 Pro

Users noticed that third-party apps were not displaying all ProMotion animations at the full 120Hz rate after the iPhone 13 Pro models were released. Apple said there was a Core Animation bug that would be fixed in a future upgrade, and iOS 15.4 appears to be the fix.

In iOS 15.4, all animations in an app will run at 120Hz for a more smoother and user-friendly app experience.

Custom Email Domains

The update adds custom email domain capability for paid iCloud+ accounts, allowing you to set up a customized domain with iCloud Mail directly on the iPhone.

If you go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud, “iCloud Mail” is now a tappable option and there’s a section for creating a Custom Email Domain in it.

SharePlay

You can now enable SharePlay right from the share sheet in apps that support it.

TV App Customization

You may select “Still Frame” or “Poster Art” as the Up Next Display in the app’s TV section under “Preferences.” Still Frame displays still images from what you’re viewing, whereas Poster Art shows title cards for programs or movies.

Passkey

The iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 updates, according to Apple, add a new passkey functionality that allows users to login to passkey-compatible websites and apps on a Mac or iPad with an already saved passkey using an iPhone.

It also implies that instead of having to input a password on websites that support Face ID or Touch ID authentication, you may authenticate with an iPhone.

Emergency SOS

To make an emergency call, by default, Emergency SOS employs the Call with Hold function. To set up an emergency phone call, press and hold the side and volume buttons until a countdown begins. The iPhone will then contact emergency services.

The previous press five times to start a call function is still accessible, but it must be switched on in the Emergency SOS area of the Settings app.

Vaccination Records

Verifiable health records now enable adding vaccination records in the EU Digital COVID Certificate format to the Health and Wallet apps, allowing Europeans to add their vaccine cards to the Wallet app for convenient access.

Tap to Pay

iOS 15.4 includes “Tap to Pay on iPhone” support, which allows NFC-enabled iPhones to take payments from Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets without the need for extra hardware.

In iOS 15.4, Apple has enabled Tap to Pay on the iPhone. However, it will be years before all merchants accept this payment method and begin accepting it. Shopify customers will be among the first to gain Tap to Pay functionality on ‌iPhone‌ via Stripe, which confirmed that it will provide support for the feature later this year. Later this year, Apple Stores in the United States will also offer support for the function.

The iPhone XS or later, as well as the ‌iPhoneX‌ and ‌Apple Watch Series 3, are supported by Tap to Pay. The feature allows iOS apps to take payment from a customer’s ‌iPhone‌ via NFC at checkout. As with Apple Pay, it supports points and refunds.

Safari Translations

Safari’s translation function now works in Italian and Chinese (Traditional).

Apple News

The Apple News app enhances audio discovery in both the Today feed and the Audio section.

Podcast Filters

You can filter episodes in your library by played, unplayed, downloaded, or saved. There’s also a choice to go to any program and filter for a certain season.

Offline Siri Updates

While offline, the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 or later models can get time and date information from Siri.

New Siri Voice

For those in the United States, iOS 15.4 introduces a new Siri voice, which may be selected from the Settings app by going to ‌‌Siri‌‌ & Search and then selecting ‌‌Siri‌‌ Voice.

Anti-Stalking AirTags Update

Apple has added anti-stalking AirTag features that were first announced in February in iOS 15.4. There is now a caution when establishing an AirTag or a Find My accessory that the device is bonded to an Apple ID and using it to track someone without their consent is against the law.

Trade-In Cosmetic Scan

Cosmetic Scan is a feature that may be found in iOS 15.4, according to code. Apple appears to be working on a “Cosmetic Scan” function for trading in an iPhone. Cosmetic Scan will most likely be utilized to check an iPhone for damage of various types, allowing for a more accurate trade-in value estimate.

Magnifier

The Magnifier feature on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max can now utilize the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max to better highlight small things, according to Apple.

Bug Fixes

There are also several bug fixes in this update, as listed below.

• Due to the keystroke delay, numbers that are typed may have a space between them.
• Today View widgets that display news may not open stories when clicked.
• Videos and pictures may not be uploaded to iCloud Photo Library.
• The Speak Screen Accessibility option in the Books app may spontaneously quit.
• When Control Center is switched off, Listen Live may not be disabled.

iPad-Only Updates

Universal Control

The long-awaited Universal Control functionality, which allows you to use a single cursor and keyboard to control iPads and Macs that are linked to your iCloud account, is now available on iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3.

Corner Gestures

There’s a new “Corner Gestures” option in the Quick Notes section of the Settings app on iPad. You may choose options for left corner swipes and right corner swipes in this area.

Keyboard Brightness

There’s a new Keyboard Brightness option in iPadOS 15.4 that may be used to change the brightness of a connected keyboard with light.

However, it does work with the Magic Keyboard. To access Control Center and add the functionality, go to Settings > Control Center and select the “+” button next to Keyboard Brightness.