iOS 14.4 RC version released: Unofficial camera parts detection added

      Early morning on January 22, Apple pushed the RC version of the upcoming iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 updates to developers. Some of the new features are still very interesting. The new Beta version will be released one week after Apple releases the second Beta version.

　　The RC version is a release candidate version, not the final version. The biggest difference from the common Beta version is that the Beta version will always add new features, but in the RC version, new features will hardly be added. The biggest significance of the RC version is to improve errors.

iOS 14.4 RC version released

　　First of all, iOS 14.4 adds some features for interacting with HomePod mini, making full use of the mini's U1 chip.

Interacting with HomePod mini is more fun

　　When songs are transferred from HomePod mini to a U1-enabled iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, there will be visual, audio, and tactile effects. When the iPhone is close to the HomePod mini, it will start playing a relatively soft rhythm, and as the iPhone gets closer, the rhythm will get faster and faster until the interface for transferring songs between HomePod mini and iPhone is opened. This feature will make the interaction between HomePod mini and iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 more interesting and efficient,

　　In the Workout section of the Apple Watch app on iPhone, there’s a new “Walk Time” feature that includes a toggle to “Add latest workouts to your watch.”

　　This suggests that Apple may be planning to include guided walking workouts in the watchOS 7.3 beta. “Walking workout times are downloaded when your Apple Watch is connected to a power source and close to your iPhone. Completed workouts are automatically deleted.” The settings page reads. This is not a feature in the first beta versions of watchOS 7.3 and iOS 14.4, but can be activated later.

Automatically alerts you if hearing loss occurs

　　Additionally, iOS 14.4 includes a new setting for specifying device types for third-party Bluetooth-connected audio devices to allow for proper headphone audio level measurement. Apple will track headphone audio level measurements and issue an alert if the volume level of music playback over time is likely to damage hearing health.

　　Code included in iOS 14.4 suggests that Apple will add a warning to iPhones whose cameras have been repaired or replaced with aftermarket components. The warning, which reads "Unable to verify that this iPhone has a genuine Apple camera," will let users know that the camera is not a genuine Apple camera.

　　In iOS 14.4, the iPhone camera can recognize smaller QR codes and send notifications when the iPhone 12 series camera cannot be verified as brand new.