Apple releases iOS 16.4 with new emojis, web push notifications, voice isolation for calls, and other enhanced features.
Introduction
Apple today released the iOS 16.4 update to users, featuring a range of new features and improvements. Among its highlights are an expanded set of emojis, voice isolation for cellular calls, and web push notifications. Users can download this update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
New Emojis in iOS 16.4
The iOS 16.4 update introduces 27 new emojis, bringing the total number of emojis to 5,000. These additions include a variety of faces, activities, animals, and symbols. For example:
- 🎉 Celebrating birthdays with 🍰 cake emoji
- 🏃 Running outdoors with the 🏃♂️ marathon emoji
- 🐾 Playing chess with 🧙♀️ chess pieces
- 🌍 Traveling to Japan with 🗺️ globe emoji
Key Emoji Features
The new emojis are designed to reflect the spirit of Unicode and provide more visual representations for users. They will be available on all devices running iOS 16.4 or later.
Voice Isolation for Cellular Users
A significant update in iOS 16.4 is the voice isolation feature, now available for cellular users. This feature allows users to make calls, send messages, and access apps without activating their speaker phone. To enable voice isolation:
- Open Settings > General > AirPods/Speakers (or equivalent settings on non-iOS 16 devices).
- Turn on "Use this device for calls, messages, and apps."
This feature is particularly useful for users who prefer hands-free communication while using their phone.
Web Push Notifications
iOS 16.4 introduces web push notifications, allowing users to receive alerts directly from websites via the web browser app. For example:
- A website running a promotion could send a notification offering a discount code.
- A blog post could trigger an alert if the user follows a specific category.
To enable web push notifications in iOS 16.4:
- Open Settings > General > Push Notifications.
- Enable "Web push notifications."
Other Improvements and Fixes
The update also includes several minor improvements and fixes, such as:
- Enhanced accessibility features for users with disabilities.
- Better performance in apps like Messages, Photos, and Calendar.
- Bug fixes to address issues reported by users.
Specific Fixes
For example, one bug related to iCloud synchronization has been resolved, ensuring that photos and files are synced more reliably across devices.
Conclusion
The iOS 16.4 update offers a range of improvements, from new emojis to voice isolation for cellular users, making it a valuable upgrade for Apple device users. For more details on the features mentioned in this article, including web push notifications or iOS 16.4, visit Apple’s official website.
This update is available on all iPhone models running iOS 15 or later and all iPads running iOS 15 or later.
