Unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask can be difficult or even annoying. Now Apple Watch is making life easier with a new feature for unlocking your device, while also offering AirPlay 2 compatibility with Apple's new Fitness Plus workout service.
Apple hasn't revealed an official release date for the next round of software updates, but the public beta of WatchOS 7.4 gives us a taste of all the new features the new Apple Watch will come equipped with.
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Unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch
With the latest update to WatchOS 7.4 (and iOS 14.5 on iPhone), you'll be able to choose a feature on your iPhone that lets you use your Apple Watch to authenticate with Face ID when you're covering your face with a mask.
See also: iOS 13.5 beta: Makes it easier to use Face ID for those wearing masks
To enable the feature, both the Apple Watch and iPhone must be running the latest version of their respective software, as well as be passcode protected.
If you turn on Apple Watch Unlock, you'll be able to unlock your iPhone by simply lifting the phone and the screen will wake up. As soon as you raise the phone to your face, haptic data will be registered and you'll feel a vibration on your Apple Watch. This vibration on the watch means that the phone is now open for use.
However, you should keep in mind that the phone and the watch should be very close together. So, it is better to pick up the phone with the hand you wear the watch on for easier unlocking. However, this feature is only for unlocking the iPhone and nothing else. You may be asked to enter your passcode on the first try, but after that you will be able to swipe up to unlock the iPhone with Face ID.
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Cast Fitness Plus to Airplay 2 Devices
If you have an Apple Watch and are trying out Apple's new Fitness Plus, you'll now have more ways to get your workout in. You can now cast your Apple Watch workout to any device or TV with AirPlay 2. When it launched, the service was only available for viewing on iPhone, iPad, or the latest version of Apple TV.
You'll still need to select a workout in the Fitness Plus app on your iPhone or iPad. Then, you can either tap the cast icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen or select "screen mirroring" in the quick settings section to cast to a device.
The Apple Watch will get many of the features found in iOS 14.5, such as 217 new emoji, as well as the option to change your default music. Apple also released updates for iPadOS and tvOS.
