Key news: iOS 14.5 Beta, macOS 11.2 released, VR Headset and Apple Car Rumors

It was a big week for software this week, with Apple launching a new round of betas for its operating systems with many tweaks and changes in iOS 14.5 and related updates. We also saw the public release of macOS 11.2, which was behind last week’s iOS 14.4 release.

In other news, we received some significant new rumors about the design of the Apple VR headset and the Apple Car, while on our YouTube channel we put the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra face to face in a camera test blindly. Read more details about these stories and more below!

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 Betas released with many new features

Apple this week seeded the first betas of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 for developers and public beta testers. These updates are packed with new features for iPhone and iPad users, including the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch while wearing a mask, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, support for the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X Controllers, AirPlay 2 streaming for Apple Fitness + and more.

We share a practical video of unlocking an iPhone with the Apple Watch, which is a welcome solution for Face ID not working properly with masks. We also brought everything together again in the first beta of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, including hidden changes at the code level.

Starting with iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, Apple is also applying its App Tracking Transparency privacy measure, requiring application developers to obtain users’ consent to track their activity on other applications and websites for the purpose of targeted advertising.

Later, Apple released a revised version of the first iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 beta with minor fixes.

macOS Big Sur 11.2 released with bug fixes for Bluetooth, external monitors, iCloud Drive and more

This week saw the public launch of macOS 11.2, which improves Bluetooth reliability and fixes several bugs, including an issue where external displays may show a black screen when connected to an M1-based Mac mini using an HDMI to DVI converter.

Note that some users are still experiencing other external display issues in macOS 11.2.

The launch of macOS 11.2 was quickly followed by the first beta of macOS 11.3, which features more customization options in Safari, adds improved sorting options in the Reminders app, improves the Warranty coverage support tab on the About this Mac menu, allows for stereo HomePods paired to be set as standard sound output for a Mac and more.

Other betas released this week include watchOS 7.4 and tvOS 14.5.

Blind camera comparison video: iPhone 12 Pro Max x Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung debuted its most recent smartphone line in January, which includes the Galaxy S21 Ultra, a direct competitor to the iPhone 12 Pro Max that Apple launched in October. In our last YouTube video, we set the two smartphones against each other for a blind comparison of the camera.

The idea is to look at the images and decide which aesthetic you prefer – “A” or “B” – before discovering which camera is which at the end of the video. Share your choices in the comments section.

Apple’s mixed-reality headset features 8K monitors, a $ 3,000 price tag, and more

There are rumors that Apple is working on a virtual reality headset, and this week’s report by Alex Heath and Wayne Ma of The Information outlined several potential features and other details.

The report states that the headset will be equipped with more than a dozen cameras to track hand movements, along with two 8K ultra-high resolution monitors and advanced eye tracking technology. The cameras would be able to pass the real-world video through the viewfinder and display it to the user, providing a “mixed reality effect” that is a step beyond virtual reality.

The report also stated that the headset will have interchangeable headbands, with one featuring space audio technology like the AirPods Pro for a surround sound experience, and another providing additional battery on the go. Similar to the AirPods Max replacement ear cushions, headbands may also be offered in a variety of colors.

Apple has internally discussed the price of the headset around $ 3,000, according to the report. This price would certainly make Apple’s headset a high-end niche product, with the company apparently setting an internal goal of shipping just 250,000 units of the headset in the first year of its launch. Several reports have said the headset will be released in 2022 at the earliest.

Apple reportedly plans to invest $ 3.6 billion in Kia for Apple’s car production

There are still many rumors surrounding the so-called Apple Car, with a partnership between Apple and Korean automaker Hyundai looking increasingly likely based on a couple of reports this week.

The first report came from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple’s electric vehicle chassis will be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP (BEV) battery powered electric vehicle platform, which can allow a range of more than 300 miles, acceleration from 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 160 miles per hour, up to 80% load in 18 minutes and more.

A second Korean report stated that Apple is planning to invest the equivalent of $ 3.6 billion in Hyundai’s subsidiary, Kia, as part of a planned manufacturing partnership between the two companies that would see Kia build Apple Cars at its plant in the United States located in Georgia.

The Apple Car is believed to be years away from launch, with projections ranging from 2024 to 2028.

MacRumors newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting Apple’s top stories, making it a great way to get a recap of the week, covering all of the top topics we’ve covered and putting together related stories for a great view of Image.

So, if you want top stories like the above recap to be delivered to your email inbox every week, Subscribe to our newsletter!