Apple’s iOS 13.5: Mask‑Friendly and Contact‑Tracing in One Package
Apple’s newest iOS 13.5 update is now arriving on devices, bringing a handful of little tweaks along with two big health‑tech goodies that help us fight the ongoing Covid‑19 pandemic.
Mask Mode: No More “That’s Not You” Fades
When you’re wearing a face mask, Face ID will try to read you as usual. If it fails, your iPhone or iPad will immediately bring up the passcode prompt — no median‑time lull or the dreaded “I can’t read your face” message. It feels a little like the phone is shouting, “Okay, you need the password now!”
Why is this useful? Because you don’t have to tweak any settings, Face ID still remains the go‑to unlock method when you’re not in mask‑mode, and the password pops up instantly right away.
- No extra navigation required.
- Immediate fallback to the passcode.
- Face ID still keeps working for the rest of the day.
Developers have even demonstrated the feature in a tweet, showing how smooth the transition is. (Just imagine that little triumph sound whenever your device flips from “Sorry, I don’t see you” to “Please, type your passcode.”)
Exposure Notification API – Partnering With Google
Apple and Google have joined forces to roll out Apple’s Exposure Notification API, a platform that lets health officials and governments craft their own contact‑tracing apps. This new system will help reduce coronavirus spread by notifying people when they’ve been in close proximity to someone who’s tested positive.
Key points:
- Privacy‑first design: no personal data is shared.
- Risk calculation happens locally on your phone.
- Supports both iOS and Android with seamless collaboration.
Between the mask‑friendly unlocking and the new exposure‑tracking tool, iOS 13.5 is more than just a minor update—it’s a small yet powerful step toward keeping us all safer and healthier.
<img alt="" data-caption="How the contact tracing API envisions to help health officials to track the spread of Covid-19, as told through the story of Alice and Bob (part 1).
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Apple’s Smart Tracking: Contact-Trace, No Spy‑Watch
With the new Exposure Notification API, governments can now roll out contact‑tracing apps that let citizens know if they’ve bumped into a Covid‑positive person—all while keeping their privacy locked up tight.
How It Works
Forget GPS. The API relies on Bluetooth proximity detection, so the last thing you get is a location map, just a quick alert if your ring finger’s been near a Covid‑positive hand.
What Happens Next?
- Health authorities build the country‑specific app.
- They keep the positive case database fresh.
- Exposure Notification can then do its magic.
Sample code and full documentation are available in the Apple portal—no need to hunt through mysterious links.
iOS 13.5: Bug Fixes & Tweaks
- Fixed black screens when streaming from certain websites.
- Various security patches to keep hackers at bay.
Other Firmware Updates
- tvOS & HomePod upgraded to 13.4.5—no flashy new features, just smooth sailing.
- WatchOS 6.2.5 rolled out earlier this week, proudly offering Pride Day watch faces.
Getting the Update
iPhone, iPad, and iPod users will start receiving iOS 13.5/iPadOS 13.5 push notifications from May 20, 2020. If you’re skeptical, open Settings → Software Update to check for the latest patches.
Want real‑time Covid updates? Head over to the health authority’s dashboard for fresh news (no hyperlinks—just a quick search). This article first hit the feeds on Hardware Zone.
