Tim Cook finally reveals iOS 14.5 update will arrive this month

Apple’s upcoming iOS 14.5 update might just be its most hotly contested release so far, and the Cupertino company is certainly taking its time while making sure the software is ready for primetime. Chief among those changes is Apple’s new enforcement of a new rule, making it mandatory for developers to ask users for consent before tracking them across multiple apps and services.

Until recently, we did not have a clear idea of when the iOS 14 update would arrive for users, with the company having previously revealed that it could arrive “in the spring”. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook finally revealed to technology reporter Kara Swisher on the New York Times’ Sway podcast on Monday, that the much-awaited update would arrive this month.

Cook defended Apple’s decision to enforce its App Tracking Transparency policy and said that it was possible to make money from digital advertising — without tracking people without their knowledge. “And I think time will prove that out. I’ve heard this about other things we’ve done in the past that it’s (sic) almost existential and it wasn’t. I don’t buy that,” he stated.

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When Swisher asked why there couldn’t be other stores run by others, Cook said “Because if you had sideloading -- the ability to install apps outside the official store, you would break the privacy and security model,” adding that opening another store would involve a huge “vector” -- presumably for infected devices.

The Apple CEO also revealed that around 40,000 out of the 1,00,000 apps submitted to the App Store every week were rejected and stated that the company’s decision to curate apps on the store was an “important part” of the App Store. These rejections were simply because they didn’t work or don’t work like they claim to, he added.

Read more: Google’s Gmail, others iOS apps updated for the first time since Apple’s privacy label enforcement

Other features coming to iOS 14.5 include the ability to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch while wearing a mask, dual SIM support for 5G on the latest iPhone 12 models, the ability to recalibrate the battery on iPhone 11 models, support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X wireless controllers, along with new and improved Siri voice models and over 200 new emoji. The update is expected to land by the end of the month.