After introducing the Voice Isolation feature and Wide Spectrum modes for its built-in microphone that iPhone users can utilize for FaceTime calls and other third-party applications, Apple is now bringing it to cellular phones as well in a new update.
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A man talks on an Apple iPhone in Beijing on April 2, 2013. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has apologised to Chinese consumers after the US technology giant was subjected to a barrage of criticism in state-run media over alleged "arrogance" and double standards.
Bringing Voice Isolation to Cellular Calls
Apple is bringing the voice isolation feature to cellular calls. According to a report from 9To5Mac, this was seen through the release candidate of iOS 16.4 beta. This feature will prioritize the owners' voice and block out unnecessary noises around, making phone calls clearer than ever.
Along with the Wide Spectrum mode, the Voice Isolation feature has only been available for FaceTime and other messenger applications running iOS15 or macOS Monterey. Until now, this limitation hindered cellular calls from experiencing improved microphone quality even with the latest iPhone series.
Enabling the Feature
To enable this feature, users have to start a phone call first with someone to open the Control Center on their iPhone during a call. Users will be needed to tap Mic Mode and choose the Voice Isolation feature from the list.
Once this feature is enabled, iPhone will block out external noises to mainly focus on the caller's voice. Disabling the feature is also easy for users will only have to follow the same steps again and choose the Standard option from the Mic Mode option.
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Unfortunately, the Wide Spectrum mode is still not available for cellular calls. This mode allows users to access the feature with the opposite ability of Voice Isolation. This will capture all sounds around the caller during calls. Aside from iPhone users, iPad and Mac users also have the access to both modes when using FaceTime and other applications.
iOS 16.4 Release
This news was confirmed by Apple with the official notes of the iOS 16.4 Release Candidate, released to developers and beta testers. MacRumors reported that this means that the company might be ready to release the latest version of iOS 16 to the public after a delayed arrival of the first beta until February 16th, more than three weeks after the previous version arrived.
Based on this timeline, the new update is expected to release on March 28th. For accessing the beta, Apple is now cracking down on loading beta versions through third-party websites and profiles and requiring verification of an Apple ID enrolled with the program.
New Features
Macworld reported that aside from voice isolation, iOS 16.4 also presents other features, including new emojis of shaking faces, several heart colors, new animals, and a few food items and musical instruments.
Web push notification is also part of the release that can send system notifications through the Push API, Notifications API, and Service Workers by using the standard HTML5 Web Push API. The update also includes improved home architecture, Apple Music, and widgets.
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