Apple has released iOS 12.1.1 for iPhone and iPad bringing FaceTime call improvements, additional eSIM support for 2018 iPhones, an extension of Haptic Touch on the iPhone XR and more.
FaceTime now has the option to take a Live Photo during calls, and an updated bottom bar with buttons for muting and switching the camera, among other options. It should be highlighted that in order to take a Live Photo during a FaceTime call, the person on the other end has to have the feature enabled. The toggle is located in the FaceTime panel in the Settings app.
FaceTime also gains the ability to switch between rear and front-facing cameras during a call with a single tap.
Real-time text (RTT) when using Wi-Fi calling on iPad and iPod touch is now available and there are Stability improvements for dictation and VoiceOver.
Another call change relates to Dual SIM with eSIM, with more carriers now supporting the function built into the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.
The iPhone XR’s 3D Touch replacement “Haptic Touch” gains a new function in the latest release, with it now able to be used for notification previews.
iOS 12.1.1 fixes an issue where Face ID may temporarily become unavailable, addresses an issue that prevented visual voicemail from downloading for some customers. The update also fixes an issue in Messages that could prevent predictive text suggestions when typing on the Chinese or Japanese keyboards and addresses an issue that could prevent Voice Memos recordings from uploading to iCloud.
Support for HomePod in Mainland China and Hong Kong has been added and HomePod LEDs now illuminate during Group FaceTime calls.
Finally, iOS 12.1.1 fixes an issue where time zones may not have updated automatically.
Dual-SIM Support
With iOS 12.1, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR gained Dual SIM support, featuring a nano-SIM and digital eSIM. Users can now activate an additional cellular plan from a carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM.
In most regions the second SIM is actually an eSIM, though with Chinese iPhones, people must use a second physical card.
According to Apple, the latest carriers supporting the eSIM feature include AT&T in the US; Rogers and Fido in Canada; Three in Denmark and Sweden; Orange in Poland and Spain; Telia in Estonia and Finland; Telenor in Norway; Swisscom and Sunrise in Switzerland; Vodafone in Qatar; and select others.
In Asia, the eSIM feature can now be used with 1010, CSL, China Mobile, and SmarTone in Hong Kong; M1 in Singapore; APT in Taiwan; Airtel and Reliance Jio in India; and AIS, dtac, and True Move in Thailand.
