Updates Abound for Apple Gear
17 MAY 2022 - Monday was fun-day this week, assuming your idea of fun is getting updates for almost all of your Apple stuff, because… yeah. Everything still supported by Apple except for AirTag and Apple Pencil seems to have been updated. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Apple Releases iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5
Starting with the phone, the phone without the phone, and the great big phone without the phone, Apple on Monday released iOS and iPadOS 15.5 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Apple’s notes aren’t overly descriptive. MacRumors has those saying:
iOS 15.5 includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Wallet now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card
Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your iPhone and automatically delete older ones
Fixes an issue where home automations, triggered by people arriving or leaving, may fail
The notes also say that “Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices,” (ain’t that the way). It also links to security fixes, which we’ll hit in a bit.
Communication Safety in Messages in More Countries
One can debate which of the few updates was the most important. History will likely be the ultimate judge. One of the ones in the running was not mentioned in Apple’s U.S. notes. That’s because the U.S. already had it. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says the iOS 15.5 update fires up Communication Safety in Messages for four new regions. With that feature enabled, the piece says:
…the Messages app can detect if a child receives or is trying to send a photo with nudity. If the child receives an inappropriate photo, the app automatically blurs the image. Although the child can choose to view the photo, doing so will show guidance and age-appropriate resources to help them make a safe choice.
If that only sort of rings a bell, it’s because another bell was louder. Announced last fall as part of Apple’s “Expanded Protections for Children,” Communication Safety in Messages met with some public resistance, though not nearly the level of pushback seen around Apple’s CSAM detection plans, which are still very much a thing.
Until yesterday’s update, Communication Safety in Messages was only available in the U.S. With the arrival of iOS 15.5, the option has also turned up in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K.
macOS 12.4 Graduates a Couple of Features
Moving now to Monterey - Another piece from MacRumors says Apple on Monday released macOS 12.4. Its release marks a sort of graduation day for a couple of features. First, the Monterey update adds support for Apple Studio Display’s 15.5 firmware. This should mark the last time that the two have to walk hand in hand. Apple indicated last week that with the release of macOS 12.4, Studio Display Firmware 15.5 would be available as its own update. A separate piece from MacRumors on the Studio Display update specifically has Apple indicating that “the firmware refines camera tuning, offering improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing.” Testing during the beta phase showed marked improvement from the Display’s initial release, according to the report.
Also seeing a graduation of sorts, the MacRumors piece says with the arrival of macOS 12.4 and iPadOS 15.5:
…Universal Control is no longer in beta. It is now an official feature that Apple has deemed issue-free, and the beta labeling has been removed.
Did Someone Call Security?
Outside of the graduating class, the piece says the Podcasts app for macOS got the same storage management update that the iOS and iPadOS apps got. And I mentioned security fixes earlier - a lot of those for computers of various form factors. Apple’s security site lists 27 security issues addressed for the iOS and iPadOS updates. The macOS Monterey update brings 53 or 54 security fixes (sorry, I lost count).
As it often does, the Cupertino-company also addressed vulnerabilities for machines that cannot or will not move to Monterey. A stroll through Apple’s security site indicates 40 security issues hit for macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 and 32 issues squished in Security Update 2022-004 Catalina - both of which were also released on Monday.
Keeping Watch on Your Corazón
Not much new in watchOS 8.6. As had been expected, a piece from MacRumors says the latest OS for Apple’s chronometer activates the ECG app in Mexico for Apple Watch Series 4 or later. It also adds support for irregular heart rhythm notifications on the same watches in the same country.
In addition, Apple lists 18 security fixes for the update. I’m not sure whether it’s a good sign or a bad sign, but a security update for a watch is definitely a sign of the future.
Sound + Vision Updates
What’s new in tvOS 15.5? Poke through and see for yourself, which is a mildly impolite way of saying “no one seems to know.” A piece on MacRumors says updates for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K:
…are typically more minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes.
There are no detailed release notes, though there are security fixes. Apple’s security page for the update shows 20 issues addressed in the tvOS 15.5 update.
There’s even less info on HomePod Software 15.5 than there is on its tvOS counterpart. While one assumes it does something, it also features no detailed release notes. And since it’s sort of lumped in with the iOS/iPadOS updates, there are no separate security notes.
Where and How (Much)?
It goes without saying, but say it I will: All of the updates are free. Each is available through settings on their respective machines except for the HomePod update. HomePods should update automatically, though if patience is not your thing, you can force the update in the Home app on an associated iOS or iPadOS device.
