iOS 15.2 and macOS 12.1 add several previously delayed features - Ars Technica

Enlarge / The iPhone 13 Pro Max, photographed by the iPhone 13 Pro in low light.

Samuel Axon

As is customary, Apple has released new OS updates for virtually all of its devices in one giant volley today. The releases include iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2, macOS Monterey 12.1, watchOS 8.3, and tvOS 15.2

All of these updates are now publicly available on supported devices. All but tvOS are x.x feature updates, meaning that they actually add new features instead of just fixing issues.

Depending on the OS, those features may include SharePlay, Apple Music Voice Plan, the App Privacy Report panel, and more.

macOS Monterey 12.1

macOS 12.1 is a substantial update that brings several new features and fixes numerous bugs. Most notably, it adds SharePlay, a flagship feature that was intended for the original release of Monterey but which slipped to this update.

SharePlay allows you to engage in live video and audio calls via FaceTime synced with streaming music or video content on supported services. Participants can access shared controls to pause, play, or skip around content. SharePlay also allows for screen sharing over FaceTime.

Other new features in this macOS release include redesigned Memories in Photos, a new family safety options for Messages, and support for the Siri-driven Apple Music Voice Plan.

There is, however, a major exclusion from macOS 12.1: Universal Control, the previously promised feature that was supposed to allow seamless side-by-side use of an iPad and a Mac using a single mouse or trackpad. That feature was expected by the end of the year, but it didn't appear during the iOS 12.1 beta. Sure enough, it's not in the final release, either. Apple's website now says the feature is coming in spring 2022.

iOS and iPadOS 15.2

Since iOS and iPadOS already had the big SharePlay feature that was added to macOS today (it hit iPhones and iPads in iOS 15.1), the mobile OS updates are smaller in scope. But there's still a bit going on here.

iOS and iPadOS 15.2 add support for the Apple Music Voice Plan, and they introduce a new App Privacy Report panel in Settings that allows you to see which apps have accessed your information.

iOS 15.2 also adds macro photo control for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, providing relief for some of the headaches caused by those phones' default behavior at launch. There are also numerous bug fixes and smaller tweaks, plus a feature that allows you to designate "Legacy Contacts" who can manage your iCloud data in the event of your death.

Along with iOS 15.2 comes new software for the HomePod, enabling the Apple Music Voice Plan. Apple has also released a new app for Android called Tracker Detect to coincide with iOS 15.2's release. The app addresses the main concern we had with Apple's AirTag geolocation device in our review earlier this year—that Android users didn't have a way to see if an AirTag had been placed on their person or in their belongings.

watchOS 8.3 and tvOS 15.2

Finally, there are updates for the Apple Watch and Apple TV devices. These are smaller releases. watchOS 8.3 adds support for the App Privacy Report and for the Apple Music Voice Plan, while tvOS 15.2 has no publicly shared, detailed release notes, suggesting that it offers bug fixes and performance improvements at most.

All of these software updates should be available to supported devices globally starting today. Below, you'll find the release notes in Apple's own words.

macOS 12.1 release notes

These are Apple's release notes for macOS 12.1:

macOS Monterey 12.1 adds SharePlay, an entirely new way to have shared experiences with family and friends in FaceTime. This update also includes the Apple Music Voice Plan, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, redesigned Memories in Photos, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.

SharePlay

SharePlay is a new way to share synchronized experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music, and other supported apps

Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind, or fast forward

Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show, or song when you or your friends speak

Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web, or help each other out

Apple Music Voice Plan

Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri

Just Ask Siri suggests music based on your listening history and likes or dislikes

Play it Again lets you access a list of your recently played music

Photos

Memories has been redesigned with a new interactive interface, new animation and transition styles, and multiple image collages

New Memory types include additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time, and improved pet memories

Messages

Communication safety setting gives parents the ability to enable warnings for children when they receive or send photos that contain nudity

Safety warnings contain helpful resources for children when they receive photos that contain nudity

Siri and search

Expanded guidance in Siri, Spotlight, and Safari Search to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations

Apple ID

Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your iCloud account and personal information in the event of your death

TV app

Store tab lets you browse, buy, and rent movies and TV Shows all in one place

This release also includes the following enhancements for your Mac:

Hide My Email is available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers to create unique, random email addresses

Stocks allows you to view the currency for a ticker and see year-to-date performance when viewing charts

Reminders and Notes now allow you to delete or rename tags

This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac:

Desktop and Screen Saver may appear blank after selecting photos from the Photos library

Trackpad could become unresponsive to taps or clicks

External displays may not charge some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers when connected using Thunderbolt or USB-C

HDR video playback on YouTube.com could cause 2021 MacBook Pro computers to panic

Menu bar extras may be obscured by the camera housing on 2021 MacBook Pro computers

MagSafe may stop charging on 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro computers when lid is closed and system is shut down

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices.

iOS 15.2 release notes

Here's what Apple has to say about iOS 15.2 in its release notes:

iOS 15.2 adds Apple Music Voice Plan, a new subscription tier that provides access to music using Siri. This update also includes the App Privacy Report, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, and other features and bug fixes for your iPhone.

Apple Music Voice Plan

Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri

Just Ask Siri suggests music based on your listening history and likes or dislikes

Play it Again lets you access a list of your recently played music

Privacy

App Privacy Report in Settings lets you see how often apps have accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts and more during the last seven days, as well as their network activity

Messages

Communication safety setting gives parents the ability to enable warnings for children when they receive or send photos that contain nudity

Safety warnings contain helpful resources for children when they receive photos that contain nudity

Siri and Search

Expanded guidance in Siri, Spotlight and Safari Search to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations

Apple ID

Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your iCloud account and personal information in the event of your death

Camera

Macro photo control for switching to the Ultra Wide lens to capture macro photos and videos can be enabled in Settings on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

TV app

Store tab lets you browse, buy, and rent movies and TV Shows all in one place

CarPlay

Enhanced city map in Apple Maps with road details like turn lanes, medians, bike lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks for supported cities

This release also includes the following enhancements for your iPhone:

Hide My Email is available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers to create unique, random email addresses

Find My can locate iPhone for up to five hours when in Power Reserve

Stocks allows you to view the currency for a ticker and see year-to-date performance when viewing charts

Reminders and Notes now allow you to delete or rename tags

This release also includes bug fixes for your iPhone:

Siri may not respond while VoiceOver is running and iPhone is locked

ProRAW photos may appear overexposed when viewing in third-party photo editing apps

HomeKit scenes that include a garage door may not run from CarPlay when your iPhone is locked

CarPlay may not update Now Playing information for certain apps

Video streaming apps may not load content on iPhone 13 models

Calendar events may appear on the wrong day for Microsoft Exchange users

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 8.3 release notes

The watchOS 8.3 release notes from Apple are as follows:

watchOS 8.3 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

Apple Music Voice Plan gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri

Support for App Privacy Report to record data and sensor access

Fixes an issue where notifications may interrupt Mindfulness sessions unexpectedly for some users

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

Adblock test (Why?)

Article From & Read More ( iOS 15.2 and macOS 12.1 add several previously delayed features - Ars Technica )
https://ift.tt/3lX5dcP
Tecnology

Bagikan Berita Ini

Search