Tag: Home

Apple releases second beta for iOS/iPad 16.5, macOS 13.4, watchOS 9.5 and tvOS 16.5. No corresponding Xcode beta is published.

New beta seem to be focused on administrator users and Matter support in Home app.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• iOS & iPadOS 16.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• macOS Ventura 13.4 Beta 2 Release Notes
• watchOS 9.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• tvOS 16.5 Beta 2 Release Notes

Philips Hue postpones plans to support Matter for their devices til the end of 2023. According to their messaging, firmware update for Hue Bridge takes more time that it was initially expected.

Eve on the other hand announces Matter firmware availability on April 17. And currently Eve already started selling accessories supporting Matter.

Matter smart home standard simplifies hardware development and unifies APIs between multiple smart home solutions. Matter is industry standard which is adopted by multiple venders including Apple. Home app and HomeKit support Matter accessories starting with iOS 16.1.

References:

• Philips Hue Bridge Matter Support Update Appears to Have Been Delayed
• Eve announces Matter firmware upgrades are coming on April 17 for a more reliable HomeKit experience
• Eve Starts Selling Matter-Enabled Smart Home Devices

Following the yesterday's updates to iOS and other platforms Apple now updates tvOS and HomePod software to 16.3.

Most notable feature would be enabling humidity and temperature sensors in HomePod mini.

HomePod software updates include: 

• Temperature and humidity sensing measures your indoor climate with HomePod (2nd generation) and HomePod mini
• Remastered ambient sounds are more immersive and can now be added to scenes, automations, and alarms in the Home app
• Find My on HomePod now enables you to ask Sir for the location of friends and family, if they have shared it with you
• Recurring Home automations can be set up using just your voice
• Siri confirmation tone will now play to indicate when smart home requests are completed for accessories that may not visibly show a change or are located in a different room
• Audio tuning optimizes spoken content such as podcasts for even greater clarity on HomePod (2nd generation) and HomePod (1st generation)
• Updated volume controls on HomePod (1st generation) give you more granular adjustments at lower volumes

References:

• HomePod software update 16.3 now rolling out, here’s everything new
• Apple Releases HomePod 16.3 Software With Humidity and Temperature Sensing, Find My Improvements, Audio Tuning, and More

Apple now no longer offers users to upgrade Home architecture in iOS 16.2. This follows several reports claiming that home is stuck in upgrading state and couple of other issues including inability to invite residents and some accessory problems.

Existing users who already upgraded the architecture do not have an option to downgrade.

Reference: Apple Pulls iOS 16.2 Option to Upgrade to New Home Architecture

Following recent RC Apple now releases iOS/iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1 Ventura, watchOS 9.2 and tvOS 16.2. Xcode 14.2 is also released.

HomePodOS received corresponding update (which is required for Home updates and Matter support).

Apple also releases security bug fixes for previous OS releases - iOS 15 and macOS 11 Big Sur and macOS 12 Monterey.

This update brings several important updates:

• iCloud Advanced Data Protection;
• Support for Rapid Security Responses;
• Freeform application;
• Apple Music Sing;
• New Apple Watch workout modes;
• Apple Home reliability improvements;
• iPadOS external display support.

Apple Newsroom: Apple launches Freeform: a powerful new app designed for creative collaboration

References:

• iOS 16.2 rolling out today with Apple Music Sing, Freeform app, much more
• Apple Releases New HomePod 16.2 Software
• Apple Releases iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 With Freeform, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection and More
• Apple Releases watchOS 9.2 With Outdoor Workout Improvements, Crash Detection Optimizations, Noise App Tweaks and More
• Apple Releases tvOS 16.2 with Apple Music Sing, TV App Tweaks and More
• iPadOS 16.2 and Stage Manager for External Displays: Work in Progress, But Worth the Wait
• Apple Releases macOS Ventura 13.1 With Freeform, Advanced Data Protection, Find My Improvements and More
• Freeform Leverages the Freedom and Flexibility of a Blank Canvas
• Apple's Advanced Data Protection feature is here - what you need to know
• iPadOS 16.2 brings these improvements for Stage Manager, plus AirTag tracking alerts
• Hands on with Apple's Freeform collaborative brainstorming app
• watchOS 9.2 now available for Apple Watch; here’s everything new
• iOS 16.2 patches over a dozen security vulnerabilities, iOS 15.7.2 also available with fixes
• Apple Music launches collection of playlists with songs perfect for ‘Sing’ karaoke feature
• iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2
• macOS 13.1
• iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 Fix Over 30 Security Vulnerabilities
• Xcode 14.2 released with support for iOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1
• Xcode 14.2 Release
• Apple Watch Ultra gains battery improvement with watchOS 9.2 and Multisport workouts
• New Apple Music Sing Playlists Now Available in iOS 16.2
• 9to5Mac Daily: December 13, 2022 – Everything new in iOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, and more
• iOS 16.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 16.2

Apple provides developers with access to first beta of iOS/iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, watchOS 9.2 and tvOS 16.2.

Beta brings Freeform app which Apple demoed on WWDC22. External display support is also now available for iPads with M1 and M2 chips.

Also new beta brings new Home app architecture aimed to improve stability of smart home management.

Also, iOS 16.2 will have an option to report erroneously triggered SOS calls to Apple. Possibly, this should minimize false calls in the future.

Notably, no new Xcode beta is published. Xcode 14.1 is still in RC2 stage.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• iOS & iPadOS 16.2 Beta Release Notes
• macOS Ventura 13.1 Beta Release Notes
• watchOS 9.2 Beta Release Notes
• tvOS 16.2 Beta Release Notes

Apple Developer: Get ready with the latest beta releases

References:

• iPadOS 16.2 Beta Adds Support for Using Stage Manager With External Displays on M1 and M2 iPads
• iPadOS 16.2 beta adds Freeform collaboration app, Stage Manager external display support
• iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 Betas Introduce Freeform App
• iOS and iPadOS 16.2 Betas Overhaul Home App Architecture With Improved Performance
• iOS 16.2 beta introduces new architecture to the Home app for a more reliable experience
• iOS 16.2 lets users report to Apple when Emergency SOS is unintentionally triggered
• Hands-On With the New Freeform App in iPadOS 16.2
• Everything New in iPadOS and iOS 16.2 Beta 1: Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support, Accidental Emergency SOS Reports and More

Apple publishes iOS 16.1 beta 4, iPadOS 16 beta 11, macOS 13 Ventura beta 10, watchOS 9.1 beta 4. No new Xcode beta is published yet.

iOS 16.1 brings support for Matter home device standard.

New iOS 16.1 beta also removes Adaptive Transparency for older AirPods Pro switch in settings, confirming that this was an error.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• iOS 16.1 Beta 4 Release Notes
• iPadOS 16 Beta 11 Release Notes
• macOS 13 Ventura Beta 10 Release Notes
• watchOS 9.1 Beta 4 Release Notes
• tvOS 16.1 Beta 4 Release Notes

References:

• Apple-backed Matter smart home standard officially launches as iOS 16.1 adds support
• Matter Smart Home Standard Officially Launches, Support Could Come in iOS 16.1
• Latest iOS 16.1 Beta Removes Adaptive Transparency Toggle for Original AirPods Pro, Confirming Bug
• iOS 16.1 beta 4 removes ‘Adaptive Transparency’ toggle for older AirPods Pro and Max
• Ventura adds dynamic wallpaper and new screensaver as macOS 13 readies for release

Initial beta versions of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 had noticeable change in Home app. iPad was not eligible to act as Home Hub anymore.

Apple made a comment that iPad could be used as Home hub for "current features" while undisclosed "new features", probably won't be supported.

As of now, it seems that these "new features" are related to Matter standard which HomeKit is adopting.

Reference: iPads Will Work as Home Hubs in iOS 16, But Won't Support New Home Architecture