Tag: HomePodOS

Apple releases updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple releases bug fix updates iOS/iPadOS 17.1.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 and watchOS 101.1.

iOS update targets NFC chip unavailability after using some car wireless chargers and weather Lock Screen widget.

watchOS addresses battery drain issue reported by some users.

macOS brings various updates. There is also update for macOS Ventura 13.6.2 to address M3 MacBooks update issues.

HomePod software is also updated to 17.1.1 to address slow Siri response.

Apple updates iOS and other platforms

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple releases iOS/iPadOS 17.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, watchOS 10.1 and tvOS 17.1. HomePod software is also updated to 17.1. Previous iOS releases also got important security updates – 15.8 and 16.7.2.

No corresponding Xcode release is published.

iOS 17.1 brings various improvements including AirDrop over Internet, StandBy enhancements, Apple Music updates and various other updates and fixes.

watchOS 10.1 brings NameDrop feature and activates Double Tap on Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.

tvOS 17.1 and HomePod software 17.1 bring Enhance Dialogue feature to original HomePod and HomePod mini.

iOS 17.1

AirDrop

  • Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

StandBy

  • New options to control when the display turns off (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Music

  • Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
  • New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist
  • Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

  • Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen
  • Home key support for Matter locks
  • Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices
  • Fixes an issue that may cause the Significant Location privacy setting to reset when transferring an Apple Watch or pairing it for the first time
  • Resolves an issue where the names of incoming callers may not appear when you are on another call
  • Addresses an issue where custom and purchased ringtones may not appear as options for your text tone
  • Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive
  • Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)
  • Fixes an issue that may cause display image persistence

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

iPadOS 17.1

AirDrop

  • Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

Music

  • Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
  • New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist
  • Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

Apple Pencil

  • Support for Apple Pencil (USB-C)

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

  • Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen
  • Home key support for Matter locks
  • Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices
  • Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive

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

macOS Sonoma 14.1

This update provides enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac including:

  • Favorites expanded in Music to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
  • Apple warranty status for Mac, AirPods, and Beats headphones and earbuds are available in System Settings
  • Fixes an issue where the System Services settings within Location Services may reset
  • Fixes an issue that may prevent encrypted external drives from mounting

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

For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 10.1

watchOS 10.1 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

  • Double tap gesture can be used to perform the primary action in notifications and most apps so you can answer a call, play and pause music, stop a timer, and more (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2)
  • NameDrop allows you to exchange contact information with someone new by simply bringing your Apple Watch near their iPhone with iOS 17 or Apple Watch (Available on Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 7 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra)
  • My Card is available as a complication for quick access to NameDrop
  • Fix for bug that causes the climate section in the Home app to be blank
  • Addresses an issue that causes a white selection border to be unexpectedly displayed after turning off AssistiveTouch
  • Fixes an issue where cities may not sync between iPhone and watch in Weather
  • Resolves an issue where the scroll bar may unexpectedly be visible on the display
  • Fix for bug that causes elevation to be incorrect for some users

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

HomePod software 17.1

Software version 17.1 adds support for Enhance Dialogue on HomePod mini and HomePod (1st generation) so you can hear spoken voices more clearly over effects, action, and music in a movie or TV show when paired with Apple TV 4K. This update also includes bug fixes and stability improvements.

Apple Newsroom: Apple Watch double tap gesture now available with watchOS 10.1

References:

Apple launches Release Candidate for iOS 17.1 and other platforms

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple published Release Candidates for iOS/iPadOS 17.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, watchOS 10.1 and tvOS 17.1. Also, Release Candidate is published for iOS/iPadOS 16.7.2 with focus on security fixes.

iOS 17.1 should address ScreenTime syncing issues reported earlier. Also, it targets display retention reported on some iPhone 15 models. Significant location setting bug should be resolved too. But RC seem not to fix nighttime restart issue reported by some users.

Apple also made changes to onscreen keyboard to improve its performance (especially on older models).

HomePod software should bring enhanced dialogue feature to original HomePod and HomePod mini.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Apple did not add release notes to this Release Candidate yet.

Reference:

iOS 16.5 and other platforms are released

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple releases iOS/iPadOS 16.5, macOS 13.4 Ventura, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.5. HomePod software is also updated to 16.5.

iOS

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

  • A new Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture
  • Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
  • My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
  • Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive
  • Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content
  • Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices

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

iPadOS

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

  • Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
  • My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
  • Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive
  • Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices

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

macOS

macOS Ventura 13.4 includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• Sports feed in the sidebar of Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow

• My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games

• Resolves an issue where Auto Unlock with Apple Watch does not log you into your Mac

• Fixes a Bluetooth issue where keyboards connect slowly to Mac after restarting

• Addresses a VoiceOver issue with navigating to landmarks on webpages

• Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices

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

For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS

watchOS 9.5 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including a new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.

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

tvOS 16.5 introduces multiview for sports.

Apple also releases updates for previous major releases – macOS 12.6.6, macOS 11.7.7 and iOS/iPadOS 15.7.6.

Apple Newsroom: Multiview now available for MLS Season Pass and “Friday Night Baseball”

WebKit Blog: WebKit Features in Safari 16.5

References:

tvOS and HomePod software are updated to 16.3 today

by Danis Tazetdinov

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:

Apple announces next generation HomePod

by Danis Tazetdinov

Following announcements on new Mac hardware Apple today announces update to HomePod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMf_i1YBuMk
Introducing the all-new HomePod | Apple

Second generation HomePod gets S7 chip, UWB, temperature and humidity sensors. HomePod also gets Matter smart home standard support.

HomePod second generation follows design of original smart speaker while getting sound quality improvements too. However, it is noted that original HomePod could not be combined as stereo pair with second generation.

HomePod mini apparently also has temperature and humidity sensors. And those will be enabled with upcoming software update.

Sound Recognition feature comes to both new HomePod and HomePod mini to listen for smoke alarms in the house.

Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces the new HomePod with breakthrough sound and intelligence

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