Apple releases updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS

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 acknowledges issues with BMW and Toyota wireless charges

Apple acknowledged issue with some car wireless chargers causing NFC temporary disfunction on iPhone 15 models. Apple promises software update to address this issue.

At this moment it is not known how widespread the issue is. No further details are provided so far.

References:

Car wireless chargers could overheat iPhones too

Reports arise that BMW wireless charging pads could lead to iPhone overheating issues and, eventually, hardware damage – NFC chip powering Apple Pay stopped working. Additional reports highlight that there might be issues with other car makers and phones too.

General recommendation is to monitor iPhone temperature levels and avoid overheating.

References:

Tap to Pay launches in Brazil

Apple launches Tap to Pay in Brazil with CloudWalk’s InfinitePay integration.

Based on a report from last year, almost 40% of transactions in Brazil during the third quarter of 2022 were made through contactless payments. The country has a high rate of NFC-enabled POS (point-of-sale) terminals.

9to5Mac

Reference: Apple officially launches Tap to Pay in Brazil as international expansion continues

Beta 3 for iOS 16.4 and other platforms is available, addresses developer account questions

Apple publishes beta 3 for iOS/iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4. No corresponding Xcode beta is published.

Apple now addresses question raised by developers on how to use developer Apple ID to get beta on the device. Users could pick separate Apple ID to install beta software on the device.

Apple also now warns users that Rapid Security Response might be incompatible with some applications.

Researches also noticed that future Car Key implementations could solely rely on UWB and drop support for NFC.

watchOS 9.4 beta addresses issue on Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm model) incorrectly estimating total battery capacity.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

References:

Apple Wallet now supports room keys with some Hyatt hotels

Guests in select Hyatt hotels could now use keys in iPhone wallets to access their rooms.

Guests can hold their device near the door's NFC-enabled lock to access key card-protected areas, and with the Express Mode, an ‌iPhone‌ does not need to be unlocked to use the room key. Should their ‌iPhone‌ run out of battery, the Power Reserve feature allows it to continue to be used for unlocking the door for up to five hours. 

MacRumors

Reference: Apple Wallet Now Supports Hotel Keys From Some Hyatt Locations