Tag: RC

Apple prepares to release new iOS and other platforms next week. This time RC for iOS/iPadOS 16.5, macOS 13.4 Ventura, watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5 is published.

Notable, Apple also publishes iOS/iPadOS 15.7.6 to address security issues in previous iOS major version.

macOS 13.4 Ventura RC addresses issues with content filter apps not working in previous beta.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

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

References:

• Apple Seeds iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers
• macOS Ventura 13.4 RC Fixes Bug With Content Filter Apps
• Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of macOS Ventura 13.4 to Developers

Apple releases iOS/iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4. HomePod software is also updated to 16.4. Apple also released Studio Display firmware update.

Xcode 14.3 receives RC 2.

Apple also releases iOS/iPadOS 15.7.4, macOS Monterey 12.6.4 and macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 with security fixes.

iOS

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
• Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
• Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you
• Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
• Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home
• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

iPadOS

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
• Apple Pencil hover adds tilt and azimuth support so you can preview your mark at any angle before you make it in Notes and supported apps on iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
• Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
• Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
• Fixes an issue with Apple Pencil responsiveness that may occur while drawing or writing in the Notes app
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
• Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home

macOS

This update includes new emoji along with other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

• 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
• Remove background option in Freeform automatically isolates the subject in your image
• Photos duplicates album expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Transliteration support for Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu keyboards
• New keyboard layouts for Choctaw, Chickasaw, Akan, Hausa, and Yoruba
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
• Resolves an issue where Trackpad gestures may occasionally stop responding
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
• Addresses an issue where VoiceOver may be unresponsive after using Finder

watchOS

watchOS 9.4 includes improvements to Apple Watch and brings features to new regions. 

• Wake-up alarms are no longer silenced with cover to mute gesture to avoid accidental cancellations during sleep
• Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates and cycle deviation alerts now supported in Moldova and Ukraine
• AFib History now available in Colombia, Malaysia, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine

Beta download: Applications

References:

• Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 16.4 with New Emoji, Notifications for Web Apps on the Home Screen, Voice Isolation for Cellular Calls, New Shortcuts Actions, and More
• WebKit Features in Safari 16.4
• Apple Releases Studio Display Firmware Update
• iOS 16.4 Expands iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite to Six More Countries
• Apple releases tvOS 16.4 with new ‘Dim Flashing Lights’ feature
• iOS 16.4 is now available, with a lot of user-facing updates
• iOS 16.4 Includes New Apple Podcasts App Features Across iPhone and CarPlay
• iOS 16.4 Adds Order Tracking Widget, Lets You Share Order Information
• Apple releases Studio Display firmware update with new ‘Pro Display’ feature
• PSA: Make Sure to Update Older Devices to iOS 15.7.4 to Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerability
• iOS 15.7.4, macOS Monterey 12.6.4, macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 all get security updates
• Apple releases security notes for iOS 16.4, watchOS 9.4, macOS Ventura 13.3
• iOS 16.4 Adds Support for PlayStation 5 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller
• iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4
• iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 Gain Multiple New Shortcut Action Options

Apple soon to release iOS 16.4 and other platforms. Today Release Candidate is published. Xcode 14.3 RC is also available.

In addition to new platforms, Apple also publishes RC for iOS 15.7.4 including security fixes (no releases notes are available).

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: 

- 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard 
- Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen 
- Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you 
- Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library 
- VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app 
- Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected 
- Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device 
- Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home 
- Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

Apple

Also, corresponding RC firmware for Apple Studio Display is available.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• iOS & iPadOS 16.4 RC Release Notes
• macOS Ventura 13.3 RC Release Notes
• watchOS 9.4 RC Release Notes
• tvOS 16.4 RC Release Notes
• Xcode 14.3 RC Release Notes

References:

• Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers
• Apple Seeds Studio Display 16.4 Firmware Release Candidate
• Here’s everything new for Apple Watch users with watchOS 9.4
• What’s new in iPadOS 16.4? Here are the full release notes
• iOS 16.4 Expands Duplicate Image Detection to iCloud Shared Photo Library
• iOS 16.4 Seemingly References New AirPods and AirPods Case
• iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls
• Xcode 14.3 RC 1

Apple releases RC for iOS/iPadOS 16.3, macOS 13.2 Ventura, watchOS 9.3 and tvOS 16.3. Apple announced that release will be available next week.

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
- New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month 
- Security Keys for Apple ID allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process on new devices 
- Support for HomePod (2nd generation) 
- Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls 
- Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards 
- Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen 
- Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max 
- Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status 
- Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests 
- Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly

Apple

iOS/iPadOS 15.7.3 RC is also released with security bugfixes.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes are not updated for Release Candidate.

References:

• iOS 16.3 coming next week with these new features for iPhone
• Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 to Developers

Following the announcement of new security features, Apple publishes RC for its platforms supporting the Advanced Data Protection for iCloud.

Notably, new Xcode RC is also published.

Other notable feature in this RC is recently announced Apple Music Sing – karaoke-like mode where users could sign along with Apple Music songs.

AirDrop will now limit access setting "Everyone" to 10 minutes for all users, and not just China as it was in previous beta.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• iOS & iPadOS 16.2 Release Notes
• macOS Ventura 13.1 Release Notes
• watchOS 9.2 Release Notes
• tvOS 16.2 Release Notes
• Xcode 14.2 RC Release Notes

Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces Apple Music Sing

References:

• Apple Music Adding a Karaoke Experience With Apple Music Sing
• Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2
• Apple Music Sing Now Available in iOS 16.2 Release Candidate
• Apple Expanding 10-Minute 'Everyone' AirDrop Limit to All Users With iOS 16.2

During recent RC publication Apple also published iOS 15.7.1 RC keeping updating older iOS major release with bug fixes.

It turns out that this RC might break Face ID for some users. Affected devices include iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro. User might see "Face ID Is Not Available" error message.

Reference: iOS 15.7.1 Release Candidate Breaking Face ID for Some iPhone Users

Apple publishes RC 2 for macOS 13 Ventura. No notable changes or fixes are reported.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes: macOS Ventura 13 Release Notes

Apple hosted 'Far Out.' special event. During the presentation three product lines got major updates – Apple Watches, AirPods and iPhones.

Event is available for playback at Apple website.

Apple Watch

New Apple Watch Series 8 has addition of wrist temperature sensor which could monitor ovulation cycles. At the moment, this sensor does not provide absolute temperature readings and could not be used to measure exact body temperature.

Also, Apple Watch now has crash detection which will trigger call to emergency services when it detects a crash.

watchOS 9 will introduce Low Power mode which will provide more battery life by sacrificing some of the features.

Apple also updated Apple Watch SE with new specs.

But main announcement is introduction of Apple Watch Ultra which adds new design and extra programmable action button.

Apple Watch Series 3 are now discontinued.

AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro 2 will feature better noise cancellation, improved transparency mode (marketed as "Adaptive Transparency") which will silence some of the noises while keeping user within the environment.

Touch control on new AirPods Pro will allow volume control by sliding.

iPhone 14

iPhone 14 will come in two models – regular and Plus matching screen sizes of Pro models. iPhone 14 models will use A15 Bionic chip introduced with iPhone 13, screen will also be similar to last year's models.

iPhone 14 Pro models will have A16 Bionic chip and new pill shaped sensor area which will be used as Dynamic Island – this area will be used together with notifications and will be available for the third-party integrations.

All new iPhone 14 will feature satellite emergency SOS connectivity allowing users to send message through satellite connection. Service will be free for two years with all new iPhone 14 purchases.

Pro models will also feature significant upgrades to main camera – sensor is now 48MP. Typically camera will use 4 pixels together, however ProRAW format will allow to get full 48 megapixels for processing.

iPhone 14 US models will not have SIM tray and will rely on eSIM only.

Apple Fitness+ will no longer require purchase of Apple Watch.

Release Candidates

Release candidates are published for iOS, watchOS and tvOS. Xcode 14 Release Candidate is also available.

Apple plans releases for September 12, 2022.

Note that iPadOS 16 will not be released together with iOS. It is assumed that iPadOS 16.1 will be released later in October.

Apple also published iOS/iPadOS 15.7 RC and macOS 12.6 Monterey RC.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

• Xcode 14 RC Release Notes
• iOS 16 Release Notes
• watchOS 9 Release Notes
• tvOS 16 Release Notes (no notable changes are reported)

Apple prepares macOS 12.5 for release. Now second RC is published.

No notable changes are reported for this Release Candidate.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Reference: Apple seeds macOS Monterey 12.5 RC 2 to developers and public testers

Users and developers should expect release of iOS 15.6 and other platforms quite soon. Today iOS and iPadOS 15.6 got their second release candidate.

No notable changes are reported for this RC.

Beta download: Operating Systems

Reference: Apple Seeds Second Release Candidate Versions of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 to Developers and Public Beta Testers