Monday, September 20, 2021 2:47 pm
Ahead of the public release of macOS Monterey (coming soon) in which it will be included, Apple today released Safari 15 which delivers faster performance, improved security, and the following new features:
- Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and easily access them across devices
- Redesigned tabs have a rounder and more defined appearance and take on the color of the webpage
- Compact tab bar option shows more of your web page on screen
HTTPS upgrade automatically switches sites from HTTP to more secure HTTPS when available
For detailed information on the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222.
Apple releases tvOS 15 and HomePod 15
Monday, September 20, 2021 2:33 pm
Apple today released tvOS 15 and HomePod 15 for Apple TV HD (or newer) and HomePod or HomePod mini respectively.
HomePod mini works with Apple devices so customers can seamlessly hand off music
or automatically receive personalized listening suggestions on iPhone.
tvOS 15
- For All of You: Browse a new row in the Apple TV app to find something that everyone in the house can’t wait to watch.
- Shared with You: Movies and shows shared through Messages appear in a new row in the Apple TV app.
- Spatial Audio: Listen with AirPods Pro or AirPods Max for a theater-like experience with sound that surrounds you.
- Smart AirPods routing: Get an automatic onscreen notification to magically connect your AirPods.
- HomeKit camera enhancements: View multiple cameras around the house at the same time on your Apple TV.
- Room-filling stereo sound: Pair two HomePod mini speakers with Apple TV 4K and enjoy rich, balanced sound for everything you watch.
HomePod 15
- Select a single or pair of HomePod mini as the default speakers for your Apple TV 4k for rich room-filling sound and clear dialogue
- Media playback controls automatically appear on your iPhone’s Lock Screen when a HomePod mini playing music is nearby
- Set a lower bass level to enjoy music without disturbing the neighbors
- Ask Siri to turn on your Apple TV, start playing a favorite movie, and control playback while you watch TV
- Siri automatically adjusts its speaking level based on the room environment and volume of the user
- Ask Siri to control smart home devices at a specific time like turning off the lights in 10 minutes
- Extend access to HomePod throughout your home by enabling Siri voice control on compatible HomeKit accessories
- Support for package detection with HomeKit Secure Video
MacDailyNews Note: To install the updates:
tvOS 15:
- Setting>System: Software Updates
- Download the latest software.
HomePod 15:
- In the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the House icon.
- Tap Home Settings.
- Tap Software Update.
- Toggle the switch off next to “Install Updates Automatically” if this is your first time updating your HomePod.
- Tap Install if an update is available.
Apple releases watchOS 8
Monday, September 20, 2021 2:39 pm
Apple today released watchOS 8 which brings you new ways to stay healthy, active, and connected. A redesigned Photos app helps you stay connected to your most precious memories, and the new Mindfulness app and new Tai Chi and Pilates workout types will help you lead a healthy and fit life. And updates to Wallet and Home make it simple and convenient to access your house, car, and even the places you love to visit.
watchOS 8 brings new access, connectivity, and mindfulness features to Apple Watch
Watch Faces
- Portraits face uses segmentation data from portrait photos taken on iPhone to create an immersive, multi-layered face (Apple Watch Series 4 and later)
- World Time face lets you track the time in 24 different time zones at once (Apple Watch Series 4 and later)
Home
- Status and controls for accessories in your home now appear at the top of the Home app
- Quick views to see if accessories are on, have a low battery, require a software update, and more
- Accessories and scenes dynamically appear based on the time of day and frequency of use
- Dedicated camera room for viewing all available HomeKit camera feeds in one place, with support for multiple aspect ratios
- Favorites area gives you access to the scenes and accessories that you use most
Wallet
- Home keys let you tap to unlock a supported home or apartment door lock
- Hotel keys allow you to tap to unlock your room at participating hotels
- Office keys allows you to tap to unlock your office doors for participating corporate offices
- Car keys with Ultra Wideband on Apple Watch Series 6 let you unlock, lock, and start your supported vehicle as you approach
- Remote keyless entry functions on your car keys allow you to lock, unlock, honk your horn, preheat your car, or open your trunk
Workout
- New custom algorithms in the Workout app for Tai Chi and Pilates provide accurate tracking of calorie metrics
- Automatic Outdoor Cycling workout detection sends a reminder to start the Workout app, giving you retroactive credit for exercise already started
- Automatic pause and resume for Outdoor Cycling workouts
- Improved accuracy of calorie metrics for Outdoor Cycling workouts while riding an e-bike
- Users 13 and under can now track hiking workouts with more accurate metrics
- Voice feedback announces workout milestones using the built-in speaker or connected Bluetooth device
Fitness+
- Guided Meditations can help you practice meditation, featuring audio sessions on Apple Watch and video sessions on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV that guide you through specific themes
- Pilates workouts are now available, with new workouts every week that are designed to improve strength and flexibility
- Support for Picture-in-Picture viewing on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, so you can watch your workout while you also view other content in compatible apps
- Expanded workout filters for Yoga, Strength, Core, and HIIT workouts, including whether equipment is required
Mindfulness
- Mindfulness app includes an enhanced Breathe experience along with a new Reflect session
- Breathe sessions have tips that help add a physical connection to deep-breathing practices and a new animation to guide your session
- Reflect sessions give you a simple idea to focus your thoughts, along with a visualization that shows the passing of a minute
Sleep
- Respiratory rate is measured by Apple Watch during sleep
- Ability to review respiratory rate during sleep in the Health app, and be notified if a trend has been detected
Messages
- Ability to compose or reply to messages by using Scribble, dictation, and emoji all from the same screen
- Ability to adjust dictated text by using the Digital Crown to scroll to where you want to edit
- Support for #images in Messages allows you to search for a GIF or select one you’ve used recently
Photos
- Redesigned Photos app allows you to view and manage your photo library from your wrist
- Highlights from Memories and featured photos, in addition to your favorites, sync to Apple Watch with new content generated daily
- Photos from synced Memories will be displayed in a mosaic-style grid, highlighting some of your best shots with a larger photo
- Ability to share photos through Messages and Mail
Find My
- Find Items app allows you to locate items with an attached AirTag and compatible third-party products with the Find My network
- Find Devices app helps you locate your misplaced Apple devices, as well as devices owned by someone in your Family Sharing group
- Find My separation alerts notify you if you leave your Apple device, AirTag, or compatible third-party item behind
Weather
- Next-hour precipitation notifications alert you when rain or snow is about to start or stop
- Severe weather notifications alert you about certain events including tornados, winter storms, flash floods, and more
- Precipitation chart that visually depicts the intensity of the rain
Other features and improvements:
- Focus lets you automatically filter notifications based on your current activity, such as fitness, sleep, gaming, reading, driving, work, or personal time
- Apple Watch automatically aligns with any Focus that you set in iOS, iPadOS or macOS, so you can manage notifications and stay focused
- Contacts app gives you the ability to access, share, and edit your contacts
- Tips app provides collections of helpful hints and suggestions for how to best use your Apple Watch and its built-in apps
- Redesigned Music app allows you to find and listen to music and radio all in one place – Ability to share songs, albums, and playlists in the Music app through Messages and Mail
- Support for multiple timers, including Siri support for adding labels to timers
- Cycle Tracking can now use heart rate data from Apple Watch to improve predictions
- New Memoji stickers to send a shaka, a handwave, a lightbulb moment, and more
- Over 40 outfit choices and up to three different colors to customize your Memoji stickers’s clothing and headwear
- Real-time measurement of your headphone audio level in Control Center when listening to media
- Ability to add transit cards in Wallet for Family Setup users in Hong Kong, Japan, and select cities in China mainland and US
- Google account support for Calendar and Mail for Family Setup users AssistiveTouch allows users with upper limb differences to answer calls, control an onscreen pointer, launch a menu of actions, and more, using hand gestures like a pinch or a clench
- Additional larger text size option available in Settings Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Lithuania
- Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Lithuania
Information about the security content of watchOS 8: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212819
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll be waiting to install this on other than test devices until third-parties can verify that the code does not include the ill-considered, supposedly-delayed backdoor to scan users’ photo libraries, ostensibly for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), but which could easily be bastardized to scan for political images, words, etc.
