iPadOS 15

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on iPadOS 15:

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 updates fix serious security problems in older handsets and tablets

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Updates is here for your iPhone bugs
iOS 15.7.4 takes care of a long list of security bugs.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Egor Kamelev/Pexels

Apple introduced iOS 15.7.4 and iPadOS 15.7.4 for older devices on Monday, closing significant security holes in a range of frequently used applications. Anyone still running iOS 15.x should install the new version.

Cupertino also released iOS 16.4 and the iPad equivalent on Monday. The updates for its older operating systems are further proof that Apple doesn’t abandon them.

Apple releases important iOS 15 security patch

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Updates is here for your iPhone bugs
iOS 15.7.4 takes care of a long list of security bugs.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Egor Kamelev/Pexels

iPhone users not on iOS 16.1 can now update their handset to iOS 15.7.1. Apple says it “provides important security updates.” It closes almost 20 security holes in the OS.

There’s also iPadOS 15.7.1 that does the same for iPad.

iOS 15.7, macOS Monterey 12.6 arrive to fix security problems

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iOS 15.7, macOS Monterey 12.6 arrive to fix security problems
If you're not installing iOS 16, at least upgrade to iOS 15.7.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone users can now install iOS 15.7, which fixes almost a dozen security problems. Apple recommends the update to all users. That said, the update launched at the same time as iOS 16 – but there are good reason for the simultaneous updates.

Plus, macOS Monterey 12.6 is out with its own set of security-related bug fixes. And iPadOS 15.7 deals with the same sort of problems.

Apple still hasn’t given up on iOS 15

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Apple still hasn't given up on iOS 15
iOS 15.7 is on the way, even though iOS 16 is right around the corner.
Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 16 launches on September 12, but Apple nevertheless seeded the release candidate for iOS 15.7 on Wednesday. This is – obviously – likely to be the last significant update to the version first introduced in 2021.

Apple also seeded release candidates for macOS Monterey 12.6 and iPadOS 15.7, but their replacements aren’t expected for weeks.

iOS 15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.5 arrive to fix bugs

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iOS 15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.5 are here to fix bugs
What might be the last update to macOS Monterey is out.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels

Beta testing on iOS 15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.5 is over, and these updates are now available for anyone to install. They bring a number of small tweaks to iPhone and Mac.

Don’t confuse these with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, which are major upgrades coming this fall.

Apple also released the full versions of iPadOS 15.6, watchOS 8.7 and tvOS 15.6 on Wednesday.

iOS 15.6, macOS 12.5 take penultimate step toward release

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iOS 15.6, macOS 12.5 take penultimate step toward release
Devs got the iPadOS 15.6 release candidate along with iOS 15.6 RC and macOS 12.5 RC on Tuesday.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Remember iOS 15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.5? While these have been overshadowed by iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, Apple hasn’t forgotten about them. They are nearing the end of beta testing, with release candidates going out to developers on Tuesday.

That means iOS 15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.5 are likely to debut July 19 or before. They’ll be joined by iPadOS 15.6, watchOS 8.7 and tvOS 15.6.

Wait is over for iOS 15.5, macOS 12.4 and watchOS 8.6

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iOS 15.5, macOS 12.4, iPadOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6 and tvOS 15.5: If you have an Apple computer, no matter the shape or size, there's a good chance it just got a software update.
If you have an Apple computer, no matter the shape or size, there's a good chance it just got a software update.
Photo: Szabo Viktor/Unsplash License

Apple released software upgrades for all its computers Monday. After finishing weeks of beta testing, macOS Monterey 12.4, iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6 and tvOS 15.5 are available for anyone to download.

Many of them include an update to the Podcasts application to keep it from taking up too much storage space. And the webcam in the recently released Apple Studio Display will work better after a firmware update.

iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 take a big step toward release

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iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 take a big step toward release
There are new release candidates for the operating systems that run all these Apple devices.
Photo: Apple

Apple gave both developers and the public access to the release candidates of macOS Monterey 12.4 and iOS 15.5 on Thursday. The iPadOS 15.5 Release Candidate also went out, as did the watchOS 8.6 RC and tvOS 15.5 RC. That’s the final step before introducing them to the public.

Aside from long-overdue improvements to the Studio Display webcam in macOS, all these are really just minor tweaks. But that’s not surprising considering Apple is expected to unveil the next major upgrades for the OSs at WWDC22 in early June.

Apple no longer allows you to downgrade your iPhone to iOS 15.4

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macOS Monterey 12.3 brings Apple’s Universal Control, iOS 15.4 offers Face ID with a mask
You cannot go back to iOS 15.4 now
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.4 just over a week after releasing iOS 15.4.1 to the public. This means it is no longer possible to downgrade your iPhone to the older version of the operating system. The company also stopped signing iPadOS 15.4, so you cannot downgrade your iPad to the older firmware either.

Hulu adds SharePlay support on iPhone and iPad

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Hulu adds SharePlay support
Enjoy Hulu content with your friends, wherever they may be.
Image: Hulu/Cult of Mac

Hulu today joined the list of third-party video streaming services that offer SharePlay support on iPhone and iPad.

Its latest app update gives viewers the ability to enjoy movies and TV shows with their friends over FaceTime while everyone stays in sync. It also adds the ability to easily switch between channels for Live TV users.

iOS 15.4.1 improves iPhone battery life, macOS 12.3.1 fixes Bluetooth bug

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iOS 15.4.1 release improves iPhone battery life, macOS 12.3.1 fixes Bluetooth bug
If you have an Apple device, it probably got an OS update on Thursday.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple introduced bug fix updates for every one of its operating systems on Thursday. These updates should improve the battery life on iPhone and iPad. And for Mac users, the new version fixes well-publicized bugs recently introduced by macOS 12.3.

However, there are no new features in macOS Monterey 12.3.1, iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, watchOS 8.5.1 and tvOS 15.4.1 — Apple just fixed small problems. All five updates are available to download immediately.

Apple Maps gets a major upgrade in Canada

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Apple Maps gets a major upgrade in Canada
Enjoy a more detailed city experience, with 3D buildings and landmarks.
Images: Apple

Apple Maps users in Canada can now enjoy a more detailed mapping experience, as well as enhanced navigation, in several big cities.

Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver are the latest to get Apple’s most recent Maps upgrades — which first debuted in London, Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area in iOS 15 last September.

Apple’s Universal Control and Face ID with a mask are almost here

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Apple’s Universal Control and Face ID with a mask are almost here
Apple seeded to developers release candidates for all of its operating systems.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded to developers the release candidates of macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 on Tuesday. That’s the final step before introducing them to the public, which will finally give Mac and iPad users access to the long-delayed Universal Control.

The iOS 15.4 Release Candidate also went to developers, so iPhone users will soon be able to unlock their iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask. Plus, the watchOS 8.5 RC and tvOS 15.4 RC were seeded as well.

Safari stops saving passwords without user names in iOS and iPadOS 15.4

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lock
To save you from confusion later.
Photo: Chepe Nicoli/Unsplash

iOS and iPadOS 15.4 make a small but welcome change to the way in which Safari saves login information. As of the third beta release, which rolled out to developers on Tuesday, passwords without user names won’t be saved.

The change, which also applies to macOS 12.3 Monterey, means users will be prompted to add a user name before they can save a new password. It helps prevent a buildup of passwords you can’t remember the user names for.

iOS 15.3.1 closes risky security hole and fixes Braille display bug

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iOS 15.3.1 closes risky security hole and fixes Braille display bug
Apple seems to think the security hole closed by iOS 15.3.1 is a serious one.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple recommends iPhone and iPad users install a system software update released on Thursday. It removes a security hole on all web browsers, and also includes an accessibility fix.

There are also fresh updates for watchOS as well as macOS available.

Universal Control on Mac and iPad is one of Apple’s most magical features yet

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Universal Control
It "just works," and it does so magnificently.
Photo: Apple

Universal Control, which is finally in testing ahead of its public debut, lets you control a Mac and an iPad with the same keyboard and mouse, bringing the two computers closer together than ever before. It’s particularly handy if you rely on both macOS and iPadOS apps and find yourself regularly switching between them.

The feature looked pretty ambitious and exciting when Apple previewed it during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote back in June. And now that it’s here (mostly) and we’ve had the chance to try it out, we firmly believe it is one of Cupertino’s most magical features to date.

Here’s why Universal Control will knock your socks off.

How to enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls in iOS 15

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Enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls
Make sure everyone gets heard on a conference call.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of nice improvements to FaceTime, including some new audio modes that may come in handy in certain situations.

The new wide spectrum audio is one you might want to use during conference calls. Here’s what it does — and how to enable it on iPhone and iPad.

Fun new emoji coming in iOS 15.4 will let you salute, melt and tear up

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Fun new emoji coming in iOS 15.4 will let you salute, melt and tear up
Here are some, but not all, of the new emoji coming soon to iPhone and iPad.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Soon you’ll be able to use an emoji to show that your battery is low. Or that you’re melting, are feeling ambivalent or patriotic, or getting teary-eyed. This is because the crop of fresh emoji approved in fall 2021 will debut when iOS 15.4 does.

Then they be used in texts, emails … wherever.

How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15

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How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15
Use Portrait mode to bring background blur to FaceTime on iPhone and iPad.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of big improvements to FaceTime — including voice isolation and the ability to blur your background during video calls like you can on Zoom and other video calling platforms.

We’ll show you how to enable the background blur feature using Portrait mode on iPhone and iPad.

iOS 15.3 is here for your iPhone bugs

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Updates is here for your iPhone bugs
iOS 15.7.4 takes care of a long list of security bugs.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Egor Kamelev/Pexels

Apple made iOS 15.3 available to all compatible iPhone models Monday. The update squashes at least one bug that recently made headlines. But there are no new features.

Apple also introduced iPadOS 15.3 to erase many of the same bugs. And macOS Monterey 12.2 and watchOS 8.4 debuted, too. tvOS 15.3 arrived Monday as well.

How to enable voice isolation for FaceTime calls in iOS 15

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Enable voice isolation for FaceTime
Keep kids' voices out of your remote meetings.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Remote meetings on FaceTime are a lot calmer in iOS and iPadOS 15, thanks to a feature called voice isolation that blocks out background noise. Even better, the feature works in other video-calling applications, including Zoom and Google Duo.

Here’s how you can enable it on iPhone and iPad.