Apple released macOS 12.4, iOS 15.5, and Apple Podcasts 3.2 on Wednesday morning. Here’s what’s new in each: macOS 12.4 macOS 12.4 is a minor update that includes bug fixes and performance improvements. The biggest new feature is support for the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, which was released in late October. Other new features include a redesigned Photos app with drag-and-drop support for importing photos from other apps, support for FaceTime Audio calls in Safari on the Mac, and more. iOS 15.5 iOS 15.5 is a major update that includes new features for iPhone and iPad users as well as updates to the Apple Watch and Apple TV lineup. The most significant changes are updates to the camera system on both iPhone and iPad, including improved low-light performance and portrait mode support for the iPhone XS Max and XR; an updated Maps app with faster navigation; updated AirPlay 2 features including multi-room audio support; and more. Other new features include a redesigned App Store with easier access to top charts, ratings, reviews, and recommendations; updated Messages app with Group FaceTime capability; updated HomeKit features including support for multiple doors/windows at once; updated iCloud storage options including up to 5TB of storage for iCloud Drive users; and more. ..
First, Apple is rolling out new improvements to Apple Podcasts, which are available on iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, and macOS 12.4. There’s a new setting to change how many episodes of podcasts are downloaded and saved to your device, preventing your storage from being filled up with old episodes you might not get around to listening. Best of all, changing the setting will immediately remove all downloads that are older than you selected, acting as a bulk cleanup tool.
Apple has also added an option to not download any episodes automatically at all, turning the Podcasts app into a streaming-only player. That’s a handy feature for anyone who sticks to Wi-Fi most of the time, or people with plenty of cellular data to spare. You can also now browse shows by season and filter episodes by status, according to TechCrunch, and some premium shows will soon have a yearly subscription option.
The other updates in iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, and macOS 12.4 are relatively minor. The new Mac update removes the beta label on Universal Control, which allows you to use a single mouse/trackpad and keyboard across multiple Macs and iPads. It also includes updated firmware for the Apple Studio Display, designed to improve photo and video quality on the monitor’s built-in camera. Meanwhile, iOS now supports sending and requesting money from an Apple Cash card in the Wallet app, and fixes some bugs with home automations.
Most of the rest of Apple’s hardware ecosystem also received updates on Monday. The Apple Watch now has watchOS 8.6, which adds ECG and irregular heart rhythm detection for people in Mexico. HomePod firmware 15.5 and tvOS 15.1 are rolling out for HomePod speakers and Apple TV devices, respectively, but Apple hasn’t said there are any noticeable improvements in either update.
If you have an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, you should receive a notification about a system update soon. We also have a guide on how to update the iPhone.
Source: TechCrunch, MacRumors (macOS, iOS, watchOS, HomePod, tvOS)
