Apple updates its operating systems iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and HomePodOS as well as the Apple Studio Display (test) with updates to new versions or new firmware, but some problems remain. Apple has put a lot of effort into quantitatively and is updating all supported platforms.
Gentle product maintenance for all platforms
In addition to iOS 15.5, which is available from the iPhone 6S and the iPhone SE of the 1st generation, and iPadOS 15.5 and the desktop operating system macOS Monterey 12.4, Apple is also updating the operating software of the Apple Watch, Apple TV and HomePod as well as the firmware of the Apple Studio Displays, which still has problems with the webcam quality even with the latest firmware 15.5.
Apple is rolling out the following new operating system and firmware versions as usual in waves from:
- iOS 15.5
- iPadOS 15.5
- Studio Display Firmware 15.5
- macOS Monterey 12.4
- HomePodOS 15.5
- watchOS 8.6
- tvOS 15.5
< p class="p text-width">The example of iOS 15.5 and the corresponding iPadOS 15.5 shows that almost all updates have received minor optimizations under the surface and the wallet app, Apple Cash, which is not available in Germany, and the Podcast app have been slightly revised.
- Send and Receive button in Apple Wallet app
- Support for Apple Wallet/Account card in “Wallet” app
- New setting to enable downloads in Podcast app App
- Automation stability when a person leaves home increased
- Improving the overall stability and security of the device
iOS 15.5 has also been released for the last iPod ever, the 7th generation iPod Touch. Apple only sells leftovers of the portable multimedia player and has stopped production.
New firmware doesn't make a webcam (much) better
The new firmware 15.5 for the Apple Studio Display can only slightly improve the image quality of the integrated webcam, which should actually deliver good results with a 12 MP sensor, the AI-supported follow mode (“Center Stage”) and the powerful A13 Bionic .
Based on an image comparison of the beta version of firmware 15.5, the developer James Thomson was able to prove at the beginning of this month that the webcam of the monitor, which costs at least 1,749 euros, is still working can't compete with a fairly standard webcam from an iMac Pro.
Comparing the new beta Studio Display firmware (1st pic) with the beta from last week (2nd pic), picture quality does seem to be still improving – I'm less red and there's more contrast.
(Cropped still frames from videos recorded in QuickTime Player, before and after patch) pic.twitter.com/Fg6gOEdb3k
— James Thomson (@jamesthomson) May 3, 2022
iOS and iPadOS 16 on the horizon
iOS 15.5 and the corresponding operating systems could be the last releases for the 15.x development branch. Just in time for the in-house developer conference WWDC 2022, which will take place primarily online from June 6th to 10th, Apple is to publish the first developer previews of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 and their derivatives.
macOS 12.4 and macOS 11.6.6
macOS Monterey 12.4 and macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 are bug fix releases that bring minor bug fixes and security updates for the desktop operating systems.
In addition, macOS Monterey 12.4 is the minimum requirement to use the new firmware update 15.5 for the Apple Studio Display to.
Users who want to use the Universal Control feature between Mac and iPad or macOS and iPadOS must update both systems to the latest software version.