Important updates for Apple’s latest operating systems: iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 are now available to download for iPhones, iPads and Macs. The biggest innovation is the initial signal for Apple Intelligence: The AI integration is now available as a beta – but initially only in English and officially in the EU only in macOS. Apple Intelligence functions can only be activated on iPhones and iPads in Germany using a workaround; Apple doesn’t plan to offer them on iOS and iPadOS in this country until April 2025.
Notification
Hearing test and AirPods hearing aid
iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 bring a new clinically validated hearing test function that can be used with AirPods Pro 2. If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the inner ears can be configured as a hearing aid. It’s intended to make external noise and conversations easier to understand – and it can also adjust the devices’ audio output, for example for phone calls or audio content.
Apple promises small improvements, including individual WiFi controls and Airdrop for the control center. Also new is support for RCS Business Messaging and natural language search input in the App Store.
Apple Intelligence or Beta, Bug Fixes
Apple Intelligence initially offers AI tools for spell checks and post-editing of texts, and summaries can also be created – including new emails and messages. In the Photos app, users get an AI eraser designed to make it easier to remove unwanted image content. Additionally, new photo/video summaries can be created using text commands.
iOS 18.1 addresses other problematic areas, including a bug in Apple’s Podcasts app that marks unplayed episodes as previously heard. The manufacturer promises that videos recorded in 4K at 60 fps can be played smoothly again, even if the iPhone has warmed up. The update is also intended to eliminate a disturbing problem with digital car keys: After restoring it from a backup or moving to a new iPhone, the stored key sometimes loses its function and can no longer open or start the car . At the same time, Apple also released watchOS 11.1, tvOS 18.1 and visionOS 2.1; each update should also close security gaps. Details about this were not yet available.
Update
29.10.2024,
10:26
Clock
More information is now available about the patched security vulnerabilities. Additional links and details can be found in this message.
(lbe)
