Apple operating systems: updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, watchOS, and HomePod

Apple updates its operating systems iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, HomePodOS as well as the Apple Studio Display (test) with updates to new versions or new firmware, but there are still some problems. In terms of quantity, Apple has worked hard and is updating all supported platforms.

Gentle product maintenance for all platforms

In addition to the iOS 15.5 available from the iPhone 6S, the first generation iPhone SE, iPadOS 15.5, and the macOS Monterey 12.4 desktop operating system, Apple is also updating the driver for the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod as well as firmware for Apple Studio displays, which continues to have problems. With webcam quality even with the latest firmware 15.5.

As usual, Apple releases the following new operating system and firmware versions in waves:

• iOS15.5
• iPadOS 15.5
• studio monitor firmware 15.5
• macOS Monterey 12.4.0 Update
• HomePodOS 15.5.1 Update
• watchOS 4.6.0 Update
• tvOS 15.5

The corresponding iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 example shows that almost all updates have received minor improvements under the surface and the Apple Cash wallet app, not available in Germany, has been tweaked slightly.

iOS 15.5 was also released for the last iPod ever, the seventh generation iPod Touch. Apple sells only the remaining stock of the portable multimedia player and has discontinued production.

New firmware doesn’t make webcam much better

The new firmware 15.5 for the Apple Studio Display can slightly improve the image quality of the built-in webcam, which should achieve really good results with its 12-megapixel sensor, AI-powered follow mode (“Center Stage”) and the powerful A13 Bionic.

Using an image comparison of the beta firmware 15.5, the developer managed to James Thompson At the beginning of this month it showed that the screen’s webcam, which costs at least 1749 euros, still couldn’t keep up with the fairly standard webcam from the iMac Pro.

Comparing the new Beta Studio Display firmware (first image) to the beta from last week (second image), the image quality still seems to be improving – I’m less red and there’s more contrast.

(Still frames were cropped from videos recorded in QuickTime Player, before and after patching) 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 can be the latest versions of the 15.x development branch. Just in time for WWDC 2022 internal developer conference, which will take place primarily online from June 6-10, Apple will be publishing 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 fixes that provide simple bug fixes and security updates for desktop operating systems.

In addition, macOS Monterey 12.4 is the minimum requirement to be able to use the new firmware update 15.5 for the Apple Studio Display.

Users who want to use Universal Control between Mac and iPad or macOS and iPadOS must update both systems to the latest software.