The second major update to the operating system was released by Apple today. This guide shows you everything that's new in the update.
You can get more videos on the MacRumors YouTube channel.
Privacy report for app
The Privacy Report is one of the additions that Apple showed off. It's a privacy feature that allows users to see how often apps have accessed their permission-restricted info.
Users can see which apps have contacted other domains and how recently they've contacted them with the App Privacy Report. You can see all of the trackers that a website uses, so you know where your data is going.
The Privacy section of the app's settings app is where the App Privacy Report can be found. You can turn it on from there. Data will show up in this spot after you use apps for a while.
How to use a privacy report.
Additional information about how it works is included in the support document for the App Privacy report feature.
The emergency number is emergency.
The feature that allows you to call emergency services with a series of button presses has been updated. You can press the side button multiple times to initiate, or hold down the side button and volume button together if you prefer.
There was no way to hold down the buttons after the update. If you have Auto Call enabled, Apple has added a longer eight-second countdown before a call is placed.
Apple Music Voice Plan.
The Apple Music Voice Plan was added to the Apple Music platform in October. The Voice Plan costs $4.99 per month and provides access to all songs, stations, and playlists in Apple Music.
There is a limited on-device interface available. The "Play it Again" feature lets users access a list of recently played music, and the "Listen it Again" feature lets users ask for music suggestions based on listening history or likes and dislikes.
Legacy Contacts allows you to set a trusted person to be able to access your data after you die. The person that you designate as your contact can access your photos, messages, notes, files, contacts, calendar events, apps, device backups, and more.
The Legacy Contact option can be accessed by opening up the settings app, selecting "Password & Security," and choosing "Legacy Contact" from the list. You can choose a trusted person to access your account after you pass away. You can share your special access key with other people through Messages or by printing it out.
Scan my lost item.
There is a new option in the Find My app. You can use this to find items that might be used to locate you.
If there's a device that belongs to someone else nearby, the Unknown Items feature will let you know either way, by scanning anything nearby and letting you know if it's a device that belongs to someone else. If an item is detected, Apple offers instructions on how to uninstall the device so that it can't be used for tracking.
The "Help Return Lost Items" option scans for nearby devices that might be lost, and it works the same way as the tracking Scan. If a device is found, Apple gives instructions on how to find the owner.
Find my battery reserve feature.
The Find My app can be used to locate an Apple device for up to five hours in Power Reserve when the phone's battery is dead.
TV app.
The TV app in iPadOS 15.2 has a new design. navigation between the various sections of the TV app is simpler with the sidebar.
The TV app for the iPhone has a dedicated store for accessing movies and TV shows that can be purchased. The new design and Store tab may help separate Apple TV+ content from paid content, as the existing design has been confusing for some users.
You can hide email in the mail app.
You can use Hide My Email after installing the Mail app. To hide my email, just tap on the "From" field and select the "Hide My Email" option.
Everyone who has an iCloud + plan can use Hide My Email, it's a useful feature for protecting their email address.
The person on the receiving end of an email does not see your real email address, so the email is forwarded to you so you can respond if you need to. If you start getting junk mail from someone, you can just stop them from sending it.
The Mail App has a feature called Hide My Email.
There are changes to the display repair restriction.
When repairs were made to a broken display, Apple promised a software update that would change the policy of the iPhone 13 that caused Face ID to be non-functional.
When performing a display repair, Apple's tools used in earlier versions of the OS had to be used to pair the iPhone 13 to the display. Independent repair shops don't have access to those tools, which made them upset.
The Face ID disabling requirement has been removed by Apple, allowing for independent display repairs.
Communication safety.
Communication Safety in Messages for children is enabled in the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system. The feature scans incoming messages for nudity and warns children that the photos may be harmful.
Communication Safety can be enabled by parents. It is limited to the accounts of children, with detection done all on-device, and it is not the same as the anti-CSAM function that Apple still has in development.
The earlier versions of Communication Safety did not notify parents if children open nude photos. The feature was removed by Apple due to concerns that it could be dangerous.
We have an in-depth explanation of how Communication Safety works to answer any questions that readers have about the feature.
Children and parents will be able to avoid unsafe situations online with expanded guidance in Apple's products. Users who ask for information on how to report child exploitation will receive that information.
The macro mode is activated.
When the camera is close to an object, a flower icon can be tapped to turn off Macro mode.
Users need to navigate to Camera and turn on "Macro Control" to get the new toggle. The flower icon will appear in the camera app when it is close to an object. The icon can be turned on or off.
The Preserve Settings option has been added by Apple. Users unhappy with the function of Macro mode will be given more control over it if Macro Control is disabled.
The new look of Notification Summary makes it easier to see what's included in the summary.
There is a search in the music app.
Apple Music users can now search within their playlists.
Icloud private relay
The wording of the iCloud Private Relay has been clarified in the settings app. The iCloud Private Relay has been renamed to "Limitip Address Tracking" to make it more clear what happens when it's turned on.
This is a clarification to the wording, and the general function is the same.
The feature that turned off the "Limit IP Address Tracking" turned off the iCloud Private Relay for the cellular provider. The private relay feature is the same as before and can be activated separately for cellular and internet traffic.
Reminders and notes apps.
The Reminders and Notes apps can now be renamed and deleted.
The new Notes setting on the iPad allows you to use the lower left or lower right corner of the screen to access Quick Note.
It's called CarPlay.
The new maps features in the Apple Maps app are only available in cities where they are supported. The updated map has details about turn lanes, medians, bike lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks.
In London, Los Angeles, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find more detailed city maps.
The app is for stocks.
The Stocks app has been updated to allow users to view the currency for a ticker and see year-to-date performance information.
There are commands that are given by the computer named "Siri."
The low vision and blind owners of the iPhone were able to use some of the Siri commands that were removed in the previous version of the device. The commands that work now are for checking voicemail messages, playing the most recent voicemail, checking call history, and providing information on recent calls.
There are bug fixes.
There are several bug fixes for issues with HomeKit, and the update has a list of fixes below.
VoiceOver is running and the phone is locked.
Third-party photo editing apps may show ProRAW photos overexposed.
HomeKit scenes that include a garage door may not work when your phone is locked.
Some apps may not be updated now.
Video streaming apps may not work on the 13 models.
Microsoft Exchange users may see calendar events on the wrong day.
Guide feedback
Do you know of a feature that we left out in the guide? We'd love to receive an email here.
