Samuel Axon
Apple released new versions of its iPadOS and macOS operating systems just days after the company updated iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
The iPadOS update adds some new features and shares a lot with its iOS counterpart, while the macOS release is a modest one that focuses on a number of bug fixes.
It’s uncommon for an iPadOS update to arrive after an iOS update, and it’s likely that Apple delayed iPadOS at the last minute to fix an issue, but we’re not sure. In any case, the update is here now.
iPadOS 14.7
Many of Apple’s new features and bug fixes in the iPadOS 14.7 release notes are the same as those in iOS 14.7 earlier this week. The first bullet highlights the ability to link two people in a family unit to the same Apple Card account so they can develop credit together.
The update also introduces a way to manage timers on a HomePod and tweaks the Podcasts interface. In an iPad-specific note, Apple says it has resolved an issue that caused audio skipping when using USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapters.
Apple’s full release notes of iPadOS 14.7 are as follows:
iPadOS 14.7 includes the following improvements and bug fixes for your iPad:
- Apple Card family adds the ability to combine credit limits and share a single account co-owned with an existing Apple Card user
- Home app adds the ability to manage timers on HomePod
- Podcasts library allows you to see all shows or only followed shows
- Share playlist menu option is missing in Apple Music
- Lossless audio playback of Dolby Atmos and Apple Music may stop unexpectedly
- Braille displays can display invalid information when composing email messages
- Audio may skip when using USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapters with iPad
macOS Big Sur 11.5
macOS Big Sur 11.5 also landed today for supported Macs, but it’s a smaller release that offers a few bug fixes and several security updates. It has the same Podcasts customization seen in iOS and iPadOS, and it fixes an issue related to data in the Music app and another with smart cards on M1 Macs.
Here are the full release notes for macOS 11.5:
macOS Big Sur 11.5 includes the following improvements for your Mac:
- In the Podcasts Library tab, you can choose to see all shows or only watched shows
This release also fixes the following issues:
- Music can’t update the number of plays and last played date in your library
- Smart cards may not work when logging in to Mac computers with the M1 chip
For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211896
You can read about the security updates in these releases on Apple’s website, and there are quite a few for this version of macOS. Apple also clarified that this week’s iOS update (as well as iPadOS) addresses a widely publicized Wi-Fi-related vulnerability. From the security update documentation:
Consequence: Joining a malicious Wi-Fi network may lead to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution
Description: This issue was addressed through improved checks
With these macOS and iPadOS releases, Apple has now updated its entire lineup of operating systems. These updates may be the last (other than emergency protection or bug fixes) before Apple launches major new versions of iOS and macOS this fall.