Today, Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). As it always does, it started the conference with a presentation of what's in the works for all its major platforms, sharing highlights of the iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates set to be released in the fall. There was also a surprise MacBook Air refresh, which we'll get to in a bit.
On September 15, Apple held its second all-digital major press event of the year, calling it "Time Flies". Ordinarily, the September event is where we get to see the latest iPhone, among other products. Even Apple isn't immune to the craziness of life in the year 2020, however; it seems we'll have to wait a bit longer for the new iPhone. Instead, today was about Apple Watch and iPad. It wasn't all hardware, though.
It's that time of year again. Apple has just released new iPhones and Watches, alongside major software updates for new and existing devices.
This year, Apple has done something a little different though, by creating iPad OS. Fear not though, it's still that familiar iOS you know and love, and includes all the new features and enhancements of iOS 13, but now has its own identity and some additional features all of its own, as Apple looks to make the case for the iPad as a device that customers can use to get real work done.
In the upcoming releases of iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2, Apple is adding a new People Detection feature to its Magnifier app on liDAR-equipped devices that will enable blind and low vision users to determine the distance between themselves and nearby people.
With the introduction of People Detection, Apple is delivering the first example of how the LiDAR Scanner's ability to quickly and accurately scan and map nearby objects can be harnessed to offer significant added value to blind and low vision users of iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the 2020 iPad Pro.
In addition to a new MacBook Air and updated Mac Mini, Apple today has also announced a new iPad Pro powered by the A12Z Bionic chip and featuring a new dual-camera, a LiDAR scanner for Augmented Reality, and trackpad support.
Ahead of tomorrow's āCalifornia streamingā event, Apple has released iOS 14.8, iPadOS 14.8, macOS 11.6, and watchOS 7.6.2. The main changes in these releases are two security updates. Apple has also released a security update for macOS Catalina, however, this has just the one security fix.
Update: since posting this article we have recorded an interview with Sarah Herrlinger, Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives at Apple; and Dean Hudson, Accessibility Evangelist at Apple, who discussed the enhancements mentioned below and shared a few others which we didn't already know about.
These include:
Apple is once again celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by offering [a preview of accessibility features coming later this year.
For VoiceOver users, improvements include new voices, a flexible Voice Rotor, custom volume control, and the ability to customize keyboard shortcuts on Mac.
Apple has today released iOS 13.1.3, iPadOS 13.1.3, and a supplemental update for macOS Catalina.
According to Apple's release notes, via MacRumors, the iOS and iPadOS updates include various bug fixes. See below for details:
iOS 13.1.3:
Apple has today released iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 to the public. In addition to bringing some new features - including some originally slated for the initial iOS 13 release - these releases bring fixes for a large number of the bugs that iOS 13.0 and iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 introduced for blind and low vision users.
Apple has today released iOS 13.2.2 and iPadOS 13.2.2.
According to Apple's release notes, these updates fix an issue that could cause apps running in the background to unexpectedly quit, which led to background apps refreshing more often than normal.
iOS 13.2.2 includes bug fixes and improvements for your iPhone. This update:
Apple has today released iOS 13.2.3 and iPadOS 13.2.3.
According to the release notes, these updates include the following fixes and improvements:
Apple has today released iOS 13.3 and iPadOS 13.3 to the public. In addition to bringing some new features and enhancements, these releases bring fixes for a number of the bugs that iOS 13.0 and iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 introduced for blind and low vision users.
Apple has today released iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1.
In these releases, Apple has addressed a number of issues with Smart Invert.
These are the fixes and improvements to Smart Invert that we are currently aware of:
Apple has today released iOS 13.4.1 and iPadOS 13.4.1 to the public.
These appear to be minor releases focusing on fixes for a small number of bugs which Apple presumably believed should not wait until the releases of iOS 13.4.5 and iPadOS 13.4.5 (both of which are currently in beta testing).
In the case of iOS 13.4.1, the release notes mention just two fixes:
Apple has today released iOS 13.6.1, iPadOS 13.6.1, and a supplemental update to macOS Catalina 10.15.6.
According to Apple's release notes for iOS 13.6.1, via MacRumors this update:
Just a week after the release of iOS 14.0 to the public, Apple has today released iOS 14.0.1. This appears to be a bug fix release to address a small number of issues introduced in 14.0; including one where changing your default email client or web browser would be reset when you restarted your device.
Apple has today released iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 to the public.
Apple has today released iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3; bringing support for Apple Fitness+ and AirPods Max, new features, security enhancements, and bug fixes.
Our testing suggests that the following pre-existing accessibility bugs have been resolved in iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3:
Apple has today released iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5; bringing support for AirTag, new features, security and privacy enhancements, and bug fixes.
Our testing suggests that the following pre-existing accessibility bugs have been resolved in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5: