If you’ve been eagerly waiting for iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 since June, then rejoice! everyone will finally be able to install them on Monday. iPad gets plenty of new features, while iPhone and Apple Watch get a handful of nice improvements.
Here are the cool enhancements you can look forwarded to, whether you jump on the updates immediately or decide to wait.
Stability results are mixed
Apple gave developers the final release candidates for all three updates several days ago. I and other Cult of Mac writers immediately began testing them, and the results very between OSs.
I’ve spent many hours running the iPadOS 15 RC and had no significant problems. And I’m a heavy user — Screen Time tells me that Thursday alone I was on my Pad Pro for 13 hours. No update is perfect but after all the testing I’ve done I don’t see this new version harboring some horrible bug that’ll make your life harder.
The same can be said Apple Watch. There aren’t dramatic changes in watchOS 8, and Apple seems to have ironed out the bugs in the beta testing process.
iOS 15 is more problematical. It seems to be just a bit buggier. Nothing horrendous. But we here at Cult of Mac keep running into the sort of issues that you must restart your iPhone to make go away. It’s all-in-all less polished than we’d like.
Some people prefer to wait until the first “bug fix” update before installing new OS releases. That might be wise for iOS 15, if not for iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8. And I’m still going to try to tempt you with the new features you might not want to wait for, despite any small bugs.
iOS 15 keeps you focused, offers improved video calls
Perhaps the most important feature in the initial release of iOS 15 is Focus. This lets you set up a range of notification profiles based on what you’re doing. You might already do something similar when you’re sleeping or driving. Focus lets you create ones that block certain notifications when you’re working, then block a completely different set when you’re relaxing. Apple is trying hard to help us create a healthy work/life balance.
Covid made video calls important to our work and social lives. This didn’t escape Apple’s attention, and one result is background blur for video chats in iOS 15. And there’s something similar for audio: voice isolation so people on the chat with you can’t hear background noise. While not world-shaking, I’ve tasted these new options in beta and they’re a real improvement. And are welcome because just about everyone on a video call wants to hide what’s going on around them.
But don’t expect SharePlay, a cool video chat feature that drew a lot of attention when this OS was announced. It will allow users to enjoy music, movies, TV shows, etc. together during a call. But it’s been cut from the first iteration of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 too.
Easily the most controversial change in iOS 15 is a redesign of the Safari web browser that moves the Address bar to the bottom of the screen. It’s much more convenient there, but complaints from some beta testers afraid of change convinced Apple build in the option to move the Address bar back to the top.
Not controversial at all is Live Text, a small but handy addition that lets you easily pull the text from images. It can even quickly translate signs and menus into a language that you can read.
iPadOS 15 redesigns multitasking and Safari
iPadOS 15 also includes Focus and the video chat emhancements, and Live Text, too. But that’s just the start.
Most notably, the update makes multitasking on an iPad far more intuitive. A new multitasking menu appears at the top of apps and makes it easy to put a couple of applications side by side. Or push one of the off the screen so the other can take over. Hopefully, this will get more people doing iPad multitasking.
And — thankfully — widgets are no longer limited to the left edge of the Home screen. They can appear anywhere. Plus, the App Library makes the jump to iPad.
And there’s a brand-new feature called QuickNote. A swipe from the lower right corner of iPad’s screen opens a new note that lets you type or write down important details quickly.
watchOS 8 tries to make you healthier
Apple upgrades the Breathe app into a Mindfulness app in watchOS 8. It can still suggest you periodically take a break or it can give you a topic to reflect on while you relax for a measured amount of time.
A pair of workout types were added: Tai Chi and Pilates. Expanding the types of exercise people can measure is right in line with Apple’s vision for the wearable.
But it’s not all about health. The just-announced Series 7 offers the largest screen yet on this wearable, and Apple clearly wants users to take advantage of it. As proof, a redesigned Photos app can show a collection of images at once. And new Portraits Watch face has a 3D effect, putting the time slightly behind a person who’s in the foreground. It’s a beautiful look — but one not available on my Apple Watch Series 3.
As for general usefulness, the Home app has been given a facelift making it easier to access to HomeKit accessories. (Note: You should get some HomeKit accessories. Home automation is great.)
Looking ahead, the Wallet app will soon be able to store a digital key for your house. This will require hardware to support the feature. And Wallet will be able to hold your drivers license… in states that adopt this.
macOS Monterey launches later
Unlike iO 15 or watchOS 8, don’t go looking for the full version of macOS Monterey on Monday. It’s not scheduled for release, and beta testing is still very much going on. For example, there’s hasn’t yet been a beta with Universal Control, a signature feature of the update.
It could be a month or even two before macOS 11 reaches a Mac near you.
How to install the iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 updates
Apple promised to release the iPhone, Mac and iPad updates to everyone on Monday. Once they’re out, installation is easy.
Install iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 by connecting the device to a Mac, or to a PC running iTunes. Alternatively, an over-the-air update is also available. That’s accomplished by opening the Settings app and going to General > Software Update.
The watchOS 8 update can be installed directly onto an Apple Watch, as long as the wearable is connected to Wi-Fi. From the Settings app just navigate to General > Software Update. Alternatively, it can be installed from an iPhone by opening the Apple Watch app and going to My Watch > General > Software Update.
There’s plenty to look forward to in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8
Source: Pinays Guide
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