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 Apple Releases iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, macOS 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, and
                             HomePod Software 15.5

   Josh Centers

   With WWDC and the announcement of Apple's operating systems for 2022
   coming in a few weeks (see '[1]WWDC 2022 Stays Virtual Starting June
   6,' 5 April 2022), it's likely that today's releases of iOS 15.5,
   iPadOS 15.5, macOS 12.4 Monterey, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, and HomePod
   Software 15.5 are the last ones we'll see that include new features.
   These aren't major releases, but they include some small new features
   in the Podcasts and Wallet apps, along with a few bug fixes and
   numerous security improvements, although none for vulnerabilities that
   are being actively exploited.

   Unless you're running into an issue that Apple has explicitly
   addressed, you can wait a week or so to install these updates.

iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5

   In [2]iOS 15.5 and [3]iPadOS 15.5, the Podcasts app on the iPhone and
   iPad finally lets you limit how many episodes are stored on your device
   and automatically purges older ones so Podcasts doesn't eat up your
   storage space. Hopefully, that will address the issues I highlighted in
   '[4]Prevent Apple's Updated Podcasts App from Eating Your Storage' (4
   May 2021). Go to Settings > Podcasts, scroll down to Automatic
   Downloads, and tap the new Automatically Download option. You can set
   it to keep up to 10 new episodes or all episodes over a given amount of
   time.

   On the iPhone, the Wallet app also now lets you send and receive money
   using your Apple Cash card, and the iOS 15.5 update fixes a bug that
   could cause automations triggered by people arriving or leaving to
   fail. The updates include [5]27 security fixes.

macOS 12.4 Monterey

   Like the iOS and iPadOS updates, [6]macOS 12.4 Monterey now provides an
   Automatically Download setting in Podcasts > Preferences that lets you
   limit how much storage the Podcasts app consumes. Universal Control is
   now out of beta, though Apple says nothing about what might have
   changed.

   macOS 12.4 also includes support for the separate Studio Display
   Firmware 15.5, which reportedly somewhat improves the disappointing
   video quality. The macOS 12.4 update includes [7]54 security fixes.

watchOS 8.6

   The [8]watchOS 8.6 update reportedly includes improvements and bug
   fixes, but the only ones that Apple is willing to share are the
   presumably regulatory approvals that allow it to provide the ECG app
   and irregular heart rhythm notifications to users in Mexico. It
   includes [9]18 security fixes.

tvOS 15.5 and HomePod Software 15.5

   For Apple's dedicated entertainment devices, the Apple TV and HomePod,
   [10]tvOS 15.5 and [11]HomePod Software 15.5 receive nothing more than
   'general performance and stability updates.' Neither needs any security
   updates, at least as far as Apple says.

References

   Visible links
   1. https://tidbits.com/2022/04/05/wwdc-2022-announcement/
   2. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212788
   3. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212789
   4. https://tidbits.com/2021/05/04/prevent-apples-updated-podcasts-app-from-eating-your-storage/
   5. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213258
   6. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212585
   7. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257
   8. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212790
   9. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213253
  10. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207936
  11. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208714

   Hidden links:
  12. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2022/05/Podcasts-download-controls-scaled.jpg
  13. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2022/05/macOS-12.4-Monterey.png
  14. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2022/05/watchOS-86.jpeg

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