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Apple today released visionOS 1.1.2, a minor update to the ‌visionOS‌ operating system that came out alongside the Vision Pro in February. ‌visionOS‌ 1.1.2 comes a month after the launch of visionOS 1.1. ‌visionOS‌ updates can be installed by going to the Settings app on the Vision Pro, selecting the General section, and choosing Software Update. The Vision Pro headset will need to be removed to install new software, with a progress bar available on the front EyeSight display. According to Apple's release notes, the update introduces unspecified bug fixes and is recommended for all users. Apple has also released a revised ‌visionOS‌ 1.2 beta that is available to developers. The new version has a 21O5555f version number, up from the prior 21O5555e version. Apple is pushing regular updates to ‌visionOS‌. As mentioned above, the visionOS 1.2 update is already being beta tested, and we're expecting to see ‌visionOS‌ 2 introduced in June with a whole new feature set. Related Roundup: visionOSRelated Forum: Apple Vision Pro This article, "Apple Releases visionOS 1.1.2 With Bug Fixes and Revised visionOS 1.2 Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers, and as expected, the update introduces support for downloading apps from developer websites in the European Union. In iOS 17.4, Apple began allowing developers to offer their apps through alternative app marketplaces in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple initially intended for apps to only be available through these marketplaces, but in March, Apple said that it would in fact be adding support for downloading apps directly from websites. To offer an app for download from a website in the European Union, developers need to meet specific criteria. Developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and must have an app with more than one million first installs on iOS in the European Union in the prior year. Other requirements include submitting to Apple's notarization process and publishing transparent data collection policies. Apple will provide authorized developers with an API that allows them to offer their apps for download via the web. Apps downloaded this way will be able to be backed up, restored, updated, and more. This is the first time that Apple has sanctioned downloading an app directly from a website. Support for this feature will allow apps like Spotify, Fortnite, and others to be downloaded directly on iPhones should the developers behind those apps opt in to Apple's terms. Apps offered through the web do not have to pay any commission to Apple, but they are subject to the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee. As with alternative app marketplaces, app downloads from the web are available in the European Union only under the terms of the DMA. Note that apps can only be downloaded this way on the iPhone as the changes do not apply to the iPad.Related Roundups: iOS 17, iPadOS 17Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17 This article, "iOS 17.5 Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps From Websites" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4. Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Developer Beta. An Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta. Most of the features that Apple promised would be coming in ‌iOS 17‌ have now been released, but iOS 17.5 is expected to introduce additional app ecosystem changes in the European Union. App developers will be able to offer apps for download on the iPhone directly from their websites, in addition to through app marketplaces. Related Roundups: iOS 17, iPadOS 17Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17 This article, "Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple has yet to release the first beta of iOS 17.5 for the iPhone, but two changes are already expected with the upcoming software update. iOS 17.5 will likely allow iPhone users in the EU to download apps directly from the websites of eligible developers, and the update might include some changes to how Apple ID recovery contacts work. More details about these potential changes follow. Web Distribution Apple recently announced that eligible developers will soon be able to distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website they own. Apple said this new "Web Distribution" feature will be available starting "later this spring" with an upcoming software update for the iPhone, which presumably refers to iOS 17.5. "Web Distribution" will be limited to larger developers based in the EU. To qualify for this distribution method, Apple says the developer must be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year. "Web Distribution" builds upon the alternative app marketplaces that Apple already allows on the iPhone in the EU starting with iOS 17.4. Apple has made these app-related changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. Apple ID Recovery Contact Changes iOS 17.5 may include some changes to Apple ID recovery contacts, according to known tipster Nicolás Álvarez. However, he did not share any specific details, and he said there is a chance that the changes would not be visible to users. Setting up recovery contacts for your Apple ID can help to ensure that you always have access to your account, even if you forget the password or a linked device's passcode. How to Set a Recovery Contact for Your Apple ID AccountTiming iOS 17.5 will likely be released to the public before the end of May. In a social media post last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple would finish internal development of the first beta of iOS 17.5 this week. However, it is unclear if that means the first beta will be released this week or later.Related Roundups: iOS 17, iPadOS 17Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17 This article, "What to Expect From iOS 17.5" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

When WWDC 2024 takes place in June, Apple will unveil the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 15. While most of what we've heard about upcoming software has been focused on iOS, macOS and iOS often share many features, so we have some idea of what's coming to macOS as well. AI Features Apple is working to add a number of AI-centric features to its operating system updates, many of which are likely to be cross-platform. AI-generated Apple Music playlists. AI-assisted writing in Pages. AI-assisted slide deck creation in Keynote. AI code writing features in Xcode. Siri improvements and deeper integration with Shortcuts. ‌Siri‌ could benefit the most from AI improvements, and there are rumors suggesting the personal assistant will be better at natural conversation and user personalization, with the new functionality set to be available cross-device. Apple is specifically working on improved interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, so ‌Siri‌ will be able to do things like auto-complete sentences more effectively and follow multi-part, complex commands. Deeper integration with the Shortcuts app could allow users to automate complex tasks that involve multiple apps. There is a slim possibility there might be some kind of chatbot based on generative AI, as rumors suggest that Apple is considering partnering with Google or OpenAI to use their large language models, but Apple may also just be planning to use generative AI for system features. Other New Additions There are several other features that are rumored to be coming to ‌macOS 15‌. Accessibility - Apple is working on an Adaptive Voice Shortcuts feature for creating a custom phrase and linking an accessibility setting to it, plus there will be an option for organizing Live Speech into user-created categories. Freeform - A Scenes feature will let users select specific sections or Scenes within their boards for faster navigation and sharing. Maps - The Maps app may gain support for creating custom routes, and it may also be upgraded with topographic maps. Name Since 2013, Apple has been using California landmark names for the Mac operating system, and there's no sign that's going to change. Apple has trademarked several names over the last decade, and some of the possibilities that have yet to be used include Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta. Apple could go with a non-trademarked name, and it has done so several times in the past. These are the names that Apple has used since it started naming macOS after California landmarks: Mavericks Yosemite El Capitan Sierra High Sierra Mojave Catalina Big Sur Monterey Ventura Sonoma Release Date ‌macOS 15‌ will be previewed at the ‌WWDC 2024‌ keynote on Monday, June 10. The first beta will be provided to developers that same day, and a public beta will likely follow in the summer. ‌macOS 15‌ will then see a public launch sometime in the fall, either in September or October based on past launch timelines. Read More For more on what to expect in ‌macOS 15‌, check out our ‌macOS 15‌ roundup, which we will keep up to date both before and after WWDC.Related Roundup: macOS 15 This article, "What to Expect From macOS 15" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Apple is not planning to debut its own generative AI chatbot with its next major software updates, including iOS 18 for the iPhone. Instead, he reiterated that Apple has held discussions with companies such as Google, OpenAI, and Baidu about potential generative AI partnerships. Recent reports indicated that Apple has considered licensing existing chatbots, such as Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, but Apple offering its own chatbot of some kind on iOS 18 had not been explicitly ruled out until now. Gurman still expects AI to be a major focus at Apple's just-announced WWDC 2024 developers conference. He reiterated that Apple plans to announce new AI features that "assist users in their daily lives," but he did not provide any specific details. He has previously reported that generative AI will improve Siri's ability to answer more complex questions, and allow the Messages app to auto-complete sentences. Other apps like Apple Music, Shortcuts, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are also expected to gain generative AI functionality. Apple already promised that the company would share generative AI announcements later this year, and the company hinted at it again today. WWDC 2024 runs from June 10 through June 14, with video sessions to be shared on YouTube for the first time. The first iOS 18 beta should be made available to developers following the WWDC keynote, and the update is expected to be released to all users in September.Related Roundup: iOS 18Tag: Mark Gurman This article, "iOS 18 Reportedly Won't Feature Apple's Own ChatGPT-Like Chatbot" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article