Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With Apple News Enhancements & New Data Migration
Option
Apple has today released iOS 12.4.
According to Apple's release notes via MacRumors
<https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/22/apple-releasing-ios-12-4-today/> , iOS
12.4 includes enhancements to Apple News and a new iPhone migration option to
directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone:
iPhone migration
* Introduces the ability to wirelessly transfer data and migrate
directly from an old iPhone to a new iPhone during setup
Apple News
* Makes downloaded issues accessible in the My Magazines section, both
offline and online
* Adds all publications in Apple News+, including newspapers, to the
catalog at the top of the News+ feed
* Adds the ability to clear downloaded magazine issues by selecting
History > Clear > Clear All
Other improvements & fixes
* Includes a security fix for the Walkie-Talkie app on Apple Watch and
re-enables Walkie-Talkie functionality
This release also includes support for HomePod in Japan and Taiwan.
Although not mentioned in the release notes, it is likely that iOS 12.4 puts in
place the framework for Apple Card. Announced during Apple's “Show Time” event
in March, Apple Card <https://www.apple.com/apple-card/> is a credit card
which is optimized to work with Apple Pay and the Wallet app on your iPhone,
but which will still work like a traditional credit card for all of your
transactions. Highlights of Apple Card include:
* You can buy things effortlessly, with just your iPhone. Or use the
Apple‑designed titanium card anywhere in the world.
* You can sign up in no time and start using it right away with Apple
Pay.
* For every purchase you make, you get Daily Cash. And it really is
cash. So you can spend it however you want, right from your iPhone. Have a
question? Just text. It’s that simple.
* No annual, cash‑advance, over-the-limit, or late fees.
* Apple Card is designed to make sure you’re the only one who can use
it. All the advanced security technologies of Apple Pay — Face ID, Touch ID,
unique transaction codes — are built right in. And the physical card has no
numbers. Not on the front. Not on the back. Which gives you a whole new level
of security.
* A titanium, laser-etched, Apple-designed credit card. And Mastercard
is our global payment network, so you can use it all over the world. For apps
and websites, there’s a virtual card number in the Wallet app. It autofills for
you when you’re using Safari.
At launch, Apple Card will only be available in the United States. An
international roll-out is anticipated
<https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/goldman-sachs-hints-that-apple-card-will-be-rolled-out-internationally.html>
, but no details have been confirmed yet.
For VoiceOver users, we are currently aware of one fix in this release -
VoiceOver now speaks the selection status of items listed under Mail > Include
Mail in the Watch app.
At this stage of the iOS 12.x development cycle it is possible that there are
no additional changes for blind and low vision users.
iOS 12.4 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software
Update) or via iTunes on a Mac or PC.
Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of
your device (either in iTunes or iCloud, depending on personal preference).
This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during
the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a device
restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend plugging
your device into a power source for the duration of the download/installation
process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your battery going dead during
the update.
More information on how to update the software on your iOS device is available
on this Apple Support page <https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204> .
Apple Releases macOS Mojave 10.14.6, watchOS 5.3, & tvOS 12.4
Apple has today released macOS Mojave 10.14.6, watchOS 5.3, and tvOS 12.4.
According to Apple's release notes via MacRumors
<https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/22/apple-releases-macos-mojave-10-14-6/> ,
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 brings some enhancements to Apple News and several bug
fixes:
This update:
* Makes downloaded issues available in the My Magazines section of
Apple News+, both online and offline
* Adds all publications in Apple News+, including newspapers, to the
catalog at the top of the News+ feed
* Adds the ability to clear downloaded magazine issues in Apple News+
by selecting History > Clear > Clear All
* Addresses an issue which prevents creation of a new Boot Camp
partition on iMac and Mac mini with Fusion Drive
* Resolves an issue that may cause a hang during a restart
* Resolves a graphics issue that may occur when waking from sleep
* Fixes an issue that may cause fullscreen video to appear black on Mac
mini
* Improves file sharing reliability over SMB
MacRumors <https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/22/apple-watchos-5-3-ecg-canada/>
reports that watchOS 5.3 fixes a major bug in the Walkie-Talkie app that could
allow it to be used to spy on users.
The watchOS 5.3 update also brings ECG support and irregular heart rhythm
notifications to Apple Watch Series 4 owners in both Canada and Singapore.
Apple traditionally does not provide release notes for tvOS updates, so it is
unknown if tvOS 12.4 brings any notable changes.
However, MacRumors
<https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/22/apple-releases-tvos-12-4-update/>
reports that no user facing changes were identified during the beta cycle and
that “the update likely focuses on introducing performance improvements and bug
fixes”.
Apple has also today released new 7.3.1 Apple TV software for the
third-generation Apple TV.
It's anticipated that these updates include foundation support for Apple Card
<https://www.apple.com/apple-card/> , which is due for launch in the United
States this Summer.
We weren't able to test any of these releases ourselves during the beta cycle,
so do not know if there are any changes for blind or low vision users. However,
as Apple's development focus will already have mostly switched to the major
releases coming this fall, we do not anticipate any fixes for the outstanding
problems present on each platform.
To install macOS Mojave 10.14.6, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu,
then click the Software Update preference pane to check for updates. If any
updates are available, click the Update Now button to install them. Or click
”More info” to see details about each update and select specific updates to
install.
watchOS 5.3 is available by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and
navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must
be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.
To install tvOS 12.4 on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV (4th generation), go to
Settings > System > Software Updates and Select Update Software. If there's an
update, select Download and Install. Wait for your Apple TV to download the
update. Don't disconnect or unplug your Apple TV until the update completes.
Submitted by AppleVis at:
www.applevis.com
