Apple releases iOS 9.2 and tvOS 9.1 to public
Apple has just released a whole slew of software updates, including new versions of iOS, tvOS, and OS X El Capitan. These releases will bring your iPhone and iPad devices to iOS 9.2, your fourth-generation Apple TV to tvOS 9.1, and El Capitan to 10.11.2. Let’s take a look at what’s changed.
Tweaked Safari View Controller in iOS 9.2
The biggest change in iOS is to the way the Safari View Controller works within third-party apps. This is the technology that allows a pop-up Safari window to be used within other apps, and the service will now allow third-party Action Extensions, such as allowing 1Password to be accessed in the browser view of apps like Tweetbot. The Safari View Controller has also been updated to allow for a long tap on the Reload button to refresh the page without content blockers.
Also within iOS 9.2 is support for AT&T’s NumberSync Wi-Fi calling feature, which allows customers of that carrier to accept calls on any device, even when their handset is not nearby. Finally, there are bug fixes for iCloud Keychain, Apple Watch synchronizing and pairing, audio quality when streaming to stereo systems, and more.
Bug fixes and more for tvOS 9.1
On the fourth-generation Apple TV, the betas of tvOS 9.1 introduced support for Siri search within Apple Music, which would allow you to ask Siri to play specific content from that service. For example, Siri for Apple Music on the Apple TV would allow you to ask “What was the top song for 1991?” or “Play Skillet’s latest single.” Since the update is still rolling out, we have not yet confirmed if that feature made it into the final version.
The tvOS update also includes several bug fixes and brings in improvements to networking and scrolling. This is the first major update to tvOS, but the second overall update, since 9.0.1 was released shortly after the Apple TV shipped to address performance issues and under-the-hood bugs.
Last, but not least, OS X El Capitan 10.11.2
In the desktop operating system, there are stability, compatibility, and security updates. OS X 10.11.2 also improves iCloud Photo Sharing for Live Photos, and should also improve the reliability of Wi-Fi networking, Handoff, and AirDrop. In addition, the software update includes fixes for problems with Bluetooth devices disconnecting for no apparent reason, issues with the Mail app deleting messages in an offline Microsoft Exchange account, as well as problems importing photos from an iPhone to a Mac using a USB cable.
Getting the updates
All of these updates are rolling out gradually, so wait a bit if they don’t show up for you right away. To update your iPhone or iPad, you just need to go into the Settings app, then tap General > Software Update. Within your fourth-generation Apple TV, you can update by visiting the Settings app, then clicking on System > Software Update > Update Software. Finally, your Mac can be updated by opening the App Store app and clicking on Updates.
