iOS 12.4 introduces iPhone migration to directly transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, includes enhancements to Apple News+ and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:
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 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 by selecting History > Clear > Clear All
Other improvements and 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.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
iOS 12.3.1 includes bug fixes for your iPhone and iPad. This update:
Fixes an issue that could prevent making or receiving VoLTE calls
Fixes issues in Messages that could cause messages from unknown senders to appear in your conversation list even though Filter Unknown Senders is enabled
Fixes an issue that could prevent the Report Junk link from appearing in Messages threads from unknown senders
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:
Taken straight from the all too fleeting Update Dialogue:
iOS 12.2 provides support for Apple News+, adds the ability for Siri to play videos from your iOS device to Apple TV, and includes four new Animoji. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.
Apple News+
Apple News+ is a new subscription service that extends the Apple News experience with hundreds of magazines and top newspapers
Our editors handpick top articles and magazine issues, and you also get personalized recommendations on the topics most interesting to you
Automatic downloads make it easy to read magazine issues offline
Apple News is now available in Canada, with a free experience that includes handpicked Top Stories, a personalized Today feed, and support for both English and French
Apple News+ is available in the U.S. and in Canada, with dozens of additional Canadian magazines
Siri
Ask Siri on your iPhone or iPad to play any video, show, movie, sports game, or channel on Apple TV. For example, “Hey Siri, play Free Solo on my TV”
Animoji
Four new Animoji—owl, boar, giraffe and shark—are included for iPhone X and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and iPad Pro 11-inch
AirPlay
Dedicated TV controls in Control Center and on the Lock Screen give you quick access to TV controls
AirPlay multitasking for video allows you to browse other apps, as well as play other short form audio and video files locally on your device without interrupting AirPlay
AirPlay destinations are now grouped by content type making it faster for you to find what device you want to play to
Apple Pay
Apple Pay Cash customers can now transfer money to their bank accounts instantly using their Visa debit cards
Wallet app now conveniently displays Apple Pay credit and debit transactions right below the card
Screen Time
Downtime can be configured with a different schedule for each day of the week
A new toggle enables easily turning app limits on or off temporarily
Safari
Website sign-in now occurs automatically after filling credentials with Password AutoFill
Warnings now appear when loading unencrypted webpages
Removes support for the expired Do Not Track standard to prevent potential use as a fingerprinting variable; Intelligent Tracking Prevention now protects against cross-site tracking by default
Smart Search Field queries can now be modified by tapping the arrow icon next to search suggestions
Apple Music
The Browse tab shows more editorial highlights on a single page making it easier to discover new music, playlists, and more
AirPods
Support for new AirPods (2nd generation)
This update also includes other improvements and bug fixes. This update:
Supports Air Quality Index in Maps for US, UK, and India
Includes information in Settings on how much time remains on your device’s warranty period
Supports real-time text (RTT) for phone calls made through a nearby iPhone on iPad and iPod Touch
Displays a “5G E” icon for iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) or iPad Pro 11-inch indicating that users are in an area where AT&T’s 5G Evolution network is available
Improves quality of audio recordings in Messages
Improves stability and performance of Apple TV Remote on iOS
Fixes an issue that prevented some missed calls from appearing in Notification Center
Addresses an issue where a badge notification could appear on Settings even though no action is needed
Addresses an issue in Settings > General > iPhone Storage where the storage size of some large apps, the System category, and the Other category in the storage bar graph could be incorrect
Fixes an issue that could cause Voice Memos to automatically play back recordings after connecting to a car Bluetooth device
Resolves an issue that could cause Voice Memos to temporarily prevent renaming a recording
Lew from Unbox Therapy says iOS 12.0.1 fixes that spurious random non-charging issue, appropriately dubbed ChargeGate. I’m glad the issue has been fixed, although Apple does not officially acknowledge that there even was a problem.
From the Upgrade Dialogue:
iOS 12.0.1 brings performance improvements and exciting new features to iPhone and iPad.
Photos introduces new features to help you rediscover and share the photos in your library
Memoji—a new, more customizable Animoji—make Messages more expressive and fun.
Screen Time helps you and your family understand and make the most of the time spent on devices
Siri Shortcuts deliver a faster way to get things done with the ability for any app to work with Siri
augmented reality becomes even more engaging with the ability for developers to create shared AR experiences
and new privacy features help protect you from being tracked on the web.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
Lew from Unbox Therapy posted a slightly shocking video a couple of days ago in which he examines what appears to be a random charging issue on the new iPhone XS models (both max and… well “non-max”). He’s appropriately dubbed it ChargeGate.
The issue was brought to the worlds attention by an Apple Forum Thread, in which user xMASTIFFSx observed that when his iPhone XS is in sleep mode (blank screen), it refuses to charge from a wired connection to a charger. However, if he wakes the phone up, then sometimes it starts to charge – at other times it does not.
Soon after the thread started, over hundred other iPhone XS users have responded that they had a similar problem. That’s never good when technology does that. We coders are used to boolean states. Random Booleans are not something we’re good at.
So Lew took out his 8 iPhones XS versions and put them all to the test. Watch the above video to see his staggering findings: MOST of the new iPhone models seem to behave in this strange way, refusing to charge when in sleep mode. But even when woken up, not all models start charging immediately. Some freeze, some start charging 10 minutes later, some never charge at all.
We can only assume at this time that Apple thoroughly tested the wireless charging option (which appears to work fine, whether the iPhone is asleep or awake), but it perhaps already hatching plans of removing that godforsaken final port on the “best iPhone ever” in the next iteration. Let’s be honest: why should they fix something if they could just REMOVE it instead? That plan worked so well with removing both the headphone jack and the home button.
This problem may or may not be related to Apple’s latest “software innovation” in iOS 12, in which a phone must be unlocked to start charging when connected to a Mac. Why they’ve implemented this ridiculous check is anyone’s guess. Security? Stupidity? We’ll never find out.
How’s your new iPhone XS doing? Does it start charging when you plug that lighting connector in?
I’m a little concerned about the recent iPhone releases. In particular, I’m not sure I like where this “experimental” Face ID thing is going.
Here’s my gripe: as of September 2018, we no longer have a choice about Face ID. At least last year, when the original iPhone X came out, we had a choice whether to adopt this new gimmick or not. The iPhone 8 still had “the button”.
But with this year’s release of Xclusive iPhone Xtravaganza (see what I did there?), I cannot help but think back at a time when Coca Cola decided to change their original loved-by-so-many default flavour with the release of New Coke. A mistake never to be made again. By any major brand.
Unless you’re Apple of course.
The issue I’m having with Face ID is not so much Face ID itself. It’s the fact that Apple have decided it’s the only way to operate my iPhone going forward. I’d like to make that decision myself – and quite frankly, I’m not ready to use it yet. I would like a button to unlock my phone. I’m the customer. I should be able to make that decision.
But I can’t. Because Apple have decided that I no longer need that button.
