So Apple released 15.3 a week ago, which one of its most important fixes was for its firewall issue with Crowdstrike’s Falcon firewall in enterprise/institution/business customers installations.
Imagine not being able to connect to Airplay after finding the device on your network, then connecting, and entering the 4 digit code and … and… nothing! Well, the tempfix was to drop your pants, aka, open the firewall. The 15.3 update fixed what the last 15.2 update dorfed up.
And today, 2/10/2025 or 2025/10/2 or 10/2/2025 aka Feb 10.2025, Apple released 15.3.1, along with Watch OS 11.3.1 and iOS 18.3.1 to block the Restricted USB Mode Attack. Apple never likes to detail any “security” patches but they did say,
“This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.”
I updated my devices. Probably good idea.
Speaking of rumors…maybe soon, SE 4thGen ? IF bigger screen… time to upgrade!Stay tuned.
A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles
Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground
Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image
Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps
Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud
ChatGPT support
ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools
Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT
Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer
A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won’t be used to train OpenAI’s models
Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI’s data policies
Additional Apple Intelligence features:
Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you’d like something rewritten, for example as a poem
Photos
Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections. Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared
Safari
New background images to customize your Safari Start Page
HTTPS upgrade tries to use secure HTTPS on all websites
Simplified import and export for history, bookmarks, and passwords
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines
Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more
Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library
Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you
Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers
Presenter preview lets you choose what to share — an app or your whole screen — before you share it when connecting to an external display or using AirPlay
Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open
Weather in menu bar allows you to get current weather conditions from the menu bar on your Mac and click through to quickly access detailed forecasts
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 283063
CVE-2024-44308: Clément Lecigne and Benoît Sevens of Google’s Threat Analysis Group
WebKit
Available for: macOS Sequoia
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to a cross site scripting attack. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.
Description: A cookie management issue was addressed with improved state management.
WebKit Bugzilla: 283095
CVE-2024-44309: Clément Lecigne and Benoît Sevens of Google’s Threat Analysis Group
Apple has re-released iOS 17.6.1 for iPhone and iPadOS 17.6.1 for iPad. The new build number is 21G101 for iOS 17.6.1, while the old build number was 21G93.
I don’t know what is different about the new build, or why Apple didn’t label this update as iOS 17.6.2. Additionally, the new build is not listed on Apple’s security updates page This update has no published CVE entries. Possible the Apple is hiding details to protect the iOS and users?
Separately, Apple has released watchOS 10.6.1 and tvOS 17.6.1 for Apple Watch and Apple TV.
Widget Colors
System Settings still like Ventura but with way back. So much better now?
Facetime reactions. Um. ok. Thumbs up?
Browser Profiles (Safari lets you clutter up more from work, or school, or home) Who uses Safari anymore? I prefer other.
Typing with keyboard and voice. Well I stopped typing and … well? Oh, I don’t have microphone on!
Overlay in Facetime. You know, Wanna know more? Like Starship troopers…
Web Dock Apps! Ok, THIS I think should have been from the start. You take a URL you visit often, and now put it in your dock! One Click! So original!
…
There is more on MacRumors… I want to atleast give them credit for listing FIFTY new features of Sonoma (Mac OS 14)
Update files size for the Delta (via Software Update) is 1.21GB while the Full update version is 11.49GB, and System Firmware version still same at 8422.141.2
I haven’t noticed anything other than taking 15mins from download, verify, reboot, install, reboot, more install, then reboot.
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 provides important security updates and bug fixes for your Mac.
• Resolves an issue where macOS would not automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks
• Fixes an issue that could prevent files syncing through iCloud Drive
• Addresses a graphic issue that may occur on iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) with Radeon Pro 5700 XT
I guess the next release will be MacOS 11 (X1) “Big Sur” …
*** I always recommend the Combo Updater when available. The Delta patches seem to be unreliable to leftover previous versions (aka band-aiding). The Combo will replace the OS changes throughout.
This month, Apple is releasing a new iPadPro with optional Magic Keyboard and trackpad support.
I read the reviews…and some make sense: why? This is expensive and the LIDAR for AR is before the cart, so to speak. I just know too many cool uses and also that fragility of Apple design for replacement costs… but hey, watch their pro-mo video on it!
You can read more about the technical specifications.
Apple keeps saying that iPads are not a computer but then they taunt this as your next “computer that is not a computer”. Honestly, I think many do not need a computer, and just a tablet and phone. But durability is not Apple. And reasonable cost is not Apple.
Read the pricing below, but I think that for the value, a loaded 13″ MacbookAir would do all you need (except the LIDAR and pencil). Think about the new MacbookAir at $1499 for 16GB ram, and 512GB storage vs a 12.5″ iPad ($1299 with 512GB), plus add ($349) for the Magic Keyboard and another ($129) for the Pencil. That is more than the MacbookAir. Oh, and if you are worried, AppleCare+ should be a no-brainer at $199-249.
Now the OUCH in Pricing:
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space gray finishes. A starting configuration of 128GB offers pro customers more room for their apps and content, along with 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $949 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $1,149 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
Trackpad support will be available on any iPad running iPadOS 13.4, and work with Apple’s Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2 and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. Third-party mice connected over Bluetooth or USB are also supported.
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will be available for purchase in May for $299 (US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
The second-generation Apple Pencil for iPad Pro is available for $129 (US). The new Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Pro is available in space gray for $179 (US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $199 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
Looks helluva lot like Surface Pro from Microsoft.
Anyone else think this looks like A Surface Pro in this shot?
iPadOS 13.4 with trackpad support will be available on March 24 as a free software update for all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 4 and later.
See you soon with more comments on how Apple isn’t being a good company. How Apple products are still too expensive to own, fix and maintain. And let’s see if having Siri in my house is a good thing! Cheers to more pwd/account breaches and hoping other states follow in California Privacy laws.
