Apple Releases macOS Catalina 10.15.6 With New Apple News Features and Fix for USB Issue

[MacRumors]

Apple today released macOS Catalina 10.15.6, the sixth official update to the macOS Catalina operating system that was released in October 2019. macOS Catalina 10.15.6 comes over a month after the launch of macOS Catalina 10.15.5 with Battery Health Management features.

‌macOS Catalina‌ 10.15.6 is a free update that can be downloaded from the Mac App Store using the Update feature in the System Preferences app.

No new features were found in macOS Catalina 10.15.6 during the beta testing period, but the update adds local Apple News stories in San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City, plus it introduces customization for the daily newsletter from Apple News.

Apple says the update also fixes an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads could lose connection, which is a problem that was affecting USB 2.0 devices that were used with new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.

macOS Catalina 10.15.6 introduces local news in your Today feed in Apple News and improves the security and reliability of your Mac.

Apple News
- Local news in your Today feed provides extensive coverage of San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City
- More stories available from local news providers with a subscription to Apple News+
- Your daily newsletter from Apple News can now be personalized with stories that reflect your interests

This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements.
- Adds a new option to optimize video streaming on HDR-compatible Mac notebooks for improved battery life
- Fixes an issue where the computer name may change after installing a software update
- Resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT210642
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

macOS Catalina may 10.15.6 may be one of the final updates to the macOS Catalina operating system as Apple shifts its focus to macOS Big Sur, the newest version of macOS set to be released this fall.

Article Link: Apple Releases macOS Catalina 10.15.6 With New Apple News Features and Fix for USB Issue

 

[5097842]

Yes, let's put Catalina out of our collective misery and move on to the hopefully improved Big Sur.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

No problem here running Catalina. I hope I have the same luck running the Big Sur.

 

[Gautam.]

Wonder if they finally fixed this issue - my new MBP 16" has been experiencing a lot of kernel panics, while Apple Support could only tell me they're working on a fix.

10.15.5 & 10.15.4 = Wake from Sleep Kernel Panic on 16" MBPro (2019)

Does your 16" MacBook Pro 2019 Kernel Panic or Restart when you wake it from sleep after installing the Catalina 10.15.4/5 Update? Latest Info + Workarounds

mrmacintosh.com

 

[DinkThifferent]

Yay update time! Those release days become more confusing every time. It used to be a Tuesday but now suddenly Wednesday is happy day?

10.15.5 fixed the issues i had with Catalina (but to be honest, i only upgraded to Catalina when they released 10.15.4 before that it was a mess) so i will see if 10.15.6 will fix my trackpad losing its connection every now and then. It only happens for half a second but it surprised me.

The release notes say that this might fix that, so that will be good news.

Fortunately I have never had any problems with my Gmail in combination with the Mail.app so I can't speak for all users here who did/do face that issue.

 

[lionel77]

Yes, let's put Catalina out of our collective misery and move on to the hopefully improved Big Sur.

Not so fast. What about those of us, who still have emails that need their contents to get accidentally deleted?

 

[Rigby]

For those who haven't made the jump to Catalina, there's also a security update for Mojave.

 

[Bustycat]

This may be the last major update for the entire macOS version 10 (formerly OS X and Mac OS X) generation.

 

[wood1208]

In MacOS, we need "Toggle to Turn Off Automatic Update Downloads" and "don't remind me toggle" so it does not constantly keep reminding there is an outstanding dot update for the MACOS that I need to update on my Macbook Pro...
If I have a choice, I would update the current version of the last update of the MacOS when in September the new version of MacOS is released. I am behind a year but what I install is the stable version of MacOS and I am not developer other than just a user.

 

[Gautam.]

In MacOS, we need "Toggle to Turn Off Automatic Update Downloads" and "don't remind me toggle" so it does not constantly keep reminding there is an outstanding dot update for the MACOS that I need to update on my Macbook Pro...
If I have a choice, I would update the current version of the last update of the MacOS when in September the new version of MacOS is released. I am behind a year but what I install is the stable version of MacOS and I am not developer other than just a user.

These 'dot' updates keep your Mac safe.

 

[Sedulous]

In MacOS, we need "Toggle to Turn Off Automatic Update Downloads" and "don't remind me toggle" so it does not constantly keep reminding there is an outstanding dot update for the MACOS that I need to update on my Macbook Pro...
If I have a choice, I would update the current version of the last update of the MacOS when in September the new version of MacOS is released. I am behind a year but what I install is the stable version of MacOS and I am not developer other than just a user.

There once was an ignore update in the UI.

 

[AMTYVLE]

Wonder if they finally fixed this issue - my new MBP 16" has been experiencing a lot of kernel panics, while Apple Support could only tell me they're working on a fix.

10.15.5 & 10.15.4 = Wake from Sleep Kernel Panic on 16" MBPro (2019)

Does your 16" MacBook Pro 2019 Kernel Panic or Restart when you wake it from sleep after installing the Catalina 10.15.4/5 Update? Latest Info + Workarounds

mrmacintosh.com

Me2. Hopefully they're fixed this release. If not - I PRAY they're fixed with Big Sur.

 

[MacBird]

Build is 19G73.

 

[chewbaka]

This may be the last major update for the entire macOS version 10 (formerly OS X and Mac OS X) generation.

Not really. It could be the last Mac OS release with the main version number '10', but the change to MacOS 11 for Big Sur is largely symbolic. It is still just a new iteration of the same Mac OS X/OS X/MacOS operating system.

 

[dogslobber]

This may be the last major update for the entire macOS version 10 (formerly OS X and Mac OS X) generation.

Definitely maybe.

 

[xgman]

Yes, let's put Catalina out of our collective misery and move on to the hopefully improved Big Sur.

You're dreaming!

 

[chewbaka]

You're dreaming!

I use my Mac for serious work, and have had no problems with Catalina. In fact, I've found some features (namely, sidecar), especially useful during work from home.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

Not really. It could be the last Mac OS release with the main version number '10', but the change to MacOS 11 for Big Sur is largely symbolic. It is still just a new iteration of the same Mac OS X/OS X/MacOS operating system.

isn't that what OP said?

 

[anshuvorty]

Adds a new option to optimize video streaming on HDR-compatible Mac notebooks for improved battery life

Wait....what?!??! Since when does Apple make notebooks that have HDR???! The only HDR display that Apple makes is the XDR Pro Display, right?

Did Apple accidentally let slip their plans for the Apple Silicon-based Mac notebooks releasing this fall!?!??!?!

 

[Sedulous]

There once was an ignore update in the UI.

In case anyone thinks lkrupp's disagree had any merit.

 

[gank41]

I’m just gonna wait a little bit and see from others how this works on the 2015 MBP 15in. I’ve had a pretty stable experience all things considered.

 

[bomby0]

I'm just gonna guess the overheating Macbook Pro 16" as soon as you plug an external monitor issue still isn't fixed.
(hope I'm wrong)

 

[Morod]

Waiting here too, even though I occasionally get the disconnect of BT stuff here.

 

[m1h4]

Me2. Hopefully they're fixed this release. If not - I PRAY they're fixed with Big Sur.

Me3. Working from home and when the MBP goes to sleep while in clamshell and connected to my external Dell 24" monitor 90% of the time it won't wake up and will eventually reboot.

"Sleep transition timed out after 180 seconds while calling power state change callbacks. Suspected bundle: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily."

It's extremly frustrating, expecially since every time it happens it runs the risk of causing serious data corruption…

There were other panics as well but either previous macOS updates or turning on Do Not Disturb while sleeping fixed those. Hope 10.15.6 fixes this one though.

Same crap with the Mail app every once in a while just deciding to pop open onto the screen. Who says "it can wait till next year" for these things? Don't they pride themselves on quality products anymore?

 

[duddleyduddley]

There once was an ignore update in the UI.

Search online. There is a TERMINAL command that can disable the repeated update OS notifications