iOS 15.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 15.5

[Dan in VA]

Apple today released iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 to the public after a few weeks of testing. The new updates aren't as feature rich as the prior updates and focus primarily on under-the-hood changes, but there are still a few minor tweaks, which we've outlined below.

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Podcasts Update

The Apple Podcasts app includes a setting that allows users to limit the number of episodes stored on the iPhone or iPad. It will also automatically delete older episodes, preventing the app from taking up too much storage space on iOS devices.

Apple Pay Cash

In the Apple Pay Cash section of the Wallet app, there are now "Request" and "Send" buttons to make it easier to manage cash directly from Wallet.

Apple Pay in the Messages app has also been renamed "Apple Cash."

Home App

There now are WiFi signal bars that let you ensure the HomePod has a connection in the Home app.
Universal Control

In iPadOS 15.5, Universal Control is no longer in beta. That means the feature is fully, officially launched, and that the bugs have been worked out.

First introduced in iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3, Universal Control is designed to allow you to use one mouse/trackpad and keyboard across multiple iPads and Macs.

Apple Card

Apple now refers to the physical Apple Card as the "Titanium Card" in the Wallet app.

External Links in Reader Apps

iOS 15.5 adds support for the "External Link Account Entitlement" that is designed to allow reader apps to add a link to an external website for account creation and management purposes. An external link will allow an app like Netflix to offer a way to sign up for an account outside of the App Store in-app purchase system.

Reader apps include those that provide digital content like magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video as the primary functionality of the app, with Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, and other apps serving as an example.

Photo Memories

Apple in iOS 15.5 added a list of "Sensitive Locations" to the Photos app, which means those locations are blocked from showing up in memories. Included on this list are various concentration camps and holocaust memorials.

Apple Music Playback API

iOS 15.5 reintroduces an Apple Music API that allows third-party Apple Music players to change the playback speeds of songs. The API was removed in iOS 15.4, but it is being put back in iOS 15.5.

Apple Classical References

In the beta, there were references to the upcoming "Apple Classical" app that Apple has in development to complement Apple Music, but the app did not launch as part of the iOS 15.5 update.

There are "Open in Apple Classical" and "Open this in the new app designed for classical music" in the Music app code, however, which suggests that a launch could be coming in the not too distant future.

Apple acquired classical music streaming service Primephonic back in August 2021 and said that it would be building a new classical music experience for Apple Music. Apple is planning to launch a new standalone app dedicated to classical music, and the app will combine Primephonic's user interface and specializations for classical music with ‌Apple Music‌ and features such as Lossless and Spatial Audio. Apple has not provided details on when the app might come out, but preparations are clearly being made.

SportsKit Updates

Apple is continuing to build out its "SportsKit" support as it following the launch of Friday Night Baseball, and there are TV app mentions for reporting scores for different baseball innings.

Automation Fix

iOS 15.5 addresses a bug that could cause home automations triggered by people leaving or arriving to fail.

Communication Safety in Messages

iOS 15.5 expands the Communication Safety in Messages feature to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. Communication Safety in Messages, which was previously available in the United States, is designed to scan incoming and outgoing iMessage images on children's devices for nudity and warn them that such photos might be harmful. If nudity is detected in a photo that's received by a child, the photo will be blurred and the child will be provided with resources from child safety groups. Nudity in a photo sent by a child will trigger a warning encouraging the child not to send the image.

Communication Safety is opt-in, privacy-focused, and must be enabled by parents. It is limited to the accounts of children, with detection done on-device, and it is not related to the anti-CSAM functionality that Apple has in development and may release in the future.

Security Fixes

iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 also include more than 25 security fixes, as outlined on Apple's security support site. None of the fixes were actively exploited, but it is still worth updating right away.

There are fixes for WebKit, the kernel, Wi-Fi, AppleAVD, and more.

Other Features

Find another iOS 15.5 feature that we left out? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: iOS 15.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 15.5

Nothing makes me feel special like my white painted “titanium card”.

I wonder if Apple will develop a credit offering with Visa with a bank like JPM under a Visa Signature “Platinum card” or “Black Card”. I can see the marketing with their white MC and Black Visa.

 

[JosephAW]

Too bad Apple would announce that they are not incrementing to iOS 16 but instead moving to a two year iOS bump schedule to solidify iOS 15 and iOS 16 will remain in beta for a one year cycle.

 

[liewje]

Now with IpadOS 15 i am not able to pull the menu down for my shortcut from top right. Is anybody else having this issue ?

 

[pdoherty]

When are we getting the ability to compose a text/SMS message on iPhone/iPad and press/hold and choose to send it at a set time later in the day?

 

[Smith288]

When are we getting the ability to compose a text/SMS message on iPhone/iPad and press/hold and choose to send it at a set time later in the day?

Is that a feature people are clamoring for? Seems really niche´

 

[tomscott1988]

After my post above it’s 3pm in the UK phones been off the charger for 8hours and I’m at 72% yesterday it would be on the charger so they’ve definitely done some under the hood improvements.

Slide down to search is instant now too whereas it was laggy as anything!

 

[PaloAltoMark]

I am currently listening to classical music using the Music App (either selecting a Radio, listening to music I own, or using a playlist). Why would I need a specific application ?

Like you, I'm interested in knowing more about this. I suspect that the app does a better job of addressing the needs of classical music fans by both increasing the meta data fields and making it easier to find music based on the user's preference. As you know, classical is way more complicated than pop music. For example, when you want to hear a pop song by Coldplay you know the artist is Coldplay. When you want to hear Beethoven's 9th symphony it's more complicated. Is the artist: The Berlin Philharmonic, the conductor Herbert von Karajan, the lead vocalist , all the vocalists, or Beethoven? By the way, did I say Berlin Philharmonic or did I really mean the Berliner Philharmoniker? Example #2: The composer of the Nutcracker do you spell his first name: Pyotr, Peter Petr, Pytor, or Piotr. His middle name: ilich, ilyich, ilych, ilijc, il'ych, il'yich, or il'ic. And his last name: Tchaikovsky, Tschaikovsky, Tschaikowsky, or Chaykovskiy. And it goes on and on. Classical is a mess and trying to import music you already own on CD's into iTunes is a disaster. iTunes will automatically overwrite the metadata with what iTunes thinks things should be. That's not necessarily how you want to classify them.

 

[pdoherty]

Is that a feature people are clamoring for? Seems really niche´

Android has had it a long time and I’ve wanted it forever. There’s many times, either early in the morning or late at night, that I want to send something to someone but can’t because I suspect they’re probably asleep. But I know I won’t remember to do it later. If I can compose the text and then press-and-hold and choose ”Send in 2 hours” or “Send at 9 AM” then I can fire and forget.

 

[OSXme]

feel like I been alone on this since first iOS 15 released and still no fix

Apple Maps - Leaving now feature don't work never has since first released, you set time and nothing happens
I know its a feature not many people use or know about but if you're going to release a broken feature with no fix in sight why even bother.

MACRUMORS CAN YOU LOOK INTO IT

 

[addamas]

feel like I been alone on this since first iOS 15 released and still no fix

Apple Maps - Leaving now feature don't work never has since first released, you set time and nothing happens
I know its a feature not many people use or know about but if you're going to release a broken feature with no fix in sight why even bother.

MACRUMORS CAN YOU LOOK INTO IT

You should create a thread in forum, because here in “news” topic it will be gone.

 

[eelpout]

If you are the kind of user with that setup, surely your amp has EQ controls?

As somebody who used to DJ, I would never expect EQ controls on the source (turntable), that's what the mixer is for!

oh, the joys of iOS (which is why I listen to music on my Android phone where I can use Wavelet and the like for systemwide tone curves).

that said, there is an app called "Boom" that has a decent EQ built in and can use various streaming services. that's what I have an on an iPad.

 

[pdoherty]

oh, the joys of iOS (which is why I listen to music on my Android phone where I can use Wavelet and the like for systemwide tone curves).

that said, there is an app called "Boom" that has a decent EQ built in and can use various streaming services. that's what I have an on an iPad.

Try PlexAmp - it has a very nice EQ.

 

[duanepatrick]

Fixing security flaws first is great work!

 

[DaveSharkman]

My guess would be a more classical-focused organizational structure than Artist/Album. For example, I would guess you'll be able to do something like see a list of different performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and group by conductor/era/orchestra/etc.

Hopefully it means a broader catalog of offerings by not only the groups and artists for a given composition but also the composers themselves, particularly less well known ones (e.g., Spohr). This is the main reason I’ve used Spotify for my classical listening for several years.

 

[Jejddj]

Umm yea I noticed that in settings when you go to your Apple ID and then go to your subscriptions, that page looks different, you can’t see the different options in one place, now you have to click on a separate button to see those options.