Apple is rolling out a sequence of comparatively minor level launch updates for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod, sharpening issues up within the earlier launch and fixing a number of small bugs people have been working into.
iPhone and iPad customers are getting iOS/iPadOS 16.3.1, whereas the Apple TV and HomePod updates are 16.3.2 for tvOS and the HomePod software program. The watchOS replace is 9.3.1, and Apple has additionally launched a macOS Enterprise 13.2.1 beta replace that may probably get a wider launch within the subsequent week or so.
What’s Modified?
Along with the final point out of “necessary bug fixes and safety updates,” the discharge notes for iOS 16.3.1 listing the next particular points which have been addressed:
- iCloud settings could also be unresponsive or incorrectly show if apps are utilizing iCloud
- Siri requests for Discover My could not work
- Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional fashions
Most of those fixes relate to issues we’ve heard reported usually since iOS 16.3 arrived final month. For instance, plenty of people have skilled issues enabling iCloud backups on the iPhone and iPad. Some people have been in a position to work round this by turning on two-factor authentication, however this doesn’t seem to have constantly fastened the issue, and there have been no error messages indicating that this was a brand new requirement.
Crash Detection Optimizations
It will seem that Apple can be nonetheless working exhausting to tweak how the Crash Detection function works within the 2022 iPhone 14 and Apple Watch fashions.
Whereas the Crash Detection function does an admirable job of detecting a vehicular crash and summoning assist — the Wall Road Journal demonstrated this by totaling a couple of automobiles final fall — it’s additionally confirmed to be far too prone to false positives.
For instance, not lengthy after the brand new iPhone fashions went on sale, one girl discovered her iPhone 14 Professional summoning assist for a “extreme automobile crash” whereas merely driving a curler coaster. Granted, she was being “hoisted 109 toes within the air and whipped round at over 50 mph” on the time, however it was nonetheless sufficient for an emergency response workforce to be dispatched to the coaster in search of a crash that by no means occurred. This wasn’t an remoted incident, as 911 name facilities close to theme parks throughout the U.S. have reported encountering a rise in crash-detection calls for the reason that iPhone 14 fashions went on sale.
It’s not simply occurring at theme parks. The Colorado Solar reported in late December that dispatchers close to a number of well-liked ski resorts “fielded 71 automated crash notifications from skiers’ iPhones and Apple watches” in a single weekend. Every of these calls required emergency companies to comply with up on the report to find out if there was an actual emergency, tying up priceless assets on what in the end turned out to be wild goose chases.
Nevertheless, dispatchers can’t afford to disregard a single certainly one of these calls. Regardless of getting 20 automated iPhone 14 crash detection calls per day that often turn into nothing, dispatchers on the Vail Police Division did encounter one incident the place two customers’ telephones concurrently reported a professional automobile crash.
iOS 16.3.1 and watchOS 9.3.1 aren’t the primary makes an attempt by Apple to tweak the Crash Detection algorithms to handle these false alarms. The November launch of iOS 16.1.2 contained an analogous word about “Crash Detection optimizations,” probably in response to the curler coaster incidents, however did nothing to handle what was occurring at ski resorts. Hopefully, this newest replace fixes that side of the Crash Detection function.
Siri Will get Extra Responsive on the HomePod
Apple’s HomePods received some love on this newest replace as nicely, with a repair for a bug that was making it irritating for a lot of people attempting to regulate HomeKit equipment by voice.
The issue affected the unique HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple’s new second-generation HomePod. Typically, it resulted in Siri getting hung up when asking to regulate equipment equivalent to lights, plugs, and door locks.
Usually, the primary request would fail with Siri both stalling with messages like “on it” or “engaged on that,” after which it could simply hand over and fail outright. Making the identical request a second time usually labored superb with out virtually no delay.
The HomePod 16.3.2 replace ought to set up mechanically behind the scenes, however in case you’ve been annoyed by this problem and need to be sure to get the replace immediately, you may test for it with a fast go to to the Residence app in your iPhone or iPad.