Another day, another Apple software update. Apple iOS15.5 has arrived and with it come some new improvements.
The new update, widely available to the public after a beta testing period, mostly features under-the-hood changes, with a minimum of user-focused enhancements. That’s a far cry from previous iOS 15 updates, which have ushered in a host of new features. The last big update to Apple’s phone software, iOS 15.4, added the ability to use Face ID when you’re wearing a mask plus a new voice for Siri, just as an example.
Still, iOS 15.5 promises a few notable changes. Here’s an overview of what the update delivers.
Podcast Episode Management Tool
Podcast listeners finding themselves short on storage space will welcome the new update. With iOS 15.5 you can now specify how many episodes of each show you would like to keep on your phone at any time. Older episodes will now be automatically deleted, to make room for newer downloads.
A little hard to find, the new update is located in the Settings App. Scroll down to Podcasts, then select Podcasts, and hit the Automatically Download option. The feature should be turned off by default, but you can specify downloads by time, number, or just have it download all new episodes.
The United States Only
Apple Cash
Apple users can now send and receive money from their Apple Cash card directly through the Apple Wallet application with the iOS 15.5 update.
To request or send money directly from Wallet, users can open up the app, tap their Apple Cash card to view it, hit “request” or “send,” add the recipient’s information, enter a cash amount and follow the steps to complete the request or transaction.
Apple Cash can be used with Apple Pay on iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad, or be transferred to a bank account. Parents can also set up an Apple Cash card for their children and easily and securely send their children money with Apple Cash Family. Parents have the ability to view their children’s Apple Cash balance and spend activity, and also apply restrictions on their spending if needed.
As someone living in Australia, I am hoping this exciting new feature hits our shores down under soon!
Apple Account Card
Another feature native to the United States is the addition of an Apple Account Card.
The Apple Account Card revives and replaces the iTunes Pass, adding the ability to pay for Apple Store purchases from your Apple account balance. You can buy Apple gear in addition to applications, music, and other downloads
Other New Apple iOS 15.5 Features
- A list of Sensitive Locations is now part of the Photos app, to keep visits to places such as Holocaust memorials out of the Memories slideshows that the app auto-generates.
- The Home app adds Wi-Fi signal bars to show that a HomePod has a connection.
- For iPadOS 15.5, Universal Control is now officially out of beta. That feature lets you use input devices across your iPad and Mac.
For more information about Apple and the latest software update, head to Apple.com.
