Apple Unleashes Major Software Updates: visionOS 1.1, macOS Sonoma 14.4, watchOS 10.4, and More

In a sweeping update, Apple has released new software versions across its ecosystem, including HomePod Software 17.4 with Siri music preferences, macOS Sonoma 14.4 with enhanced features, visionOS 1.1 with significant improvements to Persona and EyeSight, and tvOS 17.4, marking a day of significant enhancements for Apple users worldwide.

Apple Releases HomePod Software 17.4 with Enhanced Siri Integration for Music Preferences

Apple rolls out HomePod Software 17.4, empowering Siri to learn user-preferred media services, simplifying content playback commands.

Siri can now learn a user's preferred media service with HomePod Software 17.4. This eliminates the need to set a third-party app as the default or specify the app name when playing content.

"This update enables Siri to learn your preferred media service, so you no longer need to include the name of the media app in your request," the released notes say (via MacRumors).

Apple has removed the Home app option, which allows users to select a default media service, due to the new feature. The HomePod can now set a default music service for Siri when making a song request for the first time, like the iPhone and iPad.

Third-party apps compatible with the HomePod include YouTube Music, Deezer, Pandora, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. Some streaming music services, such as Spotify, do not support HomePod, making the feature ineffective. You can play Spotify content on the HomePod by asking Siri, but the song is routed through the iPhone to the HomePod via AirPlay.

Apple Releases watchOS 10.4 With Fix for Ghost Touch Bug

Apple today released watchOS 10.4, the fourth update to the watchOS 10 operating system, which debuted in September. watchOS 10.4 arrives more than a month after watchOS 10.3, a minor update that introduced a new watch face.

To download watchOS 10.4 for free on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, open the Apple Watch app and select General & Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch must have at least 50% battery life and be charged.

WatchOS 10.4 now supports new emoji characters, such as lime, edible brown mushroom, phoenix, broken chain, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), and shaking.

There is also a setting to disable the Double Tap feature on Apple Watch when using Vision Pro, as well as the option to double tap to display an expanded notification. Apple also fixed a bug that could cause some users to see "ghost touches" on the display, which was affecting the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.

Apple's release notes for the update are provided below:

watchOS 10.4 introduces new features, enhancements, and bug fixes, including:

• The Tap to Show Full Notification setting now lets you double-tap to expand the notification.
• Apple Pay with Confirm with AssistiveTouch requires a passcode for additional security and does not support double-clicking the side button.
• Resolves an issue that causes some users to experience false touches on the display
• Fixes an issue that prevents contacts from syncing to Apple Watch for some users

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4

Apple has released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the operating system launched last September. ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.4 comes over a month after ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.3, which brought collaborative Apple Music playlists.

Download the free macOS Sonoma 14.4 update from the Software Update section in System Settings for all eligible Macs. There is also a macOS 13.6.5 release for those who are still using macOS Ventura and a macOS 12.7.4 release for those who have macOS Monterey installed.

Apple's ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.4 includes new emoji characters and full-text search support for Podcast episodes. There are new features for Business Updates in Messages, as well as a toggle to display only website icons in the Safari Favorites Bar. Apple's release notes for the update are provided below:

Emoji

• New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available on the emoji keyboard
• 18 people and body emoji support facing the opposite direction

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

• Podcasts Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, clicked to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver
• Business Updates in Messages for Business let you get updates that you've opted into, like order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions from trusted businesses
• Safari Favorites Bar adds an option to show only icons for websites

Apple Releases visionOS 1.1 With Improvements to Persona, EyeSight, Virtual Keyboard and More

Apple has released visionOS 1.1, the first major update to the operating system launched with the Vision Pro in February.

To install visionOS updates, open the Settings app on the Vision Pro, navigate to the General section, and select Software Update. To install new software, remove the Vision Pro headset, which will show a progress bar on the front EyeSight display.

Apple's ‌visionOS‌ update brings several improvements to the Vision Pro. Mobile Device Management is now available for businesses, and Persona and EyeSight look better than ever.
The virtual keyboard has been updated to address bugs and improve cursor positioning accuracy, and the Mac Virtual Display has also received bug fixes. Apple's release notes for the update are provided below:

Mobile Device Management

• Enables account-driven device and user enrollment using Managed Apple IDs
• Support for device configuration (Wi-Fi, VPN, email accounts, single sign-on, and more)
• Support for deploying apps in volume, including iPhone and iPad compatible apps, visionOS apps included in a Universal purchase, and proprietary in-house visionOS apps
• Support for remote erase via MDM and device inventory data

Messages

• Adds support for iMessage Contact Key Verification

Accessibility

• Closed captions can be anchored to the playback control while viewing Apple Immersive Video

Persona (beta) and EyeSight

• Adds an option to enroll your Persona hands-free
• Improves hair and makeup appearance
• Improves neck and mouth representation
• Improves rendering of the eyes for EyeSight

Virtual keyboard

• Cursor positioning for text input is now more accurate
• Resolves some instances where the virtual keyboard placement obscures the text input field
• Fixes an issue where, in some cases, the text preview on the virtual keyboard may appear out of sync with the text field in the app
• Fixes an issue where the edit menu may appear unexpectedly

Mac Virtual Display

• Improves the reliability of discovering and connecting to a Mac using Mac Virtual Display
• Resolves an issue where Universal Control may stop working
• Addresses a connectivity issue that occurs when a previously paired Bluetooth device cannot be found

Captive Network Support

• Ability to set up your device while using a captive WiFi network, such as those found at hotels, cafes and airports

Apple Releases tvOS 17.4

Apple today released tvOS 17.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.4 comes over a month after the release of tvOS 17.3.

tvOS 17.4 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 17.4 automatically.

Compared to other operating system updates, tvOS 17.4 updates are often minor in scale, focusing on bug fixes and other small improvements. We did not find new features during the tvOS 17.4 beta testing process.

Apple shares release notes for tvOS in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each new version of tvOS comes out.

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