iOS 15.1 is here: These innovations bring the updates for iPhones and iPads

After two bug fixes that fixed various bugs and security holes, Apple released iOS 15.1. What do the updates bring? We summarize.

At the same time, Apple has also released the big update to macOS Monterey.

With the update to iOS 15.1, Apple delivers the Shareplay function. (Image: Apple)

With iOS 15.1 it already manages to WWDC 2021 announced the Shareplay function on iPhones and iPads (with iPadOS 15.1). The feature was initially tested in the iOS 15 beta, but removed in August because the function apparently did not work reliably enough. It can be assumed that Apple will also release Shareplay for macOS Monterey and the next tvOS update.

With the Shareplay function you can share media and screen content with your Facetime contacts. In this way, you can watch films or listen to music together, even if you are spatially separated and one person is staying in Berlin and the other in New York, for example. You can exchange ideas while you are sharing media using the chat function.

iOS 15.1 brings ProRes video to the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image: Macrumors)

For owners: inside an iPhone 13 Pro (Max) the update brings the support for ProRes video recordings promised in September. It is a professional, higher quality video format that requires a lot of storage space. Apple had revealed to Ray Wong from Inputmag that a one-minute recording in 4K with 10-bit and HDR consumed six gigabytes of memory. For this reason, ProRes recording on devices with only 128 gigabytes of memory is limited to 30 frames per second at 1080p.

The camera app also has a new auto-macro switch, which is only intended for the ‌iPhone-13 Pro‌ models. With the controller, users can deactivate the function if they wish. Previously, the camera automatically switched the ultra-wide-angle lens for a macro photo if it was held in the immediate vicinity of an object.

Paired with the Homepod software 15.1, Homepod‌ and Homepod Mini will soon receive Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos with spatial audio support. This means that the Homepods are on the same level as iPhones, iPads and Macs in terms of sound format.

There are also new triggers for automation on board that are based on current readings from a Homekit -compatible humidity, air quality or light sensor. In addition, there are ready-made actions for shortcuts (short commands) with which texts can be placed over images or GIFs. Furthermore, Apple is moving in a new collection of games for Siri.

iOS and iPadOS 15.1 bring even more bug fixes and patches with which the operating systems are to be cleaned of errors and made more stable. In the release notes, Apple mentions bug fixes in the areas of Safari, Telephony, iCloud and the Photos app – it occasionally incorrectly reported that the memory was full when importing photos and videos.
The weather app should now display the correct temperature for your own location as well also display the correct colors of animated backgrounds. The audio playback of an app should no longer be interrupted when the screen is locked.

In addition, Apple has corrected the error which caused the wallet to exit unexpectedly when using “Multi-pass voiceover”. In addition, available WLAN networks should be recognized again. For the iPhone 12 models, Apple has updated the battery algorithms in order to be able to specify the battery capacity more precisely over time.

Universal Control connects iPad with Macbook and iMac. (Image: Apple)

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Apple will use the Update to iPadOS 15.1 and the release of macOS Monterey will already deliver the universal control function (“seamless control”). Because in the last beta of Monterey, the developer function is not yet available, but was classified as beta, as 9to5 Mac reports. This function enables users to work with a mouse and keyboard and thus to switch smoothly between Mac and iPad without having to set up the function separately. It is also possible to move content back and forth between macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15 devices via drag & drop.

iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 are available in their final versions from today. The devices usually display new updates automatically. Impatient people can also use Settings> General > Software update or update manually nudge.

Article updated on: October 25th, 2021.