At the same time as updating its current operating systems, Apple has issued a few updates for older versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Here’s what else got updates on Monday.

On Monday, Apple released its updates for the current-gen operating systems in its ecosystem, including iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. At the same time, it introduced updates for earlier operating system releases, which can be downloaded and installed by users to older hardware.

While the main focus is on keeping operating systems up to date, Apple does occasionally bring out updates for earlier operating system releases.

Today Apple released its latest array of major software updates. Now, the company has outlined all the security fixes introduced by iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, and more.

Security updates detailed in new support documents

New features are a big motivator for a lot of users to install software updates. And today’s new software has a lot to offer on that front.

But whether you care about feature updates or not, security fixes are perhaps an even better reason to update sooner rather than later.

Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the ‌AirPods 4‌ and ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC.

It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we’ll update this article should we find out. Apple has been beta testing the updated firmware since late January.

Apple has been fined $162M by France’s competition regulator for the way App Tracking Transparency is implemented, stating that this is an abuse of the company’s powers.

This bizarre ruling follows a complaint by a group of trade associations representing advertisers who are no longer able to access user data to serve personalized ads …

App Tracking Transparency

Apple offers a way for advertisers to track the apps we use in order to target personalized advertising. Personalized ads are far more valuable than generic ads, so developers who offer ad-supported apps will make more ad revenue if they collect this user data.

Last week, I read Sarah Wynn-Williams’ Careless People and was reminded of Carl Jung’s Everyman archetype — someone who fears being left out, and often compromises their morals in order to belong. Chapter after chapter, Wynn-Williams details the extraordinary recklessness of Meta’s most senior leadership as the company transformed Facebook from a social media platform to the world’s most influential political tool.

I worked at Facebook, now Meta, for three years, leading policy from one of its regional offices, and witnessed some of the leadership practices that Wynn-Williams describes, though our tenures did not overlap. What struck me is that what isn’t included in Careless People is more telling than what is.

Apple has officially released watchOS 11.4 for the Apple Watch.

This update includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
● Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners can be added to the Home app as well as used in scenes, automations, or simply say ”Siri, clean the living room.”
● An option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode
● An issue where face selection may become unresponsive when switching faces

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100