Go get 'em! iOS, macOS and watchOS updated

May 16, 2022

Today is Christmas in May!

Apple released new updates across the line for its operating systems, and there are goodies for everyone. Well, for podcast listeners mostly, and owners of the new Studio Display.

It's mostly bug fixes for everyone else.

But I'll take it until next month, when we get our first peek at iOS 16 at WWDC.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

Apple just released software upgrades for all its computers. After finishing weeks of beta testing, macOS Monterey 12.4, iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6 and tvOS 15.5 are available for anyone to download. Many of them include an update to the Podcasts application to keep it from taking up too much storage space. And the webcam in the recently released Apple Studio Display will work better after a firmware update.

Additions include downloaded episode controls, annual subscription plans, partnerships with third-party hosting platforms and more.

Apple started testing the new feature, which allows small businesses and merchants to accept payments using only iPhones, at the Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino. Tap to Pay makes it possible to receive payments using Apple Pay, credit/debit cards and other compatible digital wallets.

If you want your shopping to be truly enriching, Fetch Rewards might be the best app for you. After all, it's "America's No. 1 rewards app." You can redeem your Fetch points to get free Apple Gift Cards. Plus, there’s an exclusive for Cult of Mac readers: Earn big and get 2,000 points for free! Just use referral code: CULTOFMAC.

Beyond iPhones, Apple is looking to switch to USB-C on all its other products with a Lightning connector, including AirPods, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and more.

If you are looking to buy the Apple Watch Series 7, you are in luck, as Amazon has certain variants discounted by as much as $100. You can get the 41mm GPS-only Apple Watch Series 7 for just $329 post the discount, while the 44mm model is available for as low as $359.

If you’re a fan of critically acclaimed Apple TV+ space drama For All Mankind, brace for impact. Apple launched the season 3 trailer Monday. In it, the alt-reality vision of a decades-long space race rockets off to Mars.

Look at enough computer setups online, and you realize people are never really done with them. There’s always something to add. So you rarely see people claiming a setup’s done for good. Or that it’s the proverbial “dream setup.” But sometimes they say that. Today’s setup got called a “dream setup” by its proud owner. Would you agree?

Tweetz o' the day

One more thing ...

"I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting." -- Steve Jobs

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