Apple Releases Software Updates for iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS

By AppleVis, 18 July, 2016

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Today has seen another flurry of software updates from Apple. In addition to the release of iOS 9.3.3, there have also been updates for the Mac, Apple Watch, and fourth-generation Apple TV.

Full release notes for these updates are not yet available, but it is safe to assume that there will be the standard mix of bug fixes, security patches, and under-the-hood performance improvements. We will update this post if we learn of any significant new features or changes.

We have been able to carry out some limited testing of iOS 9.3.3 and Mac OS X 10.11.6 prior to their public release, and our experience suggests that blind and low vision users are likely to find no accessibility-related changes. However, we have heard sketchy reports of some people experiencing problems with the VoiceOver volume level behaving inconsistently on iOS 9.3.3. At this point, we are unsure of the extent and full nature of this possible problem.

As we always stress, it is impossible for us to test all applications and use cases. So, it is entirely possible that we have overlooked some changes, regressions or improvements. With this in mind, we would greatly appreciate your help in ensuring that the information on this page is as complete and accurate as possible. If you spot any accessibility-related changes in any of today’s releases, please do let us know by adding a comment below.

How to Update

iOS 9.3.3 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings> General> Software Update) or from iTunes on the Mac or PC. As always, we encourage you to make a backup before installing this update.

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 is available via the Updates tab in the Mac App Store.

watchOS 2.2.2 is available by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.

To install tvOS 9.2.2 on a fourth-generation Apple TV, go to the Settings channel, then look for the System section near the bottom. From here, look for Software Updates under Maintenance, then select Update Software and Download and Install.

Options

Comments

By Ekaj on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

I just updated a few hours ago and haven't had much time to check things out yet. However, I am currently sitting out back doing some work, and I do notice a slight increase in Alex's volume. I have the system volume up as high as it will go due to the traffic noise out here, but Alex still seems to be a bit louder. Lol almost forgot to mention that this is on my MacBook Air. Only device I have though with VO on it, for those who have not checked out my profile. I like the OS X update so far though.

By Eric Davis on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

I had to switch back to an ear peace from my bluetooth headphones. The headphones worked properly every place other than the phone app. The audio in the phone app with VO works fine, but the caller can't hear me and I can't hear them. I have paired the headphones twice and this didn't fix the issue. My ear peace works fine. The headphones are a LG HBS 800. I hope I don't have to buy a new set of LG headphones. That is 200 dollars I just don't have.

By Ann Harrison on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

Has anyone noticed a change in their wifi stability? The modum in our house is in another room, and before I updated to IOS 9.3.3 on my iPhone 5s, I would have either one or two wifi bars, now, if I'm in my room, my internet status says 1x. I have to turn wifi off and back on when I
m standing in the kitchen, for my phone to see it. Personally, I think they broke something when they did this update.

By Jake on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

Wifi is fine hear, on iPod Touch 6th gen, iPad Air 2, and iPhone 6S Plus. Which iDevice do you have?

By Ann Harrison on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

In reply to by Jake

I'm running an iphone 5s. I may have to turn it off and turn it back on.

By Jake on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

The 5S is notorious for having a sub-par Wifi and Bluetooth radio. Even if an update doesn't break it, the signal is always flaky compared to the iPhone 5 before it or the 6 after it. In general, it wasn't a very good version of the iPhone and I'm not surprised that an update would affect it. It doesn't help and it's poor comfort to those it does affect. The situation is complicated by the fact that Apple probably aren't doing serious testing on the 5S; they don't even make them anymore.
The one suggestion that I have which seems to help some people is, if you aren't using Bluetooth, turn it off completely in settings. That will at least eliminate any 2.4 ghz interference between the two. Apart from that though, there's not really a whole lot one can do. There are things one can try in their Wifi router, but that's going into advanced networking and probably wouldn't help much in any case.

By Ann Harrison on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

In reply to by Jake

I turned my phone off and back on again, and it works better now. Sometimes you have to do that. I wish I had waited until the SE came out.

By AbleTec on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

These vulnerabilities can be triggered by specially crafted images that then write to memory which shouldn't be written to & can cause an attacker to gain control of the device. See:
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-security-bug-hackers-steal-your-password
among others.

These can be triggered by IMessage, which, by default tries to render all images. Safari, too, will also engage in this behavior. The long and the short is that there may not need to be any user interaction whatever in order for the vulnerabilities to execute. Now that they have been made public, hackers will undoubtedly be trying their hand at compromising devices. I think this 1 might be worth updating.

By splyt on Friday, August 5, 2016 - 15:31

We have been noticing some strange behaviour on 9.3.3 with the anounce automatically mispelled words.

Can you try to type incorrectly some words and see if VO is reporting the word as mispelled?

We are using the phone in Brazilian Portuguese but the test would be extremely important and valid.

Marlon