The holidays are upon us, and we’re taking a two-week break from email issues—see you next on 9 January 2023! This week’s big news is Apple’s release of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1 Ventura, watchOS 9.2, tvOS 16.2, and HomePod Software 16.2. We look at the changes both large (the Freeform digital whiteboarding app, Stage Manager on external displays for M1 iPads, Race Routes in watchOS) and small (more Lock Screen settings and widgets, the restoration of Network Locations, important security fixes). Simultaneously, Apple released iOS/iPadOS 15.7.2 and Safari 16.2 to address one of those security vulnerabilities that’s being actively exploited in the wild. Along with a few LittleBITS for email from a friend of TidBITS in Ukraine and an explanation of emoji responses in TidBITS Talk, we also delve into a curious problem when copying and pasting phone numbers from Contacts. Notable Mac app releases this week include Safari 16.2, macOS Monterey 12.6.2 and Big Sur 11.7.2, BBEdit 14.6.2, TextExpander 7.4, Cardhop 2.2.3, Art Text 4.2, TripMode 3.2, Ulysses 29, and URL Manager Pro 6.1.
In keeping with our tradition, we’re going to take a few weeks off to spend with family and friends over the holidays. You can expect the next email issue of TidBITS on 9 January 2023. Thanks for reading TidBITS, and we hope our articles enriched your year!
This week’s edition of LittleBITS brings email from a friend of TidBITS in Ukraine, plus details about how you can now respond to TidBITS Talk posts with emoji, much like Apple’s Tapback feature in Messages.
Update to these versions of iOS and iPadOS to protect your older iPhone or iPad from malicious Web content that takes advantage of a now-fixed WebKit vulnerability.
It turns out that Contacts on the Mac stores extra invisible characters with every phone number, which can cause trouble when copying and pasting them into some online forms. Here’s what’s going on and how to work around the problem.
Apple has updated all of its operating systems, adding the Freeform digital whiteboard app, support for Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, Apple Music Sing, Stage Manager on external displays, and various smaller improvements. A fix for a serious security vulnerability encourages updating soon.
Watchlist
Patches security vulnerabilities in Monterey and Big Sur. (Free, various sizes, macOS 11+)
Security patches for Monterey and Big Sur. (Free, various sizes, macOS 12 and 11)
Fixes numerous bugs and lets you turn off font ligature support. ($49.99 new, free update, 23.4 MB, macOS 10.15.4+)
Text expansion utility receives bug fixes and a new live support chat feature. ($40 annual subscription, free update, 54.1 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Fixes vCard-related bugs in the contact management app. ($39.96 annual subscription, free update, 31.2 MB, macOS 11+)
Adds a text animation feature that gives life to both 2D and 3D typography. ($29.99 new, free update, 750 MB, macOS 10.13+)
Adds support for macOS 13 Ventura and a few requested features. ($15 new, free update, 16.2 MB, macOS 11+)
Introduces a new way to work on larger projects such as books, a thesis, or a blog. ($5.99/$49.99 monthly/yearly subscription, free update, 29.7 MB, macOS 11+)
Adds support for Apple's Shortcuts and Markdown. ($34.99 new, free update, 22.1 MB, macOS 10.13+)