Apple on Wednesday released the latest software updates for its popular set-top boxes and smartwatches, bringing improvements and new features along the way.
Following the public launch of iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6, Apple has also released tvOS 13.4.8 and watchOS 6.2.8 to the public. These are smaller updates in the grand scheme of things, at least in the case of the update for the fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV set-top boxes, but watchOS 6.2.8 does at least add support for the new digital car key feature, which Apple introduced in iOS 13.6. With Car Key, owners of supported iPhones and Apple Watches can use NFC to unlock, lock, and start their automobiles — as long as their cars also support this feature.
The new tvOS 13.4.8 software can be installed via the Apple TV’s Settings app. If you have automatic updates switched on, then the Apple TV will automatically update so you don’t have to worry about it. As is par for the course these days, the latest software is only available for the fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV set-top boxes.
Meanwhile, watchOS 6.2.8 is now available as well. To update, the Apple Watch must be connected to its charger, have at least 50% battery life, and also be connected and within range of the iPhone. The official changelog is available below:
watchOS 6.2.8 changelog
watchOS 6.2.8 includes new features and improvements:
- Adds support for digital car keys for Apple Watch Series 5
- ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa
- Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222
And finally, there’s the update to macOS Catalina. This new software brings the version number to 10.15.6, and it brings with it the new Apple News features the company just announced today (audio stories in Apple News+, more local news coverage, and a new audio daily briefing). It also includes a fix for a USB issue. The changelog is below:
macOS Catalina 10.15.6 changelog:
macOS 10.15.6 Update –– Restart Required
macOS Catalina 10.15.6 introduces local news in your Today feed in Apple News and improves the security and reliability of your Mac.
Apple News
- Local news in your Today feed provides extensive coverage of San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City
- More stories available from local news providers with a subscription to Apple News+
- Your daily newsletter from Apple News can now be personalized with stories that reflect your interests
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements.
- Adds a new option to optimize video streaming on HDR-compatible Mac notebooks for improved battery life
- Fixes an issue where the computer name may change after installing a software update
- Resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection
Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT210642
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
The new software updates are available now.