Apple first introduced the concept of Spatial Audio in 2020, and on May 17, 2021, Apple announced that it was bringing Spatial Audio to Apple Music so that music mixed in this format could sound like it was in 3D, not just stereo, even if you are only using headphones. Spatial Audio is just Apple’s name for Dolby Atmos, but Apple Music has been a leader in supporting this new music format. How much I notice and enjoy songs remixed in Dolby Atmos versus just stereo depends upon the song and how it is mixed, but in some cases, the improvement is really spectacular. Bob Mehr of the New York Times wrote an incredibly detailed and fascinating article about Dolby Atmos, and if you have any interest in Spatial Audio, I recommend that you read it. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- This week, Apple released iOS 16.5.1 and other operating system updates to fix two security flaws. As Jason Cross of Macworld notes, there is a report that both of these flaws have been actively exploited. So let’s all be safe and install the updates.
- Attorney John Voorhees of MacStories provides an excellent overview of new features coming this Fall to many Apple services: Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Maps, Fitness+, Apple News+, Apple Cash, and more.
- Apple may support Wi-Fi 7 in the next version of the iPhone. Chance Miller of 9to5Mac explains what makes Wi-Fi 7 better.
- Jason Snell of Six Colors explains why third-party camera apps will work better in iOS 17.
- Tim Hardwick of MacRumors explains what is new with AirDrop in iOS 17.
- Chance Miller of 9to5Mac reports on what is new with Stage Manager on the iPad in iPadOS 17.
- Jonny Evans of Computerworld explains some ways in which iPadOS 17 can help you to be more productive with an iPad.
- John Guber of Daring Fireball explains what is new when you scan a QR code in iOS 17 and recommends (in iOS 16) using the Code Scanner app in Control Center to scan QR codes.
- Zac Hall of 9to5Mac reports on the new features coming to the AirPods Pro 2 this year.
- Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac reports on an interview in a Swiss newspaper with Apple VPs Kevin Lynch and Deidre Caldbeck to discuss the Apple Watch, including the reasons that Apple does not allow third-party watch faces.
- Paige Barnes of WKRP WKRC in Cincinnati reports that a woman was sleeping when her Apple Watch woke her up to tell her that her heart rate had spiked to 178 beats per minute. Fortunately, she got to the hospital quickly and learned that she had a deadly blood clot that the doctors were able to address.
- Julie Vincent of Variety reports on an inspirational speech by Jason Sudeikis on the last day of shooting of Ted Lasso and the rumors of a spin-off series.
- And finally, here is a crazy and fun video from Turkey promoting the iPhone 14 Pro’s video capabilities. It must have been interesting to film this one.