Apple has simply launched iOS 16.4.1, a minor bug repair launch to deal with two particular points with emoji rendering and Siri, together with plugging some safety vulnerabilities.
Weighing in at only a hair underneath 300MB, iOS 16.4.1 particularly notes that it addresses an issue with the pushing palms emoji not displaying the correct pores and skin tone variations and fixes situations the place Siri might not correctly reply to “Hey Siri” requests.
The Leftwards Pushing Hand and Rightwards Pushing Hand emojis had been launched in iOS 16.4 as a part of the Emoji 15.0 assortment that was authorised final fall. Along with new glyphs for hearts, animals, vegetation, and extra, every of the 2 new hand emojis was presupposed to be obtainable in 5 alternate pores and skin tones frequent to all emojis used to characterize individuals.
Nonetheless, it appears iOS 16.4 didn’t provide up any picks apart from the usual yellow. This was clearly extra of a bug than an oversight, as long-pressing on one of many pushing palms emojis confirmed the standard choice pop-up, however the different choices weren’t there.
Vital Safety Fixes
The newest iOS 16.4.1 launch (and the accompanying iPadOS 16.4.1) additionally repair two safety vulnerabilities that Apple notes might have already been “actively exploited.”
The safety issues in query had been associated to IOSurfaceAccelerator and WebKit, and each would have allowed for arbitrary code execution. The primary was associated to apps which will have been in a position to take action with full kernel privileges, whereas the second WebKit vulnerability may very well be triggered by “maliciously crafted internet content material.”
Apple credit Clément Lecigne of Google’s Risk Evaluation Group and Donncha Ó Cearbhaill of Amnesty Worldwide’s Safety Lab with discovering each of those flaws.
Though Apple isn’t offering particulars on how these vulnerabilities might have been used, it finally doesn’t matter since they’re now fastened in iOS 16.4.1. Safety fixes like these are the principle cause it is best to all the time keep updated on the newest iOS variations.
iOS 16.4.1 has a construct variety of 20E252, and it may be put in on any gadget able to working iOS 16, from the iPhone 8 and iPhone X onward. Likewise, iPadOS 16.4.1 might be put in on all iPad Professional fashions, the iPad Air third era and later, iPad fifth era and later, and iPad mini fifth era and later. It may be discovered within the ordinary place within the Settings app, underneath Basic > Software program Updates.
macOS 13.3.1 additionally launched
Apple has additionally launched macOS Ventura 13.3.1 to deal with the identical safety vulnerabilities and add the lacking pores and skin tones for the pushing hand emojis.
In accordance with the discharge notes, macOS 13.3.1 additionally addresses a difficulty the place you could be unable to auto-unlock your Mac with an Apple Watch.
These updates to iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1 will finally set up mechanically, however contemplating the aforementioned safety updates, it’s higher to put in them instantly.
iOS 16.5 and macOS 13.4 Coming Quickly
In the meantime, Apple continues to maneuver towards a launch of iOS 16.5 and macOS 13.4, which is able to doubtless land within the subsequent 4–6 weeks. The primary iOS 16.5 developer beta arrived in late March, adopted by a public beta two days later. Up to now, iOS 16.5 doesn’t appear to be including a lot in the way in which of user-facing options, however extra might pop up because the beta cycle continues.