Most Apple Devices Are Getting A Major Software Update

If you own Apple devices that use iOS, watchOS, tvOS, or macOS, there's good news.  The company just released major updates for all of those.

They're available right now, and here are a few of the highlights:

For iOS 12.1, the big changes are as follows:

• Group Face Time, with support for audio and video calls with up to 32 participants simultaneously
• End-to-End encryption for your Face Time/Group Face Time conversations
• A "Start Group Face Time" option from inside Group Messages
• More than 70 new emoji's
• Dual SIM support
• Improved camera functionality
• A variety of performance and battery life enhancements
• And more

The big additions for watchOS are:

• Automatic contact of emergency services if you are immobile for more than a minute after the device detects a hard fall.
• A fix for the "incomplete installation" issue some users were reporting for the Walkie-Talkie app
• A fix for another Walkie-Talkie app issue that prevented some users from being able to send or receive invitations

Note, however that the much-anticipated ECG app is not yet available to users in the United States.  Unfortunately, there's no firm timetable for when it will be, but the company promises that it will be soon.

Information is a bit spotty where the details of the tvOS update are concerned.  This indicates that it's a more modest offering, containing bug fixes for existing issues rather than introducing any new features.

HomePod also got an update, although the notes for that one were sparse too, indicating little more than "general improvements for stability and quality."

In any case, if you own one or more Apple devices and you're not set up for auto updates, it's well worth paying a visit to Apple's website and checking out the latest options.  Odds are that you'll want them.