Apple releases iOS 15.2 & iPadOS 15.2 with legacy contacts, Apple Music Voice, more

The new iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 are now available, bringing with them updates to Find My and AirTags, plus the new legacy contacts and privacy features, as well as introducing Apple Music Voice.

Following their many beta releases, the iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 editions are rolling out worldwide. Users can wait to be prompted to update, or check out Software Update in the Settings app.

As befits their point-update numbers, the 15.2 releases are chiefly refinements and bug fixes, though there are significant improvements.

The refinements include changes to the Find My app, which now contains an extra option designed to quell fears of stalking via AirTags. A new "Items That Can Track Me" feature shows whether there are any devices nearby that can be used to track a user.

Apple has also taken this opportunity to introduce what it calls Child Safety in Messages. This was previously launched as part of a "jumbled" series of child protection measures.

This new version sees Messages on a children's account block potentially disturbing images. In earlier versions of the idea as seen in beta releases, receiving such a message would also send a notification to the child's parents or legal guardians, but that has been removed.

What's been added is an entirely new Legacy Contact feature. Now users can nominate a person who is to have full access to your Apple ID account in the event of your death.

Also new is support for Apple Music Voice. As announced in October, this is a new, lower cost Apple Music tier that lets users access the music catalog using Siri.

Then in the last of the significant changes, iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 introduce an enhanced App Privacy Report. Alongside existing protections, such as Private Relay, the new App Privacy Report will detail which of a user's apps have been accessing the microphone, or camera.

24 Comments

MustSeeUHDTV 309 comments · 7 Years

About 2 years ago

That good that they added that "extra option designed to quell fears of stalking via AirTags. A new "Items That Can Track Me" feature shows whether there are any devices nearby that can be used to track a user."

Looks like people are using it for crimes already......
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/technology-verify/airtags-strangers-unknown-can-track-location-even-if-not-your-own/536-11082147-7387-46e2-81c4-8327f839d735

d-rey 11 comments · 3 Years

Yeah, but now when a criminal steals something with an AirTag hidden in it, Apple has created a way for them to quickly find & disable it. I guess they’re really only good for something you accidentally lose. Any notion of theft-deterrent or recovery is killed by this feature.

fred1 1133 comments · 11 Years

d-rey said:

Yeah, but now when a criminal steals something with an AirTag hidden in it, Apple has created a way for them to quickly find & disable it. I guess they’re really only good for something you accidentally lose. Any notion of theft-deterrent or recovery is killed by this feature.

It’s the problem of striking a balance between being able to use AirTags to track stolen items and preventing people from using them to stalk people. I’m disappointed that I can no longer depend on my AirTags to locate a stolen car, briefcase, suitcase, etc., etc. That was my main reason for wanting them.

dope_ahmine 264 comments · 4 Years

fred1 said:

d-rey said:

Yeah, but now when a criminal steals something with an AirTag hidden in it, Apple has created a way for them to quickly find & disable it. I guess they’re really only good for something you accidentally lose. Any notion of theft-deterrent or recovery is killed by this feature.

It’s the problem of striking a balance between being able to use AirTags to track stolen items and preventing people from using them to stalk people. I’m disappointed that I can no longer depend on my AirTags to locate a stolen car, briefcase, suitcase, etc., etc. That was my main reason for wanting them.

The product developers at Apple need to screw their brains in and become innovative again. There is a beautiful solution that fulfills both these use cases, but obviously Apple hasn’t found it yet. Can you see it?

MplsP 4028 comments · 8 Years

fred1 said:

d-rey said:

Yeah, but now when a criminal steals something with an AirTag hidden in it, Apple has created a way for them to quickly find & disable it. I guess they’re really only good for something you accidentally lose. Any notion of theft-deterrent or recovery is killed by this feature.

It’s the problem of striking a balance between being able to use AirTags to track stolen items and preventing people from using them to stalk people. I’m disappointed that I can no longer depend on my AirTags to locate a stolen car, briefcase, suitcase, etc., etc. That was my main reason for wanting them.

Exactly. What’s the difference between stalking someone with an AirTag and tracking a lost item? Functionally nothing, it’s a matter of intent and who happens to own the device the AirTag is attached to.

From a PR perspective, The negative PR Apple will get from a stalking case far and away outweighs any positive PR they may get from someone recovering a stolen bag.