Apple's iOS 15 update is now available; what does that mean?

We've known for several weeks that Apple was going to release its latest update, iOS 15. In a blog posted Sept. 20, Apple announced the availability of the update.

According to Apple, "iOS 15 introduces new ways to stay connected, powerful updates that help users focus and explore, and intelligent features to get more done with iPhone. FaceTime updates provide more natural video calls, Focus helps users reduce distraction, new features like Live Text use on-device intelligence to surface useful information, upgrades to Maps provide brand new ways to navigate the world, and much more. iOS 15 is available today as a free software update."

Click here for the full blog post.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Improved FaceTime calls
• Improved messaging features
• Improved notifications
• Redesigned browsing on Safari
• Enhanced Apple Maps tools 

The one new feature in this update that's garnered the most attention, at least from a marketing standpoint, is the updated privacy tools and features.

Apple, as well as Google and other companies, have invested in new resources to put the user in more control of their data. For example, one of Apple's Mail Privacy Protection, "prevents senders from learning whether an email has been opened, and hides IP addresses so senders can’t learn a user’s location or use it to build a profile on them."

Another privacy enhancement is with Siri. From Apple, "Siri’s protection of user privacy goes even further with on-device speech recognition as users’ audio requests are now processed entirely on device by default, enabling more personalization, offline requests, and faster performance."

To help better understand what this update means and how marketers will need to adapt, check out my blog post, Apple Mail changes coming; how marketers should prepare.

Here are more quality resources to help with your transition

Facebook Outlines Impacts of Apple's Data Tracking Update, Provides Tips on How Brands Can Improve Ad Performance

Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection Is Here: What It Actually Means for Email Marketers and What to Do Now