iOS 11

When iOS 11 for iPhone ships later this fall, CarPlay users will gain new features like lane guidance in Apple Maps, new route recommendations, and other new features. Below we’ll take a look at some of the new changes coming to CarPlay in iOS 11.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The second iOS 11 beta was released yesterday to developers, and the general consensus is that it runs much smoother than the initial beta. After playing with it for a few hours, I agree with those sentiments, as the release seems to be more polished than beta 1.

Along with performance improvements, there are several new features and changes added to the mix as well. In the following walkthrough, we’ll step through some of those changes on video.
Expand
Expanding
Close

[UPDATE 6/26: Apple has released a second iOS 11 beta 2 build labeled 15A5304j following 15A5304i last week. The new version is not available OTA but listed on Apple’s developer portal.]

Following up on last week’s release of the first iOS 11 developer beta, Apple has begun rolling out the second beta. iOS 11 is jam-packed with a ton of features, enough to be packed into our 100+ new features videos.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Two companies have announced plans to adopt new Apple technologies coming this fall with iOS 11. Jibestream says it will work with clients to provide indoor mapping data to Apple Maps which is new to iOS 11, and Branding Brand says it plans to use ARKit to build augmented reality experiences for retail apps.

Expand
Expanding
Close

If you’re running the first iOS 11 developer beta like me, you’re probably eagerly awaiting whatever changes and improvements come with iOS 11 beta 2. While Apple doesn’t broadcast when it will release new versions of developer software betas, the company does tend to follow a pattern for its release schedule which we’ll look at below. Apple has also shared when to expect the first iOS 11 public beta version which may be a clue.

Expand
Expanding
Close

iOS 11 has been available in beta form for almost two weeks at this point, with Apple having unveiled the new operating system at WWDC 2017. We’ve already told you that there are risks that come with installing a beta operating system, such as poor performance and battery life problems.

When you put the normal beta issues aside, however, what do you think of iOS 11 and its new features? Whether you’re running it yourself or looking in from the outside.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In this week’s top stories: The verdict on Apple’s new 10.5-inch iPad Pro as reviews arrive, the latest iPhone 8 reports, hands-on with some new iOS 11 features, and much more.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Earlier today, developer Steve Troughton-Smith posted a well-received tweet showcasing drag and drop functionality that’s present, yet currently disabled, in iOS 11 for the iPhone. Whether or not Apple will eventually enable such functionality for iPhone users is anyone’s guess, but I think the majority of us would welcome the addition with open arms.

That said, there is one drag and drop feature that all iOS 11 beta iPhone users already have. It’s now possible to manipulate Home screen app icons using drag and drop, allowing users to move multiple icons at once. Why use such a feature? It makes organizing iOS apps directly from the iPhone’s Home screen significantly faster.
Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the standout features in iOS 11 is support for drag and drop, which allows iPad users to easily move things such as links and images between applications. Though, the feature is limited to iPad users as Apple works to make the device more of a PC replacement.

Developer Steven Troughton-Smith, however, has discovered how to enable inter-application drag and drop on iPhone…

Expand
Expanding
Close

During Apple’s keynote at this year’s WWDC 2017, Craig Federighi announced iOS 11 support for the oft-forgotten quick response (QR) codes. While users stateside may not use QR codes regularly, for many in China it has become somewhat of a norm.

Onstage, Federighi announced the QR support as part of “some features of special interest to our customers in China.” Coming in iOS 11, the native camera will have built-in support for QR codes. No longer needing third-party apps to scan them, QR code adoption may see a bump in usage over the coming years.

Native support for QR codes in iOS 11 will open the doors for some interesting mobile interactions. With official support for HomeKit and some third-party app flexibility in iOS, let’s take a look at which QR code types are compatible with Apple’s upcoming iOS.

Expand
Expanding
Close

New for Podcasts in iOS 11: Apple is bringing a handful of new podcasts features to iOS 11, both for users and creators. The new features were highlighted during a developer session on Friday and include a redesign to the Podcasts design, updates to the Podcasts spec, and more…

Expand
Expanding
Close

New for Health in iOS 11 & watchOS 4: Apple is introducing a handful of new features for diabetes management as the Apple Watch gains the ability to connect directly to Bluetooth Low Power devices like those used for glucose monitoring.

Alongside the new diabetes management features, app developers are getting more access to Workout data and other Apple Watch features, swimming tracking is getting improvements, and Health is introducing new Activity categories for tracking different types of exercises including Tai Chi, Mixed Cardio, and Hand Cycling.

Head below for a roundup of new features coming to the Health app and watchOS 4 this fall:

Expand
Expanding
Close

iOS 11 delivered with a ton of highly-requested features— especially for iPad users— but there’s still one feature missing from the release that many were hoping for. A true “dark mode” to change Apple’s mostly light-colored user interface like the option it has for menus and the dock on macOS is still absent. But in iOS 11, we get the next best thing with a new feature called ‘Smart Invert Colors’.

For many, this feature will satisfy their dark mode needs until an official feature is introduced. Here’s how to enable it…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple has added yet another new feature to make configuring wireless networks on iOS even easier. As first noticed by u/EzDzO on Reddit, iOS 11 users will be able to use the native camera app to scan a router’s QR code and quickly get connected.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The App Review guidelines were updated this week to accommodate App Store policy changes and new rules for usage of frameworks introduced in iOS 11, like MusicKit.

One change is the addition of section 1.1.7. This new paragraph requires developers to use the official in-app rating UI added in iOS 10.3 and states that they ‘will disallow custom review prompts’ going forward …

Expand
Expanding
Close

At this year’s jam-packed WWDC 2017, Apple introduced two new camera formats that are included in iOS 11: HEVC and HEIF. In using the new camera formats, Apple estimates users will be able to save up to 50% on storage needs, without any loss in image quality. This becomes the perfect solution for users on lower capacity devices, that still want to take advantage of the iPhone’s great camera.

Let’s dive in and see what other advantages these formats will bring.

Expand
Expanding
Close

With iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra unveiled this week at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the company is introducing a handful of new Accessibility features that will improve the experience for users with disabilities. Head below for a tour of the new features coming this fall…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Screen recording on iOS isn’t a new feature by any means. There have been both official and unofficial ways of doing so for quite some time. The difference today is that iOS 11 is the first of Apple’s mobile operating systems to introduce screen recording as a built-in feature. We’re only in the first beta stages of iOS 11, so this feature could change or even be revoked before the final release, but it’s a great feature that has been a long time coming. Let’s take a look at how you can enable screen recording on iOS 11, why you would want to, and some recording tips.

Once enabled on your device, screen recording will simply be a swipe and tap away.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The App Store is getting a big redesign with iOS 11, and today Apple gave a preview of some of the new changes coming for developers at WWDC 2017. Head below for a first look at the refreshed app including new editorial content and features coming with iOS 11 this fall:

Expand
Expanding
Close