iOS 12

189 'iOS 12' stories January 2018 - August 2018

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The Snow Leopard release for iOS

Dubbed the Snow Leopard release, iOS 12 focuses on performance and squashing bugs among other features. The current public version is iOS 12.2

What’s new?

Apple has reportedly shelved may major features that was originally slated for this release, such as a redesigned Home screen for the iPhone X, and major updates to Mail. Instead, the update will feature augmented reality improvements, health features and improved parental controls.

The focus on stability instead of packing tons of new features is mainly due to the bugginess and endless issues Apple has been trying to deal with on its platforms as of late. Despite this, Apple is reportedly still on schedule to unify iOS and macOS apps.

The release is similar to OS X’s Snow Leopard on the Mac, as the main focus of that release was also stability and performance enhancements. To this day, many customers still consider Snow Leopard as Apple’s best operating system for having rock solid performance without much bugs.

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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 8 for iPhone and iPad expected today after beta 7 pulled [U: Now available]

Zac Hall Aug 15 2018 - 9:19 am PT

iPhone iOS 12

[Update: Build 16A5357b now available, up from 16A5354b. Note that users who downloaded but didn’t install beta 7 may need to remove the file from Storage Settings.]

We expect Apple to release iOS 12 developer beta 8 for iPhone and iPad today after pulling iOS 12 developer beta 7 on Monday. The release earlier this week included initial performance issues that eventually caused Apple to pull both the OTA update and IPSW restore images for the build.

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iOS 12

Apple pulls iOS 12 beta 7 OTA update amid reports of sluggish performance [U: ISPW files too]

Zac Hall Aug 13 2018 - 1:38 pm PT

[Update: Apple has pulled the ISPW restore images as well.]

Apple has temporarily pulled the over-the-air update for iOS 12 developer beta 7 after testers reported widespread issues with sluggish performance after updating.

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iOS 12 and macOS Mojave won’t ship with Group FaceTime at launch

Zac Hall Aug 13 2018 - 10:06 am PT

This is a disappointing development: Group FaceTime for iPhone, iPad, and Mac appears to be delayed and won’t be ready in time for iOS 12 and macOS Mojave launch next month. Group FaceTime expands video calling from one-on-one calls to up to 32 participants, but customers will have to wait a little longer to use it this fall.

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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 7 for iPhone and iPad coming today [U: Now available … and pulled]

Zac Hall Aug 13 2018 - 9:05 am PT

[Update: now available!]

[Update 2: now unavailable!]

iOS 12 beta 7 for iPhone and iPad will be released shortly, just one week after the previous beta and the third release in as many weeks. The last beta version included changes to the Home app’s default wallpaper set, updated icons, and other small tweaks. We’ll dig in to the new build today as soon as it is released and update with any features that have changed.

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iOS 12

Hands-on: iOS 12 beta 6 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Aug 7 2018 - 7:10 pm PT

Yesterday marked the release of the sixth developer beta for iOS 12. Is there anything new worthwhile to share? Watch our video walkthrough for the details.
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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 6 for iPhone and iPad coming today (U: Out now)

Zac Hall Aug 6 2018 - 9:16 am PT

(Update: Now available!)

Prepare your iPhones and iPads for iOS 12 beta 6! iOS 12 betas have been released roughly every two weeks so far this summer, but today we expect to see the sixth developer beta version of iOS 12 released just one week after the previous version. We’ll update as soon as the new beta version is live and start digging in for changes.

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Poll: With Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12, do you think you’ll spend less time hands-on with apps?

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2018 - 5:16 am PT

MacWorld has an interesting piece entitled ‘How subscriptions, Siri, and Shortcuts in iOS 12 will forever change Apple’s App Store.’

Michael Simon’s suggestion is that Siri Shortcuts will enable us to use voice to do things which currently require us to get hands-on with apps, and that this will change the way in which we interact with our phones …

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Apple releases fourth iOS 12, tvOS 12, and macOS Mojave public betas

Zac Hall Jul 31 2018 - 10:02 am PT

Apple has released the fourth iOS 12 public beta for iPhone and iPad. The new version follows iOS 12 developer beta 5 which was released yesterday. The new version includes minimal changes including new tones within FaceTime, updates to the Stocks widget, and more. tvOS 12 public beta 4 and macOS Mojave public beta 4 are also available today.

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iOS 12

Hands-on: iOS 12 beta 5 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Jul 30 2018 - 7:15 pm PT

A new iOS 12 developer beta has been released, and with it comes a handful of new changes and features. Watch our hands-on video as we walk through what’s new.
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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 5 for iPhone and iPad now available

Zac Hall Jul 30 2018 - 10:05 am PT

Happy beta release day — iOS 12 developer beta 5 is out now. iOS 12 is getting closer to being complete with release expected around early September, so we’ll dig in and see if anything has changed in the new version.

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Apple releases third iOS 12 and tvOS 12 public betas

Zac Hall Jul 18 2018 - 10:05 am PT

Apple has released the third iOS 12 public beta for iPhone and iPad. The new version follows iOS 12 developer beta 4 which was released yesterday. The new version includes more Activity app stickers in Messages, more Memoji customization, and more. macOS Mojave public beta 3 was released yesterday, and tvOS 12 public beta 3 is also available today.

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iOS 12

Hands-on: iOS 12 beta 4 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Jul 17 2018 - 7:44 pm PT

The fourth iOS 12 developer beta was released earlier today for iPhones and iPads, and we’ve compared it with the previous beta to help identify new changes and features. Watch our hands-on video comparison for the lowdown.
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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 4 for iPhone and iPad now available

Zac Hall Jul 17 2018 - 10:06 am PT

iPhone iOS 12

Time to update your iPhones and iPads — iOS 12 developer beta 4 is out now. This beta is one of the last versions to possibly include interface tweaks, so we’ll dig in and see if anything has changed.

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Early testimonial of iOS 12’s ‘Live Listen’ with AirPods shows just how useful it could be

Chance Miller Jul 7 2018 - 8:00 am PT

AirPods

With iOS 12, Apple is expanding its “Live Listen” feature to AirPods. This means users can have their iPhone act as a directional microphone, with audio being played back live to a pair of AirPods.

The feature could have incredible benefits for those with hearing problems, and one of the early testimonials proves just that…

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iOS macOS Photos app

iOS 12: How to access Photos in the Messages app

Peter Cao Jul 5 2018 - 4:41 pm PT

One of the more controversial changes in iOS 12 is how the photo library is managed in the Messages app. Previously, the photo picker was available when tapping the camera icon. However, with iOS 12, Apple has turned Photos into a full on Messages app and now sits in the App Store tab versus the camera tab.

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iOS 12: How to share photos and videos with expiring links on iPhone and iPad

Michael Potuck Jul 5 2018 - 2:45 pm PT

iOS 12 offers the option to temporarily share photos and videos with an iCloud link. Follow along for how to make use of this handy new feature.

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Apple opens iOS 12 Shortcuts app testing to developers over TestFlight

Zac Hall Jul 5 2018 - 10:35 am PT

Apple is making its new Shortcuts app in iOS 12 available for developer testing ahead of release through TestFlight. Shortcuts is based on Apple’s acquisition of Workflow and be available in the App Store when iOS 12 is released later this fall.

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Apple releases second iOS 12, tvOS 12, and macOS Mojave public betas

Zac Hall Jul 5 2018 - 10:03 am PT

Apple has released the second iOS 12 public beta for iPhone and iPad. The new version follows iOS 12 developer beta 3 which was released earlier this week. iOS 12 public beta 2 is the same build version as the latest developer beta version which means GPS and CarPlay bugs should be resolved.

Apple has also released the second tvOS 12 and macOS Mojave public betas.

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Hands-on: iOS 12 beta 3 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Jul 3 2018 - 8:00 pm PT

iPhone iOS 12

The third iOS 12 developer beta has been released for eligible iPhones and iPads, and we’ve taken it for a test drive to uncover what’s changed. Watch our video walkthrough for the hands-on details and comparisons.

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iOS 12: How to use the animated Activity app stickers in Messages

Michael Potuck Jul 3 2018 - 2:49 pm PT

Another fun addition in iOS 12 is a new set of animated Activity stickers in Messages. Follow along for how to use the new stickers on iPhone.

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iOS 12

iOS 12 developer beta 3 for iPhone and iPad now available

Zac Hall Jul 3 2018 - 10:04 am PT

Two weeks after the second beta, iOS 12 beta 3 has arrived. We’re hoping to see some useful bug fixes and stability improvements as well as the first roll out of Apple’s in-house mapping data for the Bay Area in Maps.

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iOS 12

Researcher expresses concerns over iOS 12’s new security code auto-fill feature

Chance Miller Jul 2 2018 - 7:34 pm PT

Update: Will Strafach has some doubts about Gutmann’s thoughts:

https://twitter.com/chronic/status/1014304649233477632

With iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, Apple has introduced a new security code auto-fill feature that makes managing two-factor authentication codes sent via SMS easier to manage. A security researcher, however, has published a new piece detailing some potential fraud concerns with the feature..

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Apple rebuilding Maps in massive overhaul, first results appearing in next iOS 12 beta

Zac Hall Jun 29 2018 - 8:39 am PT

New Apple Maps

TechCrunch has published a new piece detailing Apple’s massive effort to rebuild Apple Maps from the ground up — specifically the mapping data — with a combination of iPhones and those Apple Maps vans we’ve seen on the road for years.

The results of this effort will show up first in the next iOS 12 beta for new mapping data for San Francisco and the Bay Area before expanding to Northern California later in the year. Ultimately, the end goal for the new Apple Maps is to be based entirely on Apple-collected data and not a combination of external data providers.

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set up Screen Time

iOS 12: How to access parental controls and restrictions on iPhone and iPad

Michael Potuck Jun 28 2018 - 12:00 am PT

Managing parental controls and restrictions for your child’s iOS device(s) has changed in iOS 12. Not only have the features moved, but they have also been renamed. Follow along for how to manage your family’s devices with the newest software.

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