iOS 13

212 'iOS 13' stories December 2018 - October 2019

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iOS 13 public beta

iOS 13 Features

During its WWDC 2019 keynote, Apple officially unveiled iOS 13 for iPhone. While we had a good idea of what to expect, Apple still offered some surprises. There’s a new swipe-style keyboard called QuickPath, the Photos app has received notable new features and changes with smart clutter reduction software, a new editing experience, and a new “Photos” tab, while Siri Shortcuts has become more capable with new multi-step and suggested automations. The update also brings a new Siri feature that allows users to instantly reply to messages.

As for one of the most anticipated features, the system-wide Dark Mode has officially arrived on iOS. Apple showed off the new dark theme with the tagline “iOS now lives in the dark.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Jg4Wm9b7o

Many other improvements and changes coming this fall include a redesigned share sheet, app downloads are 50% smaller, 2x faster app launch speed, Memoji Stickers and Memoji Makeup, HomeKit-enabled routers and HomeKit Secure Video, a new “Sign in with Apple” option for logging into third-party services, all-new Apple Maps, and much more.

If you want to go in depth on some of the minor changes, check out 65+ features that Apple didn’t announce during its Keynote.

iOS 13 Release Date

iOS 13 was released on September 19th, 2019 for all comaptible devices.

iOS 13 Device Support

These are the devices that will be supported:

iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone SE
iPod touch (7th generation)

Top Stories

Sign in with Apple conditions raise concerns

How to get started with and use ‘Sign in with Apple’ on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Michael Potuck Oct 15 2019 - 2:52 pm PT

Sign in with Apple arrives as a seamless way to sign up for and log in to third-party accounts with just your Apple ID. The service offers some great security and privacy benefits and is available with iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina. Read on for how to get going with Sign in with Apple on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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iOS 13 Dark Mode support arrives for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote

Michael Potuck Oct 15 2019 - 6:18 am PT

Microsoft Office iOS Dark Mode

Back in August, Microsoft teased that it was working on Dark Mode support for its full Office suite for iOS and as it rolled out support for the feature with Outlook. The plan was to have Office Dark Mode support in time for the launch of iOS 13. Even though it’s coming about a month later, it’s great to now see system-wide Dark Mode support arrive for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for iPhone and iPad.

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Apple responds to report on sending users’ browsing data to China-owned Tencent

Michael Potuck Oct 14 2019 - 9:26 am PT

In a report from professor and cryptographer, Matthew Green today, concerns were raised about Apple sharing users’ browsing data to the Chinese company, Tencent. Now Apple has offered an official response, reassuring users that actual URLs aren’t shared with third-parties.

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Overcast for iOS updated to support iOS 13 Dark Mode with two theme options

Chance Miller Oct 12 2019 - 5:47 am PT

The popular third-party podcast player Overcast has joined the iOS 13 Dark Mode fun. The app has been updated to support iOS 13 Dark Mode, and it gives users two different options from which to pick.
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Hands-on with new iOS 13.2 beta 2 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Oct 11 2019 - 10:25 am PT

Yesterday Apple released the second iOS 13.2 beta for developers. The update brings several noteworthy changes to the table, including brand new emoji, along with the ability to delete Siri & Dictation history associated with an iOS device. Watch our brief hands-on video as we step through the latest iOS 13.2 beta 2 changes and features.
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Apple Notes app

How to share Notes app folders on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Michael Potuck Oct 10 2019 - 1:54 pm PT

A lesser-known but very useful feature included with iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina is improved sharing in the Notes app. Follow along for how to share Notes app folders on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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How to share location iPhone Find My

How to share your location on iPhone and more with the Find My app

Michael Potuck Oct 9 2019 - 2:53 pm PT

iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS all include the revamped Find My app that combines Apple’s previous Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps. Here’s how to share your location with friends and family on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with the Find My app.

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iOS 13

iOS 13 and iPadOS users are randomly seeing an iTunes Store error message

Filipe Espósito Oct 8 2019 - 10:02 am PT

A sizeable number of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users are experiencing an issue with some Apple services at the moment. More specifically, there are some reports about an unknown message that has appeared on iOS 13 and iPadOS. The iTunes Store error simply pops up on the screen unexpectedly and for several times.

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iOS 13

iCloud Drive folder sharing feature delayed from ‘later this fall’ to ‘spring’ next year

Benjamin Mayo Oct 8 2019 - 2:41 am PT

Apple has quietly informed customers that the shared iCloud Drive folders feature, which would make iCloud Drive a head-to-head Dropbox replacement, is no longer scheduled to be released this year.

Before today, the macOS All Features page had an asterisk for iCloud folder sharing that said the addition would be coming later this fall. Overnight, the text has changed to “coming this spring.”

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You can now ask Siri to play Spotify music on iOS 13, Spotify debuts Apple TV app

Benjamin Mayo Oct 7 2019 - 3:12 am PT

Siri Spotify

Spotify has today released its iOS 13 update, which allows users to ask Siri to play albums and playlists using their voice. This brings Spotify up to par with other music apps; SiriKit integration for audio apps was exclusive to Apple Music until iOS 13.

To use Spotify with Siri, install the update and then ask to play an album or song ‘with Spotify’. The update also allows hands-free control through CarPlay. Spotify is also launching a tvOS app for Apple TV today.

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iOS 13

Apple stops signing iOS 13.1.1 after releasing new version with bug fixes

Michael Potuck Oct 4 2019 - 12:53 pm PT

iOS 13.1

Update 10/7: Apple has also stopped signing iOS 13.1.

Today, Apple has stopped signing iOS 13.1.1 after releasing iOS 13.1.2 earlier this week with more bug fixes and improvements. That means users are no longer able to downgrade from the current iOS version to iOS 13.1.1.

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Hands on with new iOS 13.2 beta 1 changes and features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Oct 3 2019 - 2:31 pm PT

iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 beta 1, which were released yesterday for the iPhone and iPad, feature many new changes and features. Included with the update is the new Deep Fusion camera feature for iPhone 11, the return of the “Announce Messages with Siri” feature found in earlier betas, New AirPlay and Handoff settings, and new Music app listening history. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for a brief look at new iOS 13.2 beta 1 changes and features.
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Siri
iOS 13

‘Announce Messages with Siri’ feature returns for AirPods owners in iOS 13.2

Benjamin Mayo Oct 2 2019 - 10:57 am PT

Announce Messages with Siri

The ‘Announce Messages with Siri’ feature was originally promised for iOS 13 but was delayed to ‘later this year’ as Apple hurried to ship iOS 13 in time for the iPhone 11 release. It did not make it in iOS 13.1 either, but it has returned in the just-released iOS 13.2 developer beta.

You need to be an iPhone and AirPods user to take advantage of the feature. With the AirPods in your ears, you will be able to listen and respond to incoming text messages. Siri transcribes the message so you can hear the text without looking at your phone or watch. You can then ignore or immediately reply without having to say ‘Hey Siri’.

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Siri
iOS 13

Siri will no longer default to using Apple messaging and phone apps

Ben Lovejoy Oct 2 2019 - 5:14 am PT

Siri won't always use Apple messaging and phone apps

Siri will no longer default to using Apple messaging and phone apps after an iOS update later in the year, revealed the company.

Instead, Siri will intelligently choose the appropriate text or voice messaging app based on your past communication with each contact…

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iOS 13 iPhone features: What is Optimized Battery Charging?

Benjamin Mayo Oct 1 2019 - 2:30 am PT

Apple is trying to make the battery in your iPhone last longer, so you can use your phone for longer periods of time without needing to get it serviced. Optimized Battery Charging changes the way in which your iPhone charges overnight in order to extend the lifetime of the battery. After updating to iOS 13, you may have been wondering ‘why is my iPhone only charging to 80 percent?’ Here’s why…

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Pinterest updated for iOS 13 with support for Dark Mode

Chance Miller Sep 30 2019 - 4:43 pm PT

Dark Mode continues to make its expansion to the most popular iOS apps following the release of iOS 13. Pinterest for iOS has been updated today with support for Dark Mode, joining countless other applications in doing so thus far.

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Ulysses writing app gets the iOS 13 treatment with Dark Mode, multi-window iPad support, more

Michael Potuck Sep 30 2019 - 10:58 am PT

Well-rated iPhone and iPad writing app, Ulysses, has received an update today to leverage the new functionality possible with iOS 13 and iPadOS 13. New features include Dark Mode, multi-window iPad support, iOS 13-styled icons, new context menus, full integration with the Shortcuts app, Dropbox support, and more.

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Cannot log in to your banking apps on the iPhone? iOS 13 Touch ID bug may be the reason

Benjamin Mayo Sep 30 2019 - 3:17 am PT

If you have recently updated to iOS 13 and have found you are unable to log in to some apps like your bank, or 1Password, or other apps that need authentication, we may have the solution. It turns out there is an iPhone iOS 13 bug affecting older iPhones with Touch ID, where the in-app authentication dialog simply doesn’t appear. Here’s the fix…

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iOS 13

Apple releases iOS 13.1.1 with fixes for battery drain, Siri, iPhone restores

Michael Potuck Sep 27 2019 - 10:10 am PT

iOS 13

Apple has today released iOS 13.1.1 just three days after making its iOS 13.1 update available. This update brings fixes for a battery drain issue, Siri recognition, an iPhone restore problem, and more. Alongside iOS 13.1.1, iPadOS 13.1.1 is also available.

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GarageBand for iOS 13 updated with Dark Mode, external drive support, new sound pack, more

Michael Potuck Sep 26 2019 - 12:01 pm PT

GarageBand

Apple has released a GarageBand update for iPhone and iPad to take advantage of new features in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13. The app now includes Dark Mode, the option to access files from external drives, a brand new sound pack with over 350 loops, and more.

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iOS 13

iOS 13 adoption tops 20% across iPhone and iPad devices one week after release

Benjamin Mayo Sep 26 2019 - 6:35 am PT

Apple released iOS 13 on September 19, exactly a week ago, and it seems to be off to a good start. According to data from Mixpanel, iOS 13 today crossed the 20% adoption mark.

This is slightly ahead of where iOS 12 was at the same point in its launch cycle last year. You also have to take into account the fact that, this year, iPad users could only start getting their hands on the latest operating system version as of Tuesday with the release of iPadOS 13.1.

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iOS 13 bug grants third-party keyboards full access to iPhones even when users have it turned off

Michael Potuck Sep 24 2019 - 12:11 pm PT

iOS 13 keyboard bug

Even though just Apple released iOS 13.1 to fix some issues with iOS 13 just today, the company has shared another bug that it will fix with an upcoming software update. For now, third-party keyboards may have full access to what users are typing even if they denied the app’s permission.

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iOS 13

Apple releases iOS 13.1 with new AirDrop features for iPhone 11 and more

Chance Miller Sep 24 2019 - 10:00 am PT

iOS 13.1

After releasing iOS 13 last week, Apple is today releasing iOS 13.1 to the public. The update includes features that were removed from iOS 13 during the beta testing period, including Shortcuts Automations, Share ETA in Apple Maps, and more.

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Apple’s TestFlight beta testing app adds support for Dark Mode in iOS 13

Chance Miller Sep 23 2019 - 1:36 pm PT

Apple’s beta testing app TestFlight has today been updated with support for Dark Mode. The update comes following last week’s release of iOS 13, which includes support for a system-wide Dark Mode.

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