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iOS Devices

9,871 'iOS Devices' stories May 2007 - March 2016
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The devices that run the world’s most advanced mobile operating system

Check out our top stories on iOS Devices:

iOS devices refer to any of Apple’s hardware that runs the iOS mobile operating system which include iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Historically, Apple releases a new iOS version once a year, the current version is iOS 10. Here is the complete list of iOS 10 compatible devices.

How-To: Reduce iPhone screen brightness beyond what’s possible in Control Center or Display & Brightness settings

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 18 2016 - 9:33 am PT
26 Comments
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My iPhone 6s is not jailbroken, but there are still a couple of tricks that I employ that make it closer to that of a jailbroken phone. For example, getting rid of animations — a feat normally reserved for users willing to jailbreak — is now available to all iOS 9 users via the handy SpringBoard animations glitch.

Another trick, one that I haven’t been shy about sharing in the past, involves reducing iPhone screen brightness beyond levels that are possible with the standard brightness slider controls. Like the animations glitch, this too uses iOS’ deep accessibility features to pull off the job. If you’re someone who likes to use an iPhone or iPad at night, then your eyes will thank you for this trick.
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9.7-inch iPad Pro to start at higher $599 price, come in 32 GB & 128 GB capacities

Avatar for Mark Gurman Mar 18 2016 - 7:39 am PT
69 Comments
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With the iPad Pro name and features, the new 9.7-inch iPad will be Apple’s first to come with a starting price higher than $499. The smaller iPad Pro will start at $599 and include 32 GB of storage, according to sources. The $599 base configuration is for a WiFi-only model, while higher-priced versions with 128 GB of storage and the ability to connect to LTE cellular networks will also be offered. Apple will announce the new iPad at its event on Monday, March 21st.


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Opinion: With iPhones offering 4K video recording, it’s crunch time for Apple’s storage tiers

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 18 2016 - 6:47 am PT
51 Comments

It was estimated last year that Apple takes home a stunning 94% of all profits made by all players across the entire smartphone industry. Its gross margin across all products hovers around the 40% mark. Apple knows how to make money from its products.

One way it does this is to sell its iPhones with a base level of flash storage that is just barely usable, and charge a hefty markup for higher storage tiers. Sure, you can buy a shiny new iPhone 6s for $649, but that gets you a measly 16GB. It’ll cost you another hundred bucks to get a more reasonable 64GB and another $100 again if you want to max out at 128GB.

I’ve touched on this topic before as part of a more general piece about whether Apple was getting a little too greedy, but it seems to me that when the company is supplying iPhones with 4K camcorders built into them, this is the point at which a 16GB tier becomes completely indefensible …


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Apple may need to find new WiFi chip supplier as Broadcom reportedly scales back production

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 18 2016 - 4:17 am PT
4 Comments

Apple may be left needing to find a new supplier of WiFi chips if a Digitimes report is accurate. The report claims that Broadcom is scaling back its WiFi chip production in favor of more profitable products.

As is often the case with Digitimes reports, the report is unclear, the opening stating that Broadcom is ‘looking to phase out its WiFi chip business’ while a quote ascribed to unnamed sources says instead that it plans to ‘significantly reduce resources allocated to its Wi-Fi chip business.’

Either way, though, Apple may need to find additional or replacement suppliers as it relies on the company’s chips across almost its entire product range. It’s reported that competitors MediaTek, Realtek Semiconductor and RDA Microelectronics have all received last-minute orders from Broadcom customers. It’s not known whether this includes Apple.

Photo: Broadcom WiFi Airport Card for Retina MacBook Pro (Aliexpress)

iPhone SE design ‘identical’ to 5s with matte edges, will include 12 MP camera & 4K video

Avatar for Mark Gurman Mar 17 2016 - 5:15 pm PT
65 Comments
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In January, we reported that Apple would be launching a new 4-inch iPhone in March with a design “nearly identical” to that of the iPhone 5s from 2013. Since then, several rumors and teases from various case makers have teased that the new 4-inch iPhone may have a design that looks a bit closer to the iPhone 6 in both shape and look. Checks with additional sources indicate that the iPhone SE, to be launched at Apple’s March 21st event next week, will look “almost exactly the same” as the iPhone 5s…


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Apple engineers say they could refuse or quit if ordered to unlock iPhone by FBI

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 17 2016 - 4:22 pm PT
30 Comments
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In the ongoing controversy over Apple’s refusal of the FBI’s request to assist in unlocking the iPhone of the San Bernardino gunman, The New York Times reports Apple engineers could refuse the work necessary even if Apple as a company decides to cooperate with authorities.

Citing “more than a half-dozen current and former Apple employees,” the report claims there is already an internal discussion over engineers possibly refusing to do the necessary work or even quitting:


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9to5Toys Last Call: iPhone/Apple Watch Dock $8, Lexar 258GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $50, AKG Headphones $120, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 17 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299), 256GB 11″ MacBook Air $870 (Reg. $1,099)

App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Dock and charge your iPhone + Apple Watch in one place for $8 Prime shipped

Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $26 Prime shipped (Reg. $34)

Take home the Lexar JumpDrive 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $50 shipped (Reg. $80)

Amazon Gold Box – AKG K-495NC Premium Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones $120 shipped (Orig. $350)

iPad Pro Wi-Fi 128GB in all three colors: $790 shipped (Reg. $949)

Fresh iPad Pro discounts: 32GB Wi-Fi $650, 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular $890, all other models $100 off

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Apple iPhone 6s/Plus Factory Unlocked up to $100 off, 16GB just $579 shipped (Reg. $649)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

Buy or upgrade Parallels ($49-$79) & get 7 Mac apps free: 1Password, Parallels Access, & more (Reg. $269)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Green Deals: Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar USB Charger (refurb) $30 (Orig. $80), Philips Dimmable LED Bulbs $6, more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710481620034297856 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Bluetooth Speakers: Sony SRSX7 w/ Wi-Fi + AirPlay $130 (Reg. $150+), Bohm SoundBlock $22 (Reg. $50), more

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Sony’s PS4 Virtual Reality kit is finally ready for primetime this fall + exclusive titles announced

Tim Cook grabs TIME front cover with lengthy interview on Apple vs. FBI: ‘It’s very much about the future’

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 17 2016 - 6:14 am PT
3 Comments

Apple CEO Tim Cook has gotten his first solo appearance on the cover of TIME magazine today, with the publication printing a lengthy interview with Cook about Apple’s fight with the FBI over iPhone encryption backdoors. The full transcript of the interview is available on TIME’s website.

Cook says he is uncomfortable fighting the government, but Apple is fighting willingly for what it believes are civil liberties. Although interesting, the piece largely repeats the same arguments Apple has been touting for the last few weeks on the right to privacy, freedom of speech in iOS code and more.


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Leaked image of 4-inch iPhone packaging seems to confirm ‘SE’ branding and 16 GB storage size option

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 17 2016 - 5:28 am PT
28 Comments

A poster on Chinese social media site Weibo has supposedly photographed part of the spec sheet for Apple’s soon-to-be-unveiled 4 inch iPhone. The image appeared on the social media site earlier in the week and is likely legitimate, given the official announcement is just a matter of days away.

The image confirms the rumored ‘iPhone SE’ nomenclature and existence of a 16 GB size option for the new phone. This confirms numerous reports from 9to5Mac in the past.


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Harvard Law professor & former Obama special assistant dismisses FBI’s claims – “the law is clear”

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 17 2016 - 4:49 am PT
20 Comments

Harvard Law professor Susan Crawford and former special assistant to President Obama has written a blog post setting out the reason why she believes it is legally impossible for the FBI to win its case. The piece is entitled ‘The Law is Clear: The FBI Cannot Make Apple Rewrite its OS.’

While the FBI is relying on an extremely broad interpretation of the All Writs Act, Crawford points out that it is an accepted principle that specific laws take precedence over more general ones – and there is a specific law which outlaws what the FBI is asking for …


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Ahead of Monday’s iPhone SE event, Apple Events livestream app now available in tvOS App Store

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 17 2016 - 2:47 am PT
8 Comments

Ahead of Apple’s media press event on Monday, Apple has added a new Apple Events app for the fourth-generation Apple TV. The Apple Events channel lets Apple TV users watch the livestream of Apple’s announcements from their television. Unlike previous generations of Apple TV, the Apple Events app does not appear automatically on the Home Screen. Instead, users must find the app in the tvOS App Store and download it to their device.


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Hands-on: Miitomo, Nintendo’s first iOS game

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 17 2016 - 2:37 am PT
7 Comments

Update: The Miitomo app is now available on the U.S. App Store.

Thanks to my Japanese App Store account, this morning I was able to go hands-on with Nintendo’s first real venture into the App Store. The game, Miitomo, doesn’t feature a household name like Mario, Donkey Kong, or even Kirby, but the release feels very much like a Nintendo title.


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Apple debuts new iPhone 6s ad featuring hands-free Siri with the Cookie Monster

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 16 2016 - 4:55 pm PT
26 Comments

Apple has launched yet another iPhone 6s advert, this time featuring a special celebrity guest: the Cookie Monster. In the ad, named Timer, the blue monster uses hands-free Siri on his iPhone 6s to time (you guessed it) the baking of his cookies.

Although hands-free Siri exists on all iPhones, the ability to say ‘Hey Siri’ out loud without having the phone being plugged in to power is exclusive to Apple’s latest handsets: the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Watch the minute-long commercial after the break …


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Opinion: This is what the 4-inch iPhone SE needs (and doesn’t need) for me to downsize

Avatar for Zac Hall Mar 16 2016 - 1:38 pm PT
18 Comments
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Apple’s March 21st event is just five days away and we have a comprehensive rundown on what to expect including details on the new 4-inch iPhone SE. As I’ve previously written about and discussed on 9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast, rumors of a smaller iPhone with modern specs sound mighty compelling to me for multiple reasons.

But the iPhone SE isn’t a 4-inch iPhone 7 (or a 4-inch iPhone 6s for that matter) which does dilute the appeal a bit for me. Based on what we currently know, however, I’m likely going to switch from the iPhone 6s Plus to the iPhone SE — at least for a while — but I’m drawing my line in the sand now on what the new 4-inch iPhone would need to have for me to really consider it.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Pro 128GB $790, Sony AirPlay Speaker $130, Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad mini $22, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 16 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Dock and charge your iPhone + Apple Watch in one place for $8 Prime shipped

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710182557128769536 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710158057133703168 align=’center’]

iPad Pro Wi-Fi 128GB in all three colors: $790 shipped (Reg. $949)

Fresh iPad Pro discounts: 32GB Wi-Fi $650, 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular $890, all other models $100 off

Bluetooth Speakers: Sony SRSX7 w/ Wi-Fi + AirPlay $130 (Reg. $150+), Bohm SoundBlock $22 (Reg. $50), more

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Mini 3, 2, & 1: $22 shipped (Reg. $30)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,049 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

Apple iPhone 6s/Plus Factory Unlocked up to $100 off, 16GB just $579 shipped (Reg. $649)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

Buy or upgrade Parallels ($49-$79) & get 7 Mac apps free: 1Password, Parallels Access, & more (Reg. $269)

App Store Free App of the Week: oneSafe Premium Password Manager on iOS goes free for the first time (Reg. $5)

App Store Indie Game Sale 50% off: The Room Three, BADLAND 2, Mutant Mudds, more

Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop for iPhone/iPod goes free for the first time in months (Reg. $3)

TomTom for iPhone goes free for first 50 miles per month w/ new “GO Mobile” app

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

HomeKit-enabled ecobee3 Wi-Fi thermostat w/ remote sensor: $190 shipped (Orig. $249)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710127182899707904 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Home Theater Audio: VIZIO 25-inch Sound Stand $150 shipped (Reg. $200), JBL Soundbar (Refurb) $70 (Orig. $200)

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $26 Prime shipped (Reg. $34)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Turn your paper airplane into a first person virtual reality experience with PowerUP’s FPV kit

Protest group seeks “thousands” of pro-encryption comments to display outside Apple/FBI court hearing

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 16 2016 - 7:41 am PT
9 Comments

Fight for the Future, the protest group that organized demonstrations in support of Apple outside its retail stores, plans to hold a demonstration outside the next Apple/FBI court hearing on March 22nd. Re/code reports that the group has created a website inviting people to voice their support for secure iPhones, comments from which will be displayed outside the U.S. District Courthouse in Riverside, California.

The FBI wants to force Apple to weaken the security measures that keep all of us safe. This is misguided, and dangerous. On March 22, when Apple goes to court, we’ll display thousands of statements from Internet users outside the courthouse.

Fight for the Future has so far had mixed success with its protests …


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WSJ corroborates earlier reports: Apple working on stronger iCloud encryption, balancing privacy against user experience

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 16 2016 - 4:58 am PT
5 Comments

The Wall Street Journal is corroborating several reports from February that Apple is working on new iCloud backup encryption methods that will prevent it from being able to decrypt data without a passcode. Right now, although iCloud backups are encrypted, they are not entangled with a user passcode. This means law enforcement can get access to user content with ease; Apple has complied with thousands of these requests in the past for a variety of court cases.

Apple wants to re-engineer the iCloud backup system so even if law enforcement asked Apple to hand over such information in future, it would be impossible to decrypt without the correct passcode also being supplied at time of retrieval.


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Apple chip maker TSMC and designer ARM partner on 7nm process, likely destined for iPhone 8

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 16 2016 - 4:37 am PT
5 Comments

Apple chipmaker TSMC and chip designer ARM have announced that they will work together to create a 7nm FinFET process expected to enter early production in late 2017 and mass production in 2018. This would put it on track for an A11 chip in the iPhone 8.

Apple originally used ARM chips in its iOS devices, switching to its own custom chip when it launched the iPhone 5, though still using an ARM instruction set. TSMC has so far been one of two A-processor chipmakers alongside Samsung, but is rumored to be the sole producer for the A10 chip in the iPhone 7.


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Apple launches Apple News Format for all, enabling publishers to deliver rich-media content in the News app [Updated]

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 15 2016 - 1:57 pm PT
5 Comments

Apple is finally rolling out its Apple News Format to all publishers, after an initial announcement at WWDC 2015. The format lets anyone, big or small, create rich multimedia stories within the Apple News app, featuring panoramas, videos, animations and more.

Until today, Apple News Format was limited to exclusive launch partners (like Wired) whilst everyone else had to resort to basic RSS import. Publishers interested in using the format should check out the documentation on Apple’s website.


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Review: Synology NAS, a solid backup solution and great home media server with Plex

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 15 2016 - 10:49 am PT
39 Comments

I’ve recently been testing the brand new Synology DS-216+ NAS ($299), a network-attached-storage product meant for consumers. Although Synology products include a variety of features, I will be focusing on two primary functions that I consider most essential and most useful to people today: Mac backup and home media management (TV shows and movies).

With Apple no longer shipping optical drives in most of their products, I think now is a great time to convert your home movie collection of DVDs and Blu-rays to digital files, which a NAS is great for storing. The Apple TV 4 was another big factor: with an app, I can now view all the TV shows and movies, stored on my NAS, from my TV.

Before I owned a NAS, I was worried about two things: whether the features would be useful and how much hassle would be necessary to get everything up and running. Hence, my review starts with an explanation of the setup steps involved …


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Apple granted patent for one-shot panoramic photo feature, using optical image stabilization [U]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 15 2016 - 6:57 am PT
18 Comments
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Update: Some are suggesting that the patent could simply be for tiny shifts that would allow the iPhone camera to fill in missing detail that falls between pixels, though it’s unclear how this would differ from a technique already in use by Hasselblad. Thanks to James for the Hasselblad link.

iPhones have long allowed you to create panoramic images by taking multiple photos which the camera stitches together. But an Apple patent granted today could allow future iPhones to take panoramic photos effectively with a single shot. Apple describes this as ‘super resolution mode.’

The reality would be that the iPhone would still take multiple photos to switch together, but the process would be automated so the user experience would be taking just one shot …


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$20 Mac Bundle: BusyCal, DevonThink, Crossover, YummyFTP, NTFS, Screenie, LightPaper, more

Avatar for Seth Weintraub Mar 14 2016 - 11:59 pm PT
3 Comments
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From 9to5Toys.com:

There is never a bad time to improve your workflow, and the 2016 All-Star Mac Bundle at 9to5Toys Specials offers a major upgrade. It brings together 11 high-quality apps, including BusyCal and DevonThink; with coupon code ALLSTAR5, save $5 and get this bundle for just $20.

Calendar app, BusyCal, has a 4.5-star rating in the App Store, thanks to features such as smart event filters, custom display settings and integrated weather updates. DevonThink also has many fans, allowing users to create a database of thoughts, notes and documents. The bundle also includes CrossOver 15, which lets you run Windows apps within OS X, and Timing Mac App helps you track your productivity. Yummy FTP Pro provides fast access to hosted files, and NTFS for Mac 14 lets you manipulate Windows partitions. LightPaper is an elegant text editor with 4.5 stars in the App Store, while Screenie Mac App is a 5-star screen-grabbing app, and QuickRes lets you switch quickly between screen resolutions. Finally, Find Any File is a powerful search tool for your Mac, and Downie 2 lets you save videos for offline viewing.

Put together, these apps are usually worth $263 — grab the 2016 All-Star Mac Bundle now to save 90% on the regular price.

Apple releases iOS 9.3 beta 7 with Night Shift, Touch ID Notes, Verizon Wi-Fi Calling, more

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 14 2016 - 2:51 pm PT
44 Comments
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Apple has released seventh iOS 9.3 pre-release beta for developers and public beta testers to ahead of its expected public release next week. Features include a new Night Shift mode that auto changes the display temperature, Touch ID- and password-protected items in the Notes app, new CarPlay features, expanded 3D Touch options on apps such as Settings, and more.


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Poll: If the rumors are true, will the redesigned antenna lines transform the iPhone 7’s looks?

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 14 2016 - 6:40 am PT
71 Comments
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Let’s face it, whatever anyone thinks about the rest of the iPhone 6/6s design, those antenna lines running across the back of the phone have never been popular.

The need for them resulted from Apple’s decision to switch to an all-aluminum casing. Radio signals can’t pass through the metal, so Apple broke up the casing with two plastic strips which are transparent to radio signals.

If the latest claimed chassis images are genuine, this is a design issue Apple aims to fix for the iPhone 7 …


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