iOS

4,993 'iOS' stories August 2010 - March 2015

The world’s most advanced mobile operating system

iOS is Apple’s mobile operating system that runs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Historically, Apple releases a new iOS version once a year, the current version is iOS 13.

In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone and iPhone OS. During the event, Jobs referred to the operating system as OS X because it shared a similar Unix core compared to the Mac. When Apple launched the iPhone SDK a year later, they officially changed the name to iPhone OS.

In the summer of 2008, Apple added the App Store to iPhone OS with version 2.0, and this set the stage for the “app economy” that we still enjoy to this day.

Version 3.0 was released in 2009, and it included copy/paste, MMS support, Spotlight, mobile tethering, and push notifications for 3rd party apps.

In version 4, Apple finally renamed iPhone OS to iOS (with the iPad sharing the same software). The major features were multitasking and FaceTime.

iOS 5.0 introduced Notification Center, iMessage, Siri, and iCloud.

iOS 6.0 removes Google Maps in favor of Apple Maps and added the Passbook app (now known as Wallet).

Version 7.0 brought a dramatic redesign of iOS with a new font, flatter icons, a and new Photos app. The redesign was led by Jony Ive.

Version iOS 8.0, Apple finally allowed third-party keyboards and the ability to share files from different apps.

Version 9.0 included Apple Maps, an overhauled Notes app, and multitasking for iPad.

Version 10.0 included an SDK for Siri, Maps, and iMessages.

Version 11.0 included a new iPad Dock, Customizable Control center, drag and drop on iPad, and the Files app with third-party integration.

Version 12.0 added Screen Time features for managing your time on devices, the Shortcuts app, ARKit 2.0, and Memoji.

iOS 13 added Dark Mode, swipe-style typing, a redesigned share sheet, made app downloads 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.

Compatible Devices with iOS 13

iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
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)

Walkthrough: Apple Watch app reveals how you’ll pair your watch and iPhone, gets apps, and more

Mike Beasley Mar 9 2015 - 12:28 pm PT

5 Comments

The iOS 8.2 update released today introduced support for the Apple Watch to the iPhone and iPad. The app reveals some details about the device unmentioned at the keynote event today. For example, the app reveals how users will pair their watches with their phones using the iPhone’s camera…

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Apple Watch Sport comes with two bands bundled in the box: Small-Medium and Medium-Large sizes

Benjamin Mayo Mar 9 2015 - 12:27 pm PT

30 Comments

In a strange turn of events, the Apple Online Store page reveals that the Apple Watch Sport actually has two bands bundled in the box. Despite being the cheapest model variant, at $349 for 38mm and $399 for 42 mm, unlike the stainless steel Apple Watch range, the Sport comes bundled with two bands of two different sizes …

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Apple Online Store goes down ahead of Spring Forward event

Benjamin Mayo Mar 9 2015 - 5:04 am PT

2 Comments

The Apple Store is down, in preparation for announcements later today at Apple’s Spring Forward event. The store going down is a very strong indicator that something new will be available to buy after the event is over — but what products? The most likely answer is new MacBooks.

There is also the potential of Apple Watch preorders, although these are more likely to take place in a couple of weeks, assuming an April launch.

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Apple Events channel appears on Apple TV, ready for livestreaming ‘Spring Forward’ event later today

Benjamin Mayo Mar 9 2015 - 3:06 am PT

3 Comments

As is the norm nowadays, the Apple Events channel has appeared on the Apple TV ahead of Apple’s Spring Forward event later today. From 10 AM PDT, Apple will be live streaming the entire presentation, for those not lucky enough to be there in person.

Customers can follow along on the Apple TV, or online at http://apple.com/live. 9to5Mac will also have full coverage of all the announcements, so stay tuned.

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Game developers seek Apple Watch event spotlight as major companies ready apps

Mark Gurman Mar 6 2015 - 4:30 pm PT

13 Comments

Hundreds of iOS developers have been working with Apple in secret Cupertino-based sessions on apps for the Apple Watch, and now we’ve learned that this list includes game developers. According to two sources, multiple “mass market, casual” game developers have been in the running to show off light games on stage during Monday’s “Spring Forward” event in San Francisco. While Apple could end up not showcasing games next week, we’re still told that they are championing the idea of light weight gaming on the Apple Watch. As one source said, “the iOS gaming ecosystem will be well represented on the Apple Watch despite [the simplicity] of the Software Development Kit (SDK)…

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Apple Watch pricing, availability, surprises & more, here’s what to expect at Apple’s event

Jordan Kahn Mar 6 2015 - 12:33 pm PT

51 Comments

Apple’s “Spring Forward” event is scheduled for Monday, March 9th and we’re already getting prepared to bring you live coverage and last minute leaks leading up to the event. What can you expect at the event? Below we’ve put together our list of likely announcements including some unannounced Apple Watch features and possible surprises…

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Sources offer hands-on Apple Watch details: battery life, unannounced features, and more

Mark Gurman Mar 6 2015 - 10:40 am PT

57 Comments

Just ahead of the finalized Apple Watch’s presentation at Apple’s March 9th “Spring Forward” event, sources with hands-on Apple Watch experience have revealed a collection of new details about the device’s features to 9to5Mac. Our sources have offered new information on the Watch’s real-world battery life, health and fitness features, apps, and experiences using Apple’s next-generation touchscreen hardware…

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Amazon Game Studios announces four games coming soon to iOS

Jordan Kahn Mar 6 2015 - 7:26 am PT

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Amazon Game Studios announced today that it’s bringing four games to iOS devices starting with two previously released only on Android and two new titles coming soon.
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CNN app gets a Notification Center widget, sports section on iOS

Mark Gurman Mar 5 2015 - 3:29 pm PT

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CNN today pushed out an update to its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch application with a pair of features that some users will find significant: a Today widget for iOS 8’s Notification Center and a sports section. The widget is populated with the latest top stories from CNN, while the sports section sources its content from Bleacher Report, which has a dedicated App Store app (iPhone, iPad). CNN also says this version includes various bug fixes, like every app update that has come before it.

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Apple plans relaunched Beats streaming music service for WWDC, skipping March event; Apple TV still coming

Mark Gurman Mar 5 2015 - 10:26 am PT

38 Comments

Apple won’t take the wraps off of its upcoming Beats-based music streaming service at its March 9 “Spring Forward” event, according to music industry sources briefed on the launch timeline. Instead, Apple currently plans to introduce the service, at least in beta form, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June. The WWDC keynote likely takes place on Monday, June 8th, and that’s the event where the debut will occur. The new iTunes music streaming service is based on technology acquired from Beats Music, including curated playlists, cloud-based libraries, and offerings customized to the musical tastes of individual users. The service will be priced as high as $7.99 per month, which is less expensive than current $9.99 pricing for Beats Music, Spotify, and Rdio…

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Apple Watch predicted to take 55% of the 2015 global smartwatch market with 15.4M units shipped

Zac Hall Mar 5 2015 - 9:56 am PT

14 Comments

Research firm Strategy Analytics released its latest report today forecasting global Apple Watch sales and smartwatch marketshare for 2015. The firm’s predictions put Apple’s anticipated global smartwatch marketshare at more than half with 54.8% reached in 2015. Notably, that forecasted percentage is versus all other smartwatches combined competing with the Apple Watch.

While the report predicts that Apple will take the overwhelming majority of smartwatch sales this year, it predicts a relatively conservative number of units shipped globally in 2015 at 15.4 million. That forecast still beats the collective “other” group with a 12.7 million units shipped globally predicted.

To be clear, the firm is predicting that the as-of-yet unreleased Apple Watch will outsell the existing smartwatch market in 2015…

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Gmail for iOS updated w/ share sheet support, ability to archive & reply to email via notifications

Chance Miller Mar 5 2015 - 9:16 am PT

1 Comment

Google this morning has released a major update for Gmail on iOS. The update bumps the app to version 4.0 and packs a handful of new features. First off, Gmail on iOS now supports the ability to archive and reply to messages directly from a notification, a feature many have been requesting since iOS 8 launched.

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Release notes from an internal iOS 8.2 build show more improvements coming to Health app

Zac Hall Mar 5 2015 - 7:46 am PT

8 Comments

After several weeks of testing, Apple is expected to release iOS 8.2 next week as it puts the Apple Watch on stage one more time. We reported before the event date was announced that Apple has been targeting the second week in March for iOS 8.2 release and passed over BGR’s report that the update would be available as soon as this week (which didn’t pan out). Ahead of the update’s release, though, BGR has posted release notes for an internal release highlighting additional changes to the Health app and stability improvements and big fixes.

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‘Spring forward’ banners start going up at Yerba Buena ahead of March 9 event

Benjamin Mayo Mar 4 2015 - 10:56 am PT

2 Comments

The banners for the Spring Forward Apple event have started going up at Yerba Buena, in preparation for March 9th. As is usual, the display mirrors the logo and patterns seen on the event invite sent last week. Apple has already been setting up an outdoor structure behind the venue, which will likely become the demo area for press when the event is over.

More pics below (we’ll update as the workers fill in the banner) …

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Numerous will put number tracking on your wrist with upcoming Apple Watch app (Photos)

Zac Hall Mar 4 2015 - 10:09 am PT

1 Comment

The Apple Watch is expected to take stage on Monday ahead of its aniticipated debut next month, and with it will come a whole new class of apps based on the iPhone that present information on the wrist. Today we got the first look at what Numerous, my favorite number tracking app for iOS, has planned for the Apple Watch as soon as it starts shipping.
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Next iPhone rumored to (unsurprisingly) feature 2 GB of RAM, Force Touch, Apple SIM

Benjamin Mayo Mar 4 2015 - 10:07 am PT

17 Comments

AppleInsider is reporting that it has received information about the next-generation iPhone hardware. It claims that the next iPhone, generally expected to be a ‘6s’ style device (meaning that it will feature internal changes but the external chassis will be the same as the 6), will feature 2 GB of RAM, just like the A8X in the iPad Air 2. It also says that Apple is considering inclusion of an Apple SIM as standard, just like the cellular iPads.

For some context, the iPhone first shipped with 1 GB of RAM in 2012 with the iPhone 5. This means a RAM jump is now about ‘due’, with many expecting an increase last year to help accommodate the increased asset size required by the Retina HD iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Although 9to5Mac cannot directly backup the claims, the advancements feel like an obvious progression for the device given Apple’s inclusion of 2 GB of RAM in the iPad Air 2 as well as the introduction of the Apple SIM last fall. Note also that Apple has doubled RAM every few generations of iPhone, and given that many were expecting an increase last cycle, it is not surprising to see it rumored for the ‘iPhone 6s’, which is likely to feature new and improved internals like other ‘tock’ years.

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Apple wins patent for Maps feature that could help you avoid routes w/ weak cellular signal

Zac Hall Mar 4 2015 - 9:07 am PT

6 Comments

Apple applies for and gets awarded patents for everything under the sun, and patents don’t always translate to shipped features. Disclaimer aside, the iPhone maker was recently awarded a patent for a potentially useful feature that could help you avoid areas with weak cellular coverage when planning your trip with navigation in Maps.

The USPTO awarded Apple with a patent (via Gigaom) to analyze routes between two locations and “employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes.”

In other words, because your iPhone can collect and measure cellular signal data and many iPhone users anonymously share travel data with Apple, there’s potential for Maps to know which routes problematically contain dead zones and suggest lengthier routes with better signal.
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Video of iOS 8 vs iOS 3 shows the longer animations since iOS 7 reduce responsiveness

Ben Lovejoy Mar 4 2015 - 5:00 am PT

71 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ti0KdXrgSE]

A user experience expert has put together a video showing that the longer animations introduced in iOS 7 and continued in iOS 8 have a small usability cost: user input is ignored while the animation is running, making the user interface seem slower. The video compares it to iOS 3 running on the original iPhone.

While William Van Hecke believed that the issue was that animations used to be interruptible, this isn’t actually the case except for Springboard. In other cases, iOS has always ignored input until animations are complete, it’s just that they used to be shorter. If you’re fast with your fingers, there will now be times when you’re trying to do something while the animation is still doing its thing.

The new spring-based animations also make it less clear when the animation has ended, so the device seems unresponsive to input, but in reality it’s that the animation hasn’t quite finished.

Do you see this as an issue in real-life use? Let us know in the comments.

Security flaw places Mac, iOS & Android users at risk from hacking on some major websites

Ben Lovejoy Mar 4 2015 - 4:12 am PT

2 Comments

Cryptographers have discovered that a security flaw dating back to the ’90s is placing OS X, iOS and Android users at risk from hacking attacks when visiting some major websites, including American Express, Airtel, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Groupon, Marriott and many more.

The FREAK exploit allows an attacker to force a website to use lower-grade encryption for HTTPS connections, which can be cracked within a few hours when using a small botnet of just 75 computers. Once cracked, attackers would be able to hack the website as well as steal personal data from those visiting the site …
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Google said to be planning iOS support for Android Wear, could debut at I/O conference

Mike Beasley Mar 3 2015 - 10:22 pm PT

10 Comments

Last month a developer managed to hack together a solution that enabled iPhone users to see their notifications on Google’s Android-powered wearable operating system, but at the moment there is no official way to use the two competing platforms together. That could change at Google’s annual I/O conference later this year, if new rumors are to be believed.

According to French tech blog 01Net, Google is developing an update to Android Wear that would enable it work with Apple’s iOS devices…

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Apple Watch’s retail sales pitch revealed: 3 key features, switch to iPhone, focus on bands

Mark Gurman Mar 3 2015 - 11:31 am PT

38 Comments

With next week’s Apple Watch event fast approaching, Apple has revealed its retail selling strategies to employees, including a focus on “three key features” and a plan to encourage Watch customers to upgrade or switch to new iPhones. According to selling guidelines provided by sources within Apple Retail, Apple believes that “many customers have already decided they want an Apple Watch,” and will use the Watch to “position the benefits” of purchasing a compatible iPhone model. Retail employees have been told to ask customers about their iPhone usage habits, their favorite feature in iOS 8, and if they use health and fitness software on their iPhone…

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Sonos Controller app updated w/ quick Rooms access, new iPad UI, improved search, more

Jordan Kahn Mar 3 2015 - 7:57 am PT

0 Comments

Sonos is today rolling out version 5.3 of its Sonos Controller app for iOS to introduce a few new features and a tweaked user interface.

The feature being highlighted above others in the update is easier access to controlling the app’s Rooms feature: Effortlessly move your music around your home with a more accessible ROOMS menu available by tapping the top of any screen in the Sonos app. Group and ungroup rooms from the ROOMS menu to play music in perfect synchrony throughout your home.

Also new in the update is an updated user experience for iPad users that offers new, separate views for currently playing music and discovery features:

More engaging browse experience for tablets. Version 5.3 provides separate views for music discovery and what’s currently playing.
Last browsed on a phone or tablet. Quickly return to the last place you browsed.
- Touch to view the last place you browsed. On your phone, you can also go back to the last place you browsed by swiping down on the Now Playing screen.
- Touch the collapsed Now Playing screen at the bottom of the screen to return to full-screen view.

Sonos highlighted a few other new features including more readily available search and a new playback progress slider.

The updated app, version 5.3, is available on the App Store now.

What’s New in Version 5.3

SIMPLER ROOM CONTROL AND FASTER ACCESS TO ALL YOUR MUSIC.

Effortlessly move your music around your home with a more accessible Rooms menu available by tapping the top of any screen in the Sonos app.

A more engaging browse experience for tablets with dedicated screens for what’s playing and music discovery.

Simplified track progression bar, just below the album art in the Now playing screen. Drag it to whatever point in the song you want to play. This is only applicable for music sources that allow this.

Switch between screens by swiping down from the Now Playing screen to go back to browsing your music. Then swipe from far left to right to show all your music sources.

Search is now more readily available so you can quickly find and play music.

Apple hanging billboards on skyscrapers and buildings around the world to showcase iPhone 6 photography

Benjamin Mayo Mar 2 2015 - 2:41 pm PT

16 Comments

As part of its Shot on iPhone 6 campaign promoting iPhone photography, Apple is now hanging billboard advertisements around the world. The ads feature the photographs in full bleed with a simple ‘Shot on iPhone 6’ tagline. The posters are going up around the world, including some dramatic large billboards on the side of skyscrapers. Pictured above is one such poster (photo taken by Jimmy Grewal on Twitter) being setup on a skyscraper in Dubai.

In total, the campaign will showcase 77 different individual’s images spanning 24 countries. Users on Twitter have been posting sightings of these ads from all over the world …

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SanDisk’s new iXpand flash drive w/ Lightning connector now comes in 128GB for $149

Jordan Kahn Mar 1 2015 - 1:07 pm PT

5 Comments

In addition to announcing its first-ever thumb drive with an integrated USB Type-C connector, SanDisk is also introducing a new higher-capacity version of its recently released iXpand flash drive for iPhone and iPad.

Featuring an integrated Lightning connector and companion app for iPhone and iPad, the new 128GB capacity adds to the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options already available.

The SanDisk iXpand also comes with a companion app available on the App Store that allows for management of files, as well as streaming and viewing files on an iOS device from the connected drive:

It launches when the iXpand Flash Drive is plugged into an iPhone or iPad and can be configured to automatically sync photos and videos from the camera roll to the drive. In addition, users can store their favorite movies on the iXpand Flash Drive and instantly play them directly from the drive on their iPhone or iPad. Most popular movie formats [including] non-native and PC-friendly ones, like AVI & WMV, are supported — saving time, effort and complexity of converting video formats.

iXpand starts at $60 and the new 128GB model will sell for $149.99. It’s available on the company’s website now, and later through retailers. The lower capacity models are currently available on Amazon.