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iOS

4,859 'iOS' stories August 2010 - January 2019
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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)

Opinion: iOS 13 is the right time for a modern take on skeuomorphism

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jan 11 2019 - 6:43 am PT
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skeuomorphism

One of the biggest shake-ups we’ve seen in the iOS user-interface was the replacement of skeuomorphism – making things look like real-life objects – with the complete opposite in iOS 7. Where once we had realistic looking 3D representations, we instead got a ‘flat’ UI which goes out of its way to remain 2D.

While some feel that skeuomorphism looks old-fashioned these days, the approach still has its fans even now – and Apple has shown signs of beginning to adopt a new take on the look using something called anisotropism …


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Comment: Apple could stop more spam calls by muting known spam callers, demoting call alerts

Avatar for Zac Hall Jan 10 2019 - 9:32 am PT
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silence spam and unknown calls iPhone iOS 13

We want a lot out of iOS 13, but there’s one issue that’s becoming increasingly problematic on iPhones for a lot of customers: spam calls. This is something any future version of the iPhone software should tackle — iOS 13 or a point update like iOS 12.1.3 — if only by giving customers more control over how phone calls are treated.


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Weather Channel data lawsuit

City of LA sues popular Weather Channel app, alleging misuse over ‘targeted marketing and analysis for hedge funds’

Avatar for Michael Potuck Jan 4 2019 - 8:06 am PT
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Los Angeles has brought a lawsuit against The Weather Channel alleging that the app  “deceptively collected, shared and profited from the location information of millions of American consumers.” This news comes from The New York Times after it published an expose last month about apps that threaten privacy with their location data practices.


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Screen Time upgrades I want in iOS 13

Avatar for Bradley C Dec 23 2018 - 6:00 am PT
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screen time upgrades in iOS 13

Screen Time was one of the key features in iOS 12, and it does seem like something Apple is committed to as a focus of iOS going forward. Kids love their iOS devices, so it makes sense for Apple to continue to enhance ways to help parents going forward.

We recently learned that Apple has been cracking down on third-party apps that provide parental controls, so it got me thinking about how Screen Time could be enhanced to give parents greater control with iOS. Here are some ideas I came up with for Screen Time upgrades in iOS 13. If you have any more, please leave them in the comments.
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Apple releasing first iOS 12.1.3 developer beta today [U: now available]

Avatar for Guilherme Rambo Dec 19 2018 - 9:27 am PT
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iPhone XS Max Gold

[Update: Now available (and labeled beta 2 after the initial iOS 12.1.2 beta cycle). The second macOS 10.14.3 and tvOS 12.1.2 betas are also out today. watchOS 5.1.3 beta 2 and public betas for iOS and tvOS are also available.]

Apple is releasing the first iOS 12.1.3 developer beta later today, after releasing iOS 12.1.2 earlier this week following patent claims by Qualcomm which threatened iPhone sales in China. This new beta is actually considered beta 2 because it follows the same train of the previous iOS 12.1.2 beta, but since that version number was taken by the unexpected release, Apple had to increase the patch number. The release notes only mention bug fixes, but we’ll update if anything notable is discovered on the new beta.


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Apple Music sending push notifications for Echo support, continuing Apple’s new notification tactics

Avatar for Chance Miller Dec 18 2018 - 6:19 pm PT
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Over the last several weeks, Apple has been using its iOS apps to send a wave of push notifications to users. Just today, Apple is sending a push notification to Apple Music users informing them that Apple Music is now supported on Amazon Echo devices. This is just the most recent example of Apple’s newfound obsession with sending push notifications to users.


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iOS 12.1.2 expected today with eSIM bug fixes, likely addresses Qualcomm patents in China

Avatar for Chance Miller Dec 17 2018 - 12:54 pm PT
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[Update: iOS 12.1.2 is now available with build number 16C101. The first beta was build number 16D5024a.]

Apple just started the beta testing process for iOS 12.1.2 last week, but the company will today release the update to the public. Release notes for the update indicate that it includes eSIM and cellular connectivity bug fixes.


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open source VPN

‘Confirmed VPN’ iOS/macOS update makes it the first open service with third-party audits, open source code, more

Avatar for Michael Potuck Dec 12 2018 - 6:52 am PT
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Confirmed VPN launched last year for iOS, macOS and more, but it has been working on something bigger than just another VPN service. Today, the company has made its apps openly operated with third-party audits, open source code, audit logs, and much more. It is also inviting other VPN services to join the platform called Openly Operated.


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Writing with iPad Pro

Apple releasing first iOS 12.1.2 public beta for iPhone and iPad today

Avatar for Zac Hall Dec 11 2018 - 9:19 am PT
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[Update 1:00 PM EST: iOS 12.1.2 public beta 1 and tvOS 12.1.2 public beta 1 are now available.]

One day after releasing the first iOS 12.1.2 beta to developers, Apple will make iOS 12.1.2 public beta 1 available to install on iPhone and iPad for free. iOS 12.1.2 is focused on squashing lingering bugs from iOS 12 to iOS 12.1.1 which was officially released last week.


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Apple releasing first iOS 12.1.2 and watchOS 5.1.3 developer betas today with ‘bug fixes’ 

Avatar for Zac Hall Dec 10 2018 - 9:14 am PT
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iPhone XR

[Update: Now available over-the-air with developer profiles installed. macOS 10.14.3 beta 1 and tvOS 12.1.2 beta 1 are also available for developers.]

Apple is releasing the first iOS 12.1.2 developer beta shortly following the official release of iOS 12.1.1 last week. watchOS 5.1.3 developer beta 1 for Apple Watch is also coming today. The release notes for the upcoming iOS developer beta only highlight bug fixes and performance improvements, but we’ll dig in and update if any notable changes are discovered.


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iOS 13 Wishlist: Some features that could help me go iOS only

Avatar for Bradley C Dec 8 2018 - 6:00 am PT
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2018 iPad Pro

It’s getting to the end of 2018, and I am excited looking ahead to 2019. This point in the year is when I start thinking forward to what the next round of iOS updates will bring to my day job and my computing life. I am likely looking at purchasing 250 of whatever non-pro iPad Apple releases in the spring, so I am starting to consider what software these devices will be running soon after school starts. Based on rumors we’ve heard for a while, iOS 13 looks to be an “iPad focused” release, so I am expecting big things. When I think about my current challenges with iOS and iOS device management, here are some items on my iOS 13 wishlist.
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