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iOS

4,985 'iOS' stories August 2010 - November 2017
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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)

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp amasses 15M downloads in first week, half that of Super Mario Run

Avatar for Chance Miller Nov 27 2017 - 4:15 pm PT
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Last week, Nintendo officially released the highly anticipated Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for iOS. We offered our initial hands-on impressions, noting of a few downsides you should expect. Now, research firm SensorTower says the game has been downloaded some 15 million times in its first week of availability…


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YouTube app update promises fix for iOS 11 battery drain bugs

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 27 2017 - 1:44 am PT
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Two weeks ago, we highlighted that many iPhone and iPad users were seeing severe battery issues when playing videos in the YouTube app; the device would become unnaturally warm and battery would quickly deplete when it really shouldn’t. A YouTube app update visible today in the App Store promises a fix for this problem.


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Amazon reportedly cancels plans for ‘skinny bundle’ TV service, echoing Apple’s rumored TV attempts

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 15 2017 - 4:14 am PT
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Amazon has seemingly cancelled plans to launch an unbundled a la carte internet TV service, featuring top channels. Reuters says Amazon was unable to convince networks to sign on and struggled to find profitable business arrangements. It has been widely reported that Apple wanted to launch a similar skinny bundle of streaming channels, but also faced industry backlash and failed to bring the service to market.


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Report: Apple will help create anti-spam app in India, to a limited extent, citing privacy concerns

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 15 2017 - 3:29 am PT
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Apple has been fighting the Indian government over approving an iOS app to block spam calls and texts in the region for some time now. A new report from Reuters suggests that Apple has changed its tune slightly, agreeing to provide assistance to help make such an app, but with ‘limited capabilities’.

Apple does not want to give a third-party app access to iPhone call logs on privacy grounds, but it’s not clear what compromise has been reached.


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Former Apple engineering director launches RAW Power photo editor for iOS

Avatar for Michael Steeber Nov 14 2017 - 7:00 am PT
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With the release of iOS 10, Apple harnessed the growing power and advancing optics of iPhones and iPads by introducing RAW image capture support. Users wishing to edit their RAW photos on iOS have been left with few options, however. Now, a former Apple engineering director is aiming to help professional and amateur iOS photographers alike with the release of a powerful new app for iPhone and iPad.


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Apple releases third iOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2, tvOS 11.2, and macOS 10.13.2 betas

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 13 2017 - 10:13 am PT
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Apple has released the third developer beta of iOS 11.2 for iPhone and iPad. The latest version comes one week after the second beta became available for all iPhones and iPads after first coming to iPhone X. Apple has also released the third developer beta versions of watchOS 4.2 for Apple Watch, tvOS 11.2 for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, and macOS 10.13.2 for Mac.


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Apple to release software update to solve iPhone issue when typing the letter ‘i’, here’s a workaround fix

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 6 2017 - 1:51 am PT
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Update: Apple has now released iOS 11.1.1. If you were affected by the symbols autocorrect glitch when typing the letter A, update to iOS 11.1.1 and your problem will be resolved.

Some iPhone and iPad users are facing a weird bug after updating to iOS 11.1. When trying to type the lowercase letter ‘i’, autocorrect replaces the word with the letter ‘A’ and a question mark symbol.

Apple has documented steps for a workaround fix until a real bug-fix software update is released …


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iOS camera permissions allow rogue apps to surreptitiously photograph & video users [Video]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 26 2017 - 4:00 am PT
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One of the privacy features of iOS is that apps are required to ask permission if they want to access things like your photos, camera and location. But a Google engineer has created a demo app to show how a rogue app could abuse permissions to surreptitiously photograph you as you use the app – or even livestream video from your front or rear cameras.

The issue, says Felix Krause, is that users are asked to grant blanket permission. There may be a legitimate-seeming reason for an app to request access to your camera, to take a photo within the app, but it is then able to shoot photos and video anytime it is in the foreground without alerting you in any way …


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Apple releases iOS 11.1 beta 5 to developers

Avatar for Chance Miller Oct 23 2017 - 10:11 am PT
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Update 2: Apple has released the fifth public beta of iOS 11.1.

Update: Apple has also released the fourth beta of tvOS 11.1 to developers, as well as macOS High Sierra 10.13.1

Apple today has released iOS 11.1 beta 5 to developers. The update comes just a few days after Apple released beta 4. iOS 11.1 includes changes such as hundreds of new emoji, the return of the 3D multitasking gesture, and more.

iOS 11.1 beta is available via the Settings app.


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Apple releases fourth iOS 11.1 and watchOS 4.1 betas

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 20 2017 - 10:08 am PT
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Four days after releasing the third beta version, Apple has released the fourth iOS 11.1 beta for iPhone and iPad. iOS 11.1 beta includes the return of 3D Touch gestures for multitasking as well as hundreds of new emoji characters including “Woman with Headscarf, Bearded Person, Breastfeeding, Zombie” and plenty more. Apple has also released the fourth beta version of watchOS 4.1 beta with Apple Music and Radio streaming.


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Apple and GE announce partnership to make ‘industrial’ apps for iPhone and iPad

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 18 2017 - 5:48 am PT
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Apple and GE (General Electric) today announced a new partnership to build enterprise ‘industrial’ apps for the iOS platform. This includes a new development SDK focused on the Internet of Things.

Tim Cook said GE is an “ideal partner with a rich history of innovation”. GE will make apps for itself and its business clients, and deploy iPhones and iPad as standard across the organization.


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