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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)

Apple is about to pass 1 billion iPhones milestone (U: Apple confirms 1B sold)

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Update: Apple confirms:

Cupertino, California July 27, 2016 At an employee meeting in Cupertino this morning, CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple recently sold the billionth iPhone.

“iPhone has become one of the most important, world-changing and successful products in history. It’s become more than a constant companion. iPhone is truly an essential part of our daily life and enables much of what we do throughout the day,” said Cook. “Last week we passed another major milestone when we sold the billionth iPhone. We never set out to make the most, but we’ve always set out to make the best products that make a difference. Thank you to everyone at Apple for helping change the world every day.”

With iPhone sales reported for Apple’s fiscal Q3 yesterday, the company is now at around 988.15 million iPhones sold, meaning it’s about to pass the 1 billion units sold milestone and will likely do so any day now.


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Apple issues iOS 10 beta 3 for developers, here’s everything new

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Apple today issued the third iOS 10 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for developer testing since WWDC 2016. iOS 10 brings a refreshed look to Apple Music and News plus loads of new features to the platform. The software update will be ready for everyone later this fall, and we’ll dig through the third developer version of the iOS 10 beta below.


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Pokémon Go for iOS update addresses Google account privacy issue, here’s how to fix it

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Update 7/13: Version 1.0.2 fixes an issue many users saw with Trainer Club logins.


Pokémon GO has just received an update on iOS that will hopefully address some of the biggest complaints it has received in the past week. Today’s update puts a focus on improving the account process for users including fixing the Google full account access scope issue. Users should also no longer have to re-enter their credentials after they’ve been forcefully logged out, and the some issues with crashes should be resolved as well. Full release notes can be read after the jump.


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Apple releasing first iOS 10 public beta for non-developer testers today [U: Now available]

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Update: iOS 10 Public Beta 1 is now live. It features the same build version (14A5297c) as iOS 10 Developer Beta 2.


Following the latest iOS 10 beta for registered developers, Apple is releasing the very first iOS 10 public beta for non-developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch today. Back in mid-June at WWDC 2016, Apple first promised iOS 10 would hit public beta status sometime in July. The iOS 10 public beta will bring new features including a redesigned Apple Music app, an overhauled Messages experience, and much more.


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Hands-on with Voicemail Transcription in iOS 10 beta 2 [Video]

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Apple appears to be slowly rolling out its new voicemail transcription feature to iOS 10 beta users, as the feature just appeared on my iPhone 6s in the last few minutes.

Voicemail transcription is exactly like it sounds: it processes audio from voicemails and displays the message in text form right from within the voicemail interface inside the built-in Phone app. 
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Apple issues fourth iOS 9.3.3, tvOS 9.2.2, and OS X 10.11.6 betas

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We’re anxiously awaiting iOS 10 beta 2 after just over two weeks with the initial beta version, but Apple has released a fourth beta for any iOS 9.3.3 update testers. Changes so far haven’t been noticeable as the update is likely focused on security enhancements and bug fix improvements.

Apple last released an iOS 9.3.3 beta eight days ago, suggesting its public release is imminent. For Apple TV developers, tvOS 9.2.2 beta 4 is also now available for anyone not already testing tvOS 10 beta. Apple’s OS X 10.11.6 beta 4 is also out today. All three software releases are available to developers and public beta testers.


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Waves wants to bring 3D audio to any headphones using a new app & head tracker

Waves is a heavyweight in the digital audio world with its audio plugins for recording, mixing and live sound being a staple among many pros. The company’s latest venture, however, is more of a consumer experience aimed at listening rather than creating music with a new desktop and mobile app that wants to bring 3D audio to any headphones using head tracking.


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iOS 10 kernel is unencrypted – possible mistake, but likely to be deliberate

Security experts cited by MIT Technology Review have found that the kernel of the first developer preview of iOS 10 is unencrypted, allowing anyone to examine the code. All previous iOS kernels have been encrypted by Apple.

The heart of an operating system is a component known as the kernel, which controls how programs can use a device’s hardware and enforces security. Apple has previously encrypted the kernel in iOS releases, hiding its exact workings and forcing researchers to find ways around or through it. But the kernel was left unobfuscated in the preview version of iOS 10 released to developers last week for the most recent Apple devices.

As the piece notes, this doesn’t compromise the security of iOS 10, and there are both pros & cons to making it available for inspection. Security researchers are unsure whether the move was intentional or a mistake …


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Ex-Apple engineers made this $499 rearview backup camera that uses iPhone as a display

A startup called Pearl Automations is today launching preorders for a new accessory that adds a rearview backup camera to just about any car using an iPhone or other smartphone as a monitor. The company is notably made up of a large group of ex-Apple engineers and the accessory is just the first in a line of products it plans that will add various smartphone connectivity features to vehicles.


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Jailbreak developer digs deeper in iOS 10 code, activates Dark Mode theme for Settings app

The same developer who found the original iOS 10 Dark Mode references in the Messages app, Andy Wiik, has found even more evidence that Apple was/is developing a black appearance for its iPhone and iPad operating system. The latest screenshots show the iOS 10 Simulator presenting the Settings app in a dark interface style, with black cell backgrounds and white text.

The screenshots are captured from the iOS 10 Simulator where it is easier to inject code and discover unfinished flags and behaviour, like this Dark Mode interface style …


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How-To: Use Split View in Safari on iPad [Video]

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iOS 10 makes it possible to view two Safari windows side-by-side on the iPad via a feature called Safari split-view. It’s similar to the standard Split View between separate apps, but there are some differences to consider as well. In the following video walkthrough, we’ll show you how to use Safari split-view, and highlight some of its notable features.
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iOS 10 promotes iPad to HomeKit remote access device like Apple TV, both now run automation

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Before now, Apple’s HomeKit platform required an Apple TV for remote access control of most accessories. If you had network-connected lightbulbs or other home automation accessories, you’d need to have a new Apple TV connected to that same network to control them with Siri when out of the house. With iOS 10, Apple is giving iPad that capability too, and it’s now using multiple remote access devices to make all of your iPads and Apple TVs work together to extend your HomeKit network.


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Screengrabs emerge appearing to show very early stage iOS 10 Dark Mode in first beta

Developer Andrew Wilk tweeted screengrabs of what appears to be an early version of Dark Mode in the first iOS 10 beta, running in Xcode.

Mac Aficionados responded with their own screengrabs, saying that they’d found it in iBooks, Safari, Alarm and iTunes, though it’s unclear whether the iBooks example differs from the existing app-specific dark mode introduced in iOS 9 …


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Hands-on: 75 new features in iOS 10 [Video]

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On Monday Apple unveiled the highly-anticipated software update for the iPhone and iPad. As expected, it’s a huge release that brings a bevy of new and exciting features to the table.

In the following video walkthrough, we take a look at 75 of the features and changes found in iOS 10. Some of the features covered are obvious changes, and some are more surprising.
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