iOS

The first developer beta of iOS 18.2 is out now. The update brings the second wave of Apple Intelligence features for developers to try.

iOS 18.2 includes Apple’s image generation features like Genmoji and Image Playground, ChatGPT integration in Siri and Writing Tools, and more powerful Writing Tools with the addition of the ‘Describe your change’ text field. iPhone 16 owners can access Visual Intelligence via the Camera Control. The update also expands Apple Intelligence availability to more English-speaking locales, beyond just US English …

Update: Apple shared this statement to 9to5Mac on today’s developments:

“At Apple, we’re proud of the fact that we’ve built over 250,000 APIs that allow developers to build apps that access our operating system and functionalities in a way that ensures users’ privacy and security. To comply with the DMA, we’ve also created ways for apps in the European Union to request additional interoperability with iOS and iPadOS while protecting our users. Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data. We will continue to work constructively with the European Commission on a path forward that both protects our EU users and clarifies the regulation.”

Under the scope of the Digital Markets Act, the EU commission today announced proceedings to compel Apple to improve support for third-party connected devices like smartwatches, headphones, VR headsets with iPhone and iPad.

The notice says the Commission will specify how Apple should provide interoperability with iOS functions like notifications and device pairing. Within six months, the commission will have instructed Apple about how it expects third-party device integration to work.

StandBy Mode was introduced to us with the release of iOS 17. It gave the iPhone this passive but dynamic viewing mode when charging and in landscape mode. It can be used as a clock, to see the weather, as a hub for the Home app, or to help avoid distraction. I personally think this is a stepping stone to some sort of HomeOS-type interface for future products. But as it stands today, it is still very useful, especially once you start to customize it with third-party widgets. So here are some of my favorites!

Taking a screenshot on your iPhone is probably second nature but what about a screenshot to capture everything on a website, PDF, email, note, or stitching together multiple screenshots? Read along for how to take a scrolling screenshot on iPhone.

One of my favorite apps of the year is focusedOS. This app had one goal, and it was to reduce distraction during times of focus. It would basically put a block on apps that you chose and would not let you open them until you turned off that Focus. The same developer is back with another digital detox-style app called Dumb Phone, and I absolutely love the idea and how it was implemented.

Apple is preparing to imminently release iOS 17.6, which will come with the build number 21G79. iOS 17.6 has been light on features throughout the beta period, so presumably this version will primarily include bug fixes and improvements.

There’s been an iOS bug for years that gobbles up a big percentage of an iPhone’s available storage. The issue persists in iOS 17.5.1 (and beyond) but fortunately, there are solutions that don’t involve wiping your iPhone. Here’s how to fix the iPhone System Data storage bug.

Kaspersky, the renowned Russian cybersecurity firm, made headlines at this time last year after uncovering an attack chain using four iOS zero-day vulnerabilities to create a zero-click exploit. Kaspersky was able to identify and report one of the vulnerabilities to Apple. However, in an unfortunate update, Apple reportedly refuses to pay the security bounty for the firm’s contribution.

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An Aptoide iOS game store launches in Europe on Thursday, the third, uh, third-party app store to be announced after Setapp and AltStore.

All three companies are taking advantage of the changes Apple was forced to make in the EU by the Digital Markets Act, which opens up the App Store to competition for the first time …

It’s been a while since Apple let developers provide alternative icons for their apps, so that users can change them whenever they want. However, except for Apple’s Clock and Calendar apps, the system has no animated or interactive icons – but a researcher has found an exploit that enables just that.

Apple has officially released iOS 17.5, bringing new games in News+ and cross-platform tracking detection to iPhone users. Apple’s latest Pride wallpaper is also featured. The update is available alongside iPadOS 17.5, macOS 14.5 Sonoma, and more.

Over the last several weeks, a number of reports on social media have surfaced from iPhone users claiming their alarms don’t properly play a sound. Apple has since confirmed that it’s aware of this problem, and says it is working on a fix.

The impressive and beautiful downtime organizer app Sofa is out with a major release today for iPhone and iPad. Version 4 comes with an all-new UI across the home screen, “The Pile,” and more, custom categories, pinned lists, smart lists, and much more.

Did you know that iOS makes it very, very easy to instantly remove the background from any image? This feature was first introduced with iOS 16, and I’ve found it to be one of the best and most useful capabilities over the last 18 months. Here’s how it works.