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iOS

4,912 'iOS' stories August 2010 - August 2020
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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 releases iOS 13.7 beta with support for COVID-19 Exposure Notifications without downloading an app [U]

Avatar for Chance Miller Aug 26 2020 - 10:08 am PT
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Apple Google COVID-19 contact-tracing

Update: As of right now, iOS 13.7 is only available to developers. We will update this post if that changes today. Initially, iOS 13.7 appeared to be rolling out to all users, but we’ve since confirmed that it is a beta release for now.

Apple is releasing iOS 13.7 to developers today with a key focus on expanding the COVID-19 Exposure Notification API. According to Apple, this update will allow users opt-in to COVID-19 Exposure Notifications without the need to download an app from your local public health authority.

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Apple releases iPadOS 14 and iOS 14 beta 4 to developers

Avatar for Chance Miller Aug 4 2020 - 9:55 am PT
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Apple today will release the fourth betas of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers. Today’s release of iOS 14 beta 4 comes two weeks after the release of beta 3, which included new features such as new Clock app widgets, Apple Music changes, and more. Today’s update will continue to make refinements to iOS 14 for iPhone and iPad users.

Update: iOS 14 beta is now rolling out to registered developers.

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Good Sudoku app iPhone iPad

‘Good Sudoku’ by Zach Gage wants to make the popular game actually fun on iOS

Avatar for Michael Potuck Jul 23 2020 - 9:40 am PT
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Good Sudoku for iOS is a new app that’s launched today from veteran game developer Zach Gage aiming to reinvigorate the digital version of the popular puzzle game. The app comes with a thoughtful approach including AI-powered hints to have fun learning the game, tools to eliminate busywork, over 70,000 puzzles for everyone from beginner to expert, option to import puzzles, and more.


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Apple releases iOS 13.5.1 and watchOS 6.2.6 with ‘important security updates’

Avatar for Chance Miller Jun 1 2020 - 9:59 am PT
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Apple is releasing iOS 13.5.1 to the public today following last month’s release of iOS 13.5. Apple says that today’s update to iOS 13.5.1 provides important security updates.

Update: Apple has added new details about iOS 13.5.1 to its security webpage, confirming that the update patches the vulnerability used by the Unc0ver jailbreak:

Kernel

Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch 7th generation

Impact: An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

Description: A memory consumption issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2020-9859: unc0ver


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[Update: Now available] Jailbreak for all iOS 13.5 devices expected soon due to new kernel exploit

Avatar for Filipe Espósito May 20 2020 - 6:18 pm PT
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Update 23/5: Version 5.0 of unc0ver is now available, allowing jailbreak to any device running iOS 13.5. You can read the original article below:

Jailbreak users had a big surprise last year with the announcement of checkm8, an exploit found on almost every chip made by Apple that allowed the jailbreak process on several devices running different versions of iOS. Now, jailbreak is coming for even more devices, as unc0ver team announced today a new tool that can patch “every signed iOS version on every device.”


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Custom QR codes and other assets emerge from Apple’s upcoming iOS 14 AR app

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo May 18 2020 - 10:22 am PT
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Back in March, we reported on a new augmented reality app that Apple is developing internally as part of iOS 14 builds. This involved scanning QR codes to enter AR environments, which will be viewable on the iPhone or a connected headset (like Apple’s in-development AR glasses).

The Twitter account Unknownz21 shared some screenshots from that build, which includes some cool custom QR code designs (the usual square QR code has a lot of redundancy, so you can include patterns or logos without data loss) as well as what appears to be a custom circular visual code designed by Apple. More via Josh Constine, from the Moving Product newsletter below …


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Apple Watch and iPhone can automatically send vital Medical ID info to first responders in iOS 13.5

Avatar for Zac Hall May 6 2020 - 11:19 am PT
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Apple is moving quickly to release new software features that improve lives during the COVID-19 health pandemic. One new feature that’s aimed to help first responders will be useful for iPhone and Apple Watch users even after we reach the other side of the coronavirus outbreak. The change is coming in iOS 13.5 and watchOS 6.2.5 later this month.


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