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iOS

4,912 'iOS' stories August 2010 - May 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 13.5 developer beta 4 with Exposure Notification API, FaceTime and Face ID changes

Avatar for Chance Miller May 6 2020 - 9:57 am PT
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How to turn on and off COVID-19 contact tracing iPhone iOS

Apple is releasing the fourth developer beta of iOS 13.5 today, following last week’s release of beta 3. iOS 13.5 includes improvements to the FaceTime app, Face ID, and the groundwork for Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification API. [Update: Now available, and Apple is releasing a new public beta of iOS 13.5 today as well.]


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Report: iOS adoption sees highest numbers in Q1 US activations since 2016

Avatar for Michael Potuck Apr 10 2020 - 2:23 pm PT
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iOS Android loyalty

CIRP is out with a new analyst report today looking at US smartphone activations in the March quarter and whether consumers went with iOS or Android. On the bright side for Apple, iOS adoption for new activations was the highest its been since 2016. However, customer loyalty is very high for both Android and iOS, so there aren’t many switchers to pitch to…


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How to screen share and remote control iPhone, iPad, Mac to help colleagues, friends, and family

Avatar for Michael Potuck Mar 30 2020 - 1:42 pm PT
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How to screen share iPhone iPad Mac remote control

The need for video calls and screen sharing has really ramped up as the coronavirus pandemic has spread around the world. Sometimes it’s easy enough to troubleshoot with a call or text when you aren’t nearby, but it’s often helpful to see what’s happening on-screen and also have some remote control access. Follow along for a look at how to screen share with iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more to help coworkers, friends, and family with tech support more efficiently.


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iOS 14 code reveals updated Activity rings for Apple Watch in upcoming kids mode on watchOS 7

Avatar for Zac Hall Mar 30 2020 - 11:18 am PT
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9to5Mac exclusively reported earlier this month that iOS 14 and watchOS 7 will include a new SchoolTime mode and kid mode. The latter feature includes the ability for a parent to set up and manage an Apple Watch for a child with a single iPhone.

Each Apple Watch account is currently connected to a single iPhone’s Apple ID. This new mode will let a parent manage their child’s Apple Watch from the parent’s iPhone, and the child will not be required to own an iPhone to use the Apple Watch.

If this feature in development is completed and released this year, the Apple Watch will become much better for kids than ever before, but how will activity tracking work? Based on iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac, we can now answer that question.


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Adaptivity app now available as an universal purchase on iOS and macOS

Avatar for Guilherme Rambo Mar 30 2020 - 6:04 am PT
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One of the greatest challenges developers face when developing for Apple’s platforms today is adapting the layout of their apps to all available screen shapes and sizes. Most apps need to work from the iPhone SE and its 4-inch display all the way up to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. With Catalyst, some apps also need to work well on the Mac, where the app needs to function in a small window all the way up to a full screen, which can be way larger than anything on iOS.


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Apple releases iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 with iPad trackpad support, iCloud Drive folder sharing, more

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 24 2020 - 10:03 am PT
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iOS 13 features

Apple today is officially releasing iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 to the public. This comes after an extended beta testing period for developer and public beta users over the last month and a half. What’s new in iOS 13.4? Read on to find out.

Apple is also releasing iOS 12.4.6 for older iPhones and iPads today as well. tvOS 13.4 is also being released today.


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Apple releasing fifth developer beta of iOS 13.4 and more today

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 10 2020 - 9:54 am PT
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Apple will release the fifth developer beta of iOS 13.4 today. This update comes one week after the release of beta 4. iOS 13.4 includes new features like iCloud Drive folder sharing and much more.

Update: The fifth betas of iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4, and macOS Catalina 10.15.4 are now available. No sign of watchOS 6.2 yet. Apple is also releasing the fifth public betas today as well.


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New jailbreak hack lets you run Android on your iPhone 7

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 4 2020 - 9:45 am PT
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The Correlium team has today released a beta of a work-in-progress hack to get the Android operating system running on the iPhone.

Using the checkra1n jailbreak exploit to gain access to the bootloader of older iPhone models, Project Sandcastle lets you install a semi-working version of Android on an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Support for additional phone models is in the works.


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