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iOS

4,853 'iOS' stories August 2010 - August 2019
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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 releasing iOS 13 developer beta 7 today [U]

Avatar for Zac Hall Aug 15 2019 - 9:56 am PT
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Update: iOS 13, iPadOS 13, watchOS 6, and tvOS 13 beta 7 are now available. No update to macOS Catalina beta 5 yet. iOS 13 public beta 6 also coming today. 

Apple is releasing the seventh developer beta version of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 (possibly alongside new seeds of watchOS 6, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina) today. The release comes just over one week since the last round of releases — save for macOS Catalina which hasn’t been updated this month. Apple’s public beta builds should follow at a later date after the latest developer beta has been tested in the wild.


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Apple releasing iOS 13 developer beta 6 today [U]

Avatar for Zac Hall Aug 7 2019 - 9:53 am PT
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Update: iOS 13 beta 6 and iPadOS 13 beta 6 are now available alongside watchOS 5 beta 6 and tvOS 13 beta 6. No macOS Catalina beta 6 yet.

Apple is releasing the sixth developer beta version of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 (possibly alongside new seeds of watchOS 6, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina) today. Apple’s public beta builds should follow at a later date after the latest developer beta has been tested in the wild.


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Guardian Firewall VPN iOS

Guardian VPN privacy app for iOS now open to the public, including lite version

Avatar for Michael Potuck Aug 5 2019 - 10:16 am PT
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After launching for a limited amount of users back in June, Guardian Firewall + VPN for iOS has now been made available to the public. The popular app features both intelligent firewall and VPN functionality, gives alerts when companies try to track you, and more. If you’d like to test out the app before paying for a subscription, there’s also a free lite version.


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Apple releasing iOS 13 developer beta 5 [U]

Avatar for Zac Hall Jul 29 2019 - 9:55 am PT
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Update: Beta 5 for iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and tvOS 13 are now available. No updates to macOS Catalina or watchOS 6 beta yet today.

Apple is releasing the fifth developer beta version of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 (likely alongside new seeds of watchOS 6, tvOS 13) today. Apple’s public beta builds should follow at a later date after the latest developer beta has been tested in the wild.


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Adapting iPhone and Apple Watch to a 3-day power outage

Avatar for Michael Steeber Jul 24 2019 - 12:11 pm PT
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It’s easy to dismiss how reliant a modern lifestyle is on the ability to constantly charge batteries and consume large quantities of data over WiFi. Even minor interruptions to internet and electrical services can be frustrating inconveniences, but how do iPhones, Apple Watches, and Macs fare during an extended period off the grid? I unexpectedly found out this week.


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Lockdown iOS firewall open source

Lockdown launches as world’s first open source firewall for iOS

Avatar for Michael Potuck Jul 24 2019 - 10:01 am PT
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The team behind the open source ConfirmedVPN that launched last December is out today with another security-focused app for iOS called Lockdown. The new free app is what the developer says is the first open source firewall and works completely on device to block apps from crypto mining, sharing data with Facebook, and can block custom domains as well.


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New iPhone set up: Transfer data directly to a new iPhone wirelessly, or using a cable

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Jul 23 2019 - 1:40 am PT
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With iOS 12.4 or later, there’s a new iPhone set up option. You can now perform a local iPhone data migration when setting up your new iPhone.

As part of Quick Start, you can now Transfer Your Data directly, without requiring the use iCloud or an iTunes backup. The iPhone defaults to using local WiFi, but you can transfer wired using the USB3 Camera Adapter and a Lightning cable.


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Apple releasing iOS 12.4 and HomePod 12.4 update today as Apple Card launch looms [U]

Avatar for Zac Hall Jul 22 2019 - 9:21 am PT
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iphone alipay china

Update: macOS Mojave 10.14.6, iOS 12.4, watchOS 5.3, tvOS 12.4, Apple TV software update 7.3.1 for Apple TV 3, and HomePod 12.4 are now available.

We expect Apple will release iOS 12.4 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch later today. The update has been in developer and public beta since mid-May. This software release could be the first version of iOS that supports the Apple Card release, Apple’s new credit card with special features in the Wallet app on iOS, although it’s possible Apple Card could appear in a later update.

We also expect Apple to release a 12.4 update for HomePod, adding support for Japan and Taiwan.


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Apple Card launch likely imminent as Apple releases iOS 12.4 beta

Avatar for Zac Hall Jul 16 2019 - 10:06 am PT
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Apple Card interest levels surprisingly high

Apple Card is coming this summer, and we expect the new credit card from Apple to be supported in iOS 12.4. Apple hasn’t been more specific about the exact launch date for US customers, but the company has been releasing developer beta versions of iOS 12.4 without Apple Card included for several weeks.

Apple is releasing the seventh developer beta version of the upcoming software update today, one week since beta 6 reached developers. We’ve also heard from multiple anonymous sources that Apple Card would launch this week, but it’s unclear if that will happen based on the beta release.


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Apple releasing sixth (and hopefully final) iOS 12.4 beta ahead of Apple Card launch [Now available]

Avatar for Zac Hall Jul 9 2019 - 10:06 am PT
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physical Apple Card will boost Apple Pay usage

Apple Card is coming this summer, and we expect the new credit card from Apple to be supported in iOS 12.4. Apple hasn’t been more specific about the exact launch date for US customers, but the company has been releasing developer beta versions of iOS 12.4 without Apple Card included for several weeks. Apple will release the sixth developer beta version of the upcoming software update later today, hopefully marking the final pre-release seed before the update is ready for prime time.


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China installs spyware on tourists’ Android phones, downloads data from iPhones

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jul 3 2019 - 5:17 am PT
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Spyware installed on smartphones at border

Foreigners visiting certain areas of China are having their smartphones searched at the border. With Android phones, authorities install a piece of spyware that has access to the user’s calendar, phone contacts, call logs, and text messages — as well as the apps they use and their usernames in some of those apps.

iOS protections mean that an iPhone app wouldn’t give them the same access, so they instead take a different approach …


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iOS 13 beta 2 coming today for developers ahead of public beta release [U: Now available]

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 17 2019 - 9:52 am PT
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macOS iOS 13

[Update: Second beta versions of iOS 13, iPadOS 13, watchOS 6, macOS Catalina, and tvOS 13 are now available as an over-the-air update after installing developer profiles from Apple’s developer portal.]

Are you a thrill seeker testing Apple’s pre-release software and dealing with beta 1 life? Good news! It’s time to move on to beta 2 life in search of more stability and performance improvements. Apple will release iOS 13 beta 2 to registered developers later today, allowing developers to test their apps against a slightly more complete version of iOS 13.


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