iOS 7

Survey finds 52% of developers are working on iOS 7-only app updates

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

Last month, we asked our readers if they would pay for iOS 7 app updates on apps they already owned. With all of the UI changes and new features Apple's added in the software, developers are having to spend an enormous amount of time and resources to bring their apps up to speed.

Looking at the comments in that post, though, the answer was clearly a resounding "no." In fact, a lot of readers claimed that they'd rather stay on iOS 6, than update to iOS 7 and have to repay for their favorite apps. Well, if this new survey is any indication, that may not be an option...

iOS 7 includes fix for malicious charger exploit

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2013

Back in June, a group of researches discovered a flaw in iOS that would theoretically allow an iOS device to be hacked using a malicious USB charger. Their proof-of-concept allowed them to invisibly install malware on non-jailbroken iPhones and iPads.

The results of the experiment were called 'alarming,' and brought to the attention of Apple in hopes for a quick fix. The Cupertino company must have gotten the message, because according to a new report, the exploit has been patched in the latest iOS 7 beta...

iOS 7 code reveals Apple’s upcoming A7 chip has Samsung components

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

As iOS 7 gets closer and closer to release, developers digging through the depths of the firmware continue to find more and more hidden gems. Thus far, the coding has revealed fingerprint sensor support, an A6 iPad mini without a Retina display, and now this.

A new discovery in the code has surfaced this afternoon that shines some light on the processor which Apple is expected to use in its upcoming iPhone 5S. Apple is believed to be developing a new A7 chip, and according to today's finding, it's made by Samsung...

Apple launches new iMessage spam reporting tool

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2013

A new knowledge base document has appeared on Apple's support site this evening, introducing a new spam reporting tool for iMessage users. The document outlines a way for users to report unwanted messages, or spam, directly to Apple.

The posting comes ahead of the release of iOS 7, which adds a new Contact blocking feature for phone calls and messages. Apple has obviously discovered that spam is a problem for its messaging platform, and it's doing something about it...

iOS keyboard to gain additional languages and scripts, job posts indicate

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

Whenever I find myself entangled in another Android vs. iOS debate, Android's liberalized keyboard is unmistakably brought up as a key argument playing to Google's favor. Indeed, for the most part the iOS keyboard has remained unchanged throughout the years, sans a few improvements here and there.

That will change when iOS 7 comes this Fall as it makes the iOS keyboard smarter by introducing black and white theme, enhanced auto-correct that can fix misspellings in a combination of words and a few other small tweaks. While there are no signs of Apple opening up the iOS keyboard to third-party developers anytime soon, new job ads indicate the company is working on adding support for additional languages and writing systems...

Apple chasing Control Center Android app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Did you know Android has its own Control Center? No, really - earlier this month developer Hi Tools Studio earned free publicity by releasing an app that brings the full iOS 7 Control Center user experience to Android phones and tablets. And boy, is it a pixel-perfect copy of the headline iOS 7 capability, down to all of the included features and then some.

Now, the iPhone maker rarely files app complaints with Google so they could have just as easily turned a blind eye on this one had this particular developer not crossed the line so obviously. Hence, Apple has asked the Internet giant to pull the software on the basis of copyright violation...

Apple releases iOS 7 beta 4: this is what’s new

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

As expected, Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 7 this morning. The update comes three weeks after the release of beta 3—longer than the the time period between previous betas due to a lengthy Developer Center outage caused by a security breach.

Beta 4 is available now to all registered Apple developers via OTA (over the air update), which can be installed by visiting the Software Update section in the Settings app of devices that currently have iOS 7 installed. And it should post soon to the dev portal...

Hidden code in iOS 7 seemingly confirms iPhone with built-in fingerprint sensor

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

After a three week hiatus, Apple seeded the 4th beta of iOS 7 to developers this morning. The update brings about a number of UI changes and improvements, but no new features have been spotted yet—until now.

Developer Hamza Sood has discovered some hidden code within the beta that seemingly confirms the rumors that the next generation iPhone will feature a built-in fingerprint sensor...

iOS 7 Beta 4 offers screenshot detection API

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

iOS 7 Beta 2 brought with it an unintended consequence of messing up apps like Snapchat.

Specifically, as Snapchat requires a finger on the screen to hold the photo open while viewing it, the program would no longer close the photo viewing screen upon taking a screenshot.

Even worse, Snapchat couldn't actually detect that the user took a screenshot of a sent photo, possibly creating a huge privacy concern.

With today's release of iOS 7 Beta 4, Apple has introduced a brand new API to let third-party apps be notified when the user takes a screenshot, in order to respond accordingly...

Apple may post three more iOS 7 betas before Golden Master seed in September

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

Now that Apple's Dev Center is live again after an eight-day outage, the company is getting ready to release the fourth iOS 7 Beta later today, if prominent bloggers and Twitter are to be believed.

In fact, a bunch of inactive download links for iOS 7 Beta 4 seem to be already up ahead of the official release on the Dev Center.

And if you ask BGR, Apple will release just three more betas for developers before the Gold Master version is ready for prime time in early September...

New in iOS 7: smart ‘send from’ in Mail

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2013

Just a quick note regarding a nice little feature discovery in Apple's stock Mail app in iOS 7 that I haven't seen reported on thus far.

Prior to iOS 7, creating a new message in the stock Mail app would normally default to your 'send from' email address specified in the Settings app. iOS 7 has changed this behavior, for the better.

You see, Mail in iOS 7 is smart enough to over time learn who you're emailing and changes the 'send from' value accordingly to match the recipient's domain. I've included screenshots and the full description right after the break...

Tim Cook: iOS in the Car is a ‘key focus’ for the company

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2013

Apple held its quarterly earnings conference call this afternoon, for the June Quarter, where Tim Cook and his CFO Peter Oppenheimer shared financial information and other insights into the company's operations with analysts, shareholders and reporters.

During the Q&A portion of the call, Cook was asked about Apple's 'iOS in the Car' initiative. The feature, which allows users to interact with their iOS devices via an in-car display, was one of the few that Apple spotlighted during its WWDC keynote last month...