iOS

Apple seeds iOS 8.3 beta 3 to developers

Following the public release of iOS 8.2 earlier this week with Apple Watch support, Apple is continuing development of iOS 8.3 by seeding the third beta on Thursday.

Developers registered with Apple can download the beta over-the-air on their iPhone or iPad or from the Developer Center. Apple says the update "contains bug fixes and improvements," but there's also new features. 

Apple issues updates for OS X, iOS and Apple TV to address ‘FREAK’ attack

Apple on Monday issued a security update for OS X to address a handful of vulnerabilities, including the high profile SSL flaw known as "FREAK." Spotlighted last week, the bug allows would-be attackers to spy on communications made through Safari.

More specifically, FREAK stands for Factoring RSA Export Keys, and it affects certain embodiments of web encryption technologies SSL and TLS. If used maliciously, the flaw could leave systems open to what are known as man-in-the-middle attacks.

Apple releases iOS 8.2 with Apple Watch support

Following its media event on Monday, Apple has launched the latest version of iOS -- none other than iOS 8.2. The software can be downloaded over-the-air from your iOS device or from iTunes.

The new software most notably brings compatibility for the Apple Watch and updates to the Health app.  

iOS 8.2 arriving Monday, here are full release notes

Backtracking on its previous report which claimed iOS 8.2 would be released for public consumption this week, BGR is now claiming that the software will be released to the public next week.

According to BGR founder and editor Jonathan Geller, Apple's decided to release one more Gold Master (GM) version crying a build number of 12D508 to employees and testers ahead of an expected launch this coming Monday.

Jump past the fold for full release notes.

Apple confirms ‘FREAK Attack’ patch for iOS and OS X due next week

A new exploit dubbed ‘FREAK Attack’ — which stands for “Factoring attack on RSA-EXPORT Keys” — that takes advantage of a security flaw dating back to the 1990s will be patched soon by Apple.

As we speak, the iPhone maker is readying a fix in iOS and OS X that will be available in software updates next week, a spokesperson for the Cupertino firm told iMore.

Plagued by this security flaw, users of Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices are at risk when visiting vulnerable websites that downgrade a secure HTTPS connection to a weaker encryption method.

Poll: do you use Reduce Motion feature in iOS?

Soon after Apple thoroughly revamped its mobile operating system back in September 2013, power users started to complain about iOS's sleek visual effects standing in the way of usability. The main point of contention for many people seemed to be whether or not iOS ignores user input while the animation is running, resulting in the seemingly slower navigation.

Another common complaint was that those dizzying slam-cuts affected people with motion sickness. Addressing both complaints, Apple's made it possible to disable motion by flipping the Reduce Motion switch to ON in Settings > Accessibility > Reduce Motion.

Today's poll seeks to determine whether you navigate your iOS devices with full UI animations, as enabled by default, or with reduced motion effects in order to make the operating system seem more responsive.

iOS 8 adoption rate edges toward 75 percent

Based on Apple's official data shared at its portal for developers, iOS 8 is now running on 75 percent of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, as measured by the App Store on March 3, 2015, good for a two percentage-point increase.

Two weeks ago, Apple's mobile operating system was adopted by 73 percent of active device owners, representing a tiny one percentage point increase from the 72 percent mark recorded a month ago.

Google allegedly working on an iPhone app that’ll bring iOS compatibility to Android Wear

Google is ostensibly working on an iPhone app that will bring iOS compatibility to all Android Wear-driven smartwatches on the market. Google's Android-powered software platform for wearable devices launched a year ago without official support for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac devices. Word of a possible solution came Tuesday via 01Net and was passed along to us by French blog iPhon.fr.

Whichever way you look at it, making Android Wear compatible with the iPhone could help extend the market for Android-driven wearable devices to include Apple users, too.

About 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped in 2014, according to Canalys, the research firm. Various analysts estimate Apple's Watch could sell about ten or more million devices in 2015.

How about an app for 3D printing your selfies?

If you ever wanted a 3D printed selfie, there’ll soon be an app for that. Developer Dacuda has teamed up with Stockholm, Sweden based Volumental on the world's first mobile application for easily creating printable 3D selfies.

The software works by capturing a video of one's face on a tablet and is being shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, CNBC reported last weekend.

BGR: iOS 8.2 launching next Monday

Apple is shooting to release iOS 8.2 for public consumption next Monday, March 2, 2015, “or the following week at the absolute latest,” according to BGR editor Jonathan Geller who spoke to sources in the know.

March 2 is a Monday, an unusual day for an iOS software update, but so is March 9 when Apple's “Spring Forward” media event is due, at which it's expected to talk Apple Watch specifics.

Moreover, as many as four betas of iOS 8.3 could be issued before that software update is ready for public release, the BGR founder and editor has learned. He mentioned earlier in the month that iOS 8.2 would be arriving some time in March, but didn't provide a timeframe.

iOS activation in enterprise jumps to 73 percent, increasing Apple’s lead over Android

Thanks in no small part to strong sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, Apple has been able to extend its enterprise lead over Android during the fourth quarter of last year.

According to the new Mobility Index Report data (PDF download) by research firm Good Technology, iOS activations in the enterprise market jumped from 69 percent in the third quarter of last year to 73 percent during the last three months of 2014, while Android activations fell from 29 percent to 25 percent.