iOS

Apple patent turns iPhone into smart home remote

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 27, 2013

The introduction of numerous media devices - from your television to DVD player and stereo - coupled with the growth of smart homes would seem to cry out for Apple-like simplification. It just so happens, there is a patent for that. Apple has patented a way to control your home media collection right from your iPhone.

The patent, filed a half-decade ago by the creator of the iTunes Remote app, uses "scenes" to adjust your home multimedia to fit settings like "Romantic Movie Night", "Dinner," or simply "Relax."...

iOS 7 general availability pegged for September 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2013

We've suspected for some time Apple will be holding its big iPhone event on September 10, with sources claiming a Gold Master iOS 7 build for developers will get released that same day. That's Apple's standard modus operandi as past Gold Master (GM) builds were seeded to the company's registered developers either at WWDC or at iPhone press conferences.

Alleged email communication Siri partner Nuance sent to devs now indicates iOS 7 GA will also be released the same day, on September 10. GA? GM?

There are some caveats here...

Apple and Samsung responsible for 55 percent jump in mobile display profits

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 26, 2013

When Apple or Samsung score a win, leading the cheering section may be all the parts manufacturers building components for the popular smartphones. A case in point: mobile display manufacturers, who saw a 55 percent jump in profits between 2012 and 2013.

Increased demand for iPhone and Galaxy handsets meant revenue of $33.3 billion for the mobile display device industry in 2013, according to researcher NPD Display Search. The two handset makers are also driving demand for more complex mobile device technology, including AMOLED screens predominantly used on Samsung devices and TFT LCDs found on iOS devices...

Apple updates Find My Friends and Find My iPhone ahead of iOS 7 release

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 22, 2013

With less than three weeks left until Apple's big Fall reveal, the company has started updating some of its own apps on the App Store to bring them more in line with the all-new iOS 7 look.

Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps have both been updated with bug fixes and stability improvements, but no new features have been added and the design remained unchanged.

Find My iPhone is particularly interesting. Not only has the update broken the app for non-developers, but the software now comes with a brand new flattened icon which essentially mimics its counterpart on the recently revamped iCloud Beta website. More findings right below...

Seventh and final iOS 7 Beta could land today

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

The seventh and final beta of Apple's forthcoming iOS 7 mobile operating system could be seeded to developers later today, BGR reported Monday morning. Though the tech blog has a fairly accurate track record in terms of iOS 7 beta dates, it's worth pointing out BGR last week said Apple would release iOS 7 Beta 6 this week.

Just a few hours following that prediction Apple spoiled BGR's party be seeding iOS 7 Beta 6 to developers. Here's to hoping the final iOS 7 beta lands today. Otherwise, this could be the last time I write about BGR's predictions...

Apple reportedly releasing iOS 7 Gold Master on September 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

Apple is shooting to release a Gold Master build of iOS 7 to developers by September 10, if BGR is to be trusted. Gold Master refers to a final version of software that's ready for release to manufacturing - it's usually the same build as the version that comes factory preloaded on latest devices.

The publication reports that Apple will make a final Gold Master build available to its employees and carrier partners five days early, on September 5. More tidbits right below...

iCloud Beta revamped with iOS 7 style design, here’s your gallery

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2013

Apple's streamlining, redesigning and flattening efforts go beyond iOS 7 or Jonny Ive's title. Today, the company has issued a major revamp to its iCloud.com Beta website. The enhanced experience focuses on an all-new yet familiar look which takes more than a few clues from iOS 7, to put it mildly.

But rather than draw snippets of inspiration from the forthcoming iOS 7 refresh, Apple has taken it upon itself to actually recreate the complete iOS 7 look and feel, right in your web browser and down to the flattened icons, minimalistic look and light fonts.

I've taken a bunch of screenshots so do check out the full gallery right below...

Facebook testing new VIP app to boost celebrity engagement

Cody Lee ∙ August 13, 2013

Facebook is working on a new mobile app, but you probably won't be able to use it. That is, unless you happen to be a Hollywood A-lister or a high-profile professional athlete. That's because the app is for VIPs only, or very important people.

The project is Facebook's latest attempt to entice famous people to share more stuff on their site—a move which is part of an even larger plan to compete more directly with Twitter for the attention of celebrities and their legions of followers...

A closer look at Frequent Locations in iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 8, 2013

Apple's iOS 7 upgrade, when it lands this Fall, will allow users to opt-in to mapping where they've been since installing the software, how many times and for how long. The Frequent Locations feature, which first appeared in iOS 7 Beta, is found in Settings. When enabled, it permits iOS devices to use GPS coordinates of the places you frequently visit, Apple explains.

The opt-in, consumer-facing feature is provided for the purposes of improving Maps (and other location-based products and services), providing useful location-related information and letting you check out a handy map history of the places you've visited. Here's what you need to know about Frequent Locations in iOS 7...

IDC: Apple’s smartphone OS share falls while consumers wait for new iPhones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

The long wait before Apple introduces new iPhone models is causing its iOS smartphone platform to lose marketshare to Android. The iPhone's iOS slipped to 13.2 percent of the smartphone market, a drop from 16.6 percent during the same period in 2012.

Meanwhile, Android's lock on the smartphone market grew tighter, nearing 80 percent as Samsung and a bevy of Chinese brands boosted the Google-made software. Despite the small drop, No. 2 iOS is expected to regain its lost turf when Apple unveils new products in September, according to market research firm IDC...

Poll finds most users actually prefer the look of iOS 7 over iOS 6

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

The responses to the radical user-facing changes Apple has made in iOS 7 have been a mixed bag thus far. While some users welcome the new designs and like the way the software looks, others dislike the update so much they say it could kickstart Apple's downfall.

But it looks like the voices in the latter camp are just the loudest, and don't necessarily represent the majority. Because according to this online poll conducted by Input Factory's Polar platform, most folks actually prefer the overall UI design of iOS 7 to that of iOS 6...

New iOS vulnerability lets malware slip through

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2016

Apple's iOS is generally considered the most reliable and secure mobile platform out there so little wonder that iPhones and iPads are the gadgets of choice of mobile workers everywhere. Despite its Unix underpinnings, iOS of course isn't bullet-proof - no software is. But unlike Google's malware-infested Android, you don't hear every day about an iOS weakness so fatal it opens the door to malware.

Unfortunately, today is precisely that day as researchers from the Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC) publish details about a newly discovered iOS vulnerability that allows malware installation via seemingly innocuous apps.

The weakness circumvents Apple’s security measures and paves the way to "significant security threats to the iOS platform." We're expecting a swift response on Apple's part and a fix via a future update...