iOS

New in iOS 7: dynamic and panoramic wallpapers

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

Good news for those who love to personalize their iPhone with the photos depicting their significant other, kids, dogs, kittens and what have you: with iOS 7 Apple has gone beyond adding a bunch of new wallpapers, having implemented cool new enhancements to really bring those wallpapers to life.

Taking a page from Google's Android (obviously), iOS 7 includes dynamically animated wallpapers created by Apple's design team. Not only that, the operating system lets you set any panoramic image from your Camera Roll as your Lock/Home screen background for a jaw-dropping effect. But wait, there's more...

Apple replaces Google with Yandex on Safari in iOS 7 in several countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

When Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue during yesterday's keynote said that Siri in iOS 7 will integrate Bing web search results, everyone went silent. While Google is still the default search engine in Safari, Apple will pre-install the Yandex search engine in Russia and several other countries, a Russian newspaper reported Tuesday. The development could signal Apple's intention to gradually distance itself from Google search...

Icon comparison: iOS 6 vs iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

Apple's new look and feel in iOS 7 is certainly polarizing, that much is clear. While approximately half of those who took part in our informal iOS 7 makeover poll said they loved the new design, nearly a third think the new interface will take some time getting used to. While the vast majority seem to support the facelift, a lot of people have taken issue with the new iOS 7 icons.

Complaints range from the icons being too colourful and out of place to being completely different from each other to resembling a terrible Photoshop job by a 14-yer-old. We'll let you be the judge: here's a side-by-side comparison of iOS 6 vs iOS 7 icons...

Outspoken Apple analyst calls iOS 7 changes most important in iPhone history

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 11, 2013

Love it or hate it, Apple's newly-unveiled iOS 7 will breathe new life into the aging iPhone, argued one analyst late Monday. Unlike hardware changes which have a short lifetime in terms of public curiosity, phone software updates are mesmerizing.

In a note to investors, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster writes that the changes within iOS 7 will spark renewed interest in the iPhone, which some felt was being overshadowed by its Android rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4...

Watch this now: Apple design philosophy

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

Yesterday, we highlighted Apple's mission-statement ad that deals with its famous signature, 'Designed by Apple in California'.

Today, the company has made WWDC commercials available on its YouTube page, among them a minute and 30 seconds long clip.

The video is titled 'Designed by Apple - Intention' and Apple used it to open the WWDC keynote. In it, the company explains how it goes about designing its products so it's definitely worth a watch from start to finish...

New in iOS 7: call blocking

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

Now that registered iOS developers have had a chance to install the first beta of iOS 7, lots of tidbits not covered during the keynote are trickling in now. Cody already told you about 24 iOS 7 features Apple didn't talk about and Jeff explained how the new Clock app displays current time on its icon.

Another way overdue but nonetheless very welcomed feature is the ability to block phone calls from a specific person...

Poll: do you like iOS 7 face-lift?

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 10, 2013

With the first iOS 7 beta now available to Apple's registered developers, Twitter is on fire with both praises and complaints from those who have downloaded and installed the software to their devices. At first blush, a lot of people seem to dislike the redesigned home screen icons - and I bet some folks will actually miss skeuomorphism in iOS 7.

Those who do love the new iOS 7 look tend to be equally passionate about the subject. We knew changes in iOS 7 would be polarizing and I'm still bipolar about it.

That being said, today we're asking you to participate in our little non-scientific poll and vote on the subject of iOS 7 redesign. Please disregard iOS 7 features, this poll is strictly focused on finding out whether or not iOS 7 is aesthetically pleasing to your eye...

Watch the iOS 7 intro video here

Cody Lee ∙ June 10, 2013

About halfway through Apple's keynote today, Craig Federighi brought Tim Cook back up onstage for one of the biggest reveals in the company's history. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for: the preview of Apple's biggest iOS refresh to date, iOS 7.

Rather than jump right into listing new features and improvements, Apple chose to introduce the new software with a hardware-like introduction video featuring Jony Ive talking against a white background. And in case you missed it, Apple just posted it online...

Apple announces iTunes Radio, coming this Fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 10, 2013

Ending months of speculation, Apple here at WWDC talked about its Pandora-like service, dubbed by the press iRadio. The company is actually calling it iTunes Radio and pitches it as a free Internet radio service that features over 200 stations and “an incredible catalog of music” from the iTunes Store. Built right into a redesigned Music app in iOS 7, iTunes Radio streams music for free, in exchange for ads.

The new service also gives you access to “first listen” premieres from top selling artists and other exclusives. Tim Cook called it "the best way to discover new music." Here's your fine print...

iOS 7 availability and the devices that will be supported

Sébastien Page ∙ June 10, 2013

Although the beta version of iOS 7 is already available to registered developers, it was announced today that the public version won't be available until this Fall, presumably around the same time the new iPhone will be released.

The question that might come to your mind is "will my device be supported?" Chances are it will...

iOS 7 simplifies file sharing with AirDrop

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 10, 2013

In addition to Control Center, a new iOS 7 feature which puts often used Settings toggled just a swipe away anywhere in the system, Apple has also made it easier to send your files and documents to other iOS devices and Macs with AirDrop. As you know, Apple launched AirDrop on Macs with OS X Lion.

AirDrop talks to devices directly over Wi-Fi, without the need for an Internet connection or having to join a Wi-Fi network. In fact, the system is hassle-free in that you don't need to configure anything - it just works...

iOS 7 brings brand new Control Center with toggles

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 10, 2013

Now that Apple has formally announced a Jony Ive-ified iOS 7 ("it's like having a new phone, but one you already know how to use," said Tim Cook), executives here on stage at San Francisco's Moscone West are telegraphing the key features of iOS 7. One of such handy additions is an all-new Control Center. So, what does it do?