iOS & iPhone News « iOS & iPhone

News: The Top 10 New Features in iOS 12's Messages App for iPhone

Sometimes incorrectly referred to as "iMessage," the Messages app is where iPhone owners go to chat with iOS users across the world. Apple has made some significant improvements to the messaging app with its forthcoming iOS 12 update. If you're interested to see how your Messages experience is about to change come September, check out the features below.

News: iOS 12 Public Beta 6 Released to Apple Software Testers

Crisis averted — Apple released iOS 12 public beta 6 — not public beta 7 — to software testers Wednesday, August 15. The update comes hours after the release of dev beta 8, which replaced the short-lived seventh developer beta. Apple released dev beta 7 Monday, August 13, but quickly pulled the update due to instability and poor performance.

News: iOS 12 Beta 8 Released to Apple Developers

Apple developers, check your iPhones — Apple released the eighth developer beta for iOS 12 Wednesday, August 15. This update arrives just two days after the release of dev beta 7, which Apple quickly pulled after complaints of unusual performance and stability issues.

News: Get Ready to Start Paying More for Your iPhone Apps

Look, we all like getting things for free. That's why we can stomach things like advertisements and optional purchases in freemium apps and games — we're willing to pay for our mobile experiences in every way but currency. Although freemium seems to be the model for the future of iPhone entertainment, it looks like a different scheme might win out in the end.

News: Group FaceTime Isn't Coming with iOS 12 After All

One of iOS 12's biggest draws is group FaceTime — video chatting with up to 32 people was quite the pitch, and one that many iOS users are excited to see in action. Unfortunately, Apple has confirmed group FaceTime won't be included with iOS 12 when it launches, leaving users to chat one-on-one a little longer.

News: iOS 12 Developer Beta 7 Released, Then Quickly Pulled After Reports of Bugs

We're nearly there — Apple released the seventh iOS 12 beta to developers Monday, August 13. While not totally unexpected, beta testers understand the struggle of predicting the next update, as Apple has switched haphazardly between two-week, one-week, and irregular release schedules for both the developer and public betas.

News: Top 6 New Safari Features in iOS 12 for iPhone

If there's one strength of Apple's that iOS and Android fans can agree on, it's the company's dedication to user privacy. With each new iteration of iOS, Apple builds upon these foundations, enhancing and increasing each iPhone's ability to protect its user's data. In iOS 12, Apple is adding six cool new features to Safari, each with its own unique way of keeping you safe online.

News: iOS 12 Public Beta 5 Released to iPhone Software Testers

Well, that was unexpected. Apple released the fifth iteration of the iOS 12 public beta on Monday, August 6, just hours after iOS 12 developer beta 6. The company sometimes releases developer and public betas on the same date, sometimes even at the same time, but has not done so during iOS 12's beta period until now.

News: iOS 12 Beta 6 for iPhones Released to Apple Developers

For the second time in a row, Apple pushed out a new iOS 12 developer beta on a Monday, and for the first time this round, they've done it only one week after the last one. While the August 6 release of iOS 12 developer beta 6 doesn't contain a wealth of updates, there are still a few things you'll want to know about.

News: If You Use Snapchat, Don't Jailbreak Your iPhone

Recently, a user on Reddit complained that their Snapchat account had been temporarily banned because Snapchat noticed the user's account was going through a third-party service. In reality, the account in question was running on a jailbroken iPhone, and it was far from the first to be banned by the messaging app.

News: iOS 12 Public Beta 4 Released for iPhone Software Testers

Apple released the fourth public beta for iOS 12 to public beta testers on Tuesday, July 31, just one day after the company seeded the fifth developer beta to eligible users. Both releases are surprising, as Apple had appeared to stick to a two-week release schedule for the iOS 12 beta season, and these updates both came one day earlier than expected.

News: iOS 12 Beta 5 for iPhones Released to Apple Developers

Apple released the fifth developer beta for iOS 12 on Monday, July 30, only 13 days after the release of dev beta 4 and 12 days after public beta 3. Until this release, Apple kept a consistent two-week schedule for developer beta updates, so we were a little surprised to see this one drop one day early.

News: Want to Jailbreak? If You're Running iOS 11.4, Do Not Upgrade to 11.4.1

In the tech world, upgrades are normally a good thing. On iOS, it means bug fixes and security patches that protect your iPhone and keep it up with the times. In the jailbreak world, however, upgrades can mean certain death, as we are reminded today when Apple stopped signing iOS 11.4. That means if you upgrade to 11.4.1, you will no longer be able to jailbreak your iPhone.

News: iOS 12 Public Beta 3 Released for iPhone Software Testers

The updates just keep on coming. Apple released the third beta for iOS 12 to public testers Wednesday, July 18, just after seeding the fourth iOS 12 developer beta to registered developers the previous day. This update comes thirteen days after the release of the second public beta, which itself came hot on the heels of the third developer beta.

News: Fortnite Finally Fixed on the iOS 12 Beta for iPhones

While devices as old as the iPhone 5s have been treated quite well by iOS 12, the same cannot be said for Fortnite. The smash hit has had a rocky run on the latest iOS betas, with a known crashing issue featured on each beta update's release notes. That changes with developer beta 4, as Apple confirms Fortnite is fixed.

News: iOS 12 Beta 4 for iPhone Released to Developers

As the official release of iOS 12 nears closer each day, Apple continues to update its betas. The company released the fourth beta of the upcoming software to developers Tuesday, July 17, exactly two weeks after the release of the third developer beta which came out just a few days before the second public beta.

News: iOS 12's Shortcuts App Looks Set to Replace Apple's Workflow for Good

Apple's testing a new app for iOS 12 called Shortcuts, and it has a lot of overlap with their existing Workflow app. So much overlap, in fact, that we can't see Workflow sticking around for much longer.

Just Released: iOS 11.4.1 for iPhones Includes More Secure USB Restricted Mode, Bug Fixes & Improvements

After about 40 days of beta testing, Apple pushed out iOS 11.4.1 to everyone as a stable build on Monday, July 9, exactly one week after the final beta appeared.

Released: iOS 12 Dev Beta 3 (Public Beta 2), Includes Improved Maps, Bug Fixes & Security Patches

Apple released the third beta of iOS 12 for developers on Tuesday, July 3. The update comes exactly two weeks after the release of the second developer beta, which introduced a variety of fixes as well as new issues, and just one week after the release of the public beta. Public beta testers received this iOS 12 update on Thursday, July 5, labeled as public beta 2.

News: Apple's Rumored Switch to USB Type-C Chargers for iPhones Will Screw Over Some Users

The rumors are still hot that Apple might include an 18-watt USB Type-C power adapter with the upcoming iPhone lineup so that there's fast-charging capability right out of the box. Leaked photos have surfaced that substantiate this rumor, though, they could also be fake. But how would ditching the old-style 5-watt USB Type-A power cube affect you if it's true?

News: iOS 11.4.1 Beta 5 Released for iPhones, Still Only Has 'Bug Fixes' & Unknown Improvements

Apple has been testing iOS 11.4.1 for just over a month now, and so far, there's nothing to show for it except unknown "bug fixes" and under-the-hood "improvements." And that still rings true with the release of iOS 11.4.1 beta 5 on Monday, July 2, which comes exactly one week after beta 4. Now the question is, when will the stable update be pushed out to everyone?

News: iOS 12 Is Now Open for Public Beta Testers, Here's How to Install It on Your iPhone Right Now

Hours after iOS 11.4.1 beta 4 was released on Monday, June 25, Apple's webpage for its public beta software programs was unavailable because of an "update." Sure enough, that meant the public beta for iOS 12 was being prepped to drop shortly thereafter, which is exactly what happened. In other words, you can now install iOS 12 on your iPhone without a developer account!

News: iOS 11.4.1 Beta 4 Released for iPhones, Includes Only 'Bug Fixes' & Unknown Improvements

Apple's on a roll with once-every-week releases for the iOS 11.4.1 beta. Exactly seven days after beta 3 came out, beta 4 has been pushed out to developers and public beta testers on Monday, June 25. Just like before, there are no new features or any known enhancements or bug fixes. Apple confirmed that iOS 11.4.1 is for under-the-hood improvements only, since iOS 12 beta is already out.

News: 9 Ways iOS 12 Makes the iPhone X Even Better

While there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to iOS 12 in general, iPhone X users will not just get the same new features and tweaks that all other iPhones will get — they'll get a few unique ones that will make the device even more desirable to those who don't have one yet.

News: iOS 12 Dev Beta 2 & Public Beta 1 Hit iPhones

Right on the heels of the iOS 11.4.1 beta 3 release, Apple pushed out iOS 12 beta 2 to registered developers on Tuesday, June 19. Public beta testers received the same version, labeled as iOS 12 public beta 1, six days later on Monday, June 25. Last year, the iOS 11 public beta opened up just five days after the release of iOS 11 developer beta 2, so iOS 12 is pretty much right on track in that regard.

News: iOS 11.4.1 Beta 3 Released for iPhones, Still Focusing on Unknown Improvements

Another beta for iOS 11.4.1 was released on Monday, June 18, exactly one week after iOS 11.4.1 beta 2 was pushed out. Like the second beta, iOS 11.4.1 beta 3 has no new features or any known enhancements or bug fixes. It's likely Apple is simply using iOS 11.4.1 to add under-the-hood improvements only, since iOS 12 beta is already out.

News: Here's How Apple's Stopping Police from Breaking into iPhones

Since the San Bernardino shooting in 2014, Apple's been engaged in a game of cat and mouse with law enforcement. Authorities want access to evidence on criminals' iPhones, but Apple wants to protect all of its customers' personal data equally. The latest installment in this saga has Apple outright disabling the Lightning port.

Caution: Here's All the Apps That Are Buggy or Broken on iOS 12 Beta for iPhone

The iOS 12 beta has already earned admiration for its superior performance to last year's controversially buggy iOS 11. That doesn't mean it's free from problems, however. The latest from Apple has plenty of bugs and glitches of its own to contend with, many of which, unfortunately, affect the apps we use every day.

News: iOS 11.4.1 Beta 2 Released for iPhones with No Real Bug Fixes or Improvements

Apple released the second beta for iOS 11.4.1 on Monday, June 11. The company seeded the update 12 days after the release of the first 11.4.1 beta on May 30. The initial beta brought no new features to iOS 11, just bug fixes and stability updates, and beta 2 appears to be the same case.

News: The One Thing That Sucks About iOS 12's New Snapchat-Like Camera Effects for iPhone

During their iOS 12 presentation at WWDC 2018, Apple showed off new, Snapchat-like effects and stickers for photos and videos in Messages. While these new options are fun, they're missing something that takes away from the appeal, especially since Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and similar apps already let you do it.

News: 27 iOS 12 Privacy & Security Settings You Should Check Right Now

With all of the personal information it contains, Apple added plenty of security measures to your iPhone protect you and your device from unwanted access. iOS 12 has several changes to help keep your device even more secure and private, and it built on previous improvements to ensure your data stays safe.

News: 24 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Install iOS 12 Beta on Your iPhone

This year's big iPhone update, iOS 12, aims to solve many of the issues that arose during iOS 11's controversial, buggy tenure. With that in mind, it may be tempting to jump on board the new software immediately and leave iOS 11 in the dust for good. Here are some reasons why you might want to reconsider joining the iOS 12 beta.

News: Apple Just Broke Its Update Cycle Record with iOS 12 on the iPhone 5S

With each year that we anxiously await Apple's next big version of iOS, there comes the sad reality that the eldest iPhones will not continue to receive support. That's not the case with iOS 12, however, as the software will be compatible with all iPhones currently running iOS 11, going back as far as the iPhone 5S.

News: 55 Cool New iOS 12 Features You Didn't Know About

The next big iOS version for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch was revealed by Apple at WWDC 2018. While they showed off a few new features iOS 12 has to offer, there is much more lurking beneath the surface, some of which is hidden from plain sight. We've rounded up all the big picture items and secrets features and changes we could find so you know exactly what to expect when iOS 12 hits the masses.

News: The 10 Best Soft-Launched iPhone Games Out Right Now [June 2018]

If you're looking for your gaming fix and nothing on the App Store is piquing your interest, you should give soft-launched games a try. These are games that haven't been released in the US yet because they're getting tested in smaller markets first. Using a simple workaround, you can install them on your iPhone in any country.

News: iOS 11.4.1 Beta Released for iPhones, Includes 'Bug Fixes & Improvements' Only

Apple released iOS 11.4.1 beta 1 to developers on Wednesday, May 30, just one day after the official release of iOS 11.4, which brought Messages in iCloud and AirPlay 2 to the public for the first time. There does not appear to be any new features in this first iOS 11.4.1 beta, instead focusing on "bug fixes and improvements" only.

News: 'Messages in iCloud' Finally Available for Macs, Not Just iOS Devices

Apple pushed out iOS 11.4 on May 29 to iPads and iPhones, which included the long-awaited Messages in iCloud feature. The company did not release macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 at the same time, limiting the usefulness of being able to sync messages in the cloud since 10.13.4 is not compatible with Messages in iCloud. But three days later, Apple finally released macOS 10.13.5.

News: iOS 11.4 Released to Everyone, Includes AirPlay 2, Messages in iCloud, New Wallpaper & More

After six betas, iOS 11.4 was officially released to everyone with a compatible iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. Some features are ones that Apple promised over eight months ago when iOS 11 was first pushed out. This update makes sense since iOS 12 will be announced at WWDC on June 4, and you can't announce a new version like that without first delivering on promises made for the one before it.

Wish List: 21+ Features iOS 12 Should Definitely Have for iPhones

Apple's next big developer event happened on June 4, and it was the first glimpse of iOS 12 that anyone's seen. While there were lots of rumored features to be unveiled at WWDC 2018, Apple concentrated mostly on squashing bugs and making iOS work as seamless as it did years ago. Still, we had hoped that Apple would have added these features in iOS 12, but only a few made the cut.

News: iOS 11.4 Beta 6 Released, Includes Fix for 'Black Dot' Bug & Under-the-Hood Patches

Talk about rapid-fire. Apple released the sixth beta for iOS 11.4 on Thursday, May 17. The update comes just three days after the release of iOS 11.4 beta 5, indicating that Apple is readily approaching the official release of the software. Apple has not issued an official iOS update since 11.3.1, which found its way to users over three weeks ago.