The operating system that powers the iPhone has undergone radical changes since Apple launched the device 10 years ago.
As part of Cult of Mac’s collaboration with Wired UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, we took a look at the evolution of iOS, from a simple touchscreen operating system lacking key features into a true computing behemoth with more tools than any one user could possibly need.
Updated 27 June, 2017: This post now includes details about the iOS 11 public beta.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote this June was so packed that even two-and-a-half hours didn’t seem like enough time. And yet the biggest announcement wasn’t new hardware, or a new app. It was an update.
Specifically, the iOS 11 update for the iPad, which turns Apple’s tablet from little more than a big iPhone into a full-featured touchscreen PC. In one go, Apple showed that it is still full-steam behind the iPad, and that a desktop-class touchscreen computer doesn’t have to actually run a desktop OS, like Microsoft’s Surface.
Can’t wait until the official release of iOS 11 to try out all the new features Apple revealed at WWDC 2017?
Good news: The first iOS 11 public beta is now available.
Revised beta builds of iOS 11 beta 2 and tvOS 11 beta 2 have been seeded to developers by Apple this morning, just five days after the previous versions of the betas were made available.
Along with the new updated betas for iOS 11 and tvOS 11, Apple also dropped a new Apple Watch beta in the form of watchOS 3.2.3 beta 4.
Sling TV’s awesome cloud DVR feature, which lets you record shows and movies to watch later, is finally available on iOS.
The service costs an extra $5 a month, for which you get 50 hours of storage, but there’s still no option to save your recordings offline.
Hot on the heels of Apple’s latest big batch of beta builds, the company has seeded two more updates to developers this morning, bringing new a bunch of bug fixes and performance improvements to iOS 10 and tvOS 10.
Developers received the second batch of beta builds today of the new software Apple unveiled earlier this month during its Worldwide Developers Conference.
Beta build 2 for iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, tvOS 11 and watchOS 4 got seeded to developers this afternoon, as well as a number of other tools and platforms that are available to download from Apple’s Developer Center.
Backing up your iOS devices can be a pain — but not if you have iMazing Mini, a smart yet simple new tool from DigiDNA that makes backups a breeze.
It not only gives you more control over your data, but it can perform backups wirelessly on a schedule that suits you. It also has a whole bunch of other awesome features, and it’s completely free — without any pesky ads.
In love with your new iPad Pro? You can thank Microsoft for that.
Microsoft executive Ryan Gavin claims Apple’s latest take on tablets wouldn’t have happened without the Surface Pro. It is a “clear example” that the company is following Microsoft’s move into ultraportable 2-in-1 machines.
We know you’re starting to come down off your WWDC high. To ease your transition, check out a rare offer on the latest Apple Watch, and the best price we’ve ever seen for an iPad mini 4. Find out where to snag these big bargains and more are in this week’s roundup of best Apple deals.
IBM is expanding its efforts to be the go-to company for mobile enterprise software by opening up new Garages that will serve as hubs for the quick design and deployment of MobileFirst apps.
Apple and IBM created the MobileFirst partnership three years ago as a way to push iPhone and iPads into the enterprise markets by coupling them with software built by IBM. With the expansion of new Garages, more international business will have access to the companies’ business tools.
Apple’s new ARKit tech could completely change the way we view the world, including when it comes to iPhone rumors.
Using the newly release ARKit framework Apple debuted at WWDC 2017, the folks at ConceptsiPhone have created a new video that brings the iPhone 8 into the real-world. What’s most impressive is ARKit’s ability to track the iPhone 8 concept, making it look like someone got heir hands on an early unit.
Check it out:
One of the best new iOS 11 features for iPad could soon make its way to the iPhone.
iOS 11 was unveiled one week ago at Apple’s WWDC 2017 keynote where the iPad got some much-needed productivity features like Drag and Drop. It appears that Apple may be testing bringing the feature to the iPhone as well. One clever developers dug into the first iOS 11 beta and discovered that Drag and Drop can be turned on for the iPhone too.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition is getting support for cross-platform multiplayer, giving iOS users the ability to team up with friends on other devices — including consoles.
The latest systems from Nintendo and Microsoft will be compatible, alongside computers running Windows 10, but Sony is yet to pledge support for its own hardware.
After developing some of the most iconic tech products of the last two decades, Apple’s design boss Jony Ive has some astonishingly low-tech ambitions when it comes to the future.
During a recent interview at a conference organized by the Norman Foster Foundation, Jony Ive gave a surprising answer when what futuristic product he would like to design next.
“A soap dispenser,” Ive replied.
This year’s WWDC keynote was an early Christmas for Apple fans. It delivered the big updates to iOS, macOS, and watchOS we were eagerly anticipating; a 10.5-inch iPad Pro; updated Macs with Intel Kaby Lake processors, plus nice surprises like the iMac Pro and HomePod.
But is this Apple back at its best, or do we need more out of Cupertino? Are fancy software updates enough to breathe new life into boring hardware? Is Apple’s new push into virtual reality and machine learning too little, too late?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over a bumper WWDC!
Despite removing its annual Design Awards show from the WWDC 2017 schedule last month, Apple still handed out awards for the best apps of the year at its developer conference and games were the biggest winners.
Apple brought drag and drop to the iPad with iOS 11, making it easier than ever to transfer content between multiple apps. It turns out the feature will also be available on the iPhone — but it won’t be anywhere near as good.
iOS 11 can prevent apps like Uber and Waze from using your location at all times.
Apple has added a new location option in the update that will rollout to everyone this fall, which only allows certain apps to access location data while they are open and active.
Talking to Siri can be a bit embarrassing when you’re in crowded public spaces, but with iOS 11, Apple is finally allowing users to submit questions to the digital assistant via text.
Apple didn’t mention the new feature during its WWDC 2017 keynote, however it’s already become one of our favorite additions in the new beta because it gives iPhone and iPad owners the closest thing yet to a command line.
To enable the feature, follow these steps:
Three of the new hardware products Apple unveiled today at WWDC 2017 won’t be available until then end of 2017, but thanks to a hands-on section Apple hosted to developers, you can already get an idea of what it’ll be like to use the new iPad Pro, iMac Pro and HomePod.
Press members have been busy playing with the new products all afternoon and the early impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Of course, some issues on the iMac Pro and HomePod may still need fixing before launch, but it sounds like fans will love them.
Developers just got an early preview of Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 update for iPhones and iPads today during the company’s WWDC 2017 keynote in San Jose.
The new update packs some huge new features that make iOS more powerful and easier-to-use than ever. Apple’s update is so jam packed that some of the best new additions didn’t even get some stage time at WWDC.
Apple just unveiled the 10.5-inch iPad Pro we’ve all been waiting for. It delivers a faster 120Hz display for smoother motion and enhanced Apple Pencil performance, but Apple’s latest A10X Fusion processor for the best performance on an iPad to date.
Developers received an early look at iOS 11 today, Apple’s next big update for iPhones and iPads that adds a host of new features and user-interface changes to make iOS devices better than ever.
“Today we’re going to take the world’s best and most advanced operating system and turn it up to 11,” said Tim Cook.
Apple’s 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference is set to kick off in just a few short hours, and rumors indicate we could be in for the iPhone-maker’s most action-packed keynote in years.
Not only is Apple expected to unveil iOS 11, macOS 10.13, tvOS 11 and watchOS 4, but today’s event could also showcase some fresh new hardware. Cult of Mac will be here to liveblog all the festivities with up-to-the-minute analysis on all the new software, hardware and more.
Tim Cook and company take the stage today at 10 a.m. Pacific in San Jose, California, but we’ll be kicking off the fun a little early. Come join the action!