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iOS 12

The Snow Leopard release for iOS

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Dubbed the Snow Leopard release, iOS 12 focuses on performance and squashing bugs among other features. The current public version is iOS 12.2

What’s new?

Apple has reportedly shelved may major features that was originally slated for this release, such as a redesigned Home screen for the iPhone X, and major updates to Mail. Instead, the update will feature augmented reality improvements, health features and improved parental controls.

The focus on stability instead of packing tons of new features is mainly due to the bugginess and endless issues Apple has been trying to deal with on its platforms as of late. Despite this, Apple is reportedly still on schedule to unify iOS and macOS apps.

The release is similar to OS X’s Snow Leopard on the Mac, as the main focus of that release was also stability and performance enhancements. To this day, many customers still consider Snow Leopard as Apple’s best operating system for having rock solid performance without much bugs.

Apple Watch app icon upgraded from original model to Series 4 in iOS 12.1.1

iOS 12.1.1

iOS 12.1.1 sounds like a small point release for bug fixes and performance improvements, but the upcoming software update is shaping up to be a bit more interesting than just behind-the-scenes maintenance. FaceTime has two notable improvements to changes made in iOS 12 and iOS 12.1 as we discovered yesterday, and now the Watch app for managing paired Apple Watches is getting a generational upgrade.


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FaceTime Live Photos returns in iOS 12.1.1, flip camera UI improved

In iOS 12.1.1, currently in beta, Apple has restored the FaceTime Live Photo capture feature that was removed in iOS 12.0. They have also dramatically improved the FaceTime UI, bringing mute and flip camera actions to the main view — no longer hidden in the submenu.

The Live Photos feature returns, but both devices must be updated to use it. The expanded card view in FaceTime has also been improved. More screenshots below …


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iOS 12.1.1, tvOS 12.1.1, and macOS 10.14.2 beta 1 now available to developers

iOS 12.1

UPDATE: Apple has pulled the initial macOS 10.14.2 beta. At this point in time, it’s unclear as to why it has been pulled.

UPDATE 2: iOS 12.1.1 and tvOS 12.1.1 is now available to public beta testers.

UPDATE 3: macOS 10.14.2 beta 1 is now available to both developers and public beta testers.

Hot off the heels of the public releases for iOS 12.1, tvOS 12.1, and macOS 10.14.1, Apple is today pushing out its first beta for iOS 12.1.1, tvOS 12.1.1, and macOS 10.14.2 for developers.


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Apple releasing iOS 12.1 tomorrow with Group FaceTime, new emoji, more

iOS 12.1 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch will be available tomorrow as a free software update. The first significant update to iOS 12 brings a variety of features including Group FaceTime, dual SIM support, real time Depth Control for Portrait mode, new emoji, and more. iOS 12.1 is also expected to address the “beauty-gate” issue that affected the front-facing camera on iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.


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Apple publishes full iOS 12.1 iPhone user guide, confirming Group FaceTime, dual-SIM & more

iPhone user guide

When you buy an Apple product, one of the things it doesn’t come with in the box is a full user manual. To get a full manual, you have to go to Apple’s support website or look for its iPhone user guide on Apple Books.

Today, Apple has just made available an updated version of its iPhone User Guide, including new features from iOS 12.1. The user guide can be obtained for free on the Apple Books Store.


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Apple officially says iOS 12 is now in use on 50% of all iPhones and iPads

Mixpanel reported that Apple had crossed the magic 50% milestone for iOS 12 at the weekend, and now Apple has released its first usage numbers which are based off visits to the App Store.

Apple says 50% of all devices are running iOS 12, and 53% of devices introduced within the last four years. This four-year time span metric is new, and it means that it only counts devices launched since September 2014 (iPhone 6 and later).


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Three US universities now let students use iPhone and Apple Watch as their campus ID card

From today, Apple is announcing the first partners for its new contactless ID card features introduced in iOS 12 and watchOS 5. Students at Duke University, University of Alabama and University of Oklahoma, can now add their ID card to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

By using contactless NFC readers, students can use their digital ID card to access dorms, dining halls, library and the gym. You can also use it to pay for bookstore supplies, laundry usage and restaurant meals.


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Greg Joswiak talks iOS 12 Screen Time feature, touts iOS update rate compared to Android

screen time iOS 12

On the heels of iOS 12’s public release last month, Apple’s Greg Joswiak sat down recently with Arianna Huffington to talk about the update’s new Screen Time feature. During the interview, Joswiak explains that the goal of Screen Time is to give users access to more data on their smartphone use that will allow them to change their behavior.


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Kids quickly find two workarounds to parent-imposed Screen Time restrictions in iOS 12

One of iOS 12‘s headline features is Screen Time, which allows iPhone owners to limit the amount of time they spend using their devices on an app-by-app basis.

Of particular interest to parents was the ability to impose restrictions on their children – but it hasn’t taken long for kids to figure out how to bypass the limits …


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