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iOS 13

212 'iOS 13' stories December 2018 - October 2019
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iOS 13 public beta

iOS 13 Features

During its WWDC 2019 keynote, Apple officially unveiled iOS 13 for iPhone. While we had a good idea of what to expect, Apple still offered some surprises. There’s a new swipe-style keyboard called QuickPath, the Photos app has received notable new features and changes with smart clutter reduction software, a new editing experience, and a new “Photos” tab, while Siri Shortcuts has become more capable with new multi-step and suggested automations. The update also brings a new Siri feature that allows users to instantly reply to messages.

As for one of the most anticipated features, the system-wide Dark Mode has officially arrived on iOS. Apple showed off the new dark theme with the tagline “iOS now lives in the dark.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Jg4Wm9b7o

Many other improvements and changes coming this fall include a redesigned share sheet, app downloads are 50% smaller, 2x faster app launch speed, Memoji Stickers and Memoji Makeup, HomeKit-enabled routers and HomeKit Secure Video, a new “Sign in with Apple” option for logging into third-party services, all-new Apple Maps, and much more.

If you want to go in depth on some of the minor changes, check out 65+ features that Apple didn’t announce during its Keynote.

iOS 13 Release Date

iOS 13 was released on September 19th, 2019 for all comaptible devices.

iOS 13 Device Support

These are the devices that will be supported:

  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6s
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone SE
  • iPod touch (7th generation)

Top Stories

Sign in with Apple conditions raise concerns

How to get started with and use ‘Sign in with Apple’ on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Avatar for Michael Potuck Oct 15 2019 - 2:52 pm PT
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Sign in with Apple arrives as a seamless way to sign up for and log in to third-party accounts with just your Apple ID. The service offers some great security and privacy benefits and is available with iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina. Read on for how to get going with Sign in with Apple on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.


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iOS 13 Dark Mode support arrives for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote

Avatar for Michael Potuck Oct 15 2019 - 6:18 am PT
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Microsoft Office iOS Dark Mode

Back in August, Microsoft teased that it was working on Dark Mode support for its full Office suite for iOS and as it rolled out support for the feature with Outlook. The plan was to have Office Dark Mode support in time for the launch of iOS 13. Even though it’s coming about a month later, it’s great to now see system-wide Dark Mode support arrive for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for iPhone and iPad.


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iCloud Drive folder sharing feature delayed from ‘later this fall’ to ‘spring’ next year

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 8 2019 - 2:41 am PT
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Apple has quietly informed customers that the shared iCloud Drive folders feature, which would make iCloud Drive a head-to-head Dropbox replacement, is no longer scheduled to be released this year.

Before today, the macOS All Features page had an asterisk for iCloud folder sharing that said the addition would be coming later this fall. Overnight, the text has changed to “coming this spring.”


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You can now ask Siri to play Spotify music on iOS 13, Spotify debuts Apple TV app

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 7 2019 - 3:12 am PT
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Siri Spotify

Spotify has today released its iOS 13 update, which allows users to ask Siri to play albums and playlists using their voice. This brings Spotify up to par with other music apps; SiriKit integration for audio apps was exclusive to Apple Music until iOS 13.

To use Spotify with Siri, install the update and then ask to play an album or song ‘with Spotify’. The update also allows hands-free control through CarPlay. Spotify is also launching a tvOS app for Apple TV today.


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Hands on with new iOS 13.2 beta 1 changes and features [Video]

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Oct 3 2019 - 2:31 pm PT
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iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 beta 1, which were released yesterday for the iPhone and iPad, feature many new changes and features. Included with the update is the new Deep Fusion camera feature for iPhone 11, the return of the “Announce Messages with Siri” feature found in earlier betas, New AirPlay and Handoff settings, and new Music app listening history. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for a brief look at new iOS 13.2 beta 1 changes and features.
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‘Announce Messages with Siri’ feature returns for AirPods owners in iOS 13.2

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 2 2019 - 10:57 am PT
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Announce Messages with Siri

The ‘Announce Messages with Siri’ feature was originally promised for iOS 13 but was delayed to ‘later this year’ as Apple hurried to ship iOS 13 in time for the iPhone 11 release. It did not make it in iOS 13.1 either, but it has returned in the just-released iOS 13.2 developer beta.

You need to be an iPhone and AirPods user to take advantage of the feature. With the AirPods in your ears, you will be able to listen and respond to incoming text messages. Siri transcribes the message so you can hear the text without looking at your phone or watch. You can then ignore or immediately reply without having to say ‘Hey Siri’.


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iOS 13 iPhone features: What is Optimized Battery Charging?

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 1 2019 - 2:30 am PT
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Apple is trying to make the battery in your iPhone last longer, so you can use your phone for longer periods of time without needing to get it serviced. Optimized Battery Charging changes the way in which your iPhone charges overnight in order to extend the lifetime of the battery. After updating to iOS 13, you may have been wondering ‘why is my iPhone only charging to 80 percent?’ Here’s why…


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Ulysses writing app gets the iOS 13 treatment with Dark Mode, multi-window iPad support, more

Avatar for Michael Potuck Sep 30 2019 - 10:58 am PT
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Well-rated iPhone and iPad writing app, Ulysses, has received an update today to leverage the new functionality possible with iOS 13 and iPadOS 13. New features include Dark Mode, multi-window iPad support, iOS 13-styled icons, new context menus, full integration with the Shortcuts app, Dropbox support, and more.


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Cannot log in to your banking apps on the iPhone? iOS 13 Touch ID bug may be the reason

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 30 2019 - 3:17 am PT
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If you have recently updated to iOS 13 and have found you are unable to log in to some apps like your bank, or 1Password, or other apps that need authentication, we may have the solution. It turns out there is an iPhone iOS 13 bug affecting older iPhones with Touch ID, where the in-app authentication dialog simply doesn’t appear. Here’s the fix…


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iOS 13 adoption tops 20% across iPhone and iPad devices one week after release

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 26 2019 - 6:35 am PT
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Apple released iOS 13 on September 19, exactly a week ago, and it seems to be off to a good start. According to data from Mixpanel, iOS 13 today crossed the 20% adoption mark.

This is slightly ahead of where iOS 12 was at the same point in its launch cycle last year. You also have to take into account the fact that, this year, iPad users could only start getting their hands on the latest operating system version as of Tuesday with the release of iPadOS 13.1.


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