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iOS 8 will be released on September 17

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 8 compatibility

During today's We Wish We Could Say More event, Apple announced that iOS 8 would be released to consumers as a free update on September 17th. If you're curious if your device supports the next Apple mobile operating system, check out the image above which details all of the iOS device it will run on. iOS 8 brings with it a host of new features, including:

  • Photos: The new Photos app will allow you to access your entire photo collection with the iCloud Photo Library. New editing tools also make it easy to make your shots look even better, with all edits syncing back to the cloud and available on all your other devices.
  • Messages: In iOS 8, Messages will allow you to easily send voice messages, quick selfies, and videos to your contacts. Easily share your location and see the location of friends you've chosen to share that info with as well.
  • Keyboard: There are a few notable improvements to the keyboard in iOS 8. First, Apple now has a predictive typing system that learns the way you talk, offering up a quicker typing experience. Even more exciting, though, is that you will be able to download third-party keyboards from the App Store that will take the place of Apple's keyboard entirely. If you've been waiting for Swype on iPhone, it's almost here.
  • Interactive Notifications: Notifications are interactive in iOS 8. For example, you can reply to a message right from the notification without having to switch over to the Messages app, or accept/decline a calendar invite right from the dropdown. Notifications are also interactive on the Lock screen as well.
  • Family Sharing: Family Sharing makes it easy for up to six people in your family to share each other’s iTunes, iBooks, and App Store purchases. Whenever one person buys a new song, movie, or app, everybody gets access to that content. Accounts must all share the same credit card number to be added to a family account. Members of a Family Sharing account also get access to a family Photo Stream, calendar, Reminders list, and can share location.
  • iCloud Drive: Apple is finally allowing access to data stored on iCloud with the iCloud Drive feature. You can use iCloud as a storage folder for anything you'd like to put there, and can add storage space by upgrading to a higher tier.
  • Health: Fitness tracking is one of the pillar features in iOS 8
  • Continuity: Continuity will allow your Apple devices to talk to each other over Bluetooth. Start an email on your Mac, and continue it on your iPhone. Start messaging someone on your Apple Watch, and continue on your iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple also released the iOS 8 GM seed today.


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Ask Andru: Which devices are compatible with iOS 8?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 8 devices

Apple announced iOS 8 and gave us a look at a bunch of the major features during its WWDC 2014 keynote (you can watch the WWDC 2014 keynote here.) We got a question in from Nick F. asking:

"I'm curious if my iPhone 4S will be able to run iOS 8. How do I know if it is compatible?"

You may be wondering if your iOS device is compatible with Apple's latest and greatest, so here's a look at the full list of Apple products that will be able to be upgraded to iOS 8:

  • iPhone 4S
  • iPhone 5
  • iPhone 5c
  • iPhone 5s
  • iPad 2
  • iPad with Retina display (iPad 3 and iPad 4)
  • iPad Air
  • iPad mini
  • iPad mini with Retina display
  • iPod touch (5th generation)

As you can see, as it pertains to the iPhone line, the iPhone 4 (released in 2010) and older will not be compatible with iOS 8. With iPad, it'll be the original model that won't be able to use the new operating system. Meanwhile, the only iPod touch that can run iOS 8 is the 5th generation model. That's quite a generous line-up when compared to competing smartphone and tablet platforms!


Bleeding Edge TV 472: Belkin Thunderstorm

The Belkin Thunderstorm is the first full-range portable speaker system for the Apple iPad. After you get your iPad hooked up, you get cinematic sound (with some nice bass!) that's calibrated for games and movies. We chat with Belkin at CES 2013 about the Thunderstorm ad get all the details. The 30-pin model has just started shipping, with the Lightning model launching in the Spring.

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Top 10 Gear Live stories of 2012

iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S vs iPhone original

We've come to the end of another year, and as we wave goodbye to 2011, we figured it was only fitting that we share the most popular stories published on Gear Live this year, as determined by our readers (we've also got the top ten most read stories regardless of publish date, as well as the ten most popular Gear Live videos of 2012!) These are the ten stories that were read the most, and when you consider that fact, it's pretty surprising to see what made the list. Let's kick it off with our most read story of the year:

iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S vs. iPhone original:
iPhone 5 certainly got a lot of attention this year, and our image gallery comparing it to previous iPhone designs served as our most popular post in all of 2012.

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live stories of 2012


iOS 6.1 beta 2 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6.1 beta 2 download

Apple has just released iOS 6.1 beta 2 as an over-the-air download a few minutes ago. This release comes just 11 days after the initial iOS 6.1 beta was released to developers, alongside the public release of iOS 6.0.1. iOS 6.1 will make it easier for users to report issues with the Apple Maps data, bring better music controls to the lock screen, makes it easier to find Passbook apps, and more. If you're already running the iOS 6.1 beta, check Software Update in your settings app to grab the latest update - if not, head over to the Dev Center for the download!


Apple releases iOS 6 with Passbook, new Maps, Facebook integration, and more

iOS 6 features

Just as we predicted, Apple has released iOS 6 to the world. If you have a recent iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, this update is for you. With iOS 6, Apple has introduced its new Maps application that replaces Google's offering, a digital wallet in Passbook, built-in Facebook integration with Single Sign On, and an expansion to what Siri can do and help you with. In all, Apple says there are over 200 new features waiting for its users in iOS 6. To get the update, you can grab it over the air (OTA) if you are running iOS 5--just go into Setting, tap on General, then select Software Update. All users can also simply connect their devices to iTunes and checking for the update that way.

iOS 6 is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, fourth- and fifth-generation iPod touch, iPad 2, and the new iPad. Jump past the break for a rundown of all 200 new features.

Click to continue reading Apple releases iOS 6 with Passbook, new Maps, Facebook integration, and more


iOS 6 Golden Master now available to developers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6 golden master download

On the heels of today's iPhone 5 event, Apple has just seeded the iOS 6 Golden Master to developers, alongside Xcode 4.5 GM. Build 10A403 is the final version, and iOS 6 will be released on September 19 to the general public. The updated mobile OS will be compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th- and 5th- generations, iPad 2, and the new iPad.


iOS 6 to be released on September 19

iOS 6 September 19

We just received a fairly obvious tip that makes perfect sense to us--Apple is set to release iOS 6 to the general public on September 19th. That would put its release two days before the rumored launch date of the iPhone 5, which is in line with all iOS software release ever since iPhone OS 2.0 launched a couple of days prior to the release of the iPhone 3G back in July of 2008. We expect that Apple will release a Golden Master version of iOS 6 tomorrow after the iPhone 5 event.

iOS 6 brings new features like Passbook, shared Photo Streams, expanded Siri functionality, Apple Maps, and more, and will be compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, ipod touch (fourth generation,) and all iPads.


iOS 6 beta 4 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6 beta 4 download

Apple has just released iOS 6 beta 4 as an over-the-air download a few minutes ago. We knew something was up when one of our readers alerted us that the Software Update feature was failing with an odd error message, and within a few minutes, beta 4 became available. This release comes a little over a seven weeks after the initial iOS 6 beta that was released during WWDC 2012, just over five weeks since iOS beta 2 was made available, and three weeks since beta 3 first arrived. If you're on an iPhone 4S the download 282 MB in size, while the beta 4 update on the new iPad weighs in at 291 MB. Check Software Update in your settings app to grab it now!


Sprint says it will not charge for FaceTime over Cellular feature

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,

Sprint FaceTime

The other day we talked about how AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is consumer robbery, and today we've gotten word from Sprint that it agrees, and therefore will not be charging customers extra to use the new iOS 6 feature. When iOS 6 goes public this fall, owners of the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, the next-generation iPhone, iPad 2, and the new iPad will all have access to FaceTime when on 3G and LTE connections. According to Sprint, it's "committed to our unlimited data, and that means not charging for data consumption based on the application." Good on them for that. Now we're just waiting on Verizon to make the same move.


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