iOS Archives - Stabley Times

Swift iPhone 6 release date signaled by iOS 8 beta 2 release

June 18, 2014 by Will Stabley Leave a Comment

Just how soon is Apple’s new iPhone 6 release date coming? More swiftly than expected, if the latest developments in its iOS 8 beta testing program are any indication. Apple just released the beta 2 download, arriving soon on the heals of the original beta, and showing impressive progress. There’s still a ways to go on the development side (there’s a reason why Apple doesn’t release iOS betas to the public), but iOS 8 is moving along swiftly. And that’s good news for those waiting for Apple to release the iPhone 6, because that can’t happen until the iOS 8 beta testing is complete.

Those who ready to get in line for the iPhone 6 launch shouldn’t grab their turtleneck outfits just yet. Apple usually releases as many as seven beta versions in order to iron out all the rough spots and polish up the finalized feature set before declaring the software to be complete - and so far iOS 8 is still only on beta 2. But the swift progress on the software side means that Apple can put the iPhone 6 into production sooner, and thus release it to market sooner. So just how soon are we talking about?

If Apple puts iOS 8 through five more beta releases, one per week, we’d expect it to be ready in late July. If those releases come two weeks apart, we’d be looking at August. That still puts the iPhone 6 release date sooner on the calendar than the September-October timeframe in which Apple has released its last few iPhones.

iOS 7.2 update for iPhone-iPad: with iOS 8 in beta, will Apple bother?

June 3, 2014 by Phil Moore Leave a Comment

Apple publicly started the clock on iOS 8 development today, begging the question of whether there will be an interim iOS 7.2 update for iPhone and iPad users in the mean time. Typically Apple uses x.x numbered releases to push out minor new features or revisions to the interface. But with the iOS 8 beta already in the hands of developers as of today, and the clock ticking down to the September-October timeframe in which iOS 8 must be finished so it can be included in the launch of the next iPhone, will Apple set enough to time do any further work on iOS 7 beyond bug fixes? And if iOS 7.2 does come to pass, when will it arrive?

Part of the answer may depend on how backward compatible Apple decides to make iOS 8. If it’s released for every retina-era device back to the iPhone 4 and iPad 3, then Apple has little motivation to do much touch-up work on iOS 7, as almost no one will be shut out of the iOS 8 era. But if Apple decides to more severely limit which devices can run iOS 8 - and these details can change as development goes on - then an interim iOS 7.2 update could serve to put older devices to bed in the form of one last feature update.

Even if iOS 7.2 is coming and is near ready, it’s unlikely Apple will release it within the next few weeks, as doing so could draw attention away from the press generated for iOS 8 by its big launch party at WWDC yesterday. But to that same end, Apple won’t want to release iOS 7.2 too close to the finalized commercial rollout of iOS 8 either. That means no later than August, if indeed Apple is even pursuing an iOS 7.2 release at this late stage of the game. However, bug fixes and security patches in the form of iOS 7.1.2 and beyond are far more likely.

Apple WWDC: iOS 8 release date, preview, rumors, beta 1 download

May 26, 2014 by Will Stabley Leave a Comment

Apple is taking the wraps off iOS 8, its new system software and operating system for devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The public preview is taking place on Monday during the WWDC conference keynote session, which will include a demonstration of many of its most notable new features and interface changes. That will set the process in motion going forward, from the initial iOS 8 beta 1 download all the way through its public release date. In the mean time, rumors are swirling as to what all iOS 8 will deliver.

Apple has offered almost no official guidance as to what the headlining iOS 8 features will be, but several major clues have emerged. CarPlay, the iPhone integration with the dashboard displays of automobiles, was previewed with iOS 7 but has yet to make a major vehicle rollout. iOS 8 is a second chance for Apple to reboot CarPlay with more advanced features. Apple is also in the process of acquiring Beats by Dre, whose audio technologies may find their way into upcoming products. And widespread rumors have Apple moving into home automation with iOS 8 as well. But what of the release schedule?

iOS 8 beta 1 should be available for download by the end of next week, although Apple has on occasion staggered the initial beta release such that it arrives for the iPhone before the iPad or vice versa. There are typically six to seven beta versions before each new version of iOS is ready, so the iOS 8 release date to the public can best be estimated by tracking how swiftly the various beta versions are issued.

5 Facebook privacy changes by the privacy dinosaur

May 25, 2014 by Jason Tucker Leave a Comment

Facebook’s recent privacy changes are designed to make your account easier to manage with the assistance of the privacy dinosaur.

Facebook hasn’t done much in the form of changes to its logos or branding, they also don’t have very many cute little characters to work into their user interfaces. I’d imagine that if there was one place in their user experience that a cute little blue dinosaur could help it would be in their typically over complicated privacy settings. He doesn’t have an official name, but folks are calling him either “Zuckasaurus”, “safeasaur” or “privasaurus.” Whatever you call him Facebook hopes that he will add some much-needed friendliness to their privacy settings.

1. Mobile sharing settings

One of the big gripes about sharing settings on Facebook mobile app is that you need to remember to select who you are sharing with. With the redesigned mobile sharing features they have placed the share settings on the top of the screen. This is in the style of an email app so you can specify which audience you want to have the post be viewed by.

2. Default settings for new users

Facebook usually sets the privacy settings to public when you first join Facebook. Now Facebook will change this default setting from Public to Friends in hope of gaining new users trust in the system. Interestingly enough Facebook will also alert new users to choose an audience for their first post. If they neglect to make a choice the setting is defaulted to Friends. You’ll be able to change your audience at any time for future posts.

3. Anonymous login

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced at Facebook’s F8 developer conference earlier this month, that Facebook Login, the button that allows websites third party apps to use Facebook login credentials, will support something called anonymous login. It’s interesting how this will work, Anonymous login will let you log into an app so you don’t have to remember usernames and passwords, but it wont share personal information with the app.

4. Privacy checkup tool

Back in April Facebook users began seeing previously mentioned “privasaurus” cute little dinosaur this is a multi-step privacy wizard of sorts called “Privacy Checkup”. This week Facebook will be rolling out this tool allowing it’s users to make more informed decisions on what things they should share, who has access to what data and what apps are accessing this data already.

5. Public posting reminder

Facebook’s privacy dinosaur will remind you when you’re about to share publicly, hopefully this will stop you from sharing something you meant for just your friends with the public.

Facebook stated in a recent blog post “While some people want to post to everyone, others have told us that they are more comfortable sharing with a smaller group, like just their friends” and “We recognize that it is much worse for someone to accidentally share with everyone when they actually meant to share just with friends, compared with the reverse.” What are your thoughts on these upcoming changes?

iOS 7 jailbreak iPhone 5S/5C updated to iOS 7.1.1 - your move, Evasi0n

May 23, 2014 by Phil Moore Leave a Comment

Now that iOS 7.1.1 has been jailbroken for the iPhone 5S and 5C, how will the jailbreaking community respond? iOS 7 jailbreak efforts are no longer stuck at 7.0, and it’s thanks to one individual who was working without the help of any of the major jailbreak teams. Evasi0n has yet to hack anything more recent than the 7.0.6 update released back in February, and RedSn0w never did manage to crack last year’s 7.0 release. But now Twitter user i0n1c has gone and turned the iPhone hacking community on its ear. Your move, Evasi0n.

The open nature of jailbreak hacks means that one hacking team can take the work of another and pick up where they left off, in the name of pushing progress forward. After jailbreakers took down iOS 7 within a couple months of its release, the subsequent iOS 7.1 update closed all of those exploits and was thought to be unhackable. With Apple set to unveil iOS 8 in June and release it in the August to September range, it appeared that iOS 7.1 might simply be ignored by the jailbreak community in favor of putting an eye toward the future. How will these jailbreak teams respond now? And will the iOS 7.1.1 jailbreak shift the balance of power within the community?

Those looking for the i0n1c jailbreak of iOS 7.1.1 for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C can find the YouTube instruction video here.

iOS 7.1 jailbreak video on iPhone 5S posted by i0n1c

May 19, 2014 by Phil Moore Leave a Comment

Popular jailbreaker Stefan Esser has used his @i0n1c Twitter account to reveal to his 100,000-plus followers that he’s managed to jailbreak iOS 7.1.1 on his iPhone 5S. While such claims have come fast and furious since the release of iOS 7.1 earlier this year, they’ve turned out to be hoaxes. Esser, however, is a respected member of the community - and he’s posted a video on YouTube documenting his process so that other hackers can do the same.

Up to now, the only reliable jailbreak available for iOS 7, from the evasi0n7 team, has topped out at 7.0.6. That’s prevented jailbreakers from installing the iOS 7.1 update, which includes new minor features and interface tweaks, or the subsequent 7.1.1 bug fix update. But Esser appears to have turned the jailbreaking world on its ear by cracking Apple’s latest update while it’s still the latest update. Jailbreakers made fairly quick work of iOS 7.0 when it was first released on the iPhone 5S and 5C last fall, taking less time to crack it than iOS 6 has taken the year before. But the iOS 7.1 update closed off the exploits that teams like Evasion had been using, sending them back to square one.

So is Stefan Esser’s iOS 7.1.1 jailbreak hack for the iPhone 5S legitimate? Is he the first to break down Apple’s iOS 7.1 anti-jailbreak walls? And how will other jailbreak teams react? Judge for yourself by watching his iOS 7.1.1 jailbreak video.

iOS 7/7.1/7.1.1 jailbreak for iPhone 5S/5C/5: evasi0n7 vs Geeksn0w

May 16, 2014 by Phil Moore 1 Comment

Jailbreakers managed to crack iOS 7 more quickly than expected after it arrived on the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, but the more recent iOS 7.1 and 7.1.1 software releases have turned out to be more troublesome. Some jailbreak teams have fared better than others. Redsn0w appears to have checked out of the jailbreaking game entirely, with its last release having been for iOS 6.1.6 more than a year ago. Evasion continues its efforts in the form of Evasi0n7, even as newcomers Geeksn0w throw their hat in the ring.

As of today, evasi0n7 has only gotten as far as delivering an untethered jailbreak for iOS 7.0.6. That means iPhone jailbreakers are locked out of the 7.1 update and the minor new features and enhancements that it brings. Geeksn0w has delivered a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 7.1, but it comes with an almost surreal caveat: it doesn’t work on the new iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, or even on last year’s iPhone 5. In fact it’s only installable on the ancient iPhone 4. So what other options are there?

That leaves most users waiting for evasi0n7 to release an untethered jailbreak version of iOS 7.1.1 for the iPhone 5S/5C/5. The question now is whether it’ll arrive before Apple releases the developer beta test of iOS 8 next month.

Apple iOS 8 beta 1 download becomes hot hacker item of summer 2014

May 16, 2014 by Phil Moore Leave a Comment

iOS 8 is Apple’s next big thing, the system software to power the next generation of iPhone and iPad devices. It’s also months away from its official public release - which makes the developer beta test version a hot commodity. Apple will release as many as perhaps seven different beta versions of iOS 8 to app developers over the summer so they can test them against their existing apps and integrate Apple’s new features into their own app updates. That places all eyes on the iOS 8 beta 1 download, heading into the Apple WWDC conference.

Apple will demonstrate the key features and technologies of iOS 8 in its WWDC keynote on June 2nd, and will release iOS 8 beta 1 almost immediately after. It’ll only be officially available to licensed app developers, but unofficial copies inevitably end up being quickly disseminated among early adopters and hackers who want to test out the new software for their own personal satisfaction. There are a few things those considering installing iOS 8 beta 1 should be aware of.

The first is that iOS 8 beta, particularly early versions like beta 1, will be far from complete. Some new features will be missing entirely while others won’t work well, and the software can also be unstable. That means it’s not a good idea to install the beta on an iPhone that you use as your primary phone, for instance. The safer route is to install iOS 8 beta on an iPod touch or a spare iPhone or iPad whose consistent functionality isn’t required.

iOS 7.2 update and iOS 8 for iPhone iPad: beta download release date

May 3, 2014 by Phil Moore Leave a Comment

The release of Apple’s iOS 7.2 update (and its eventual replacement iOS 8) for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is a matter of when, not if, but the timing of the release date has cause some confusion among users. The original iOS 7 was launched last September and was followed by several 7.0.x bug fix updates. Its followup, iOS 7.1, landed back in March and has thus far been supplanted by the 7.1.1 update. But now users are already getting itchy for iOS 7.2 so they can get a peek at which new features and interface additions it’ll bring.

Unfortunately for the eager beaver crowd, iOS 7.2 is still so early in development that Apple hasn’t even yet released an unfinished beta-test version for developers to play around with. That means the official finalized iOS 7.2 can’t be expected to land before June at the earliest. Those looking forward to Apple’s next full overhaul of its system software, iOS 8, will have even longer to wait, as it won’t see a release date until the fall. There is good news on the iOS 8 front, however.

In early June, Apple will demonstrate the headlining features of iOS 8 for developers at its WWDC conference. That information isn’t kept secret, so those end-users who want to know all about what iOS 8 will deliver will be clued in on that date. In the mean time, those who want actual software to play with will have to continue waiting for the iOS 7.2 update in a month or two.