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Set up a 3rd-gen Apple TV with a tap from your iOS 7 device
Have a third-gen Apple TV and an iDevice running iOS 7? If you've yet to set up Cupertino's set-top box, you can do so now by simply touching your iPhone or iPad to the Apple TV. Okay, Apple's take on Bump requires a few more steps than that; you'll first need to enable Bluetooth on your iOS 7 device, then connect to the WiFi network you'll use with the Apple TV. (Your machine also needs Apple TV software 6.0 or later.) Still, it sure beats the labor-intensive process of selecting letters on-screen with the included remote. Once you've tapped your iPhone to the set-top box, prompts should appear on both the phone and the TV screen, and you're good to go. Give it a whirl for yourself -- Apple's directions are available via the first source link below.
TUAW TV Live: More discussion of iOS 7, and how about those new iMacs?
Today's TUAW TV Live will feature further discussion of iOS 7 -- including a take on people who are finding it not to their liking. We'll discuss the new iMacs that magically appeared yesterday, as well as some other cool topics that have popped up -- like setting up a third-generation Apple TV by just touching an iOS device to it. To join in to watch the live feed and participate in the chat, just click here or click that image you see at the top of this post. You'll join us on the AOL On Network. If you can't watch the entire show today, come back to this page within 24 hours to see the latest video below. Past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel.
Third-generation Apple TV setup now as easy as touching an iOS 7 device to it
TUAW reader Aaron G pointed out an interesting Apple knowledge base article to us this morning. According to the post, a third-generation Apple TV running Apple TV software 6.0 or later can be easily set up by using an iOS device running iOS 7. It's as easy as touching the device to the Apple TV. Once the Apple TV is connected to your TV and showing the setup screen, you just unlock the iOS 7 device, making sure that Bluetooth is enabled and you're connected to the WiFi network that you want the Apple TV to be connected to. You then touch the iOS device to the Apple TV, after which prompts appear on both the iOS device and Apple TV. After entering your Apple ID and password on the iOS device and answering two simple questions, the configuration of the Apple TV takes place. It's connected to your WiFi network, activated and is set up with your iTunes Store account. It's a fast and easy way to set up the current Apple TV and hopefully any new devices that may be released by Apple in the future.
Daily Update for September 25, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Instagram gets the iOS 7 treatment
Next in the long line of popular iOS apps revamping their looks for Apple's newest mobile OS is Instagram, which just rolled out a new version of its photo-sharing app. Version 4.2.0 adds larger images and a more straightforward interface as well as flatter textures -- all of which help it fit in much better with the ultra-modern iOS 7 design aesthetic. The download is currently available through the App Store. [via Engadget]
Instagram refreshed for iOS 7 with larger images and videos, available for download today
Instagram may have missed the initial iOS 7 update run last week, but the retooled iPhone app is good to go now. Version 4.2, available for download today, brings design tweaks that mesh better with the latest iOS, with a slightly simpler interface and rounded profile pictures in the feed. Additionally, photos and video are a bit larger, and the resolution has been increased as well, enabling a better viewing experience overall. Instagram for iOS 7 can be yours right now. You'll find the download at the source link below.
iOS 7 beats up on Android, Windows Phone in user experience comparison
A new report by technology consultants Pfeiffer Consulting has found that iOS significantly outranks Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry phones in user experience satisfaction. Pfeiffer didn't want user "fan" bias entering into the equation, so the company only looked at "aspects that have a direct impact on the day-to-day user experience of an average, non-technical user." The results show that Apple's iOS 6 and iOS 7 best the other operating systems in all four main categories: cognitive load, efficiency, customization and user experience friction. The results, according to Pfeiffer: The combined results of the four different benchmarks and evaluations give iOS 7 a clear advantage in terms of overall user experience, taking into account the context defined for these benchmarks: day-to-day user experience of an average, non-technical user. If you're interested in studies such as this, the entire report is worth a read. It also demonstrates more good news for Apple and its newest iOS version.
iOS 7 video tip: Deleting Messages
Did you know that in the Messages app in iOS 7 you can delete single or multiple texts from a conversation with a friend? The same gesture that enables this editing capability can also be used to forward a message to someone else. To see how it's done, check out the short video tip below and remember that you can watch it in full-screen mode for more detail.
Some amazing slow-mo videos shot with the iPhone 5s
The camera software in iOS 7 coupled with the iPhone 5s hardware really goes a long ways toward making even the most amateur photographer / videographer seem like a pro. The slo-mo video feature available with the iPhone 5s is a perfect representation of this. CNET today put together a list of some of the best iPhone 5s slow-motion videos to hit the web. I've since augmented that list with some YouTube searching of my own and it's clear that people are going to be having a whole lot of fun with this feature. So without further ado, below are some of the more interesting, cute and funny iPhone 5s slo-mo clips to surface thus far. Now THIS is how you make a slow-mo video. Jumping on a trampoline has never seemed so easy. Here's a cool shot of a plane flying in for a landing. And some cool BMX trickery, similar to what Apple showed off during its iPhone media event. And some people? Well, some people just have skills. You can't get skills, however, without a whole lot of practice. This squirrel seems to be living the good life. And finally, this cat is the Dikembe Mutombo and Michael Jordan of the animal world all rolled up into one. If there are any slo-mo videos that we missed, please drop 'em in the comments below.
How to create nested folders on iOS 7
Nested folders (or, folders within folders) are one of the most useful features of iOS 7. Unfortunately, it's more of a glitch than anything Apple intended to include, so there's no official guide from Apple on how to do it. But don't worry; we're here to help. Placing folders within folders is a fantastic way to clean up your home screen, and it can be a godsend if you want to send unwanted, undeletable apps into a dark, unseen corner. Here's how to pull it off: We'll start with these four apps, but you can use absolutely whatever apps you want. 1. First, we combine two apps to create a folder, and then combine the remaining two apps to create a second folder. 2. Now, hold a finger on one of the folders so that it becomes grayed out. 3. As soon as it does this, press the Home button twice to bring up the multitasking menu. This trick will not work if the apps begin to wiggle (when they enter the organization mode) before you hit the home button. You have about a half a second to get this right. 4. From the multitasking menu, click on the home screen. You should see the folder icon remains enlarged and grayed out, and also that the folders are now wiggling. 5. Now, click the destination folder (the one you want to add the first folder to). You should see the icon of the first folder hovering above. 6. Now, click the home button once. Ta-da! You now have a folder within a folder. The best part is that these folders work flawlessly, and you can navigate through them, launch apps from within them and remove apps just as you would otherwise. You can use this trick to further nest additional folders, and I've been able to create five folder levels before eventually stopping, though I'm pretty sure you can just keep going until you get bored. This glitch was first noticed during the iOS 7 beta, and though I'm sure Apple is aware of it, they haven't taken any steps to correct it, and as of the current iOS 7.0.1, it still works perfectly. In fact, during the beta phase, any nested folders you had created would reset to the home screen after a device restart, but that's been changed, leaving all nested folders in place when the phone is power cycled. That said, the company could squash this at any time, so if you really fall in love with nested folders (as I have) take care before updating. Update: How to add apps to already nested folders You can add apps to already nested folders very simply, though it's slightly more complicated than just dragging the app to the folder. First, highlight the app you wish to move by holding your finger on it and then immediately double-tapping the home button, just as you did in Step 3 above. Now, from the multitasking menu, click on the home screen. Then, click on the first folder (the one holding the nested folder you want to move the app to), and then click on the nested folder. Once inside the nested folder, click the home button once and the app will relocate itself. Easy!
iOS 7 video tip: See which apps use the most cellular data
Today's iOS 7 video tip comes by way of Macworld's Lex Friedman, who pointed out that the new mobile operating system includes a way of finding out just how much cellular data each app uses. This tip extends to system service data usage, and provides a way to disable specific apps from using cellular data. Here's our short video tip, which you can expand to full-screen for easier viewing:
iOS 7: How to get your WiFi working again
In addition to battery issues, many of the complaints I've heard about iOS 7 center around WiFi. After upgrading, many people are getting the dreaded "unable to connect" message. There is a solution that's been passed around on the Apple discussion forums that should work for most people. You'll need to spend a couple minutes with your phone and router. Put your phone into Airplane Mode. Then, go into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Then, reboot your router if you have access and take your phone out of Airplane Mode. You'll be prompted to join your network again, and it should work this time. You can do this with Airplane Mode turned off, but several people on the forums say they've had better luck with Airplane Mode on. Did you have this issue? Did this work for you, or did another method help? Let us know in the comments.
No, iOS 7 does not make your phone magically waterproof
Ah, the merry pranksters of the interwebs: your gleeful enthusiasm for messing with people shall never fade. It seems some of the jokers on Reddit and other corners of the web have taken it upon themselves to convince other people -- perhaps slightly less technically savvy -- that among iOS 7's many new features is a resistance to immersion in water. No, really. See the impressive graphic above. That took some effort. As pointed out in a few places, the idea that a software update could magically bestow water resistance on hardware is a bit farfetched, but unfortunately that didn't stop some folks from going ahead and testing it out. Ouch. So that there's no confusion: this is false. It is fake. It is a hoax. iOS 7 does not make your phone water-resistant. Have a nice Monday! Thanks, Oscar! [Want to help your friends and family learn the real story about the new iPhone OS? Send them a link to our Don't Panic Guide to iOS 7. -- Ed.]
NYPD handing out flyers asking people to upgrade to iOS 7
If you're in New York City the next time a cop stops you, he may want you to...update your iPhone to iOS 7. According to a flurry of reports on Twitter, NYC police are handing out fliers (one pictured above from @jimrosenberg and another pictured below from @Hoffm) asking people to upgrade to iOS 7. From first glance, the fact that New York City's finest are handing out fliers promoting Apple's latest iOS might seem like a huge marketing win (and / or brainwashing initiative) by Apple. But because mobile phones are now the number one item stolen in large cities, taking a proactive approach to helping users know about the security advantages of the latest iOS is actually in the police's favor. As AllThingsD points out, iOS 7 features a new tool called Activation Lock that requires the phone's Apple ID and password to be entered before it can be erased or before Find My iPhone has been deactivated. So if you haven't upgraded to iOS 7, do it now -- police's orders.
iOS 7 use overtakes iOS 6 in just 72 hours, Apple says 200 million installs
Last year's iOS 6 release was marred by the negative reactions to Apple's Maps, yet the OS quickly went on to be the most downloaded and used iOS ever. This year, iOS 7 arguably had more of a potential hindrance: a completely revamped UI. Yet Apple seems to have pleased almost everyone, with the iOS garnering praise from users and technology critics alike. Still, to see the analytics data from Mixpanel over the weekend is no less shocking: within 72 hours of its release, iOS 7 overtook iOS 6 as the iOS installed on the majority of devices. Apple's press release today notes that "more than 200 million iOS devices are now running the completely redesigned iOS 7, making it the fastest software upgrade in history." Guess Apple isn't doomed after all. By 8 PM on Friday, September 20, iOS 7 was on 48.21 percent of iOS devices, compared to 47.58 percent for iOS 6. By today at 4 AM, that percentage had grown to 56.21 percent of devices. Those percentages are absolutely mind-blowing numbers for any OS adoption rate in such a short amount of time. They are particularly more impressive considering the massive changes iOS 7 has brought to iOS devices. No matter which way you slice it, it looks like Apple's software offerings this year have hit one out of the park.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 16th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
TUAW's Don't Panic Guide to iOS 7
TUAW readers of long standing, this post is for your friends and family who are asking you about iOS 7. Feel free to share it with them in person, on your social networks, or randomly in coffee shops and libraries. For more info, scroll to the bottom of the post. Breathe in, breathe out. Namaste! Chances are, you're here because someone you know suggested you look us up regarding iOS 7, the new operating system for the iPhone and iPad. Thanks for reading; we're here to help. Most importantly, don't panic. We're going to run down some of the most commonly asked questions and essential tips for iOS 7, with a minimum of jargon and handwaving. If you have questions about iOS 7 that aren't addressed or linked here, drop a note in the comments, send us an email or a tweet, or hop over to our Facebook page to join the discussion there. You can also review our week one full coverage rundown, or keep an eye on our ongoing posts about iOS 7. Want to vent or inquire in person? Call into our Sunday night talkcast to connect with the TUAW team directly. What is iOS 7? Do I need it? Every so often, Apple delivers a major upgrade to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch operating system (iOS). Each new version offers some additional features, new tricks and twists, and (if everything goes according to plan) more stability, fewer security issues and less misbehavior like crashing or connectivity problems. iOS 7 is the latest big upgrade, and unlike system upgrades for your PC or Mac, it's free to download and install. You may be hearing more conversations about iOS 7 than you did about previous system upgrades; chances are, that's because it delivers a comprehensive design overhaul, turning away from the resemblance to physical objects like leather-bound address books and green felt card tables (a concept called skueomorphism) to a cleaner, more abstract visual language. Apple's legendary design chief Sir Jonathan Ive took over the look-and-feel reins of the operating system for this version, and it's his aesthetic that's at work here. Certainly your first five minutes with iOS 7 may come as a bit of a shock to the system, but that should pass. As to whether or not you need it: if your phone or iPad is working fine, you do not need to install iOS 7 right away. Waiting a few days or a few weeks is not going to cause any harm, and chances are there will be one or two small updates to iOS 7 in the coming days that will clear up some rough edges and bugs. In the longer term, if your device supports iOS 7 (some older units, including most iPod touch models and first-generation iPads, do not), it's a good idea to move up; many iOS applications will start to require the new system. If you live in an area where iPhone thefts are common, iOS 7 also adds Activation Lock, an important anti-loss feature recommended by law enforcement. If you have a new iPhone 5s that shipped with iOS 7 and the Touch ID feature, note that the fingerprint unlock option on that phone is just that: an option. If it gives you an uncomfortable feeling, don't use it. If you're the sort who enjoys reading the manual before installing the software (I know I am), Apple has posted the iOS 7 manuals online in PDF format. You can also download them for free on your device in the iBooks store. Although this should go without saying, we'll say it for the record: No, iOS 7 does not magically render your phone waterproof. I already installed it, and I hate it! Can I go back to iOS 6? Unfortunately, while this was briefly possible after the iOS 7 release, it's not anymore. Unlike a desktop computer OS (Windows or OS X) that can be installed wherever it's compatible and you have a license, iOS versions are digitally "signed" by Apple's servers to permit installation; the signing for iOS 6 was turned off the weekend of 9/21. Without those digital signatures, under virtually all circumstances it's impossible to install iOS 6 over an iOS 7 device. (There may be loopholes for iPhone 4 owners, which are still being investigated.) For the record, if you bought a new iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s, they shipped with iOS 7 preinstalled. There is no way to downgrade those phones to iOS 6, nor is one likely to emerge in the future. If you're miserable with the new visual look (as some who are on the verge of needing bifocals, like yours truly, might be), there are some quick tips to getting a bit more legibility in the main screen. Setting a dark-colored background can help, but first try turning on the Bold Text option -- it makes a huge difference! You can also improve your iOS 7 battery life with these quick tips. OK, I'm ready to install iOS 7; is there anything I should do to prepare? There is! First of all, please backup your device. You can do this either via the iCloud service or by connecting your device to your computer and backing up in iTunes. We've got a full rundown here; Apple even explains how you can choose between the methods, or use both. Although an iOS backup should save the photos on your Camera Roll, you may also want to make sure that your device's photos are backed up to iPhoto, a pictures folder or a cloud service like Dropbox, Google+ or Flickr. You also need a reasonable amount of free space on your phone (about 3.1 GB) before attempting to install iOS 7. If you're short on space, consider removing apps, music or books you don't need right now. You can check which apps are chewing up the most room via the Usage pane inside Settings: General on your device. (You backed up first, right?) All the preamble steps are covered in this post. Once you're ready to go, you can install from the Settings app on your device, or by connecting to iTunes. Don't forget to update iTunes to the latest version available, as well. Once I've updated, how do I do the things I used to do? Although there's an enormous list of new and improved features in iOS 7, here are a few key changes that may be particularly tricky if you don't know how they work in the new world order: Quitting/closing applications. Just as in iOS 6, you can double-press the home button quickly to bring up an application switcher, allowing you to quickly swap your active app without going back to the home screen. (You can also use a four or five-finger swipe on the screen to switch between apps.) Unlike the older system, you aren't presented with a small row of icons across the bottom of the screen; now you've got full views of the app's active state, and an easier swipe back and forth to navigate. But what if you want to close out an app? No more long-press and little red X; now it's a swipe up through the app's miniaturized image. Steve's video walkthrough may help. Notification Center. iOS 7's alerts and reminders now get sorted into three buckets: Today, All and Missed. You can also easily dismiss notifications at the top of the screen by just tapping on the little bar in the center of the notification. Search. To search, just swipe down slightly from the middle of any home screen. The search field has moved from its own homescreen pane to the top of the screen. Folders. They can now contain more than just a few apps -- go nuts! Swipe left and right to see additional icons. Control Center. Frequently tweaked items that previously required a dive into the Settings app? They're now accessible with an upward swipe from the bottom of the screen. Quickly set a timer, turn Bluetooth/WiFi on or off, pull up camera or calculator, adjust brightness and volume -- even turn on a flashlight! Control Center is also the new home for the AirPlay mirroring controls; you don't get to them via a double-press of the home button and a rightward swipe anymore. Legibility and looks. Most of the aggravation and anxiety around iOS 7 involves the visual changes, and whether or not they actually reduce the legibility of the user interface. While the jury may still be out on that question, you don't have to wait to adjust the system to fit your own visual acuity. Simply open the Settings app, scroll down to General, then Accessibility. You can use the aforementioned Bold Text option to emphasize the icon labels, or adjust the text size in applications like Mail to make them easier to read. If the zooming, panning and parallax "wobbles" are giving you uncomfortable feelings, the Accessibility settings are also the place to find the Reduce Motion setting. Siri. In addition to some new commands and data sources, Siri's got a new voice -- and it's a man, baby! Adjust your settings in the Settings app, General, Siri. You can ask "What can I say?" at Siri's prompt to get a rundown on the new capabilities. Where can I go to get help? Apple's support site and user community are certainly good places to start. You can also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store, or check out your nearest carrier outlet for the iPhone. Of course, sites like our own, Macworld, iMore, the Loop and many others are going to be posting scores of iOS 7 tips and recommendations over the next few days and weeks -- we'll link our favorites here, and we'll add suggestions based on your input. To our regular readers: Thanks for sharing this guide with your friends and family who haven't necessarily been following along with every moment of the iOS 7 saga. If you want to give them a handy reminder card, just download our printable version here. Towel image courtesy of ThinkGeek; you can buy your own Don't Panic towel there.
Talkcast 10pm ET: iOS 7, phone launch, touching the iVoid, and more
All-new dial-in experience! See below -- do not call into Talkshoe, we won't be there. Be sure to set up Fuze Meeting before the show if you want to join in live. It's Sunday, and it's time for the TUAW talkcast! If only we had anything to talk about this week... nah, just kidding. It's an iPhone launch to remember, and an iOS 7 introduction to boot. We've seen a frantic few days, with long lines and frazzled activations, not to mention an Apple TV update that had to be rolled back suddenly. Equally concerning, the German hacker group Chaos Computer Club claimed on Sunday that they were able to spoof a fingerprint to unlock the iPhone 5s via the Touch ID sensor. The process of capturing and manufacturing the fake print was somewhat involved, and of course once the spy print was made the hacker would still need to get access to your phone -- if phone and print were stolen simultaneously, you might have the hour or two of time before the fake print was ready to wipe your phone remotely. Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz suggested the real risk is that a jealous spouse might use this approach to spy on an iPhone 5s, which is an intriguing domestic drama in the making. Google's Tim Bray suggests that such a vulnerability is situational; in some cases, Touch ID is superior to a PIN, in other cases the converse. We'll discuss this development, plus more news, tips and tricks, and also wish two of our own a very happy birthday! (Steve and Victor.) Join us at 10pm ET, won't you? Reminder on new-style talkcasting: With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're using a new system to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 10 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience. Just click the phone icon to join the audio once you're in. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 775-996-3562 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show will appear in this very post at 10 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time. Your patience and forbearance with our new tech is appreciated in advance. For the time being, the podcast feed of the show will continue to originate from Talkshoe and should be there within 24-36 hours. See you tonight!
Weekly Roundup: iPhone 5s and 5c reviews, Droid Maxx review, iOS 7 available to download, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Bing updates iOS app with new shortcuts and redesigned menu
Now that Bing is integrated with Siri, iOS users can use it without a dedicated app, but those who stick with it can expect a few new benefits. While you won't see a complete overhaul, the search engine's homepage now comes with four new tiles that link to the weather report, image search, trending topics and a map with nearby businesses. The Bing team also redesigned the share button, as well as added new options on the menu, including the ability to browse saved photos and other Microsoft apps. Looking for other apps to go along with your new OS? Check out our list of apps that hopped aboard the iOS 7 train to find other potential downloads.
