ios7
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iWork redesigned from the ground up, available today for free
iWork has been overhauled from the ground up, and here's a look at some of the features Apple introduced today. The new Keynote was used in Apple's presentation. You can glimpse other features in the screenshot above: Full file compatibility New UI Collaboration added to iWork for iCloud Pages The new UI is responsive to what the user is doing Styles for every kind of object Numbers Free object-based designs that are interactive Keynote Object-based animation Transitions updated with more realistic physics, with new ones added Like with other announced software, iWork is available for free with the purchase of a new Mac or iOS device, and it's available today.
Apple App Store hits 60 billion cumulative downloads
Over 64% of compatible devices are already running iOS 7, according to Apple, making it by far the company's most successful mobile operating system. In all, iOS 7 was downloaded over 200 million times in the first five days after it was released. Apple also reported paying developers over $13 billion to date, thanks to the over 1 million apps available in the App Store, which have hit over 60 billion cumulative downloads. (Apple still has the edge over Android; there are about 900,000 apps available in the Google Play store.)
Owl City's Adam Young says he created iOS 7′s sounds
The American electronica musician Adam Young of Owl City has revealed on his discography page that he created at least some of the new system sounds in iOS 7. Under "Artist," Young lists "Apple" and under "Year" and "Label," Young lists "2013" and "Sounds for iOS7." Besides completely remastering virtually all of the previous iOS's system sounds, many new ones were introduced, including a number of ringtones and system alerts. It's not entirely clear if Young created all the new iOS 7 sounds, or just some of them. As 9to5Mac points out, what is really interesting/impressive is that some Owl City fans had previously commented on YouTube that the sounds in iOS 7 sounded like something "Owl City could have made." Besides his work with Owl City and Apple, Young has also done a number of sound work on animated films including Wreck-It Ralph and The Croods.
iOS 7 video tip: How to kill a frozen app or restart your iPhone
On occasion, a single iPhone app might lock up and make that app -- or your entire iPhone -- unusable. Today's video tip looks at how to kill a single frozen app, as well as how to fix an iPhone that has locked up completely. As with all of our video tips, this one can be resized to full screen for more detailed viewing.
Poll: Is dictation more reliable in iOS 7?
The release of iOS 7 has brought a host of new features to the iPhone and iPad, but there's one we at TUAW have noticed hasn't been talked about much. We're speaking of course about the dictation function. Some members of our staff have noticed that diction has become more reliable since the debut of iOS 7, which got us thinking. What has our average reader's experience been with dictation in iOS 7? To answer this question, we have two quick polls for you. The first asks what your experience using dictation in iOS 7 has been like, while the second asks if you use the dictation feature mostly over 3G/4G or via WiFi. Let us know what you think and feel free to expand upon your poll selection in the comments below. %Poll-85211% %Poll-85215%
Poll: Is iOS 7 buggy on the iPhone 5s?
Here at TUAW, we have several anecdotal reports that iOS 7 is running extremely flaky on the iPhone 5s. As an iPhone 5s user, I can confirm that I've seen a number of issues on my 5s that I have not been able to reproduce on my fourth-generation iPad running iOS 7. The issues I've had with iOS 7 on my 5s include: Jarring shifts in the background wallpaper when returning to the home screen from the lock screen or from an app Poor recognition of taps when tapping the music player's previous and next buttons in Control Center Increasing authentication errors using the Touch ID fingerprint scanner To be sure, the bugs I'm experiencing are not necessarily signs of widespread issues with the iPhone 5s. However, we'd be interested in hearing TUAW readers' feedback to see if they are noticing any bugs unique to the iPhone 5s. Take the poll below and feel free to expand on your selection in the comments! %Poll-85179%
GarageBand could go free on iOS 7
GarageBand could be the next built-in app to go free on new iOS devices. Apple recently updated the icons for its iLife and iWork apps, and according to MacRumors the update page also notes that Apple's music making suite will become a complimentary download. However, to flesh out the application you'll have to pony up for individual instruments and sounds via in-app purchases. This possible price change should let almost anyone live out their music-production dreams, but we hope it doesn't cost more than the app's current $5 price to get the full experience. If Tim Cook and friends follow tradition, we should know more later this week.
Apple leaks new iLife for iOS icons, suggesting updates soon
New icons for iPhoto and GarageBand for iOS have been spotted in the iCloud Storage Management settings of iOS 7's Settings app, notes 9to5Mac. The new icons appear radically different than the old ones, with a much flatter, iOS 7-like design. As the iCloud Storage Management icons are handled over the air, it's likely that the iPhoto and GarageBand icons were accidentally released ahead of schedule. Given that they were, however, it seems likely the two apps -- along with iMovie, which has not had a new icon leaked -- may see updates shortly after Apple's event next Tuesday. Besides the iLife iOS apps, Apple still needs to update a number of apps for iOS 7, including iBooks, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Remote and more.
Australian developers talk about working with iOS 7
Since the announcement of iOS 7, there's been tons of discussion about aesthetic changes the update has brought to the iPhone and iPad interface. What hasn't been talked about widely is how the update changed the various APIs developers used for building apps. Alec Fraser of Reckoner, a site dedicated to covering Australia's tech scene, has interviewed a group of the county's top developers to get a look at how the recent update has changed how they work. It's a long, but informative look at the struggles and stumbling blocks updates can bring for developers. Fraser drives this point home with the simple example of a change to the status bar. Even seemingly minor user interface changes-such as the status bar no longer being separate from the app in iOS 7 (as it was in iOS 6) can be a stumbling block, especially when trying to maintain backwards compatibility with iOS 6 while also updating an app for iOS 7. Understandably, some of the changes to iOS 7 have made backwards compatibility with iOS 6 difficult for some developers. Some of the designers Fraser spoke with said that they've come to terms with this reality and are no longer worrying about making an app designed for modern hardware to run on the obsolete OS. Considering iOS models dating back to the reliable, but long-in-the-tooth iPhone 4s can support iOS 7, the developers believe most users with a compatible device will update. Fraser interviews developers at every part of the process, including new apps and apps that have found iOS 7 as a sign that their time is done. For example, the developers behind Consume, an app for monitoring information on your iPhone, will no longer be updating it because of the dramatic changes in the APIs. For a development outsider looking for a better understanding of the constantly changing landscape, Fraser's piece is enlightening. Beyond providing a look at what Australia's app development community is like, it gives a clear image of the struggles that all iOS developers face. Head over to Reckoner to read the full piece.
iOS 7 video tip: Using and managing dictionaries
Did you know that dictionaries are built into iOS? They are literally a tap away, and can define almost any word that you need to know the meaning of. In today's iOS 7 video tip, we'll not only talk about how to use dictionaries, but also how to add and manage dictionaries. As with all of our other video tips, this one can be viewed in full-screen for extra detail.
Make beautiful parallax iPhone wallpapers
The parallax effect is the new "motion" wallpaper laying behind the app icons on iOS 7. The subtle effect is meant to give some depth to the flat design of iOS 7, though some have said it gives them motion sickness. However, if you like parallax and want to make your own wallpapers that work well with the effect, you may want to check out a great article by CNET's Jason Cipriani that describes the process. Cipriani notes that photos with depth and texture work best. If you pick a photo that has virtually no texture and is only a single color, don't expect to get much motion from your background. Also, make photos at least 400 pixels wider and taller than your iOS device's screen resolution. This is because the wallpaper needs to shift in the background to give the appearance of motion. If your wallpaper is just limited to the iOS device's screen resolution it will need to be zoomed in on, which can create a less-than-desirable look. For iPhones and iPod touches with four-inch screens, use an image that's 1,536 x 1,040 pixels. For Retina display iPads you'll want 2,448 x 1,936. For more tips and screen resolutions, be sure to check out Cipriani's article.
Switched On: A marriage of conveniences
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. A general love of the new notwithstanding, it has always been a bit odd that new flagship phones from Apple have dramatically outsold previous generations. Mostly because so much of the iPhone's value comes from software and Apple tends to preserve nearly all of the functionality in OS upgrades for previous years' models, making them a relatively good value. However, in the case of the iPhone 5s, Apple has implemented hardware in Touch ID that nicely complements the efficiency of its new mobile operating system, iOS 7. Now, even with the removal of many user interface accoutrements, such as digitized green felt in Game Center that Apple itself has mocked, there are still some whimsical excursions in iOS 7, including the slow-mo video mode and the parallax feature. There are also a few "aha!"-inspiring additions, such as support for the M7 coprocessor that will serve to save battery life by handling motion detection and the two-tone flash that results in more natural-looking photographs.
Unity game engine hits 4.2.2 with iOS controller support
The Unity game engine likes to take things in small steps. First it was adding Linux and Wii U support. Then Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10. Now that most of the major operating systems are covered, it's time to start making minor enhancements to that support. With version 4.2.2, released today, it now supports iOS 7's native game controller API. Apple decided to standardize controllers across iOS, making it easier for developers to build in gamepad support. It was also trivial for the Unity team to plug that API directly into its own standard Unity input API. For more details you can check out the Unity developer blog.
Daily Update for October 11, 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
iWork bug bothering some iPhone 5s owners
Some users with the new iPhone 5s are getting a very Windows-like "blue screen of death." There have been several reports on the Apple support boards talking about it, and even a sample video. It seems the problem arises when using the iWork apps: Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Reports say the problem happens when the Home button gets a double tap to exit an iWork app. The result, in some cases, is a blue screen and then a reboot of the phone. I could not duplicate the problem with any of the iWork apps on my 5s, but it's clear some users are experiencing this frustrating bug. Like any new release, iOS 7 hasn't been trouble-free. Apple is already working on a nasty iMessage bug that prevents texts using the Apple servers from being delivered. It's likely iOS 7 will see an update with some bug fixes shortly. Until then, Apple has inadvertently given you a bit of Windows nostalgia on your iPhone 5s. [via MacWorld]
iOS 7 wins mobile OS user experience shootout
Pfeiffer Consulting recently put iOS 7 through its paces, comparing it to a number of other mobile OSes to gauge which OS has a step up on the competition when it comes to the user experience. The operating systems involved in the study included iOS 7, iOS 6, Android, Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10. Now seeing as how there are innumerable versions of Android out there, the study focused on Samsung's implementation of Android since it's currently the most popular Android handset maker. The study focused on four variables: cognitive load, efficiency, customization and user experience friction. Each variable was afforded equal weight. Also note that the tests were measured from the viewpoint of an average, non-technical user. When the dust settled, iOS 7 reigned supreme with a 73.25 score followed closely by iOS 6 with a score of 70. Next came Android, Blackberry 10, with Windows Phone 8 pulling up the rear. The report reads in part: What separates the Android user experience from iOS 7 is not functionality, but feature-bloat and sloppy user interface design. In terms of user experience, less IS more. But there is another issue for Android, and that is market fragmentation: The loyalty of Apple's users is such that the company can be certain that millions of users will upgrade to a new release -- and Apple's marketing is working hard to increase the desire to do so. Android, by contrast is terrifyingly fragmented, with most users only upgrading when they change device. This is a problem that will be almost impossible to overcome -- and can only get worse over time. Overall, the entire study provides an interesting read and is worth checking out in its entirety. There is also an interesting discussion regarding the study's methodology over here.
iOS 7 video tip: Associating Touch ID fingerprints with fingers
Today's iOS 7 video tip is for iPhone 5s owners who want to know more about Touch ID fingerprints. While the device simply stores fingerprints as "Fingerprint 1," "Fingerprint 2" and so on, you might want to know which finger corresponds to that title. We'll show you how, courtesy of the original written tip by Jeff Gamet of The Mac Observer. You can then edit those titles so you know exactly what fingerprint data is stored in each file, or even delete a fingerprint from Touch ID. As with all of our other video tips, this one can be set to full-screen for easier viewing.
Roll your own iBeacon with a Raspberry Pi and a Bluetooth LE dongle (Updated)
Developers who want to start experimenting with iBeacons don't need to wait for hardware to show up on the market or design their own. Radius Networks has published a quick "how-to" for developers that shows how an inexpensive Raspberry Pi and Bluetooth LE dongle can be set up in a few minutes for experimentation purposes. The post, courtesy of James Nebeker and David Young, provides detailed step-by-step command-line instructions on setting up the RPi, downloading the necessary libraries, configuring the Bluetooth dongle and creating the necessary start and stop scripts. And with that, you can start designing the future with Apple's iBeacon technology. Update: Reader Jason Goldsmith tweeted that "You can also use any BT LE iOS device as an iBeacon, so iOS to iOS beacons are possible." That provides another way for developers to test out the Apple technology, although it's not as much fun...
Flickr app gains auto-upload feature in iOS 7 update
With several recent major updates including a grid UI and filters, Flickr's days of languishing in Yahoo's hands seem over. Another refresh has just arrived for iOS 7, bringing automatic uploading from your camera roll to its servers at full resolution -- with sharing set to private by default. You'll also get automatic photo straightening using the Flickr editor, and Yahoo says that it's resolved Google sign-in issues, making sure "it doesn't happen again." If you're worried about clogging up your Flickr storage with multi-megapixel iPhone photos, fret not -- you'll still get a free terabyte.
iOS 7 video tip: Fun and fast keyboard tricks
Today we've rounded up a herd of keyboard tricks for iOS devices. Some of them are new to iOS 7, and others have been around for a while, but are still extremely useful. The tips come from a variety of sources, including Kirk McElhearn at TechHive and our helpful bloggers here at TUAW. Be sure to check out our other video tips, and remember that you can expand this to full-screen for easier viewing.