Tag Archives: iOS

Apple, Hardware, iOS, iPad, iPhone

Apple releases iOS 14 and new Apple Watches

Apple announced the release of iOS 14, new Apple Watches, and other products and services at its September 2020 event.

iOS 14 has several new features, including a new Translate app with 11 languages, digital versions of car keys, and  Home app for smart home management.

iOS 14 also shows if an app is using the camera or phone. A green indicator will appear if an app is using the device’s camera, and an orange indicator will appear if the microphone is in use. App settings for hardware use can be changed under Settings > Privacy.

Apple has provided a list of compatible devices for iOS 14 and iPadOS.

New watches include the Apple Watch 6 Series and Apple Watch SE.  Watch OS 7 also includes sleep tracking and other health related features.

Apple, Apps and Utilities, Entertainment Media, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Smartphones

iTunes replaced on Apple devices by Apple Music and TV apps

iTunes has been replaced by Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Books, and Apple Podcasts on iOS and MacOS devices.  Prior iTunes media library content can now be found in these new apps.  Instructions on how to manage Apple Music and other subscriptions are available.

Apple iTunes is still available for Microsoft Windows.

Apple, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Smartphones

New Apple products include iPhone 11 and Watch Series 5

Apple announced the upcoming release of several new products at its September 10th 2019 event, including:

Update: The new 16-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard was released in November 2019.

Android, Apple, Apps and Utilities, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Microsoft Office, Smartphones

Microsoft Office free apps for smartphones and tablets with 10.1 inch or smaller screen

Microsoft Office apps such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are available as free downloads for iOS , Android and Windows smartphones and tablets that have a screen size of 10.1 inches or smaller.  Users can view, edit and create new Office format files with these free apps once they login with a Microsoft user account, but they must subscribe to Office 365 to unlock all app functionality.  Free web brower versions of Office apps are also available for users logged into OneDrive.

Students and teachers with a valid school email address are also eligible for the free Office 365 Education version.

Apple device users can run the iWork productivity apps, which includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

Office Apps for Windows 10 Mobile will no longer be supported by Microsoft as of January 12, 2021.

Apple, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Smartphones

Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announcements

Apple made several major announcements at its Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2019, including:

Apple, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Privacy of Data, Security, Smartphones

Apple disables FaceTime until security bug is fixed

Update: Apple released iOS 12.1.4 on February 7, 2019 to fix the FaceTime issue.   FaceTime is now available at the Apple System Status page.

USA Today and the Washington Post have reported that some iPhone FaceTime users have been able to listen to people they are calling before the call is answered.   FaceTime runs on iPhones and iPads running iOS 12.1 as well as Macs running macOS Mojave.

Apple is currently working on a fix for this security issue.   FaceTime has been temporarily taken down as noted on the Apple System Status page.

Apple, Entertainment Media, iOS, iPad, iPhone

Apple AirPlay allows wireless communication between compatible devices

Apple AirPlay is a wireless protocol that allows MacOS computers, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs to wirelessly send content to compatible TVs and speakers.  Each device must meet Apple’s system requirements in order to use AirPlay.

Apple AirPlay is currently at version 2.0 and uses Apple HomeKit technology.  This wireless protocol functionality was originally developed under the names Apple AirTunes or Apple AirPort.

Smart devices and media centers that are not Apple products can communicate using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) or Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standards.

Apple, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Smartphones

Apple announces release of new Mac and iPad products at October 2018 event

Apple announced the release of several new products on October 30th 2018, including new iPad Pro and MacBook Air models with Retina display, and a new Mac Mini.  These devices use a more secure Apple T2 chip, use Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports, and are made of environmentally-friendly recycled aluminum.  They will be publicly available for retail sale on November 7th.

Apple has a comparison of all iPad models on its website.

A new Apple Pencil will also be available at the same date.  This pencil will magnetically snap to the iPad for storage and wireless charging.

iOS 12.1 will be available on October 30th and includes Group FaceTime for up to 32 users, camera depth control, dual SIM card support, and new emojis.