Speak of busy, Rene Ritchie wrote almost 14,000 words on iOS 7.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Multitasking came out for the iOS devices with iOS 4. Multitasking is a way to manage all of the apps running on your iOS device.

Previously, when you double tap the home button, you would get a small tray on the bottom of the screen filled with apps running. To close the apps, you would have to tap and hold on one of them until it wiggles and jiggles, and then once it is wiggling and jiggling you would tap on the red minus button in the upper left hand corner of the app.

Now, with iOS 7 that is no longer the case. When you double tap the home button, it takes you out of the app...

Apple has released iOS 7 today, and iOS 7.0.1 is already in the queue for the upcoming iPhone 5s and 5c. iOS 7.0.1 reportedly aims to fix issues with Touch ID and iTunes purchases. It’s unclear if the two new devices will ship with iOS 7.0.1 on Friday, or whether…

Federico Viticci and Chris Herbert have been busy. Much respect.

∞ Read this on The Loop

At long last, Marketcircle has released Billings Pro for iPad. The time-tracking and invoicing app has made the leap from the desktop to Apple's tablet, and offers independent and small business owners the freedom to get things done while out in the field. Here's a look at the most recent version of Billings Pro for iPad.

Earlier this year, Marketcircle discontinued Billings and encouraged users to switch to Billings Pro. Why? One of the main reasons was sync. Many users need to generate invoices on the go, and have them waiting on all compatible devices. Since Billings required manual sync of two devices on the same Wi-Fi network, that had to change.

Billings Pro syncs data between Marketcircle's servers and the user's devices. This isn't client/server syncing that sends data on demand, but real-time sync that is handled seamlessly in the background. It'...

Two things that I thought were particularly interesting in John’s review: the part about innovation and the section on 64-bit. Definitely worth a read.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Not only did Apple add a few new features to the built-in Camera app under iOS 7, it revamped how the Photos app works. Jeff Carlson explains what’s new and different with both photo apps for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

As is typical with a new iOS release, Apple today updated their iTunes Store Terms and Conditions to account for several new features included in the OS. While most of these are trivial and expected, one addition clarifying the way rental downloads work jumped out at us. In short, you have thirty days to begin rental downloads and then another thirty days to start watching once you've completed your download. More details in the article.

An alleged photo of a space gray second-generation iPad mini shell was posted on a French site. Though this is the first time the color has been seen on an iPad, it’s certainly not a surprise, considering Apple is using space gray in its iPhone 5s and iPod touch,…

Is installing iOS 7 something you'll want to do to your iPhone 4? Andrew Cunningham

When a new iOS version is released, the spotlight always shines the brightest on the shiny, brand-new hardware that ships with it. That's to be expected—people who are getting ready to drop hundreds of dollars on a phone are hungry to know how the software pairs with the best that Apple currently has to offer. That said, one of the benefits of sticking with Apple's ecosystem is that your old phone will run the latest software for a few years after you buy it. Often you can grab that new software just as soon (or even sooner!) than the people who will be getting it on a new device.

Last year, we took a look at how the iPhone 3GS ran iOS 6, since 2009's flagship iPhone was the oldest, slowest hardware that supported the new update. We were pleasantly surprised—the 3GS ran most of iOS 6's biggest features, and it usually ran them just as quickly as it ran iOS 5. This year, we're...

With the general release of iOS 7 today, many iPhone and iPad users are going to get their first taste of iTunes Radio, Apple's new streaming-radio service. Not to be outdone, Pandora today released a flurry of updates meant to give the current leading streaming service a fresh look and new features.

The Pandora app (universal, free with in-app purchases available) has been updated to version 5.0, bringing with it a new look that is -- unsurprisingly -- in touch with iOS 7's design sensibilities. There's even a new logo on the app. Running the app on the iPad provides much more information now, bringing the version to parity with the iPhone app released almost a year ago. Artist pages, lyrics and additional information are now available on the iPad.

Pandora now has a new tagline, which doesn't do...

iOS 7 represents the most significant change to Apple's mobile operating system since it debuted on the first iPhone in 2007. To help users in their transition from iOS 6 to iOS 7, AppleInsider offers a breakdown of some of the changes instituted by Apple.
   ...

Apple has released iTunes 11.1, a critical update of its media jukebox and sync software. The update is essential for syncing with iOS 7 devices, and also adds desktop support for iTunes Radio, an otherwise iOS 7-based streaming service. Another new feature is the concept of Podcast Stations, which lets users organize groups of auto-updating podcasts. Stations, subscriptions, and play positions should sync with the iOS Podcasts app....
  ...

iOS 7 comes with a bevy of new features and changes that will greatly enhance the mobile experience for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. Here is a rundown of some of the highlights found in Apple's new mobile operating system.
  ...

Another new photo-sharing app? In 2013? Really?

Yup, really. But say this for the team behind Memoir, which is launching today: While sharing photos is a component of what their app does, it’s not solely a photo-sharing app. It’s more of a photo-storage and filing service, with ambitions to move someday beyond photos into other personal data.

Which is good, because it sure seems like the photo-sharing app space is full up, though people are still trying to prove otherwise.

Memoir was co-founded by...

The release of iOS 7 may be dominating the air waves right now, but
it's not the only bit of software news that iOS users should be excited about. On Wednesday, Pocket rolled out a sizable update to its iOS app of the same
name. The update includes some minor design changes, but it also adds several tools and options to make your mobile reading experience even better.

The latest Pocket update gets rid of those annoying spaces that make articles harder to read.

Text can now be aligned so it doesn't appear scattered all over the screen (like it did in previous versions of the app), and you can have Pocket
automatically sync your articles in...

iOS 7 has arrived. As announced last week, Apple on Wednesday released a major update of the operating system that runs on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

Among its marquee new features: A new, “flatter” look-and-feel, with revamped icons, fonts, and other visual elements (less skeuomorphism); upgrades to such stock apps as Safari, Calendar, Camera, Mail, and Messages; a new easy-to-access Control Center, from which you can adjust commonly used settings without digging into the Settings app itself; improved multitasking; iTunes Radio; and, of course, much, much more.

(For details on all that, see our ongoing coverage of the new OS, including, of...

Fire up your downloads because iOS 7 is available. As promised, Apple released iOS 7 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch on Wednesday ahead of the end of the week launch of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

Apple has released iTunes 11.1 to the public, including new features such as iTunes Radio, Genius Shuffle, and customizable Podcast Stations. The update also is required for syncing with iOS 7, which should be released shortly. iTunes terms and conditions have also changed, with “additional information regarding authenticating your account…

Sure, it's not the most exciting news to drop on this iOS 7 official "birth" day, but Apple has updated several apps to bring them into the brave new world of the new iOS. Both AirPort Utility and iBooks have received updates in the last few hours.

The notes for iBooks -- which seems to be sporting the same non-flat icon that it has since it first became an iOS app -- show that "This version of iBooks improves compatibility with iOS and iCloud." The app is still as Scott Forstall skeuomorphic as it always has been, complete with the faux wood library shelves.

For the AirPort Utility, the release notes simply say "Adds support for iOS 7." I'd let you know what that means if I had half a clue, but there's just not a whole hell of a lot of detail there.

If you're an iOS 7 user already and set up your devices for...

Just in case the imminent arrival of iOS 7 isn’t enough to get you pumped, Apple’s also gone ahead and released iTunes 11.1. Less exciting, you might think, but a necessary part of the equation: If you want to sync your device running iOS 7 with your computer, you’re going to need the latest version of Apple’s music-playing-video-watching-podcast-downloading-device-syncing-app-with-large-fries.

But that’s not the only new feature in iTunes 11.1. Launching alongside iOS 7, iTunes Radio makes its Mac debut here, accessible via a toolbar option in the Music section. You can browse through Apple’s featured stations or ones that you create yourself (and if you create a station on an iOS 7 device, it’ll automatically show up in iTunes Radio on your Mac, too). As on iTunes 7 you can tweak stations to your tastes, choosing from hits, more obscure songs, or a variety. Buying songs from the iTunes Store is as easy as clicking the price when listed next to the name of the currently...

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Save 40% off TuneUp 3.0 at TUAW Deals....

With the release of iOS 7 comes Apple’s long-awaited iTunes Radio music streaming service. Josh Centers shows how to use it and customize the content to your heart’s… content.

Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

Amazon’s Amazon Instant Video app updated to version 2.1. Most notably, the free app now supports AirPlay to let users watch Amazon’s titles on the Apple TV. IMDB cast and director information, ratings, trivia, quotes, and goofs have also been added to the app.

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Siri, Apple's intelligent assistant. While Siri hasn't yet become as smart or as useful as 2001: A Space Odyssey's HAL 9000 (which might be a good thing), Apple has quietly added some new features to Siri in iOS 7 that turn it from a useful but sometimes frustrating beta app to a really helpful assistant.

Siri's new interface fits into iOS 7 better than the previous incarnation did in iOS 6. It literally fades into view on top of whatever you're looking at when you invoke Siri. You'll find that Siri answers your questions faster and usually more accurately.

Apple also has Siri check more sources than ever before, such as Bing, Wikipedia, and Twitter. That means that not only do you get more answers, but it's easy to get a second opinion on an answer. And most of those answers no longer show up in a third-party application - instead, they're displayed in Siri's new and beautiful user interface...

New photos, obtained by a French site, are said to reveal a second-generation iPad mini shell in Apple's recent "space gray" color. The part otherwise appears almost identical to the shell used for the first-gen Mini. Until now, only SIM card trays hinted at the possibility of the tablet adopting the new color....
  ...

Apple has been busy rolling out app updates ahead of the release of iOS 7 on Wednesday, and the latest to get some love is iTunes for the Mac and Windows. Version 11.1 is now available, and it includes support for iOS 7 and Apple's new music streaming service iTunes Radio.

Apple is currently in the process of releasing iOS 7-focused updates to its own apps, and we’re expecting a bunch to hit the App Store today. Here’s what’s now available. The Apple Store app has been updated to version 2.8 — it’s been optimized for iOS 7 with a…

Apple rolled out updates for its Apple Store and AirPort Utility apps for the iPhone on Wednesday ahead of the release of iOS 7. The release notes for both say they've been updated with support for iOS 7, which doesn't come as a surprise at all.

Apple rolled out an update for its iCloud website ahead of Wednesday's official launch of iOS 7. The site refresh brings iOS 7's look and feel to the web-based versions of Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, and Find My iPhone.

Folks with more than one email address, listen up—you can configure each of the accounts on your iOS device to play a different sound when new messages come in. With this, you'll know without looking whether an email was sent to your important, work-related address or just to that old Hotmail account you're still holding on to. Sound neat? Then come on in for Melissa's last iOS 6 tip!

It's always a guess on how much inventory Apple will have for an iPhone (or iPad) launch, but carriers are saying they will have little inventory for Apple's launch. One carrier source characterized inventory levels for launch day as "grotesquely low." Another carrier said it was extremely disappointed in Apple's inventory deliveries.

I'm a sucker for this sort of thing: Rocketcases announced some new cases for iPhone 5s on Tuesday, including two Game Boy Retro cases and a Nintendo Controller case. The company also has its Retro Cassette Tape, and a VHS Tape case. They're $14.95, and they're pretty cool. Most of these cases are also available for iPhone 4, 4s, and 5, and the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s cases are the same. 

A new report suggests that iPhone 5s supplies will be constrained at launch, as the iPhone 5c will make up the majority of stock at Apple Stores on Friday. Apple is reportedly expecting the space gray iPhone 5s to be the most popular, with fewer silver and gold options in…

The first unboxing photos of Apple’s iPhone 5s and 5c were recently posted on Weibo. Apple’s cardboard iPhone 5s box almost exactly matches a previously leaked box, with one exception — there is no iTunes Store icon on the box, likely a regional difference. Contents of the box were…

If you want to be among the first to buy an iPhone 5s, you have two choices: Stay up late Thursday night to order online, or get in line early at your local Apple Store this Friday. Online orders for the new iPhone model will start at 12:01 AM pacific time on Friday, September 20, and in store sales will start later in the morning at 8:00 AM local time.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Since Apple isn't offering a preorder option for the iPhone 5s, you'll have to line up early if you want one on Friday. Get ready for long lines.

Apple has extended the life of legacy iPhone and iPod touch models by adding the ability to download older versions of apps from the App Store. The new feature gives users the option of downloading apps that are compatible with the version of iOS that's running on their device, instead of facing alerts that say the apps they want aren't compatible.

The Mac Observer Spin:
This is a very welcome App Store feature, and it means even more legacy iOS devices can continue to do their job instead of ending up in desk drawers collecting dust.

Apple's technology is everywhere, but a photograph of an iPad being used on the front lines in the civil war in Syria is garnering media attention. The photograph shows a member of the Free Syria Army using an iPad to eyeball-aim a mortar.

There was lots of grumbling when Apple obsoleted legacy speaker docks by moving iPhone and iPad to the Lightning connector, but a company called Auris saw some opportunity in that grumbling. It has a Kickstarter project called Skye that is essentially an AirPlay receiver for your legacy 30-pin Dock speakers. Slip it on your Dock the way you used to slip on your iPhone, and you then send music from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC (through iTunes) wirelessly. Android and Windows Phone are also supported through DLNA. It's Wi-Fi (rather than Bluetooth), so range won't be an issue in most settings. Auris is trying to raise US$56,000, and has already raised $21,800 in just the first day. Early backers can get a Skye with $64, $69, $74, or $79 (it will retail for $89). It's a pretty cool idea, so check it out.

...

Bump quickly gained popularity on the iPhone shortly after Apple opened the App Store, and now it's going to be part of the Google family. According to the company, Google is buying it out but business will continue as usual.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Considering how the SnapSeed purchase went, there's a chance that Bump will stick around. Google kept the mobile versions of SnapSeed around and has continued to support it. So the big question is whether or not Bump is Google's backup plan if NFC data sharing fizzles out on Android.

Touch ID, the built-in fingerprint technology in Apple's new iPhone 5s, is causing production problems and will limit availability on its September 20 launch day, according to analysts. Both Brian White from Cantor, and Peter Misek from Jefferies both say they're hearing the sensor yield is below expectations, limiting just how many iPhone 5s units Apple can build.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Apple hasn't said if iPhone 5s numbers are limited, but without a preorder option it seems fairly likely. The new fingerprint sensor looks like a reasonable culprit for the problem, too.

Customers in China and Hong Kong will be able to reserve the iPhone 5s or 5c online starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow — Tuesday, Sept. 17. Most customers worldwide are only able to reserve the iPhone 5c at this point, with no preorders being taken on the 5s.…

Apple has sold out more of its iPhone 5c preorders with ship dates pushing back from the September 20 launch date into October. The unlocked 16GB yellow iPhone 5c was the first to sell out last Friday with delivery dates changing from September 20 to September 25.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Assuming the preorder sellouts indicate interest and not limited supply, it looks like the 16GB unlocked iPhone 5c is turning out to be really popular.

Some observers underestimate what's to be gained by Apple's 64-bit A7 in the iPhone 5s.  Is it really just a marketing stunt? Or an inadvisable plan to put 64-bit ARM CPUs into MacBooks? John Martellaro explains why the move to marry iOS with 64-bits is so darn clever, now and for the long term.

The technology Apple uses comes from Authentec, a company it bought over a year ago for US$365 million. The company was known for its fingerprint scanning technology and Near Field Communication (NFC) tech, too. At the time, there was speculation that Apple was bringing NFC to the iPhone for a digital payment system, but in the end it turned out Apple was far more interested in fingerprint scanning than NFC.

iLounge has posted a comparison gallery featuring the newest color of the iPod nano and iPod shuffle. While Apple.com’s web site calls it “Space Gray,” the newly released iPod color is only listed as “gray” on the nano’s packaging, and has no name on the shuffle’s smaller box. Our…