Pump up your summer jams with these on-ear JBL wireless headphones for $25
On sale for $24.99, these new, open-box JBL Tune 510BT wireless headphones deliver JBL Pure Bass comfortably and affordably. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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What's new in Apple Music for iOS 18
While Apple Music didn't get much love during the WWDC keynote, there are still changes on the way. Here's what's happening to the streaming music app.Apple Music has some small changes in iOS 18Apple Music has some small changes in iOS 18Apple Music has some small changes in iOS 18Apple's apps often get talked about during the keynote of WWDC. For 2024's version, there seemed to be very little discussion about Apple Music.Despite Apple's near silence about Apple Music, there are still some feature changes that have been made to the app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How long does Apple support iPhones?
Macworld If you are thinking of buying an older generation or used iPhone, or wondering whether it’s worth updating your current handset, one important factor to consider is how long Apple will be offering support for that handset. There are two ways in which Apple supports iPhones. One is the software – ensuring that any bugs and security flaws are addressed. The other is the hardware – providing the parts and labor to fix a problem with your phone (for a price, of course). It’s for this reason that we dissuade people from buying particularly old iPhone handsets. The risk that a fault could occur or that you might be exposed to security risks is too high. The good news is that Apple does support iPhones for a reasonably long time. Software support lasts more than eight to ten years, while hardware support can be available on five to seven-year-old handsets Read on to find out which iPhones are supported with the latest operating systems, and which are supported for servicing and repairs. We also have a guide to how to get a broken iPhone fixed and what Apple product repairs cost and how long they take. How long does Apple support iOS? From time to time Apple issues important security updates for iOS. It doesn’t issue an update for every version of iOS though, which means that some iPhones will not get this fix for what could be dangerous vulnerabilities. As of June 2024, Apple supports the following versions of its operating systems for bug and security updates: iOS 17, iOS 16 and iOS 15. When iOS 18 launches in September 2024, it is likely that Apple will drop support for iOS 15 and with it support for the iOS iPhones 7, 6S, 6S Plus and 1st gen SE. Note that the iPhone 6s, original SE, and iPhone 8 are already considered ‘Vintage’ by Apple and the iPhone 6 Plus is considered ‘Obsolete’–more on that below. (Apple doesn’t need to support iOS 14 and iOS 13 because all iPhones that ran those OSs can run iOS 15). In January 2023, Apple issued a security update for iOS 12, which addressed serious security flaws in the iPhones 6 and 5s as well as some iPads that can’t run iPadOS. However, that was the last update to iOS 12, so if you are still using an iPhone 5s or iPhone 6 an upgrade is long overdue. Statista (a provider of market and consumer data) publishes a chart that shows how long Apple supports older iPhones. The company updated this chart in June 2023, adding iOS 17. The graph shows for how long the software on iPhones has been supported by Apple, and the good news is that security support for the operating systems has continued for years after these phones were sold, especially among the newer iPhones. Statista’s graph shows every iPhone and every iOS. Statista’s graph shows every iPhone and every iOS.Statista Statista’s graph shows every iPhone and every iOS.Statista Statista The first iPhone, which launched in 2007, was able to run iPhone OS 3, which was supported by Apple up until 2010. The iPhone is considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 3G, which launched in 2008, was able to run iOS 4.0, which was itself supported until 2011. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are considered obsolete by Apple. The length of support increased with the launch of the iPhone 4s in 2011. That phone was able to run operating systems all the way up to iOS 9. Apple was still supporting iOS 9 in 2019 when it issued a GPS-related update that July. The iPhones 4 and 4s are considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 5c runs iOS 10, which also received the GPS-related update in July 2019. The iPhones 5 and 5c are considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 both run iOS 12, for which Apple issued a security update in January 2023. This update was issued for those few devices that don’t support iOS 15. Apple is unlikely to continue support for iOS 12. These phones are considered vintage by Apple. iOS 15, which arrived in September 2021, supports all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards, just as with iOS 14 and iOS 13. Both iOS 14 and 13 are considered obsolete by Apple because the same phones can run iOS 15. The iPhone 6s is already considered vintage by Apple. iOS 16, which arrived in September 2022 runs on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards – but do note that not all features are available on the older handsets. iOS 17 arrived in September 2023 and runs on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards – meaning the iPhone X and iPhone 8 will be stuck with iOS 16. iOS 18 is coming in September 2024 and, like iOS 17, will run on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards. What is the oldest iPhone still supported? Since Apple isn’t continuing support for iOS 12, there is no software support for the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Those phones are already considered ‘Vintage’ by Apple (see below). We advise that if you have an iPhone 6 or older and are concerned about security it is time to update your iPhone. This is because Apple is unlikely to issue any more security updates for that phone. Apple continues to support iOS 15 (for now), so the oldest iPhone to be supported is the iPhone 6S, however, this model is also already in Apple’s vintage list, so we would still recommend updating to a newer iPhone. It’s a similar story with the original iPhone SE. When Apple introduces iOS 18 later in 2024 we expect that support for iOS 15 will end, and with it support for anything older than the iPhone 8 (which launched in September 2017). We have a list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions of iOS and how long Apple supports iOS for. The iPhone 5S. Remember? It’s been a while. The iPhone 5S. Remember? It’s been a while.IDG The iPhone 5S. Remember? It’s been a while.IDG IDG When does Apple stop supporting iPhones? In terms of software that’s not a bad showing, but if your iPhone has a fault will Apple be able to provide the parts to fix it with? Apple will support iPhones (and all devices it makes) for seven years from the last time it sold that particular model. So as long as your iPhone was still being sold by Apple up to seven years ago the company will still service it – in other words: help you fix it (for a price). This is where Apple list of obsolete and vintage products comes in. Apple states on its website here that “Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac products may obtain a service and parts from Apple or Apple service providers for five years after the product is no longer sold.” The following iPhones are considered Obsolete, which means sales were discontinued more than seven years ago and Apple has now discontinued all hardware servicing. iPhone iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iPhone 4 (certain models are now obsolete) iPhone 4s iPhone 5c (discontinued September 2013, obsolete in 2021) iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024) iPhone 6 Plus (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024) And these iPhones are listed as Vintage, which means they not been sold for more than five years (but less than seven years). Apple will still service these products. iPhone 4 8GB (discontinued in 2013, but sold in India until February 2014, likely to be obsolete very soon) iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2013, likely to become obsolete soon) iPhone 6 (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021) iPhone 6s (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2022) iPhone 6s Plus (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2022) iPhone SE, 2016 (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2023) iPhone 8 (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024) iPhone 8 Plus (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024) Apple will only service iPhones on the vintage list if it has the required parts. All iPhones that followed those handsets should be supported by Apple. You may also be interested to learn how long Apple supports Macs for and how long Apple supports iPads for. Is your iPhone slipping into obscurity? Find a great deal on a new iPhone here or check the best prices below and take a look at our round-up to choose the Best iPhone for you. Apple iPhone 15 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $799 Best Prices Today: $829 at Apple | $829.99 at Best Buy Apple iPhone 15 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple | $999.99 at Best Buy iOS, iPhone

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Apple, the world’s most valuable brand, becomes the first $1 trillion global brand
Apple as become the first brand to cross $1 trillion in brand value, a 15% jump from last year, according to the global BrandZ ranking by… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iOS versions: Every version of iOS from the oldest to the newest
Macworld iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. It’s the operating system on which everything else sits, while also delivering plenty of features and dedicated apps built by Apple itself. If you’ve ever wondered about when versions came out, how you can check the one you’re currently using, or how to update to the latest iteration, we have the answers. Here’s our whistlestop tour of iOS including details of iOS 18, the upcoming version of iOS launching in September 2024. iOS version history iOS made its debut in 2007 alongside the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the little device aloft revealing it to the world for the first time, it wasn’t running iOS 1. Instead, it was reported by Apple to be powered by OS X, the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until finally gaining its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS in 2010. Significant milestones are scattered across the iOS timeline, with the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 in 2008. iOS 4 saw the iPad joining the scene and using the operating system alongside the iPhone. iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw the debut of Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. Sadly, this was the last version of the software to be released when Apple CEO and Founder Steve Jobs was still alive. Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007. Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007.Apple Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007.Apple Apple Things changed significantly in iOS 11 in 2017 as it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a Home button–the iPhone X. Another major shift was with iOS 13 in 2019, as it marked the bifurcation of Apple’s mobile operating systems, with iPhones staying on iOS but the newly announced iPadOS powering the new iPads. This would continue through to the present day, although the version numbers have stayed in sync, with the latest ones being iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are the latest versions of the software and launched in September 2023. You can install iOS 17 and get iPadOS 17 now. Coming in September 2024 are iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. List of iOS versions and latest versions Here’s a breakdown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, when they were released, when they were last updated, and the latest iOS version. iPhone OS 1 – Released June 29, 2007 (Latest 1.1.5 July 15, 2008) iPhone OS 2 – Released July 11, 2008 (Latest 2.2.1 January 27, 2009) iPhone OS 3 – Released June 17, 2009 (Latest 3.2.2 August 11, 2010) iOS 4 – Released June 22, 2010 (Latest 4.3.5 July 25, 2011) iOS 5 – Released October 12, 2011 (Latest 5.1.1 May 7, 2012) iOS 6 – Released September 19, 2012 (Latest 6.1.6 February 21, 2014) iOS 7 – Released September 18, 2013 (Latest 7.1.2 June 30, 2014) iOS 8 – Released September 17, 2014 (Latest 8.4.1 August 13, 2015) iOS 9 – Released September 16, 2015 (Latest 9.3.6 July 22, 2019) iOS 10 – Released September 13, 2016 (Latest 10.3.4 July 22, 2019) iOS 11 – Released September 19, 2017 (Latest 11.4.1 July 9, 2018) iOS 12 – Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iOS 13 – Released September 19, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iOS 14 – Released September 17, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021) iOS 15 – Released September 24, 2021 (Latest iOS 15.8.2 March 5, 2024) iOS 16 – Released September 12, 2022 (Latest iOS 16.7.8 May 13, 2024) iOS 17 – Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iOS 17.5.1 May 20, 2024) iOS 18 – Coming September 2024 List of iPadOS versions While iOS was the initial operating system for iPad, this changed with the release of iPadOS 13 in 2019. Since then, iPads have had their own platform, enabling Apple to better harness the power of its larger devices. Here’s the short release history of iPadOS: iOS 12 – Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iPadOS 13 – Released September 24, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iPadOS 14 – Released September 16, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021 ) iPadOS 15 – Released September 20, 2021 (Latest 15.8.2 March 5, 2024) iPadOS 16 – Released October 24, 2022 (Latest 16.7.8 May 13, 2024) iPadOS 17 – Released September 18, 2023 (Latest 17.5.1 May 20, 2024) iPadOS 18 – Coming September 2024 Also see: How long does Apple support iPads? Which iOS versions are currently supported? In terms of new features, only iOS 17 is currently supported by Apple (with iOS 18 coming later in 2024). For those with iPhones that only run older versions of iOS, Apple supports iOS 16 and iOS 15 with security updates. However, when iOS 18 arrives it is likely that Apple will stop support of iOS 15 – leaving the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhones 7 and 7 Plus unsupported. Support for iOS 16 and the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus is likely to continue for another year. iOS 14 and iOS 13 are considered obsolete by Apple because the same phones that can run those operating systems can run iOS 15. In January 2023 Apple issued a security update for iOS 12, but it is unlikely to issue another. Therefore the iPhones 6, 6 Plus and 5S, and some iPads are no longer supported as they only run iOS 12. Luckily, many iPhones are able to run supported versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones? We run through which iPhone supports which version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run. How to tell which version of iOS your iPhone is running If you’re not sure which version of iOS you’re currently using, it’s very easy to find out. Just go to Settings > General > About and look for the iOS Version number. It’s the same steps for iPadOS. Foundry Foundry Foundry How to install the latest version of iOS Updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is simple, so long as your device is compatible. This doesn’t require much detective work though, as your iPhone will know whether it is eligible for the upgrade or not. To find out, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and your iPhone will check to see if there are any available. You may also see a notification on the Settings page that says ‘Software Update Available’, which you can click to go straight to the update page. iPadOS works the same way. Foundry Foundry Foundry If there are no updates, you’ll see a message along the lines of ‘iOS is up to date’. Should there be one available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the option to ‘Download and Install’. Do this and your iPhone will automatically apply the update and bring your software to the latest version. You can also read our tutorial on how to update iOS on iPhone for more details. So, there it is. A potted history of iOS. Want to know about all the versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released so far. You can also find out what the latest version of macOS is. iOS, iPad, iPhone

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iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run
Macworld Unsure which version of iOS your iPhone can run? Here’s a quick guide so you can find out if your iPhone is compatible with the most recent iterations of the iPhone operating system, and, if it isn’t, which version you can install on your iPhone. Apple gives iOS a major update each year, usually introducing new features and some stability upgrades to the previous version, plus numerous smaller updates in between. The latest version of iOS is iOS 17 (which was launched in September 2023), but a new version – iOS 18 – has been announced and will launch in September 2024. Although the company is better than most at keeping older models on the list of supported devices, hardware limitations can sometimes mean that an iPhone gets left behind. This doesn’t mean the device will stop working, but you won’t be able to access the newer features and capabilities that come with the updated software and you may be vulnerable to security flaws. If your iPhone can’t run one of Apple’s supported versions of iOS then it’s probably time to upgrade your iPhone. To find out more read how long Apple supports the iPhone for. If you want to see a brief history of iOS, then take a look at our guide to Every version of iOS released so far. Latest iOS version supported by each iPhone To show you which version of iOS your iPhone can run, we’ve broken down each iPhone generation so you know which version it originally shipped with (as that will be the earliest it can run) and the latest iteration it currently supports–including whether that iPhone will support iOS 18. We’ve not listed the smaller ‘point’ releases, as they change all the time, so take it as understood that any version of iOS that the iPhone is shown as supporting (such as iOS 16) also means any smaller point updates too (such as iOS 16.4.1). It should be noted that Apple has stopped supporting a lot of the older versions of iOS now, meaning there are no new security patches for them. Apple currently supports the last two generations of the iPhone operating system with security updates: iOS 16 or iOS 15. iPhones that could run iOS 13 and iOS 14 can run iOS 15, so those versions of iOS are considered obsolete by Apple and aren’t updated. Apple updated iOS 12 for the last time in January 2023 and has not issued any further iOS 12 updates, so the iPhones 6, 6 Plus and 5S – are no longer supported with security updates. With the advent of iOS 18 in September 2024 the list of supported iOS versions will likely change again. We anticipate that Apple will continue to support iOS 16 for the sake of the iPhones X, 8 and 8 Plus, but support for iOS 15 and the iPhones 7, 6S, 6S Plus and 1st gen SE is likely to end. The good news is that the compatibility list for iOS 18 is the same as iOS 17, so those with the iPhone XR, XS or 2nd gen SE will get to enjoy iOS 18. However, to use Apple Intelligence you’ll need the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has an A17 Pro processor. iOS 17 did not support iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which came out in 2017, but since those phones are able to run iOS 16, they will continue to get support through security updates for at least another year. iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max Original iOS version: 17 Latest iOS version: 17 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max Original iOS version: 16 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max Original iOS version: 15 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone SE (3rd generation) Original iOS version: 15 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max Original iOS version: 14 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max Original iOS version: 13 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone SE (2nd generation) Original iOS version: 13 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone XR, XS, XS Max Original iOS version: 12 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 18: Yes iPhone X Original iOS version: 11 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 17 or iOS 18: No iPhone 8, 8 Plus Original iOS version: 11 Latest iOS version: 16 Will it get iOS 17 or iOS 18: No iPhone 7, 7 Plus Original iOS version: 10 Latest iOS version: 15 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 6S, 6S Plus Original iOS version: 9 Latest iOS version: 15 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone SE (1st generation) Original iOS version: 9 Latest iOS version: 15 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 6, 6 Plus Original iOS version: 8 Latest iOS version: 12 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 5S Original iOS version: 7 Latest iOS version: 12 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 5C Original iOS version: 7 Latest iOS version: 10 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 5 Original iOS version: 6 Latest iOS version: 10 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 4s Original iOS version: 5 Latest iOS version: 9 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 4 Original iOS version: 4 Latest iOS version: 7 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 3GS Original iOS version: 3 Latest iOS version: 6 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone 3G Original iOS version: 2 Latest iOS version: 4 Will it get iOS 17: No iPhone Original iOS version: 1 Latest iOS version: 3 Will it get iOS 17: No If your iPhone isn’t supported by iOS 18, 17, or 16 then you might want to consider upgrading to a newer device. Take a look at our best iPhone deals round-up where we share the most recent money-saving deals. Read our best iPhone guide for advice. How to tell which version of iOS you’re running If you’re not sure which version of iOS you’re currently running, it’s very easy to find out. Open Settings. Tap on General. Tap About and look for the iOS Version number. The number you’re looking for will be something like 16.0 or 15.3.1. Don’t worry about the bit in parentheses. The number you’re looking for will be something like 16.0 or 15.3.1. Don’t worry about the bit in parentheses.Foundry The number you’re looking for will be something like 16.0 or 15.3.1. Don’t worry about the bit in parentheses.Foundry Foundry How to upgrade iOS Now that you know the latest version of iOS that your iPhone supports, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re running on that platform. We have a guide on how to update iOS on your iPhone, so take a look at that and follow the simple instructions to get your iPhone up to date. Also, if your iPhone supports iOS 18 you sign up to test a beta version of iOS 18 before the official launch and following that as Apple develops even more new features for iOS 18. There are a few caveats to consider, so read how to join Apple’s beta software program before you take the plunge.   iOS, iPhone

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How to get color text in the Apple Notes app – in iOS 17 and iOS 18 [U]
I recently had to Google how to get color text in the Apple Notes app, because the way to do this in iOS 17 is rather deeply hidden! Especially if you want to do it in the iPhone or iPad app, you have to use one of three workarounds, because – strangely – the feature isn’t directly supported … Update: Color text highlighting is now supported in iOS 18 beta 1, with some limitations. See the end of the piece for details. more…

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OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s claim that Apple isn’t smart and ChatGPT isn’t safe
Perhaps upset that nobody cares about his own pet chatbot, Grok, Elon Musk launched a baseless attack on Apple’s AI announcements – saying that the iPhone maker wasn’t smart enough to create its own AI, and that ChatGPT isn’t safe. OpenAI’s chief technology officer has now hit back at the latter part of the claim … more…

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Revamped Photos app in iOS 18 makes searching better, but hides a key sharing control
Even before it gets Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 has made searching through Photos faster and easier, although it's also buried a key feature for when you want to share several images.New Photos app offering further refinements to a searchUltimately, Photos in iOS 18 is going to become much more of an image editor, with the ability to automatically remove unwanted elements from an image. That will require Apple Intelligence, which is not in the initial beta of iOS 18.Nonetheless, the iOS 18 Photos app has had a major overhaul, with what Craig Federighi claimed was its "biggest redesign ever." That redesign is immediately apparent on opening the app, where it feels as if your images are more prominent. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Four more states are jumping onto the DOJ's antitrust suit against Apple
The US Department of Justice has enlisted more help in its omnibus and controversial antitrust suit against Apple, with the count now up to 20 co-plaintiffs.The Department of Justice case will hang over Apple for yearsThe four states added in an amended complaint filed on June 11 are Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington. The amended filing contains no additional information other than the additional states jumping on."We welcome the States of Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington, who join our existing coalition to restore competition in the smartphone markets that Apple has monopolized," said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division in a statement. "We look forward to litigating this important case alongside our state partners to deliver the benefits of competition to consumers, app developers, accessory makers and the American public." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to install the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone
Macworld Apple unveiled iOS 18 at WWDC on June 10, and it’s coming to all our iPhones later this year (typically in September). But you don’t have to wait to try it now, if you don’t mind some bugs. Apple always runs an iOS beta-testing program throughout the summer in order to produce a more polished release at launch and to give developers a chance to test and update their apps. If you want to try out iOS 18 before its release, you can download the developer beta or public beta—the developer beta is released first, with the public beta coming in July. Just know that you can expect significant problems. There will crashes, some apps may not work, battery life may be poor, and so on. If you are a beta tester you will continue to receive beta updates even after the final version launches. Development of iOS will continue after the September release with a number of “point releases” (e.g. iOS 18.1, iOS 18.2, etc.) that add additional features that weren’t available at launch and fix bugs/address security flaws. If you don’t want to continue to get the beta we cover that here: How to remove iOS beta. iOS 18 beta release date and latest version The first version of the developer beta of iOS 18 arrived on the day of the WWDC 2024 keynote on June 10, 2024. It is normal for Apple to release the first beta following the keynote so that developers can immediately start testing to make sure their apps work. The public beta will start a few weeks later, at the beginning of July. This usually corresponds to the 3rd or 4th developer release. The Developer Beta was tied to a paid-for developer account (which costs $99/£79 a year). However, in 2023 Apple changed its policy so that if you have any developer account, even the free one, you can get the developer beta of iOS. To enroll in the Apple Developer Program and get access to the developer beta, head the the Apple Developer enrollment page. Once registered, you’ll see a developer beta option in Settings > General > Software Updates. However, we don’t recommend you install the developer beta if you aren’t a developer. The Public Beta, while not bug-free, is less problematic. iOS 18 public beta release date and latest version The first public beta version of iOS 18 will likely be released in the first half of July. To enroll in the public beta, head to beta.apple.com to sign up for access. Once registered, you’ll see a public beta option in Settings > General > Software Updates after the beta begins. How to get the iOS 18 beta If you are keen to try out the new features, we recommend waiting for the public beta—the first developer beta releases tend to be quite buggy and unreliable. Just beware that any beta, public or developer, is likely to be buggy and cause issues with your iPhone, so our advice is not to run it on a secondary iPhone or have some backup plan in place. If you do want to revert back to iOS 17 read: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone. Anyone with an Apple developer account can get access to the developer beta—it is no longer necessary to be a paid-up member of the Apple Developer Program. You can join Apple’s beta programs on Apple’s website. Read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester. Here are the various ways to get the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone: How to install the iOS 18 Developer Beta Each stage of iOS’s development cycle is rolled out to developers first, and then to public beta testers afterwards. If you’re a developer and need to test your apps against the most up-to-date version of iOS possible, this is the version to run. You no longer need a paid developer account to run the beta (just to publish apps to the App Store)—any Apple Developer account will do. You can create a free Apple Developer account using your Apple ID. How to get a sign up for an Apple Developer account If you want a free Apple Developer account so you can access the developer beta you can get this via Xcode, the Apple Developer app on iOS, or the Apple Developer enrollment site. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app: Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store. Open the app. Tap on Account. Sign in using your usual Apple ID.  If you want to sell applications to the App Store and sell them you’ll need to pay $99/£79 per year for a paid account. Sign up to the Apple Developer Program (here) or through Apple’s Developer App. You can register as an individual or a company. You will be required to add various bits of information and agree to the program license agreement, then enter your payment details (it’s an annual subscription that you can end up to a day before it renews). It can take a few days to verify you and make the account live. You can compare the free and paid accounts here. All set with your Apple developer account? Okay! Here’s how to install the iOS developer beta: Back up your iPhone (because this is a beta you are testing!) Open Settings app. Tap General. Tap Software Update. In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Developer Beta. Now wait a while while the beta installs. Foundry Foundry Foundry Developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. Prior to iOS 16.4, it was necessary to download and activate a beta profile to your device. From iOS 16.4 onwards, Apple will simply check to see if your Apple ID is a registered developer and provide access in the Software Update menu. You may need to restart your iPhone for the option to appear. How to install the iOS 18 Public Beta The developer beta is, as the name suggests, is intended for developers only, but Apple does offer a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features and find bugs. Beginning with iOS 16.4, you no longer need to download and activate a profile to get the beta. You simply need to enroll and select the beta from the software updates section in Settings. You can install the iOS public beta using the following instructions. Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID. Log in to the Beta Software Program. Click Enroll your iOS device. Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update. In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta. If you want to uninstall the beta and stop receiving beta updates read this: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone. The beta will include a Feedback app that you can use to submit bug reports and broken features. Make use of it! It’s the best way for Apple to get well-documented, reproducible bug reports directly to developers, along with things like telemetry and screenshots that make it easy for them to figure out what’s wrong. Using the Feedback app every time you encounter a problem is the best way to make sure the final release of iOS 18 is a smooth upgrade for everyone. What’s a beta? Betas are pre-release testing versions. Nearly every iOS update goes through the beta phase before it’s officially launched, from small tweaks such as 15.5 to full-version game-changers like iOS 16. There are developer betas (for registered software developers only), and public betas (for anyone who’s keen). Both types go through multiple versions—probably half a dozen—before a major launch. Risks and precautions Note first of all that betas are test versions of upcoming software. They are by definition unfinished, and while they should include most or all of the features in the finished product, there will be cosmetic differences and, inevitably, some glitches and problems that will need to be fixed. The glitches and problems are why Apple bothers to beta-test iOS in the first place. In other words, don’t expect a perfect user experience. In particular, don’t expect existing apps (including ones that you may rely on) to work perfectly with the new version. In extreme cases, you may even find that your device is bricked by the beta, and cannot be used until the next beta comes along and hopefully fixes the problem. It’s not uncommon for early beta software to exhibit excessive battery drain, too. The closer we get to the final launch, the more polished and feature-complete the betas become. The counter to that, of course, is there will less time left to wait for the official launch, so you won’t gain much by installing a beta. Assuming you decide to go ahead, we can’t stress enough how important it is to back up your iPhone before you install an iOS beta, or better still, use a secondary device rather than your main iPhone. You won’t lose everything if something goes wrong while the beta is installing, and you’ll be able to go back to the last version should you find that you don’t like the new software after all, or that it’s too buggy. iOS, iPhone

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‘Pink Slime’ Sites Outnumber Daily Newspapers on the Web
Websites posing as local news outlets funded by partisan groups have surged past the number of sites of independent daily newspapers on the internet, according to a new report by a disinformation watchdog. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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You can’t mirror your iPhone on Vision Pro – not even by cheating!
iPhone mirroring in macOS Sequoia will be one of the cooler features when it lands, but sadly there isn’t any way to mirror your iPhone on Vision Pro. “Aha,” you may be thinking, “I can think of a simple workaround for that!” But sadly the obvious cheat here doesn’t work … more…

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macOS versions: Every update including the latest
Macworld Wondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Want to know what the next version of macOS will be called? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here we’ll fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. We’ll also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is. If you are wondering what the next version of macOS will be called, on June 10 2024, Apple revealed that it will be called macOS Sequoia (macOS 15), after the forests (and tall trees) in California. That version of macOS will probably launch to the general public in September or October 2024, but a macOS beta program is already underway. The current version of macOS is Sonoma, also known as macOS 14. Sonoma arrived on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, but development has continued with new features being added since. For more information read our complete guide to macOS 14 Sonoma. If you are looking for help installing Sonoma read: How to update macOS and Fixes for Macs that won’t update. What operating system does the Mac use? All Macs run macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, and have done so since the introduction of the first version of Mac OS X in 2001. Prior to that Macs ran Mac OS 9 which came out in 1999. Mac OS X was based on technology from NeXT Computer, which was another company founded by Steve Jobs. Jobs brought the technology back to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO. The operating system is Unix-based. macOS Version History Mac OS X was launched more than two decades ago on March 24, 2001. There’s been a lot of change over those two decades: good and bad. From the problems with the first edition (it was slow and didn’t run important apps like Microsoft Word) Mac OS X has evolved through various iterations and various designs to what we know today. We’ve seen tight integration with iOS devices, the incorporation of the cloud, and the arrival of excellent and helpful features including integrated Time Machine backups, Quick Look – which lets you see a preview of a document without opening the application, and innovations like Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work more efficiently. For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating system, showing how it has developed over time, take a look at our video above. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the codenames that were used internally, read on. List of macOS version names and latest versions Here’s an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has released. You’ll find a complete list of the latest release of each version of OS X and macOS, along version code names, along with internal code names (if available): OS X 10 beta: Kodiak – September 13, 2000 OS X 10.0: Cheetah – March 14, 2001 (Latest: 10.0.4) OS X 10.1: Puma – September 15, 2001 (Latest: 10.1.5) OS X 10.2: Jaguar – August 14, 2002 (Latest: 10.2.8) OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) – October 24, 2003 (Latest: 10.3.9) OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) – April 29, 2005 (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) – January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) – October 26, 2007 (Latest: 10.5.8) OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – August 28, 2009 (Latest: 10.6.8) OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) – July 20, 2011 (Latest: 10.7.5) OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) – July 25, 2012 (Latest: 10.8.5) OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) – October 22, 2013 (Latest: 10.9.5) OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) – October 16, 2014 (Latest: 10.10.5) OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) – September 30, 2015 (Latest: 10.11.6) macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) – September 20, 2016 (Latest: 10.12.6) macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) – September 25, 2017 (Latest: 10.13.6) macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) – September 24, 2018 (Latest: 10.14.6, July 2021) macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) – October 7, 2019 (Latest: 10.15.7, Security Update 2022-005, July 2022) macOS 11: Big Sur (GoldenGate) – November 12, 2020 (Latest: 11.7.10, September 11, 2023) macOS 12: Monterey (Star) – October 25, 2021 (Latest: 12.7.5, May 13, 2024) macOS 13: Ventura (Rome) – October 24, 2022 (Latest: 13.6.7, May 13, 2024) macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) – September 26, 2023 (Latest: 14.5, May 13, 2024) macOS 15: Sequoia – in beta We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here. You can install a beta version of Sequoia and test new features that haven’t yet launched. If you want to install the latest beta of macOS read about joining Apple’s beta program. Foundry Foundry Foundry Mac OS X and macOS names As you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were all named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to the final release, Mountain Lion. But while the public-facing builds were named after big cats, internally, they were named after wines (aside from OS X 10.6 which had no codename). Even after Apple switched public-facing code names to places in California back in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal code names from wines to types of apples. Original. In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS and paved the way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived twenty years after the first beta of Mac OS X. Which versions of macOS are still updated? Apple still supplies regular features and security updates to the most recent version of macOS. Right now this is Sonoma, also known as macOS 14. The previous two versions of macOS also receive security updates and bug fixes. If you are running macOS 13 Ventura and macOS 12 Monterey you will get regular security updates. Since the arrival of Sonoma, Apple no longer supports macOS Big Sur, which arrived in 2020. Similarly, with the arrival of Ventura in October 2022 Apple ceased support for Catalina, which arrived in 2019. See: How long do Macs and MacBooks last? When Sequoia launches in the fall of 2024 Apple is likely to stop supporting macOS Monterey. Apple also issues updates to its Safari web browser. The latest version of Safari for Mac is Safari 17 (as of September 2023) and it requires Monterey, Ventura or Sonoma. Foundry Foundry Foundry How to tell which macOS version you are running You can tell which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac. It will clearly show which version of macOS you are running along with the most recent version that your Mac has installed It’s easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac. It’s easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac.Foundry It’s easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac.Foundry Foundry How to install the latest version of macOS If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS the method will be determined by the version of macOS you are running. Very old versions of Mac OS X came on a disk and any security updates came via Software Update. Since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard) versions of Mac OS X and macOS have been available to download via the Mac App Store. However, that changed with Mojave, which arrived in 2018. Now operating system updates come in via Software Updates which is either located in System Settings > General > Software Update or in System Preferences > Software Update (pre-Ventura). One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set to automatically download the latest updates and install them, keeping your Mac up-to-date with minimum effort on your part. Incidentally, you can still find the macOS software on the Mac App Store.  Some Macs will be set to update macOS automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically follow these steps: In Ventura or later: Open System Settings. Click on General. Click on Software Update. Click on the i beside Automatic Updates and make sure that Check for updates, Download new updates when available, and Install macOS updates are selected. This way your Mac will automatically update to the latest version. If you would prefer not to have your Mac do this automatically you can deselect these options. In Monterey, Big Sur, Mojave, or Catalina: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update. Check the box beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date (or Download new updates when available). Now select the box Install macOS updates. In High Sierra or earlier: Open System Preferences. Click on App Store. Check the box beside Automatically check for updates – it should have a tick in it as should the four options below that… Now deselect the box beside Download newly available updates in the background. Read all about how to update your Mac here. We also have a list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions and how long Apple supports iPhones for. Mac, MacOS, Personal Software

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Our favorite features so far in iOS 18 from Control Center to Genmoji
Apple's iOS 18 is on full display after Monday's WWDC keynote, and there's a lot to talk about! Here are our favorite new features that were previewed.iOS 18 adds Genmoji to the messaging mixThese yearly updates are full of hundreds of new features but there were a few things that stuck out to us including the revamped Control Center, smart home improvements, and of course Apple Intelligence. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Bento breakdown: What's new in macOS Sequoia
Apple's now-traditional bento image shows off the highlights of macOS Sequoia. This is what each cell of that graphic means for Mac users this fall.Apple's macOS bento graphic on an iMac. Apple's presentation of operating system updates are usually summed up by a single graphic. The bento, named after the food container due to its compartments, is used to list all of the key features users will be able to try out when macOS Sequoia ships this fall.While it doesn't list every new feature, it does act as a good guide for what to expect. At least, it covers the main beats of the release. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Intelligence privacy can be independently verified thanks to an ‘extraordinary step’
Apple Intelligence privacy is a key differentiator for the company’s own AI initiative, with the company taking a three-step approach to safeguard personal data. But Apple says we won’t have to take the company’s word for it: It is taking an “extraordinary step” to enable third-party security researchers to fully and independently verify the privacy protections in place … more…

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iOS 18: 5 delightful little features that didn’t make the WWDC keynote
Macworld It happens every year. Apple announces a new version of iOS with a bunch of really big new features, and then September rolls around, you install the new version, and it’s not the big things you love. Instead, there’s some tiny little quality-of-life improvement that just makes your day-to-day iPhone use so much better. Over the course of the summer and leading up to iOS 18’s release in September, beta testers will probably find dozens of these little tweaks. Some will appear and then go away, others will change over the course of the beta tests, and some won’t appear until shortly before release in the fall. But we’ve been keeping our eye on the community, and here are some of the little iOS 18 changes that didn’t make it into Apple’s big WWDC presentation, but we think are worth knowing about. Flexible charge limits for iPhone 15 If you have an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro, you can force a charge limit of 80%, which is probably very good for the longevity of your battery. But iOS 18 changes that toggle to a slider with settings for 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100 percent, taking one of our favorite features and making it better because we’re all about limiting charging for battery life but giving up 20% of our battery to do it was just a little too steep a price. A setting of 85 percent or 90 percent would likely have a lot of benefits without feeling like your phone is going to run out of charge. Improved Apple Music queue Apple Music users have been complaining about its interface for as long as it has been around, but Apple has been making welcome changes, bit by bit, and now it’s quite good. But even Apple Music fans have complained about the Queue or “Up Next” interface. It’s a lot better now, with a refreshed look and better interactions. For example, “Play later” now puts a song a the end of your queue not at the end of your entire music selection, and the queue no longer clears when you tap to play another song. For some, this really fixes one of the last big pain points with Apple Music. The new Control Center in iOS 18 has a surprise flashlight feature. The new Control Center in iOS 18 has a surprise flashlight feature.Apple The new Control Center in iOS 18 has a surprise flashlight feature.Apple Apple New flashlight interface with beam control There’s a new flashlight interface–a small “card” with a flashlight image near the top of the display. Frankly, it’s a little too small, but it looks nice and it has a cool new feature. In addition to adjusting brightness (which seems to maybe go brighter than before), you can adjust beam width if you have an iPhone with Adaptive True Tone Flash. That means anyone with an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro can set the flashlight beam to one of three different widths. Neat! Another way to power off your iPhone Have you ever tried to explain to someone who isn’t very technically savvy about how to turn their iPhone off? Not put it to sleep, but actually power it down? With iOS 18 there’s another way to do it. The Control Center has a clear power button in the upper-right corner. Tap that and you go to the “Slide to Power Off” screen. It may not be easier for everyone—for some reason, a lot of users seem completely unaware of the existence of the Control Center or how to make it appear—but it’s at least a visual interface element and an obvious one. The “semi-circle and line” power symbol is essentially universal at this point. New Calendar month view The Calendar app has a few new interface tweaks but none are as useful, and attractive, as the new monthly calendar view. Instead of showing a full month of days with a smattering of rather unhelpful event dots, prompting you to switch to the day or week view to see what it is, you can see see actual events on the days. What’s more, pinching to zoom stretches the days taller or shorter, to show more or less on each day. You can go all the way back down to color-coded dots and lines and up to show six or more events with labels. iOS

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Apple honors original icon designer Susan Kare in macOS Sequoia wallpaper
Susan Kare's work on the icons for the original Mac in the 1980s is now the subject of a macOS Sequoia screensaver and wallpaper.Susan Kare created works of art in 32x32 pixels for the original MacAs expected, macOS Sequoia has added at least one wallpaper that harkens back to old favorites. In a wallpaper called just "Macintosh," the famous icons that so made the original Mac appear approachable, are now shown on screen.They're shown dramatically larger than they were. Originally drawn as 32 pixels by 32 pixels, now they fill the screen. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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