Apple rolls out iOS 10, WatchOS 3, tvOS 10, and more to the public: Here’s how to download them all
It’s Apple Software Day!
Okay, that’s not an actual day, but it might as well be, as the Cupertino, CA-based company has begun rolling out a tonne of significant software updates, as well as some other interesting bits, for its hardware devices out in the wild.
Here’s everything you need to know, including how to get it all.
iOS 10
Apple on Tuesday released iOS 10 to the public.
It’s the latest, major mobile operating system update for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. It can be downloaded on the iPhone 5 and later, the iPad Mini and later, the iPad 2 and later, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
Pocket-lint
First announced at WWDC 2016, iOS 10 is described as the “biggest release ever” for iOS devices. It includes several new features and design changes, such as a new lock screen, improved Messages app, new emoji, a new Home app, and a redesigned Apple Music app.
The free update is available through iTunes or over the air in the Settings app. To get it now, simply plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi. From there, tap Settings > General > Software Update. Then, tap Download and Install. That’s it.
For full details on the new features included in iOS 10, make sure to check out Pocket-lint’s review and round-ups.
- Apple iOS 10 tips and tricks: See what your iPhone and iPad can do now
- Apple iOS 10 review: Bringing more complexity and features to your iPhone
- Apple iOS 10: Release date and everything you need to know
WatchOS 3
Apple on Tuesday released WatchOS 3 to the public.
It’s the latest, major version of the operating system that powers Apple Watch. It brings new apps, new watch faces, a new dock, new activity sharing, a new Breathe app, and a slew of navigation and performance improvements.
Apple
First announced at WWDC 2016, Apple said WatchOS 3 will make the Apple Watch “feel like a whole new watch”. To install the free update, your Apple Watch must have 50 per cent battery, and it must be placed on the charger and in range of an iPhone running iOS 10.
WatchOS 3 is available for all Apple Watches. Follow these steps to install it:
- Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi
- Launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone
- Tap the My Watch tab
- Tap General > Software Update > Download and Install
- Enter your iPhone Passcode
- Tap Agree to the Terms and Conditions
- Tap Install on your iPhone and/or your Apple Watch
For full details on the new features included in WatchOS 3, make sure to check out Pocket-lint’s round-up.
- Apple Watch major software update: What’s new in WatchOS 3?
- Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015)
- Apple WatchOS 3 update: Control Center, Dock, Scribble, and more
tvOS 10
Apple on Tuesday released tvOS 10 to the public.
It’s the latest, major operating system designed for the fourth-generation Apple TV. It brings new improvements that make it easier to find and watch content, and it includes improved search and expanded Siri capabilities.
Pocket-lint
Other new features include a dark mode, a Continuity option for using iPhone to input text, and automatic download of universal apps, among other things. You can download tvOS 10 over the air through the Settings app on Apple TV.
Simply go to Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software. When the free update appears, download and install it. If you have automatic software updates turned on, your box will automatically upgrade to tvOS 10.
For full details on the new features included in tvOS 10, make sure to check out Pocket-lint’s round-up.
- What’s new in Apple TV? Smarter Siri, better gaming, single sign-in
- Apple TV review: Packed with potential
- 14 cool features and other things you can do with the new Apple TV
Swift Playgrounds
Apple on Tuesday released Swift Playgrounds to the public.
It’s a new iPad app designed to teach both children and adults how to code in Swift (Apple’s programming language created for iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS). Swift Playgrounds is free to download and use.
Apple
When you first open the app, you will see several basic coding lessons, puzzles, and challenges. It’s all very reminiscent to Codecademy, but it’s much more visually-friendly with loads of graphics and playful features. In fact, with this app, Apple seems to be targeting children.
First announced in WWDC 2016, Swift Playgrounds is meant for beginners with no experience in coding. There’s even a special keyboard with specific shortcuts, with the purpose of making it easier to enter code.
For full details on the new features included in Swift Playgrounds, make sure to check out Pocket-lint’s guide.
- Apple Swift Playgrounds app: Here’s how it teaches kids to code
iTunes 12.5.1
Apple on Tuesday released iTunes 12.5.1 to the public.
It’s the latest version of iTunes that brings Apple Music to the Mac. It functions a lot like Apple Music on mobile devices. The free update also brings MacOS Sierra-specific features, including support for Siri and Picture-in-Picture.
Use the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to download iTunes 12.5.1 over the air. Keep in mind MacOS Sierra, the latest version of the Mac operating system, won’t be available until 20 September.
- Apple Music vs Spotify: What’s the difference?
- Apple Music explained: What is it and how does it work?
Did iOS 10 brick your iPhone? Here’s a quick fix
If you haven’t heard, Apple has released iOS 10, and the update bricked some users’ iPhones and iPads.
Apple has already fixed the problem, however. It told media outlets that a brief issue with the software update process affected a small number of users during the first hour of availability, but everything’s been resolved. If you were one of the unfortunate users affected, Apple said to connect your device to iTunes to complete the update, which is terribly inconvenient if you don’t have a laptop or desktop nearby with iTunes.
- Apple rolls out iOS 10, WatchOS 3, tvOS 10, and more
- Apple iOS 10 tips and tricks: See what your iPhone and iPad can do now
- Apple iOS 10 review: Bringing more complexity and features to your iPhone
- Apple iOS 10: Release date and everything you need to know
Still, if your phone was bricked (well, technically, it isn’t a full brick – but it does make your device useless), at least you know it’s a temporary issue, and there is a quick (although cumbersome) fix. Here’s what you need to do.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC.
Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
Press and hold your device’s Sleep and Home buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.
A prompt in iTunes will ask you to update or restore. Select Update.
When the install completes, you can use your phone.
Note: Repeat steps 2–4 if you run into a problem during setup.
Apple has also recommended using AppleCare if you need more assistance (learn more about that from here), or you can head over to an Apple Store if you don’t have access to a Mac or PC.
Russian hackers leak health data from Olympic athletes
A Russian hacker group known as “Fancy Bears” has accessed and leaked medical files from some of the most popular Olympic athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed. Venus and Serena Williams, as well as gymnast Simone Biles, were among the targets. The attack isn’t all that surprising, considering that WADA recommended banning all of Russia’s Olympic contenders this year after it discovered a long-running state-run doping program. Ultimately, more than 100 Russian athletes were banned from this year’s summer Olympics.
“WADA condemns these ongoing cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system,” said WADA director general Olivier Niggli in a statement. “Let it be known that these criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia further to the outcomes of the Agency’s independent McLaren Investigation Report,” he added.
WADA believes the hackers used spear phishing attacks to acquire passwords for their administrative interface around the Rio Olympics. Naturally, the agency says it’s working with law enforcement to investigate the attack, and it’s take a closer look at its security capabilities. The documents that Fancy Bears released on Twitter points to the Williams sisters using banned substances over the past few years for therapeutic purposes, but, it’s important to note it was all authorized by WADA.
#SerenaWilliams #VenusWilliams are doping addicts#OpOlympics #FancyBears #WADA pic.twitter.com/TAwDtxOmUY
— Fancy Bears’ HT (@FancyBears) September 12, 2016
“It’s unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong,” said US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart in a statement. “The athletes haven’t. In fact, in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication.”
Source: WADA
eBay Quick Sale is an easy way to sell your used phone
There are plenty of places to sell your used phone, and eBay has traditionally been one of them. But the online auction giant is now offering its own trade-in program that buys your old-gen handsets without you having to go to the trouble of auctioning it off yourself. The new Quick Sale feature accepts devices from dozens of brands, including Apple, Samsung, HTC, ZTE, Motorola and Nokia, as well as smaller companies such as Kyocera, blu, Pantech and DOOGEE.
Like many other online trade-in programs, Quick Sale lets you get an estimated offer for your phone after you answer a few questions through the website. The price will be based on the condition, storage capacity, color and brand. Once that’s all been determined, eBay will provide a free shipping label that you can use to send your handset in. The sale will go through the eBay Valet service that sells your stuff on your behalf.
After the company receives your pre-loved device, it will confirm the condition and pay you. The whole process will take about 7 to 10 business days after you send in your phone.
A quick check showed that Quick Sale offered me $311.50 for a space gray 128GB iPhone 6s in good condition, while Gazelle only suggested $230 for the same specs. Glyde, however, will give me about $361 if I throw in a charger.
While there is no fee for selling through Quick Sale, and you’ll get just what the company offers you answer the website’s questions, you might still be able to fetch a higher price if you set up an auction yourself. But considering what other buyback programs are offering, the eBay service appears to be pretty competitive, at least on first glance.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: eBay
Apple’s iOS 10 is bricking iPhones
Apple’s iOS 10 just dropped this morning and, less than an hour after launch, the landings haven’t been smooth for everyone. From the get-go, Twitter has lit up with reports of people’s phones (including your humble Engadget contributor) getting bricked or otherwise stuck in the update-restore process.
It appears iPhones weren’t the only devices having trouble with the update, either. As Brianna Wu noted on Twitter, the update has also bricked her iPad Pro.
Do not install iOS 10. It’s also bricked my iPad Pro. iPhone 6S Plus will require PSU wipe. No access to calls, email, or calendar today.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) September 13, 2016
Apple, for their part, issued a statement saying: “We experienced a brief issue with the software update process, affecting a small number of users during the first hour of availability. The problem was quickly resolved and we apologize to those customers. Anyone who was affected should connect to iTunes to complete the update or contact AppleCare for help.”
Of course, that’s cold comfort for someone still staring down the “Connect to iTunes screen.”
BMW and VW finish installing EV chargers along US coastlines
If you regularly drive some of the busiest highways in the US, you now have a stronger incentive to pick up an electric car. BMW, Volkswagen and ChargePoint have finished installing 95 promised EV charging stations along key routes on the US’ eastern and western coastlines. The chargers, typically placed about 50 miles apart, will help you travel from Boston to Washington, DC (mostly along Interstate 95) or Portland, Oregon to San Diego (on Highway 101 and Interstate 5) without worrying about your battery.
All stations have SAE Combo fast charging, so you can top up cars like the BMW i3 or VW e-Golf anywhere along the charger network. Some of them also have CHAdeMO plugs for cars like the Nissan Leaf, and you’ll also find slower J1772 charging at some spots. It’s not the most comprehensive network as a result, but it’s bound to help if you’d rather not buy a Tesla just to enjoy long-distance electric travel.
Via: The Verge
Source: ChargePoint
Periscope gets iMessage hearts, improved iPad support on iOS 10
Periscope’s been tweaking its service to better take on main rival Facebook Live, and with the release of iOS 10 today, the Twitter-owned app gets a big upgrade. The new version of the livestreaming app will come with native iPad support, improved global and home feeds, as well as hearts stickers that you can use in the iPhone’s messaging app.
The announcement also includes a feature that was already disclosed last week that lets you see when people you follow start tuning in to your broadcast. Now, you’ll see the avatars of your friends chilling out at the bottom of your screen while you cast your stream.
In iOS 10, you’ll be able to send stickers that resemble Periscope’s famous hearts that pop up when people like your stream. This is only on iMessage, though, which means it’ll only work between those on iOS (sorry, Android users).
The app’s global feed, which shows all the livestreams around the world at that time, will now display other broadcasts that are similar to what you’re watching. Videos will also be larger and autoplay in the home and global feed.
The new native iPad support means that instead of having to press a “2x” button to scale up the iPhone app to fit the larger screen, you’ll now get an app interface tailored for a bigger display.
As the world gets more and more dependent on livestreams for its news and entertainment, service providers are providing better tools to support content creators (and consumers). Just last week, Twitter added a new tool that will alert you whenever celebs and your friends start broadcasting, making sure you never miss a new stream.
Source: Periscope on Medium
Adblock Plus launches its very own ad network
The immensely popular (and sometimes controversial) Adblock Plus browser extension is taking the next step in its crusade to clean up online advertising — even if that effort comes at a cost to users and publishers. On Tuesday, Adblock Plus announced it is joining the ranks of those online advertisers and launching its own ad network called the Acceptable Ads Platform.
While it doesn’t really jibe with the company’s original goal of blocking ads entirely, the new platform claims it will allow bloggers and publishers to quickly and easily select “pre-whitelisted ads that they can drag and drop onto their sites.” The ads must meet ABP’s own Acceptable Ads criteria for size and labeling, but once they’re placed on a publisher’s site, the ads will be visible to ABP’s millions of users. According to the Wall Street Journal, about a quarter of US internet users have an ad blocker installed on their desktop browsers.
“The Acceptable Ads Platform helps publishers who want to show an alternative, nonintrusive ad experience to users with ad blockers by providing them with a tool that lets them implement Acceptable Ads themselves,” Till Faida, co-founder of Adblock Plus said in a release.
On the user’s end, Adblock Plus will still block ads that are not served by the new platform and users can turn off even the “acceptable” ads if they so choose. Those users who aren’t running ABP will, of course, always get the site’s original ads.
While the system is an overall win for anyone who dislikes obtrusive, annoying or obnoxious ads, the Journal also notes that Adblock Plus already whitelists ads from Google, Microsoft Corp. and Taboola. For now, the platform is in open beta for publishers and advertisers. A full launch will follow in the fall.
Source: Adblock Plus, BusinessWire
Foursquare’s revamped city guide app puts search at its center
Foursquare’s namesake app is all about finding things to do around town, but it hasn’t really put the strongest focus on the finding part — it’s usually focused on suggestions. Well, the company is fixing that today. The new Foursquare 10 for Android and iOS has a redesigned home screen that puts search at its heart. On top of a more prominent search box, you’ll also get big quick access buttons that help you find common activities, such as dinner or nightclubs. And if you’re on iOS 10, you’ll get rich notifications that include photos and quick actions.
If you spend more of your time in Swarm, you’re also in luck. If you’ve spent ages accumulating in-game coins, you can now spend them to unlock the service’s real-world deals. UNIQLO will give you a $5 gift card, for instance, while Miami’s Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market will give you $10 off. San Francisco’s Balboa Cafe will even hand you some free ice cream. And now that those coins are useful for more than stickers, you have more ways to earn them — the app will occasionally ask you trivia questions about your travels (say, the last time you hung out somewhere) in return for some virtual currency. In short: you now have a good fiscal incentive to use Swarm every day, not just when you’re out on the town.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Foursquare, App Store, Google Play
Apple’s iWork for iOS Apps Updated With Real-Time Collaboration
Apple today updated its iWork line of apps, including Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, for iOS 10. The new versions of the apps include a real-time collaboration feature, which is available as a beta.
With real-time collaboration, first announced on September 7, multiple users can edit an iWork document at one time using a Mac, an iOS device, or iCloud.com. Real-time collaboration allows all users to see what each person is doing inside the document, with multiple cursors and a list of document editors.
Also included in today’s update is a new formatting pane designed for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, support for wide color gamut (a feature coming in the iPhone 7), improved downloading, and enhanced keyboard navigation and keyboard shortcuts.
What’s New in Version 3.0
– Real-time collaboration (feature in beta)
– Edit a document with others at the same time in Pages on Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iCloud.com
– Share your document publicly or with specific people
– See who else is in a document
– See participants’ cursors as they’re editing– A new format pane takes advantage of the display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro
– Improved downloading – Pages now downloads documents from iCloud only when you’re ready to work on them
– Wide color gamut image support
– Enhanced keyboard navigation and additional keyboard shortcuts
In Keynote, there’s an option to present a slideshow that users can follow along with from their Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com, and there’s a feature for highlighting with the Apple Pencil while presenting on the iPad Pro. Pages and Keynote also both feature support for opening and editing Pages and Keynote ’05 documents.
Apple’s line of iWork apps are free to users who have recently purchased a new Mac or iOS device. Otherwise, each iWork app for Mac is available for $19.99 while each iWork app for iOS is available for $9.99.
Pages for iOS – [App Store]
Keynote for iOS – [App Store]
Numbers for iOS – [App Store]
Discuss this article in our forums
AIVAnet 