Emoji diversity: iOS 8.3 Beta adds more color, more flags from around the world, and more

Emoji diversity: iOS 8.3 Beta adds more color, more flags from around the world, and more

Next month, iOS 8.3 will be made available as a public beta test, with Apple hoping to recreate the success it had with a similar rollout for its OS X Yosemite update last year.

Unlike other public betas however, Apple expects you to earn your keep if you happen to get one of the coveted 100,000 available spots for the preview of iOS version 8.3. Beta testers will get a dedicated app to report bugs and such.

While those signed up for the AppleSeed program wait for their opportunity to get the beta, the rest of us are simply interested in what iOS 8.3 may bring to the user experience. Like any iOS update, the changes are fairly incremental, but iOS 8.3 beta 2 has already pushed to developers, so we get to take a look at what is inside.

Most noticeably, there is a wider selection of emojis to choose from, reflecting the diversity of ethnicity around the world. Speaking of the world, more flags have been added as well. Expect to see some images updated in the “objects & symbols” area, notably those of the iPhone reflecting an iPhone 6 image, and the watch resembling well, an Apple Watch.

Other enhancements lie beneath the surface. iOS 8.3 will bring improved login for Google services, as well as updated voices and languages for Siri including Russian, Danish, Dutch, Thai, Turkish, Portugese, and Swedish. Chinese support for Apple Pay should be fully enabled by its release. One thing not supported in the iOS 8.3 beta is Verizon LTE voice.

We have not yet had iOS 8.2 officially drop yet, so it is a safe bet that iOS 8.3 beta testing is going to last a while, meaning we will not likely see these new features until this summer. Source

Google drops email client Sparrow for iOS, looks for migration to Inbox

Google drops email client Sparrow for iOS, looks for migration to Inbox

Google has quietly pulled the plug on its Sparrow app for iOS (and Mac). After paying less than $25 million for Sparrow in 2012, Google charged $2.99 for the email client in the Apple App Store. While the wings have been pulled off Sparrow, Google will continue to support it for those who shelled out cash to purchase the app. After its debut, Sparrow become one of the top utility apps for the iOS platform before tumbling to its current position as the 842nd most downloaded iOS app (according to AppAnnie).

Google hopes that those looking for Sparrow, and current users of it, both migrate over to its highly regarded Inbox. The latter is a free app available via invitation only. Inbox helps you sort your Gmail, snooze it and will even allow you to retract a sent email before it is read.

Recently, Google said that 70% of Inbox users are Android owners with 28% rockin' iOS. Google would like to see the usage data broaden out more with more iPhone and iPad users installing the app. You can ask for an Inbox invitation by emailing your request to inbox@google.com. Source

iOS 8.3 beta review on iPhone 6 includes new emoji picker

iOS 8.3 beta review on iPhone 6 includes new emoji picker

Apple’s iOS 8.2 hasn’t made it to a public release yet and is still in the beta stages, so it was unusual to see Apple seed the first beta of iOS 8.3 to developers two days ago. It’s always interesting to see what a new iOS version has to offer, so today we have an iOS 8.3 beta review on an iPhone 6 to show you, and the update includes a new emoji picker and more.

While iOS 8.2 has its focus on Apple Watch support, iOS 8.3 improvements and new features include wireless CarPlay, improved Google login, Apple Pay for China, as well as the new emoji picker, and more. iOS 8.3 beta one is only available for developers at present and there could be several more betas before it eventually reaches a public release.

Below this story we’ve embedded a YouTube video of an iPhone 6 running iOS 8.3 beta review. It begins by showing that the iPhone is indeed running the iOS 8.3 beta (build 12F5027d), before moving on to General in Settings and discussing CarPlay. Although initially it was thought that there were new emojis that’s not the case, but the emojis picker has had a revamp so that it’s easier to scroll through them.

Next the review moves on to Google’s two-step verification process when logging in or adding accounts on iOS, and you’ll also spot a Geekbench test and scores along the way. Another aspect of the review is an Ookla Speedtest being performed, and there are also mentions of some more minor aspects such as bug fixes that are likely to feature.

Finally the reviewer adds some thoughts about improvements that are still required, and one of these will ring a chord with many iOS device users, a quick way of closing down all open apps. The video below gives some interesting first impressions of the first beta of iOS 8.3, and when you’ve watched it we’d like to hear your opinions.

What are your initial thoughts on the changes coming with iOS 8.3? Is there something you’d particularly like to see on a future iOS update that would be a real improvement? Send your comments to let us know. Yoursalephone

iOS Activation lock does its job and discourages thieves - statistics show a massive drop in stolen iPhones

iOS Activation lock does its job and discourages thieves - statistics show a massive drop in stolen iPhones

Last year, Jerry Brown, governor of California, signed a legislation, which states that all smartphones sold in the state from the 1st of July of this year need to have a sort of "kill switch" baked within its software. The point is to allow users who have had their phone stolen be able to lock / wipe their handset from a distance – a feature, which is currently available in many handsets, but requires users to opt in, rather being on by default.

So far, Apple's iCloud Activation Lock is the most straightforward of said solutions – it goes on automatically, once the user switches the "Find my iPhone" function on, and will stay ever-present, turning the iPhone into a fancy paperweight, if a person who does not know your iCloud user name and password tries to deactivate "Find my iPhone", or wipes the handset. Buyers of second-hand iDevices can also visit the iCloud website to check if a handset they are eyeing is locked.

The Lock's popularity has obviously caught on, as a year-over-year statistic shows that iPhone theft has dropped by 40% in San Francisco and 25% is New York, while officials across the pond claim a 50% drop in stolen smartphones (it is unclear, whether this covers all smartphones, or just iPhones).

Come July the 1st, we will probably be seeing a lot more activation locks on all kinds of handsets. Android has the remote Device Manager, which can be accessed at www.google.com/android/devicemanager, but the tool requires the phone to still be both connected to the Internet and to your Google account for it to work, which gives thieves a lot of leeway. Windows Phone 8.1 still lacks such a feature, though, Microsoft has said that it will be present in Windows 10.
Yoursalephone

First iOS 9 benchmark sighting on an iPhone 6

First iOS 9 benchmark sighting on an iPhone 6

If you’re a fan of Apple devices you will already know that the company usually releases a major new upgrade to its mobile operating system once a year, with incremental updates in between. iOS 8 made a public release in September last year and so we expect iOS 9 to be made available around the same time this year. Now we have news of the first iOS 9 benchmark sighting running on an iPhone 6.

Although generally announces new major versions of iOS at WWDC which typically takes place in June, the normal pattern is that it releases to existing iOS devices just ahead of the new iPhone. Hence, iOS 9 is likely to arrive for end users just before the iPhone 6S / iPhone 7 in September or October 2015. Although there are still many months before that time we will see an increasing amount of news on iOS 9 before then, and that’s already started with this benchmark spot.

The Basemark OS II database has revealed a benchmark for an iPhone 6 running iOS 9, so it’s clear that the upgraded operating system is already in the pipeline. The performances measured are pretty much on a level in most aspects with the results of iOS 8, as shown in the image below. However, we shouldn’t take a whole lot of notice of the scores for now as there are many months left to hone the update. Plus we should remember that iOS upgrades are more about other improvements and new features.

Prior to a public release iOS 9 will be seeded to developers for testing leading to a final build, so really what’s more interesting here is the first evidence of the software in development. While we wait for more on iOS 9 you may be interested in our earlier article today about the release of iOS 8.1.3, which has just arrived with bug fixes.

Do you keep your eyes open for news on the new iOS number every year? What would you like to see Apple add to the next significant software upgrade in the way of new features for iOS 9? Let us know with your comments. Source

iOS problems endure after 8.1.2 but 8.1.3 update soon

iOS problems endure after 8.1.2 but 8.1.3 update soon

Many people had been wanting forward in order to be able for you to help the general public unharness associated with iOS 8 final Sept, however it’s truthful to mention which the main upgrade in order to be able for you to help Apple’s mobile operating method has long been massive allow lower with regard to a few device customers due to flaws. Subsequent improvements possess appeared along with fixes, along with the final becoming iOS 8. 1. two which arrived upabout December 9th. But, iOS issues endure when 8. 1. two however the 8. 1. 3 update could possibly be soon.

We’ve been reporting on the numerous issues since the arrival of iOS 8.0 and although some of the updates since then (iOS 8.0.1, 8.0.2, 8.1, 8.1.1 and 8.1.2) have contained fixes, these haven’t worked for everyone. As well as this, further updates have sometimes caused new difficulties. We have received literally thousands of comments in total to our articles on these problems over the last few months, and you can see some examples here and here.

We’ve also experienced some of these issues for ourselves on the iPad mini and iPhone 5S in particular, although everything has been fine with our iPhone 6. The issues cover a wide variety of factors, but just some of the problems involve WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular connectivity, Safari, sluggishness, random crashing, battery drain and more.

Apple WatchKit assistance will certainly be provided along with iOS 8. two which has been around beta inside the fingers associated with developers for a good length of time currently, however upabout December 17th all of us told exactly just precisely the way subsequent iOS update could possibly be 8. 1. 3 rather. This particular followed reviews associated with devices operating iOS 8. 1. 3 appearing upabout Apple networks, as well as it was eventually believed this particular brand fresh update might include additional issue fixes. Currently there’s a few promising information for this rating because it appearance as if 8. 1. 3 is actually nearing the open community unharness. Read more>>>