Apple iOS 11.3 Previews With ARKit 1.5, New

Apple today previewed iOS 11.3 ahead of its release in spring this year. The upcoming update to iOS 11 will introduce new augmented reality features along with a new set of Animoji on the iPhone X, and more.

Apple first introduced ARKit with iOS 11 last year and with iOS 11.3, it is releasing ARKit 1.5 to developers. The company says that the upcoming version of ARKit will allow developers to create “even more immersive AR experiences” by recognizing and placing virtual objects on vertical surfaces. It would also be able to track irregular surfaces like circular tables more accurately.

ARKit 1.5 will also be able to recognize 2D images like signs, posters, and artwork and integrate them into AR experiences.

iOS 11.3 will also introduce a four new Animoji on the iPhone X. This includes a lion, bear, dragon, and a skull.

With iOS 11.3, Apple will be introducing a beta version of Business Chat that will allow businesses to communicate directly with customers within Messages. Initially, businesses like Discover, Hilton, Lowe’s, and Wells Fargo will support Business Chat and allow customers to make payments using Apple Pay, schedule an appointment, and more.

The Health app in iOS 11 is also getting an update with the introduction of Health Records. It will allow a patient to see their data from multiple health institutions at a glance.

Patients from participating medical institutions will have information from various institutions organised into one view and receive regular notifications for their lab results, medications, conditions and more. Health Records data is encrypted and protected with a passcode.

iOS 11.3 will show the battery health and recommend if the battery needs to be serviced/replaced for iPhone 6 and later. iPhone 6 and higher owners will also be able to turn off the controversial power management feature that slows down older iPhones due to their aging batteries. Apple will be adding these features in a beta iOS 11.3 release later.

Other new features that will be a part of iOS 11.3 are as follows:

• Apple Music will soon be the home for music videos. Users can stream all the music videos they want without being interrupted by ads. They can also watch the hottest new videos, the classics or ones from their favourite artists back-to-back in new music video playlists.

• HomeKit software authentication provides a great new way for developers to add HomeKit support to existing accessories while protecting privacy and security.

• Support for Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to automatically send a user’s current location when making a call to emergency services in countries where AML is supported.

Apple will be releasing the first beta of iOS 11.3 later today for developers and public beta testers. The final version of the OS is expected to be available in spring this year.

iPhone Battery Health and Ability to Turn on and off Power Management Feature Coming in iOS 11.3

Apple today previewed iOS 11.3 ahead of its release in spring this year. The upcoming point release of iOS 11 will come with plenty of new features which includes a detailed battery health menu.

The new Battery health menu option would be available for iPhone 6 and later and show the battery health of the phone. It would also recommend a battery replacement/service if the performance of the installed battery on your iPhone has deteriorated considerably.

Additionally, iOS 11.3 will also allow iPhone 6 and higher users to turn off the controversial power management feature that slows down iPhones with sub-par batteries. Apple had first debuted this feature with iOS 10.2.1. Do note that while disabling this power management feature could help restore your iPhone back to its original performance, it could also lead to some side effects like your iPhone rebooting randomly or significantly shorter battery life.

The revelation of this controversial power management feature in recent times has led Apple to receive a lot of criticism from its customers. It has also subjected the company to over 30+ lawsuits and regulatory investigations across the world. Apple never informed users that it was crippling the performance of their iPhone due to the aging battery inside it. Instead, it only confirmed this fact after it was caught red-handed by data collected from the benchmarking app Geekbench. Since then, Apple has gone ahead and apologized to its customers for poor communication and dropped the battery replacement price for older iPhones to $29 throughout 2018.

iOS 11.3 also comes with a number of new features like four new Animoji for the iPhone X, Health Records, Business Chat, and more.

[Via Apple]

Apple is Likely to Replace the MacBook Air

It is believed that this new 13-inch MacBook will replace the 13-inch MacBook Air, which is immensely popular in the markets due to its cost. The MacBook Air has been around for quite some time now, and while Apple tried to replace it to some extent with the 12-inch MacBook, the Air continued to be popular in the markets.

Perhaps a sub-$1000 MacBook Air replacement is just what Apple needs right now. It seems like the company has been planning this for quite a while, with the MacBook Air models featuring more or less the same features since 2015, which is when the lineup was last upgraded. The company increased the CPU speed of MacBook Air models last year, although this cannot be considered a major upgrade.

Separate reports have suggested that Apple could look towards custom designed ARM based processors for Macs in an effort to reduce its dependency on Intel. This move could also allow Apple to have better control over display tech and other features pertaining to Macs.

Details on this new entry level 13-inch MacBook are relatively scarce at the moment, but all signs point towards a new mid-tier MacBook with possibly the same price tag as the 13-inch MacBook Air. We’re taking this new report with a pinch of salt, though, and suggest you to do the same.

[Source Digitimes]

2018 iPhone X

Apple is not really expected to make any improvements to the Face ID components for the 2018 iPhone X so its unlikely that we will see the handset ship with a smaller notch. That will probably happen with the 2019 iPhone X when Apple is expected to merge the functionality of the front camera and Face ID components into one. This should lead to a reduction in the overall size of the notch.

The render also envisions the 2018 iPhone X, dubbed the iPhone XI, coming with even smaller bezels than what is found on the existing variant. While it does help in giving the device an even more futuristic look, Apple is unlikely to reduce the already minimal bezels surrounding the iPhone X’s display. A minimum amount of bezel space is required to protect the display against dings and drops and a further reduction in their size on an upcoming iPhone X variant could possibly lead to some reliability issues.

Finally, iDrop Newz envisions the 2018 iPhone XI to feature a dual-SIM card tray. This could be a possibility as there have been reports of Apple considering adding dual-SIM functionality to its upcoming iPhone models. Dual-SIM functionality has become extremely popular in Asia especially in China and India, with almost every major flagship phone launching their featuring dual-SIM capabilities.

While the iPhone XI in the above renders looks pretty stunning, remember that they are just that: renders. While Apple will make some design improvements to the 2018 iPhone X, I don’t expect the company to make any major change in its design language until 2019 or later. At best, we are looking at the use of a more strengthened chassis and glass on the 2018 iPhones to make them more reliable.

[Source iDrop News]

Snapchat Will to Let Users Share Certain Stories Outside the App

As reported today by The Verge, Snap has confirmed that it will let Snapchat users share some stories outside of the Snapchat app. Now, after you create a public Story (it has to be a public Story to be shared outside of the app), you will be able to choose to share it outside of the app. Once you do, Snapchat will create a link to that content via a link on the web.

Unsurprisingly, sharing the link will not only let users see the Story outside of the app, but it will also serve as a means to promote Snapchat, thanks to the prominent “download Snapchat” that will be visible with the link. That content can be shared to other social networks, including Facebook and Twitter. Text and email is supported, too.

Snap has confirmed that the update will be rolling out to the app beginning today.

It’s an interesting move for Snap to expand the borders of Snapchat, letting content be shared elsewhere. Then again, Snap is also promoting itself with every single link that gets shared, so the goal is obviously to get even more people to download the social app. Snap says that over 3 million Snaps are created every single day, but the company needs more, and an app redesign (and sharing to other social networks) is one way to help stimulate attention. The question, of course, is whether or not it will work.

[Source The Verge]

AppleCare+ To Cost $39 for the HomePod in the U.S.

For any potential customers of Apple’s first smart speaker, and who might happen to want to cover that device with Apple’s protection plan, the AppleCare+ price in the United States has been surfaced.

As first reported by 9to5Mac, based on documentation the publication was able to see that was initially distributed to Apple Stores, the AppleCare+ price for Apple’s HomePod will be set at $39 in the United States. This price covers AirPort products, and “adds up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling for HomePod, each subject to a $39 service fee”.

As noted in the report, and is typical for AppleCare+ coverage, it does not cover any cosmetic damages made to the HomePod, as long as those cosmetic damages don’t interfere with the function of the smart speaker. For those who do sign up for the extended coverage, AppleCare+ offers two years worth of telephone support, which also covers setting up the HomePod and discussing the product’s features.

The HomePod is pried at $349, and the AppleCare+ price point isn’t too bad, considering. This is a smart speaker designed to sit on a flat surface in a home, but accidents do happen, so paying that small fee to get something fixed in case of smart speaker tragedy might not be a bad idea. For many Apple customers, getting AppleCare+ for the device is basically second nature, so it would be interesting to see if that’s the case for the HomePod, too, considering its very different use case scenario.

Do you plan on picking up AppleCare+ for the HomePod?

[Source 9to5Mac]

Instagram Stories to Support GIFs

Announced today, Stories now supports GIFs. This means that you can add moving images to your stories as you see fit, which can certainly add plenty of customization to the stories platform as a whole. Instagram’s GIF support is handled by GIPHY, one of the biggest sources of GIFs online. Right out of the gate, Instagram Stories will support hundreds of thousands of options.

Users will be able to search for a GIF they want to use in their story, or they can see what’s trending so they can include a popular GIF at the time with the content they want to share.

To add a GIF, a user just needs to select the option to add a sticker. From that menu there will be a new area for GIFs.

GIF support is now available in the newest version of Instagram.

What’s more, Instagram is also going to add support for uploading photos and videos at their original resolution and size:

“In the coming weeks, we’re also rolling out the ability to upload photos and videos of any size to your story — so you never have to lose part of a photo or cut a friend out of a group video. When you upload a photo or video, pinch to share it in its original dimensions, whether it’s square, portrait or landscape. Any extra room will be filled with a custom color gradient that matches what you’ve shared.”

That ability isn’t ready for primetime just yet, and Instagram says it will be rolling out to new users in the coming weeks.

GIF support was just a matter of time. There’s no denying the popularity of GIFs in general, so adding it into the mix, especially with Stories, was a longtime coming for Instagram. Will it be a feature that gets new people to try out the feature? Probably.

How often do you use Instagram Stories?

[Source Instagram]

Apple iOS 11.2.5 Released

Apple today officially released iOS 11.2.5, the newest and most up-to-date version of the mobile operating system. This is a minor update in the grand scheme of things, but the new software does include vital fixes under-the-hood that most iOS device owners should want to download as soon as possible.

The biggest fix is a patch for the “chaiOS” bug that was discovered earlier this month. This particular bug was tied to iMessage, and, if a recipient received a specific link to a Github page, the Messages app would freeze for quite a long while, and, in some cases, even force the iOS device to respring completely. The iMessage bug also affects macOS High Sierra. The update to iOS 11.2.5 should fix the issue for both platforms.

iOS 11.2.5 is now available for owners of supported devices. To update, simply open the Settings App –> General — Software Update and then follow the onscreen instructions from there.

This is another minor update in a long list of minor updates for the iOS platform ever since Apple launched iOS in September of last year. Apple launched iOS 11.2.2 to the public in early January in an effort to patch the Spectre vulnerability.

It is unknown at the time of publication if this will be the last update for iOS 11, but there are still some features that the company announced last year, including “Messages in Cloud,” which takes advantage of iCloud for better Messages syncing between devices, that have not yet launched.

You can download iOS 11.2.5 right now.

Apple macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Released

Today, Apple officially released macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. As has been par for the course with the previous beta seeds, this new version of the desktop operating isn’t a major upgrade for the platform. Instead, as the version number suggests, it is a minor update that is meant to primarily address behind-the-scenes issues that have been discovered since the last update. The new software should also help improve overall performance in some key areas that Apple feels it necessary to address.

To update, owners of supported devices simply need to open the Mac App Store and click on the Updates tab. From there, the new version of macOS High Sierra should be listed as software ready to download and install. Click on the option to update, the software will download, and then the Mac will go through the updating process.

If this new software is anything like previous updates, installing it on the computer might take some time, so make sure you have a chunk cleared from your schedule before you go through the update process.

Previous betas of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 did not reveal any major changes or updates. However, like iOS 11.2.5, this software will include a fix for the “chaiOS” iMessage bug. That particular issue sees recipients of a specific link having their Messages app freeze, and, in some cases, even seeing the whole system freeze up. Apple said it is addressing it in the iOS update this week.

You can download and install macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 from the Mac App Store now.

Apple just Released tvOS 11.2.5 and watchOS 4.2.2

Apple has officially released the newest versions of tvOS and watchOS to the public, launching tvOS 11.2.5 and watchOS 4.2.2. Both of these new versions are minor updates, as indicated by the minor uptick in version number. In each case, Apple is addressing any lingering issues and bugs that have surfaced since the last public update, as well as aiming to improve general performance on supported devices.

To update to tvOS 11.2.5, fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV owners simply need to open the settings app on the set-top box, and then select software update. The over-the-air (OTA) update will then download and install. If you already have automatic downloads turned on, then the OTA update will arrive on your set-top box without you having to follow any additional steps.

Meanwhile, if you have a supported Apple Watch, to update to watchOS 4.2.2 you must make sure that the Apple Watch is connected to the charger, have at least 50 percent battery life, and be within range of the iPhone. You will then have to open the Watch app on your connected iPhone, launch General — Software Update and follow the onscreen instructions.

Both tvOS 11.2.5 and watchOS 4.2.2 are now available for download and installation. As is par for the course, the software may take some time to successfully update, so make sure you have plenty of time to update.

HomePod to Support HomeKit Scenes For Muting Siri, Offer Personalised Results For Individual Voices

Some new icons discovered in the Home app in iOS 11.2.5 have revealed some of the features that would be present in Apple’s upcoming HomePod. The icons point to HomePod users being able to create scenes so that the “Hey Siri” functionality of the speaker can be muted.

Like the new iPhones from Apple, the HomePod will also come with always-on “Hey Siri” functionality.” While useful, this feature can be seen as a privacy risk by many since the speaker is always listening to your conversations for the hotword. Thus, the ability to turn off “Hey Siri” can come in handy in certain scenarios like when in a party.

Interestingly, Apple also seems to be adding support for multiple voice recognition in HomePod. The icons discovered in the Home app suggest that Siri would be able to recognize an individual’s voice and offer them personalized results.

 

Apple had initially unveiled the HomePod at WWDC 2017, with an expected shipping timeframe of the end of the year. However, in late November, Apple announced that it still needs some more time to work on the HomePod which is why it is delaying its release to early 2018. The launch of the smart speaker seems imminent now as over the last week, the smart speaker passed through the FCC and another report claimed that 1 million units of HomePods were being delivered to Apple.

Apple HomePod Passes Through FCC; Could Launch Soon

All eyes pointed to the early part of the year, which is all anyone could work with considering Apple hadn’t circled an exact date on the calendar as a replacement for when the device was originally supposed to launch. A recent report stated that Invented had started shipping units to Apple, which suggested the device could see the light of day soon.

And now that suggestion has been further cemented. The HomePod has made it through the FCC, earning that agency’s stamp of approval along the way. With that in the bag, Apple can start selling the HomePod whenever it is ready to do so in the United States.

With the FCC approval handled, it means that Apple can start to plan for a specific launch date. It does suggest that the smart speaker will launch soon, which could mean in the next month or so, or it might still be a ways away. “Early 2018” doesn’t exactly narrow things down.

When the HomePod does go on sale, it will arrive with a $349 price tag attached. Apple is billing the device as a high-end listening device with Siri, the company’s digital assistant baked in. It will arrive on the scene when companies like Google and Amazon have already dominated the market for quite some time.

There’s no telling how well the HomePod is going to do. It might come down to how the device sounds in comparison to other high-end speakers in that price bracket/category. The Google Home Max, which actually costs $50 more than the HomePod, saw positive reviews, so it should be expected that the HomePod will earn top marks, too, when it launches.

Prepaid Iphone 6

AT&T will soon be introducing prepaid iPhone plans starting from $45/month. The carrier will be offering the 32GB iPhone 6s for $344.99, while the iPhone 6s Plus will cost $444.99.

Compared to the likes of Virgin and T-Mobile, AT&T’s prepaid plans are on the cheaper. With the first month of service priced at $45 being bundled with the device, this would translate into AT&T’s prepaid iPhone 6s plan being cheaper by $150 than similar offerings from other carriers.

Up until now, AT&T has only offered the iPhone 6 and iPhone SE via its prepaid plans. None of them, however, are competitive with other carriers or include a free month of service.

While most consumers in the United States go for postpaid plans, prepaid plans come with their own set of benefits. This includes no annual contract, no prior credit check before buying a device or taking a prepaid connection, instant disconnection, and more. Compared to other prepaid network operators in the US, AT&T has the advantage of better network coverage and reception.

AT&T is expected to unveil its new prepaid iPhone 6s plans later today. While the iPhone 6s might not be the latest offering from Apple, it still packs plenty of grunt under the hood to run iOS 11 properly and handle demanding workloads. The iPhone 6s also comes with 3D Touch and a 2nd gen. Touch ID sensor, though unlike the iPhone 7 it is not water-resistant.

[Source 9to5Mac]

Apple watch OS 4.2.2 Beta

Apple today officially seeded the fifth developer beta of watchOS 4.2.2. Apple typically seeds this software on the same day it seeds the most recent developer beta of tvOS, but the company has since staggered the days just a bit between seeds. That could indicate that a public launch is right around the corner, as Apple has confirmed an iOS update is on the way next week as well.

Developers that want to test the next beta seed can do so after downloading the necessary configuration profile from Apple’s Developer Center. After that, developers must download the software via the Apple Watch iOS app.

Once that is done, to install the pre-release software, the Apple Watch must be connected to the charger, have at least 50 percent battery life, and be within range of the iPhone.

This particular update for watchOS is not a massive new addition to the smartwatch platform. As it stands right now, the minor software uptick appears to be focused on fixing behind-the-scenes issues, and otherwise improving performance for Apple Watch owners.

If there are any new forward-facing user features added to the fifth developer beta of watchOS 4.2.2, we will update this post accordingly.

There is not a public beta for this particular seed, so if you are part of the public beta program, do not expect to see an option for you and your Apple Watch.

iOS 11 is Now Installed on 70% of devices

Apple doesn’t go out of its way to regularly update the adoption statistics of iOS, but it isn’t completely adverse to the idea.

Today, Apple has updated its official App Store support page, and indicates that iOS 11 has made a pretty big jump since early December of last year. Over a month ago iOS 11 adoption was at 59 percent, but now Apple says it has jumped up six percent in just a matter of weeks. That marks iOS 11 at 70% adoption as of right now.

Meanwhile, iOS 10 is still holding onto 28 percent of devices out there in the wild. And, as the pie chart indicates, older versions of iOS are now below 10 percent, sitting at 7%.

It is true that iOS 11 has seen slower adoption than the mobile operating system’s predecessors, but with the new numbers it’s still impressive considering iOS 11 launched in September of last year. And there are a lot of iOS devices out there that can support iOS 11, too.

Apple has released several updates for iOS 11 at this point, with the current version of the OS sitting at iOS 11.2.2. Apple is currently beta testing iOS 11.2.5, though, with the seventh developer and public betas being seeded out earlier today.

It is expected that Apple will release iOS 11.2.5 to the public early next week. When that does arrive, it will include a patch to the “chaiOS” iMessage bug, which can make an iPhone, iPad, or Mac freeze up with a specific link is sent to a contact through an iMessage.

Apple to Replace iPhone 6 Plus Models With iPhone 6s Plus Units

As reported by MacRumors, based on an internal document that has been passed out to Apple Authorized Service Providers recently, it looks like, depending on the repairs needed for an iPhone 6, the company may be granting upgrades to an iPhone 6s Plus instead. According to the document, Apple states, “…orders for whole unit service inventory of some iPhone 6 Plus models may be substituted to an iPhone 6s Plus until the end of March 2018”.

As for the reason, that remains unknown at this point. Apple does not provide a specific reason for the potential switch, nor does it state which models are eligible — if there are certain restrictions in place. However, it has been previously reported that Apple is seeing battery shortages for the iPhone 6 Plus, due to the iPhone battery fiasco that led to $29 battery replacements, until at least the end of March.

This decision, to replace some iPhone 6 Plus models with iPhone 6s Plus units may be directly tied to that.

Considering there is no way of knowing right now what, exactly, the parameters are for the upgrade behind-the-scenes, you may not be eligible for the option depending on the amount of damage on your iPhone 6 Plus.

The battery fiasco is causing plenty of issues for Apple, even ones that might not have been forecasted like this one. Still, if Apple is indeed doing this, even if it is a necessity due to battery shortages, it’s a nice surprise to the customer who gets that newer smartphone. If you have an iPhone 6 Plus that needs to be replaced, are you going to see if this new development works out for you?

[Source MacRumors]

How to Prevent the ChaiOS Bugs on your iPhone

ChaiOS is an aptly named exploit that works via a link sent to the messages app. It exploits Messages app’s preview functionality to crash your iPhone. The link is just a webpage with too many characters. This exploit is particularly bad because all it takes is someone sending you a link. It can crash your iPhone even before you’ve had a chance to view or delete the message. How do you safeguard yourself from this exploit? Read on to find out.

Restrict the Link

The link was hosted on GitHub. So one way to prevent this is to use iOS’s Restrictions feature to block the link from ever loading in the first place.

Go to Settings -> General -> Restrictions and here tap on Enable Restrictions.

Now swipe down and find the Websites section. Here choose Limit Adult Content and in the Never Allow field, add GitHub.io.

Delete the Thread

If the message hasn’t started reloading in the background, you still have the time to block it. Just swipe left on the thread and delete the entire conversation.

Wait for Apple’s Fix

The issue will be fixed in the upcoming iOS 11.2.5 update that’s scheduled for next week. It should be available on Monday, the 22nd of January. Alternatively, if you’re already running the iOS 11.2 developer beta, you’re already running the fix.

How to Check iPhone Battery Health Easy Ways

The power management feature was introduced in iOS 10.2.1 for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE, and in iOS 11.2 for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Apple explains that the power management feature works by looking at a combination of the device temperature, battery state of charge, and the battery’s impedance. So it is important to note here that iOS’ power management feature will only slow down your iPhone if these variables require it, it won’t slow it down because your iPhone’s battery health has degraded.

Here are the 4 easy ways to check iPhone battery health to find out if you need to replace the battery:

Method 1: Use coconutBattery app

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a Lightning cable.

Step 2: Download and Launch coconutBattery app

Download the coconutBattery app on your Mac (download link) and launch it. According to the website, they also have an iOS app but we couldn’t find it in the App Store.

Step 3: Check iPhone Battery Health

Click on the iOS device tab. You should now see interesting details about your iPhone such as full charge capacity (your iPhone’s current battery capacity), its design capacity, cycle count and more. The percentage below the Design Capacity gives you the health of your iPhone’s battery as we have highlighted in the screenshot below. It is a percentage of full charge capacity and design capacity.

Interestingly, according to some users, coconutBattery shows accurate information as long as you haven’t restored your device, as it seems like restoring the device resets the data. So if you’ve restore your iPhone then you may not get the accurate health of your iPhone’s battery.

Method 2: Use Third-party Apps

Step 1: Download Battery Life app from the App Store

There are several apps available in the App Store that provide information about iPhone’s battery health. In this article, I am using the popular Battery Life app which does the job.

Download the Battery Life app using this iTunes link, which is available for free. You can remove the ads via an in-app purchase.

Step 2: Launch the Battery Life app

When you launch the app it will give you show you the Battery Wear Level on the app’s Home screen itself.

In the case of my iPhone 7 Plus, which is just over a year old (note I stopped using it when I started using iPhone 8 Plus), it showed that it had already lost 10% of its battery capacity. In the case of my iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, it showed that the battery health was perfect and that it hadn’t lost any capacity so far.

Step 3: Check Raw Data

Tap on the hamburger menu at the top, and then tap on Raw Data, to find out your iPhone’s latest battery capacity.

As you can see in the screenshot below, my iPhone 7 Plus battery capacity is 2,600 mAh, which is slightly less than 90% of its original battery capacity of 2,900 mAh.

Some readers have however told us that it did not display the battery capacity accurately for them. If you’re not getting accurate data, then let me know in the comments if you have restored your iPhone, as it is possible that the same issue that I had mentioned earlier for coconutBattery is causing the issue for Battery Life app as well.

Method 3: Console app

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a Lightning cable.

Step 2: Launch Console app

Launch the Console app on your Mac.

Step 3: Search for Battery Health

Ensure that your iPhone is unlocked and the iPhone has been trusted by the computer.

Type batteryhealth in the search field of the Console app. Then click on your iPhone in the left-hand sidebar. As you can see, you can find out the current status of your iPhone battery health. In the case of my iPhone X, it says it is “Good”.

I had mixed results with the Console app. While I was able to get the battery health for my iPhone X, I couldn’t get it for my iPhone 7 Plus.

Method 4: Settings App

Since iOS 10.2.1 or later, Apple has been issuing notices in the Battery section to inform users that their iPhone’s battery may need to be serviced using diagnostics in iOS.

So launch the Settings app, and navigate to Settings > Battery to check if your iPhone battery needs to be replaced.

 

Apple has also promised that it will be releasing a software update in early 2018, which will give more visibility into the health of the iPhone’s battery, so we can see if its condition is affecting performance. So we will update this post with the method as soon as Apple has released the software update.

If your iPhone’s battery health is below 80% then you may want to consider replacing the battery if your noticing performance problems. Apple has reduced the cost of the battery replacement service to just $29. As I mentioned earlier, iOS’ power management feature will only slow down your iPhone if variables such as device temperature, battery state of charge, and the battery’s impedance require it.

Apple has stated blocking Apps That do Detects Net Neutrality Violations With Speed Tests

Apple is not a stranger to getting press after its review process blocks or outright rejects an app. In this particular case, though, there’s a positive turnaround in a pretty short period of time.

As first reported by Motherboard, an app developed by David Choffnes that is designed to detect net neutrality violations by way of a speed test was rejected by the App Store review process. The app is called Wehe, and, according to the review’s results, it was determined that the app didn’t provide a benefit to the end user in any meaningful capacity.

Details about the app reveal why Apple might have blocked it. The first part of the app is a pretty straightforward speed test. This is the speed test part of the app, which works in the way you’d imagine: Users can test the download speed on their device from services like YouTube and Netflix.

The second part of the app, though, is where things get a bit muddled. Choffnes’s app is designed to collect anonymous, recorded data. That data is related to an ongoing study over net neutrality violations from major service providers. The goal there is to provide information on net neutrality violations, in a meaningful, real world scenario based on devices actually testing the results out in the wild. Choffnes is a researcher at Northeastern University and believes this data could be helpful in pointing out companies that are guilty of violations.

Apple rejected the app as mentioned above, however, 18 hours after that rejection the app was actually approved. In its communication with Choffnes, Apple said that it deals with a lot of apps that aren’t upfront about what they do for the end user, and that many apps just don’t do what they claim they do. Apple requested a detailed technical look at what Wehe does, and how it is able to detect whether ISPs are throttling certain types of data.

After Choffnes replied, Apple approved the app. As it stands right now, the link to the app isn’t available, but that should change soon.

Choffnes says that the back-and-forth was pleasant enough, but it didn’t articulate any details about the review process. As is par for the course, the inner workings of Apple’s iOS App Store review process remain a mystery. In this case, though, it’s good to see that a potentially positive app like Choffnes’s, one that might actually help point out offending companies and service providers, got approved pretty quickly after the initial rejection.

[Source Motherboard]

Apple Revamps iOS and macOS App Store Web Interface

Apple has rolled out a new design for the App Store links of iOS and macOS on the web. The new design is based on the revamped App Store that Apple debuted with iOS 11 last year.

The new design puts greater emphasis on screenshots and reviews. Interestingly, Apple displays screenshots from the iPhone X in the web listing. There is now also an option to switch between screenshots for iMessage and Apple Watch for compatible apps.

Since Apple has removed the App Store integration in iTunes, it now displays a heading at the top of iOS app listings that they are only available on the App Store for iOS devices. The new interface also highlights other relevant apps similar to the one the one that you are viewing, what’s new, selected reviews, Family Sharing support, installation size, price, and more. Apple also highlights if an app has received its ‘Editor’s Choice’ award.

The redesigned interface for web listings of iOS and macOS comes months after Apple first released iTunes 12.7 which nixed the iOS App Store integration. The unexpected move did lead to some user backlash and created issues for educational institutions and enterprise customers which is why Apple ended up releasing iTunes 12.6.3 with App Store integration.

You can check out the revamped iOS App Store listing on the web over here.

New WhatsApp Update will Allow Users to Watch YouTube Videos in the App

WhatsApp has been testing a feature that allows users to watch YouTube videos within the app itself. It seems like the update is now live with most users seeing the feature on their iPhones. The feature is pretty simple but incredibly helpful. When you’re sent a YouTube URL, the video will play directly in the app without navigating to the browser or the official YouTube app.

The videos will be played in PiP (picture in picture) mode or a floating window, allowing you to navigate the app without interrupting the video. The video will continue playing even if you change the chat i.e. if you go out of your existing chat into another conversation. This offers completely uninterrupted video experience and it is hoped that this feature will be expanded to voice notes as well.

WABetaInfo, which spotted this feature, claims that users need to be on WhatsApp version 2.18.11 to access this function. While iOS users have no control over downloading specific versions of an app, updating WhatsApp from the App Store should do the trick.

WhatsApp has added multiple new features over the past couple of years, with video calling and message deletion being some of the most important changes. This new feature is also quite important keeping user experience in mind.

Download → WhatsApp for iPhone from the App Store

[Source WABetaInfo]

Apple to Fix the ‘chaiOS’ iMessage Bug in a Software

 

It was recently discovered that sending a specific link in an iMessage could do some pretty annoying damage to a recipient’s device.

It was dubbed “chaiOS” at the time by Abraham Masri, who discovered the issue. Unlike previous bugs of this nature, just getting sent the specific link in the iMessage was enough to freeze the recipient’s iPhone, and, more often than not, force a respring altogether. The person who received the link didn’t even have to click it or visit the corresponding GitHub page to have their phone suffer the consequences.

The bug can also affect macOS, thanks to its own iMessage support. The damage there can be even more annoying to remedy. The bug has been confirmed to work on iOS 10 all the way up to the fifth beta of iOS 11.2.5. It hasn’t been confirmed if it works in the sixth beta of iOS 11.2.5, which was released yesterday.

It’s a pretty big issue, considering the link just needs to be sent in an iMessage and the recipient doesn’t need to do anything after that to feel the effects. As such, BuzzFeed has confirmed with Apple that the company will fix the bug in a software update to iOS that will arrive next week.

“Apple confirmed a fix is coming in a software update next week.”

That timeframe suggests the fix is part of iOS 11.2.5.

This sort of thing is really annoying, especially considering there are plenty of people out there that will just send this sort of message “for fun”. Still, it’s good to see Apple already has a fix on the way, and it’s arriving next week.

[source BuzzFeed]

WhatsApp will Soon Add Peer-To-Peer Payment Support Using UPI

WhatsApp is expected to make its payment feature live in India next month as per a new report. The new payment feature in WhatsApp will make use of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and allow users of the messaging platform to easily send money to each other.

At launch, UPI integration is expected to be supported by State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank.

“The platform is already in beta stage (testing) with one of its partner banks. We expect the product to go live for consumers by the end of February, depending on how the trials work out,” one of the sources said.

The feature is right now in final testing and security checking phase to ensure proper safety of data. With UPI integration, it would become ease for WhatsApp users in India to easily send money to each other. The ease of use will also pose a security risk which is why there are multiple levels of encryption being used throughout the process for optimum security.

Initially, WhatsApp is only expected to support peer-to-peer payments, with merchant support being added at a later date.

WhatsApp is massively popular in India and the addition of UPI integration in the messaging platform will help boost the adoption rate of the payment interface in the country.

WhatsApp had received the necessary approval from the Indian government to integrate UPI into its messaging platform in July last year. Other tech giants like Google have also received clearance from the Indian government and has already released Tez, a UPI-powered payment app. Hike has also launched a way to easily transfer money to contacts on its platforms using UPI and reported 10 million transactions in November through it.

[Source Economic Times]

Facebook Messenger Bug Disturbing Many iOS Users

If you are using Facebook Messenger on your iOS device, then you might have run into an issue where the app itself, or the iOS keyboard, become unresponsive.

It was first reported by TechCrunch, and the issue has been shared across social media since late last night. For some users, the app appears to be completely broken and unresponsive once it’s launched on an iPhone. For others, the app will freeze after a user inputs a few characters.

As it stands right now, Facebook has confirmed that there is a bug that is affecting iOS users. However, there is no word on what exactly is causing the issue, or what Facebook needs to do to fix it. The social network has said it is working on a fix, though:

“Facebook confirmed to TechCrunch that it is looking into the issue, but for now there’s no word from the company on what is causing it and how it plans to fix it.”

There is no workaround right now. As many Messenger users have tried, closing and reopening the app does not fix the issue at all. For now, it looks like if you use Messenger on a regular basis you might want/need to try accessing the platform via another device, or from the desktop.

In a perfect world these types of bugs wouldn’t crop up. However, they’re basically unavoidable at this point, so the important thing for Facebook and any other company that runs into an issue like this is how quickly they fix it. Facebook knows there’s an issue and they say they are working on a fix, so Messenger users have to hope it arrives sooner rather than later.

Have you run into the bug at all?

[Source TechCrunch]

Increase Your Ports with HomeSpot USB-C

MacBooks are great computers, however, the number of USB and other ports that are available are in limited supply. When you have to charge your devices, upload new music and photos, and utilize your other ports, you find that they are valuable real estate and get taken up far faster than you think. You can now have more than enough ports with the HomeSpot USB-C Hubs.

Linking up with USB-C MacBooks, the HomeSpot USB-C Hubs adds the necessary access for you to live your life. Attach USB-A, SD, and microSD ports to your 2016 & 2017 MacBook Pro models. With a dedicated port for Thunderbolt 3 that delivers 40GBps power, you will have the resources you need to expand the connections you can attach to your computer. You will also have 5k video output so that you can have no lag in your videos. HomeSpot makes connecting devices to each other easier with less hassle.

You can get the HomeSpot USB-C Hubs for MacBook Pro on sale now for $54.99.

Tim Cook drop Comments on iPhone Battery Debacle

Before the start of the new year, Apple found itself in some hot water as it was discovered, and ultimately confirmed by the company, that older iPhones are slowed on purpose in an effort to relieve some of the stress from aging batteries.

Unfortunately for the company, it didn’t do a very good job of articulating that particular “feature” to its customers. By the time it was well known what was happening, it leveled itself with a variety of different conspiracy theories that have run rampant for years, which didn’t paint the company in a very good light at all.

Now, weeks later, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, while conducting a quick on-the-scene interview with ABC News in Reno, Nevada, commented on the controversy that has cropped up since then. Apple right now faces dozens of different lawsuits against the company at this stage, and a variety of different agencies and government bodies all across the world are trying to get more information out of Apple regarding this situation.

Interestingly enough, Cook says that its initial effort to stop random shutdowns of older iPhones did the job it was meant to, but it was not clear at the time (the feature was launched last year) that it would make some older iPhones slow down. Cook says that he is deeply apologetic for the situation that has come from this, and that the company probably could have been clearer about what was going on.

Cook also says that the company did announce the feature when it released it last year, but that he doesn’t “think a lot of people were paying attention.” Which, if you watched the fallout over this situation, seems at odds with how a lot of people who follow and report on Apple every day remember it.

I was on board with this apology up until the moment that Cook said the company talked about the feature last year, and then said that folks were not paying attention. Like a lot of people out there I don’t remember Apple talking about this at all. It’s certainly possible that Apple mentioned it, because technically this could just mean a single line in a press release or something like that, but that doesn’t seem to be the thinking from a lot of people out there.

Still, what matters now is that Apple fixes the problem at hand, which it is certainly working on with the $29 battery replacement program. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

[Source ABC]

Apple New Four-Story Office Building in Culver City After HBO has Backed Out

Apple will be leasing out a new Culver City four-story building still under development after HBO pulled out from the deal for unknown reasons. The Cupertino company will be leasing out the full 128,000 sq. ft. office space.

Apple has already leased out 85,000 sq. ft. space near Culver City and this 128,000 sq. ft. four-story project will be in addition to that. The four-story project is located seven miles east of the Santa Monica Pier and feature office space along with 4,500 sq. ft. of retail space at the ground level.

The project is being developed by Lincoln Property Co. at the corner of Washington and National boulevards, and it is expected to open in late 2019.

“We were very excited about HBO,” Thomas Small, mayor pro tem of Culver City said. “If anything, we’re more excited about Apple.”

Before Apple, HBO was in talks to lease out the property but the deal fell through for some reason. HBO was also interested in leasing out the whole four-story project.

The leased space in Culver City will likely be used by Apple’s original content and video team. After all, Beats headquarters are also located in the same city.

Considering that the four-story project is still over a year away from being completed, there’s a long wait involved to see what Apple does with this space.

[Sources Variety, The Real Deal]

How you can Speed Up a Slow iPhone

If your iPhone is too slow, If you are facing performance issues with your iPhone, then here are the tips to speed up your slow iPhone and make it work faster.

1. Check iPhone Battery Health

You probably know by now about Apple’s controversial decision to introduce power management feature in iOS 10.2.1, which could impact the performance of older iPhones to prevent unexpected shutdowns during peak workloads.

The power management feature currently affects iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (iOS 10.2.1 or later), iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (iOS 11.2 or later).

If you’ve one of these iPhones then you should check your iPhone’s battery health. They are several ways to check iPhone battery health. You can check our post if you need help on how to check iPhone battery health.

The power management feature works by looking at a combination of the device temperature, battery state of charge, and the battery’s impedance. So it is important to note here that iOS’ power management feature will only slow down your iPhone if these variables require it, it won’t slow it down because your iPhone’s battery health has degraded.

If your iPhone’s battery capacity has degraded below 80% then you may need to replace the battery. But I would recommend waiting for Apple to release the iOS software update in 2018, which will give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone’s battery, and get a confirmation if its condition is affecting performance.

2. Restore iPhone

Older and degraded battery may not be the reason your iPhone has slowed down. If your iPhone is slow all the time, then it is possible that there’s something wrong with it other than the battery.

Several users like Michael Glenn have discovered that restoring their iPhone resolved the slow iPhone problems. Michael Glenn discovered that restoring his iPhone which had a battery with 83% capacity, resolved the performance issue.

In fact, I would recommend setting it up as a new iPhone, to see if it solves the performance issues. We have seen several performance issues after a major iOS update getting resolved after readers have restored their iPhone. In the case of older iPhones like iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, they would have gone through at least one or two major iOS updates, so restoring may help especially as a new iPhone, which could get rid of some bad data that might be causing an issue.

It is a bit time consuming, but the wipe and restore won’t cost you anything, so it is certainly worth trying to see if it fixes the slow iPhone problem before you visit an Apple Store to get the battery replaced.

There are other ways to speed up the iPhone like speeding up animations, clearing app caches which we’ve described in this post, but if the performance problems are an old iPhone, then I would recommend one of these solutions.

Is your iPhone slow? Did you try restoring your iPhone? Did it help resolve the performance issues? Let us know in the comments below.

Whirlpool To Let Apple Watch Owners to Control More Than 20 Appliances With one App

Apple Watch app will make it easy to check up on apps, and, in some cases, get things done without requiring your phone.

Whirlpool, a company that has a wide range of appliances, has just announced that it will let Apple Watch owners control more than 20 different appliances with just an app on the wearable. CNET has a quick write-up of what Whirlpool appliance owners can expect in the near future, indicating that with a smart oven and an Apple Watch, owners can use the app to change the oven’s settings while it’s being used, and check the temperature make sure everything is as it should be.

Meanwhile, owners of a supported smart dryer can see if a cycle as started, or, if it has, see how much time is left on a running cycle. The Apple Watch app will let owners of smart washing machines change the cycle while the appliance is running.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is going on right now, and Whirlpool is showing off how the app works. The original report indicates that this is the first time a manufacturer of home appliances has announced an Apple Watch of this nature, so it will be interesting to see if this is the first of many to come.

Our Take

This sort of app, where Apple Watch owners can keep tabs on their smart appliances, and even change cycles or temperatures or operations, has been a long time coming to say the least. It’s a little surprising it took this long. Now that Whirlpool has started the initiative, though, we could see other companies start to offer a similar app on the smartwatch.

Wonder how long it will be before Samsung has an offering of its own?

[Source CNET]

BMW Will Soon Start Charging $80 per Year for Apple CarPlay Support

BMW has been supporting Apple CarPlay for a bit of time, and it has typically charged a hefty up-front fee to include it.

But that will be changing soon. The Verge has revealed that beginning next year, BMW will be changing its payment model for including CarPlay in its vehicle fleet. Instead of charging the up-front $300 add-on price to include the infotainment option, it will instead charge $80 per year.

“This allows the customer to switch devices,” he said. “A lot of people buy [CarPlay] and think it’s okay, but sometimes they stop using it or switch to Android.”

BMW’s Don Smith, who confirmed the change, said that the first year of CarPlay support would be free. After that, the $80 per year payment would kick in. Smith did say, though, that even with a four-year ownership plan, this payment breakdown would mean the cost would still be cheaper than the previous $300 up-front method. (Because the first year is free.)

There is no specific date for when this will kick in, but BMW did confirm it will be in effect sometime in 2019.

Our Take

The silver lining here, if there is one, is that BMW is reducing the overall cost of adding CarPlay support into their vehicles. The fact that, up until next year, it cost $300 just to get the feature added in is pretty crazy to think about. Especially considering other manufacturers aren’t charging that sort of premium to get the infotainment option. This is BMW we’re talking about, though, so perhaps this shouldn’t be too surprising.

[Source The Verge]

coolstar, developer of Electra jailbreak toolkit for iOS 11 – iOS 11.1.2, has tweeted that anyone on iOS 11.2.x should stay there.

coolstar, developer of Electra jailbreak toolkit for iOS 11 – iOS 11.1.2, has tweeted that anyone on iOS 11.2.x should stay there.

He has stated that while a new exploit would be required for iOS 11.2.x as Apple has already patched the async_exploit discovered by Ian Beer, which was used for iOS 11 – iOS 11.1.2 jailbreaks like Electra, most of the patches in Electra will work in iOS 11.2.x. Don’t get excited as it doesn’t suggest that he is able to jailbreak iOS 11.2.2 – iOS 11.2.

There hasn’t been much news about the progress on iOS 11.2.x jailbreak. Security researchers at Alibaba’s Pandora Labs have been able to jailbreak iOS 11.2.1 as well as iOS 11.2 on iPhone X. However, they had also said that though they were able to jailbreak iOS 11.2.1 quickly, they didn’t plan to release a jailbreak, as their work was limited by research purposes only.

It is also not clear if they were able to jailbreak iOS 11.2.2 as well or Apple has patched the security vulnerability used to jailbreak iOS 11.2.1. It remains to be seen if hackers and jailbreak developers like coolstar can discover the vulnerabilities used by the researchers.

One of the golden rules of jailbreaking is to stay where you are and avoid updating your device to the latest iOS software update to improve your chances of jailbreaking your iOS device. So it goes without saying is that if even if you’re on iOS 11.0.x or iOS 11.1.x, you should not update your iOS device as you can use jailbreak tools like Electra and LiberiOS jailbreak.

iOS 10 – iOS 10.3.3 Jailbreak Current Status

For the first time, we have had not one but several jailbreaks for iOS 10 and iOS 11. While it is great news, it has also made it very confusing. We get a lot of questions about which jailbreak to use for iOS 10, and which one to use to iOS 11. It really depends on your device and iOS version.

In this post, we take a look at the current status of the iOS 10 – iOS 10.3.3 jailbreak so you can take a more informed decision. If you’re on iOS 11, then check our post to find out the current status of the iOS 11 – iOS 11.2.2 jailbreak.

iOS 10 – iOS 10.3.3 Jailbreak Status

Meridian Jailbreak

Meridian is a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 10.3.x developed by hacker and developer Ben Sparkes aka iBSparkes. It works by sideloading the Meridian IPA using Cydia Impactor. It can be used only for 64-bit iOS  devices including:

• iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus


• iPhone 6S & iPhone 6s Plus


• iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus


• iPhone SE


• iPhone 5S


• iPad Air 1 and iPad Air 2


• iPad (2017)


• iPad Mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4


• iPad Pro 1 and iPad Pro 2 (12.9″ and 9.7″)


• iPod Touch 6th Gen

The jailbreak makes use of the KPPless technique. KPP stands for Kernel Patch Protection. In order to remove restrictions imposed by Apple, which is basically the process of jailbreaking, you have to get access to the kernel and patch it, so you can write code to the kernel. This technique is called KPP bypass. In the case of the Meridian jailbreak, it makes use of a new technique called the KPPless. It touches the kernel without letting it know.

Cydia has not been updated for the KPPless yet, and so won’t work if you’ve jailbroken your iOS device with Meridian jailbreak.

Download Meridian Jailbreak: Official Website

G0blin Jailbreak

G0blin is a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 10.3.x developed by hacker and developer Sticktron. It works by sideloading the g0blin IPA using Cydia Impactor. It supports iOS 10.3.1, iOS 10.3.2 and iOS 10.3.3. It should also work for lower versions of iOS 10. It supports the following 64-bit iOS 10.3.3 compatible iOS devices:

• iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 5s


• iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad 5th generation, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2


• iPod touch 6G

It makes use of Luca Todesco’s KPP bypass technique, which we had explained previously. That’s the reason it does not support iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus just like Yalu jailbreak.

G0blin comes with Cydia and Cydia Substrate, so you can install jailbreak apps and tweaks after jailbreaking your iOS device with g0blin jailbreak.

It is still in beta phase and it is recommended to wait.

Download g0blin Jailbreak: Official website

H3lix Jailbreak

H3lix is a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 10.x developed by well-known hacker tihmstar. It works by sideloading the h3lix IPA using Cydia Impactor. It supports iOS 10.3.3 – iOS 10. However, it supports only 32-bit devices: iPhone 5, iPhone 5C and iPad 4th generation.

It is based on the v0rtex exploit developed by Siguza based on Ian Beer’s async_exploit for iOS 11.

The h3lix jailbreak is very stable.

Download H3lix Jailbreak: Official website

Saïgon Jailbreak

Saïgon is a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 10.2.1 developed by Abraham Masri aka cheesecakeufo. It works by sideloading the Saigon IPA using Cydia Impactor. It supports 64-bit devices including:

• iPhone 6S & iPhone 6s Plus


• iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus


• iPhone SE


• iPhone 5S


• iPad Air 1 and iPad Air 2


• iPad (2017)


• iPad Mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4


• iPad Pro 1 and iPad Pro 2 (12.9″ and 9.7″)


• iPod Touch 6th Gen

It was originally based on Adam Donenfeld’s ziVA exploit, but it now based on Siguza’s v0rtex exploit since beta 3. After which the success rate has improved significantly.

Download Saigon Jailbreak: Official website

Yalu Jailbreak

It was the first jailbreak to be released for iOS 10. It is sometimes known as YaluX or yalu + mach_portal. Yalu is a semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 10.2 or lower developed by Luc Todesco aka (qwertyoruiop). It works by sideloading the Yalu jailbreak IPA using Cydia Impactor. It supports the following 64-bit iOS devices:

• iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 5s


• iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad 5th generation, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2


• iPod touch 6G

It makes use of Luca Todesco’s KPP bypass technique. It is probably the most stable jailbreak for iOS 10 – iOS 10.2.

Download: Download Yalu Jailbreak

Jailbreak Apps and Tweaks for iOS 10.3.3

g0blin, Yalu and Saïgon are the only jailbreaks that come with Cydia and Cydia Substrate, so it is much easier to install jailbreak apps and tweaks.

So as you can see there are 5 jailbreaks for iOS 10 – iOS 10.3.3. It is quite unprecedented to have so many jailbreaks and probably adds to the confusion.

So which jailbreak should you use? It depends on which version of iOS you’re using currently and your device. So hopefully the information above helps you make an informed decision.

Apple today officially seeded the sixth developer beta for iOS 11.2.5.

Apple today officially seeded the sixth developer beta for iOS 11.2.5. The company also seeded the same beta for the public beta testers as well. It is available to download and install now for registered developers, and can be accessed from the Apple Developer Center. For those who have a registered device with the appropriate configuration profile, the new software can be installed as an over-the-air update.

As of right now, and based on the number system for Apple’s updates, this appears to be a minor software upgrade. It will likely aim to fix any issues that have been discovered in the last public update, iOS 11.2.1, as well as aim to improve performance and other tweaks. It is not likely that this software update will include any major forward-facing features for the end user, but if anything like that is discovered, we will update this post accordingly.

That does not mean that Apple has launched all of the promised iOS 11 features just yet, however. Users are still waiting for iCloud support in Messages, and AirPlay 2 is still waiting in the wings as well. While it’s possible that Apple will include these new features in iOS 11.2.5, we may have to wait for a major point upgrade for that.

In a previous beta, it was confirmed that Siri will be able to play podcasts when asked about the news.

If you are already part of the public beta program, you can download and install the newest public beta as an over-the-air update. If you aren’t already part of the group, but want to be, you can sign up right here.

If any new discoveries are made in the sixth developer beta of iOS 11.2.5, we will update this post accordingly.