Apple releases iOS 10 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to the public - 9 to 5 Mac

Apple has now released iOS 10 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to the public. The free update adds many new features to iOS including a new Messages app with enhanced emoji, stickers, Digital Touch and iMessage apps; third-party app integration with Siri voice queries; redesigned Music and Maps apps with a new visual style and simpler user interfaces; automatic face and object tagging in Photos and much more.

Read below to find out how to update (and if your device is compatible) then check out our walkthrough of everything new.

How to update to iOS 10?

To update to iOS 10, visit Software Update in Settings. Connect your iPhone or iPad to a power source and tap Install Now. Firstly, the OS must download the OTA file in order to begin setup. After the download has finished, the device will then begin the update process and eventually reboot into iOS 10.

The iOS 10 update weighs in at about 1.7 GB and will take several minutes to install, perhaps up to half an hour. If you don't have the time right now to update, you can let iOS automatically install it at a later date (it will intelligently choose a time when you are likely to be asleep).

iOS 10 will install on most devices that run iOS 9. Here's the full compatibility list. Note that iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come preinstalled with iOS 10, when they deliver later this week.

iOS 10 runs on:

• iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad 4th generation, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 9.7 inch and iPad Pro 12.9 inch
• iPod touch 6th generation.

As always, some features of iOS 10 are limited to specific hardware so not all devices get all the features. Raise To Wake requires iPhone 6s or iPhone 7, for example.

iOS 10 has a lot of new stuff: read all about it in our feature walkthrough. Messages has rich support for stickers and 3x bigger emoji as well as animated screen and bubble effects. There is even an App Store inside the Messages app. iOS 10 brings redesigns for Music, Maps and News. There's a whole new Home app for managing your HomeKit smart home accessories. This barely scratches the surface: read our full walkthrough of everything new in iOS 10.

Updating should be a fairly straightforward process, although it's always good to check you have a backup (either using iCloud Backup or iTunes Backup on the Mac/PC) before doing any major system upgrades.

Just be aware about one thing in particular when updating: Apple has changed how the lock screen works in iOS 10. Slide to Unlock no longer exists. Instead, you must press the Home Button in order to get to the Home Screen of apps. On iPhone 6s or later, the phone will actually wake itself from sleep when you raise the device This can be jarring until your habits adjust to the new behavior.

Also note that some features of iOS 10 will not be visible immediately. Faces and object detection will take some time to index; the initial indexing will not happen until the device is plugged into power for a few hours. Other proactive features will also take time to show up, like suggested apps, contextual locations, or Photo Memories.

As always, battery drain for iOS 10 is likely going to be higher on the first day of use. iOS 10 does a lot of indexing and caching and these all get flushed on system update. We'll be on the lookout for show-stopping bugs or battery drain issues but we don't expect to see anything like that. The numerous iOS 10 betas have been very solid.

Enjoy iOS 10! Let us know what you think of Apple's latest mobile operating system in the comments.

ipod – Google News

macOS Sierra: Configuring Siri - The Mac Observer (blog)

As you may know, macOS Sierra (finally) brings Siri, Apple's voice assistant, to the Mac! This feature is available under a colorful new Dock icon…

…and menu bar icon:

Clicking either of those will play the familiar "I'm listening" beeps that you'll recognize from iOS, and you can then ask all sorts of questions, just like on your mobile devices. You can ask about weather, for example:

If you're feeling fancy, you can even ask macOS Sierra Siri about stuff on your computer, such as "find files created in the last five days," or even "find emails from Melissa Holt." Neat!

You should know, though, that you can configure some things about how Siri works, and those options are available under System Preferences > Siri.

Within that pane, there are choices for which macOS Sierra Siri voice to use, the input source, and even a checkbox for whether to show Siri in the menu bar at all. What I find most interesting, though, is the "Keyboard Shortcut" drop-down. I think the best choice here is to use Hold Command Space; since that's the same shortcut as Spotlight, it'll make it easier to remember! So if you pick that, you'll press Command-Space to search, and hold Command-Space for Siri. Of course, if you don't like whatever it's set to, you can use that same drop-down to switch it to what you'd prefer or even configure a custom shortcut.

But that's all there is to it! When you install Sierra, you can feel free to use the voice assistant on your Mac as much as you'd like, and if you work in an office, you can also enjoy annoying the crap out of coworkers by asking Siri a bunch of questions every hour. I highly recommend that, actually.

mac – Google News

iOS 10 has arrived -- here's how to update your iPhone or iPad - CNET

On Tuesday Apple released iOS 10, the company’s newest mobile operating system for iOS devices.

The update includes a wide range of new features, improving upon iMessage by adding apps, a revamped Music app, new Control Center panels, Siri apps and plenty more hidden features.

You have two different options to update your iOS device, but before we cover those, make sure you read through our guide to preparing for the iOS 10 update along with creating a backup should anything go haywire during the process.

Over-the-air

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

The quickest and easiest method to install an update is built right into your iOS device. You can download the update directly to your phone or tablet, and install it without much fuss.

Open Settings > General > Software Updates. iOS will automatically check for an update, then prompt you to download and install iOS 10.

Be sure to have a solid Wi-Fi connection and that your charger handy. The update will take some time to install, and the last thing you want is for your phone to turn off mid-installation. In fact, iOS blocks the installation from starting until your iOS device is at 50 percent charged.

iTunes

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

You can use iTunes to install iOS 10, should you prefer the more traditional approach to installing updates.

Connect your iOS device to your computer using the Lightning cable and open iTunes. Click the iPhone or iPad icon in the top-left corner of iTunes, next to the drop-down menu for the various sections of your iTunes library.

Then click on Update > Download and Update. Follow the prompts, accept the terms, and let iTunes do its job.

If you run into any issues, double-check you have the most current version of iTunes installed. You can do this on a Mac through the App Store’s Updates tab, or on Windows by clicking on Help > Check for Updates with iTunes open.

ipad – Google News

Personal Tech|Readers Ask About Apple's New iPhone and Watch - New York Times

Photo

Jeff Williams of Apple showed off the new version of the Apple Watch last week. Credit Beck Diefenbach/Reuters

After Apple unveiled new iPhones and smartwatches last week, we asked readers to send us their questions about the devices. J. D. Biersdorfer and Brian X. Chen answer the queries.

Q. How much is the new iPhone going to cost? Do the wireless headphones come with the phone or is a separate payment needed? What colors do they come in again? â€" Stephanie

J. D.: Here is the breakdown for the iPhone 7, without carrier subsidies or trade-up deals factored in:

â–  The 32-gigabyte model: $ 650.

â–  The 128-gigabyte model: $ 750.

â–  The 256-gigabyte model (the one with the largest capacity): $ 850.

For the larger iPhone 7 Plus:

â–  The 32-gigabyte model: $ 770.

â–  The 128-gigabyte model: $ 870.

â–  The 256-gigabyte model: $ 970.

Apple and most wireless carriers offer monthly payment plans to carve up the cost into smaller cash chunks. Wired earbuds are included in the box, but the wireless AirPods are not part of the package and will cost an additional $ 160 when they arrive in late October.

As for colors, you have your choice of silver, gold, pink (“rose gold”) or flat black for all models. A new glossy ebony shade called “jet black” is also available for both iPhone 7 models in the 128- and 256-gigabyte capacities, but Footnote No. 1 on Apple’s product specifications page warns that the color’s “high shine may show fine microabrasions with use.” It suggests getting a case to protect it â€" which may defeat the purpose of getting the stylish new color unless you like scratches or clear plastic phone cases.

I have an iPhone 6 I purchased in November 2014 with a warranty, which expires in November 2016. Is it worth it for me to purchase an iPhone 7? â€" Jack Bertolino

Brian: Based on speed alone, it is probably worthwhile to upgrade if you currently own an iPhone 6. The iPhone 7 is significantly faster than the iPhone 6. In speed tests conducted with the app Geekbench 4, the iPhone 7 was 114 percent faster than the iPhone 6.

Other than that, the iPhone 7 camera is significantly better than the one on the iPhone 6. And when you consider the benefits of the iPhone 7’s being water-and dust-resistant, over all this is a meaningful upgrade if you own an iPhone that is at least two years old.

What is the weight difference for the new phones compared to past models? â€" Burt Herman

J. D.: For the iPhone models with the 4.7-inch screen size, Apple’s specifications state the iPhone 6 from two years ago tipped the scales at 4.55 ounces and last year’s iPhone 6s came in at 5.04 ounces â€" but the iPhone 7 dips back down to 4.87 ounces. In the 5.5-inch screen category, the larger iPhone 6 Plus model has a listed weight of 6.07 ounces and the iPhone 6s Plus is 6.77 ounces, but the iPhone 7 Plus edges down to 6.63 ounces. In comparison, the lightest model currently for sale is the iPhone SE, which was released earlier this year. The iPhone SE, with a smaller four-inch screen, is a comparatively svelte 3.99 ounces.

Can other brands of wireless headphones be used with the new 7? Or are you limited to the Apple headphones because of a new type of chip in the device? â€" Mark Singleton

Brian: The iPhone 7 supports the open Bluetooth standard, so third-party wireless headphones will be compatible with it. The proprietary chip you are referring to, called W1, is inside the AirPods, Apple’s new wireless earbuds. The AirPods will work fully only with Apple devices. While non-Apple Bluetooth devices can connect with the AirPods for audio, they would not be able to take advantage of the AirPods’ special auto-pairing feature or Siri.

How does the iPhone 7 camera differ from the ones on the iPhone 6 and 6s? â€" Pat Well

J. D.: Far from the measly fixed-focus, two-megapixel camera in 2007’s original iPhone, the iPhone 6 line of 2014 had an eight-megapixel camera with a five-element lens, f/2.2 aperture, a True Tone Flash, face detection and other advanced features; the larger 6 Plus also provided optical image stabilization. The iPhone 6s series bumped up the camera resolution to 12 megapixels and added the animated Live Photos feature and 4K video support â€" but kept the five-element lens and f/2.2 aperture, while optical image stabilization stayed exclusive to the Plus-size version.

However, the iPhone 7 provides optical image stabilization in both the regular and supersize models, and upgrades the hardware to a six-element lens for more colorful photos with greater image detail. The lens also has a larger aperture of f/1.8 and this year’s iPhones have a flash that is 50 percent brighter than the one on last year’s models.

Devotion to serious smartphone photography is where the iPhone 7 line diverges, as the bigger iPhone 7 Plus adds a second camera on the back â€" a 12-megapixel telephoto unit with a f/2.8 aperture, as well as optical and digital zoom. To get professional-quality portraits, the 7 Plus uses the two cameras together to show the picture’s main subject in sharp focus while gently blurring the background.

For those concerned with the selfie quality in their Instagram feeds, the resolution on the front FaceTime camera has taken a huge leap since the 1.2-megapixel version on the iPhone 6, and even the five-megapixel front camera on last year’s iPhone 6s. The iPhone 7 now tops the line with a seven-megapixel camera staring you in the face.

When you are in an app and you accidentally touch the iPhone’s new home button, as it is touch-sensitive now, will the app close out? â€" Amanda

Brian: No, the app will not close out. The virtual home button is not just touch-sensitive; it is force-sensitive, meaning it can detect how hard you press. In other words, you have to press down on the button to return to the home screen; when you do, the home button will vibrate in response.

How do you charge the new AirPods? â€" John Steel

J. D.: The new wireless earbuds will come with a special portable case that both stores and charges the headphones; numerous people have already described it as looking like a large dental floss dispenser. The AirPods themselves are supposed to get about five hours of use per full charge â€" or a minimum of three charging sessions to get through all four operas in Richard Wagner’s epic .

When the juice runs out, you put the AirPods in the little white charging case to power up again. Apple estimates 15 minutes in the case should get the AirPods about three hours of listening time or at least an hour of talk time, as the earbuds also include microphones for phone calls or Siri commands. The special charging case needs its own power refill after about 24 hours of listening time. So before long trips, remember to charge the charging case as you charge the AirPods so the music doesn’t die while you are in transit.

Can the AirPods be used with older phones? â€" Curtis Bale

Brian: Older iPhones capable of running the new operating system, iOS 10, will be compatible with the AirPods. Apple’s website says that iPhones all the way back to the four-year-old iPhone 5 can run iOS 10.

iphone – Google News