Apple iOS 13 Arrives Today For iPhone, iOS 13.1 Release Moved Up To September 24th
A systemwide Dark Mode is now available on command, or can be invoked automatically based on the time of day in iOS 13. All of Apple's native apps support Dark Mode, and chances are if your favorite app hasn't already been updated to support the feature, it will be soon. Maps has been rebuilt (again), and includes new higher resolution imagery that will be rolled out across the entire United States by the end of 2019. Also includes Look Around, which is Apple's facsimile of Google Maps Street View.
The Photos app has been overhauled with a new feature that showcases your most important moments captured based on day, month and year. Photo and video editing tools have been made more powerful while streamlining the interface. And there's a new High-Key Mono capture mode in the Camera app for Portrait shots that add a monochromatic look with a white background.
Sign in with Apple is a new way to securely login to websites (and apps). It uses Face ID for authentication and doesn't reveal your personal information to third-parties (which can be an issue with similar mechanisms from Facebook and Google). In addition, instead of giving over your real email address, Sign in with Apple will instead provide sites and apps with a randomized email address that doesn't trace back to you.
Other features include the ability for Siri to read aloud your incoming messages (either from the first-party Messages app or third-party apps) on your AirPods, and new customization options for Memojis in Messages. Yet another change comes with CarPlay, which is receiving its biggest update since its inception. There's a whole new look for main home screen, and you now have the ability to perform operations on your iPhone without affecting what's displayed on your car's infotainment display. For example, if you currently have Waze navigation running on your car's dash via CarPlay, it won't then switch to the home screen if your passenger wants to browse the internet with Safari.
There are also a ton of other little features sprinkled here and there throughout iOS 13 which you can read about hereand here. iOS 13 is available for the following devices by going to Settings --> General --> Software Update:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPod touch (7th generation)
In related news, Apple has announced that the release of iOS 13.1 has been pushed up from September 30th to September 24th. Both iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 will be released at that time. iOS 13.1 will fix the lock screen bug that we first talked about last week and will include other features like the ability to share your ETA with friends/family in Apple Maps and new automated Siri Shortcut routines. The point release should also bring some much-needed polish, as the iOS 13 Gold Master release has been uncharacteristically buggy.
