The Exposure Notifications Express flow in iOS 13.7.
The Exposure Notifications Express flow in Android.
Today brought a surprise update for iOS 13: iOS 13.7 adds Exposure Notifications Express, the next phase of Apple and Google's collaboration to aid local, regional, and national governments in tracking COVID-19 exposure and isolating those infected. iOS 13.7 adds a few additional minor features, and it is joined by iPadOS 13.7, which mostly includes bug fixes. Google will launch its own version of Exposure Notifications Express on Android later this month.
Back in April, Apple and Google announced a joint plan to develop a system that would use the Bluetooth hardware in iPhones and Android phones to assist in contact tracing amidst the pandemic. "Exposure Notifications Express" is the moniker for the second phase of this rollout—the first phase began with software updates in May that included an API to help public health authorities develop their own apps for this purpose. Now, with this update, those authorities can gain the benefits of high-tech exposure tracking without developing their own apps.
In Apple's implementation for iOS, users who are in participating states are prompted to opt in to receive notifications if the contact-tracing data indicates they may have been exposed. The user is then advised on next steps to take, which are defined by the user's local public health authority. Public health authorities define when and under what circumstances notifications are sent as well as what guidance is provided to those who may have been exposed.
So far, Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and the District of Columbia are participating in the Exposure Notifications Express system, though more may come later. Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming, Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada had previously launched exposure notification solutions using the API. Also, 20 countries have already launched exposure-tracking apps. The new Exposure Notifications Express approach does not impact existing solutions, Apple and Google say.
As for other changes in iOS 13.7, Apple's release notes say the update adds new Memoji stickers and enables iCloud Drive folder sharing for the Files app as well as new bug fixes. Since iPads are not included in the exposure notification system, the iPadOS 13.7 update focuses on bug fixes.
iOS 13.7 is likely either the last or the next-to-last software update for iPhones before the launch of iOS 14, which is expected to happen within the next few weeks.
Honestly, I thought we were done with iOS updates, didn’t you? But this one is special. It’s designed to help with that current universal preoccupation, Covid-19. With this app, if you choose to opt in, your phone can quietly, in the background, take note when you come into close contact with others. If someone later tests positive for Covid-19, your phone can let you know. Cool, huh? Here’s what in the update, and how to get it.
I know, I know, you don’t need me to tell you this at this late stage in the iOS 13 game, but, just in case, here’s what you do.
Go to the Settings app. Choose General, then Software Update. Click on Download and Install, and let your iPhone (or iPad in the case of iPadOS 13.7) work its magic.
What’s in the update?
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This update is all about Covid-19 exposure notification, specifically the arrival of Exposure Notification Express, though there are bug fixes and performance improvements, too.
When Google and Apple created their Application Programming Interface (API) for exposure tracing, it required users to download the appropriate health authority app to their phone before anything was possible. This API was included in IOS 13.5.
The downside to this system is it means it requires a determined user to ensure they have the right app before they can benefit.
When it was first announced, Apple and Google said that later in the summer they’d be updating things so the exposure tracing would be built into iOS or Android, so a step was taken out of the process. After all, for systems like these to work, they need strong take-up.
This update now puts the Exposure Notification Express capability into iOS itself. It will provide simpler deployment of regional exposure notifications by Public Health Authorities, without the need to develop or maintain a custom app.
But, you might ask, don’t you still need the health authority app? Here’s how it works.
With iOS 13.7, the iPhone can now, if you opt in to this, spot when you have encounters where you are less than 6 feet away from others by your phones swapping encrypted tokens. The system will send out and listen for these Bluetooth beacons, but without requiring an app to be installed. If, later on, someone you’ve been next to tests positive for Covid-19, then a match is detected and you will be notified. If you haven’t already downloaded an official public health authority app then you will be prompted to download the appropriate official app and advised on next steps. Only public health authorities will have access to this technology and their apps must meet specific criteria around privacy, security, and data control.
If at some point you are positively diagnosed with COVID-19, God forbid, then you can report that diagnosis within the app, and with your consent your beacons will then be added to the positive diagnosis list. User identity is not shared with other users, Apple or Google as part of this process.
Some things to note:
1. The system is completely opt-in, so you don’t have to do it.
2. No location data is shared – the app is not monitoring where you are at any point, merely noting which phones you come into contact with.
3. It’s anonymized so your identity isn’t shared with anyone along the line. It’s only when you put your details in the relevant health authority app that anyone knows who you are.
Why is this important? If someone you’ve come into contact with has Covid-19, then the sooner you find this out the better. You can test to check whether you have it and if you do, potentially self-isolate sooner, which helps everyone.
How Exposure Notifications work.
Apple Google
In a statement, Apple and Google told me: “As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications, we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app. Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project’s core tenets of user privacy and security. Existing apps using the Exposure Notification API will be compatible with Exposure Notifications Express, and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps.”
Any other updates?
Yes, Apple says there are new Memoji stickers and now there’s iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app. “This update also contains bug fixes and improvements,” Apple says. But really, this update is about Covid-19 Exposure Notification Express.
This update landed on August 12, 2020 and was a minor update addressing small but significant issues. Some iPhone users were experiencing a green tint, part of a thermal management issue which is fixed here.
It also sorted issues with unneeded system data files not being deleted. Additionally, Exposure Notifications were being disabled for some users. In the light of iOS 13.7, such a fix was crucial.
iOS 13.6
Released on July 15, 2020, it introduced: Virtual Car Keys to let you unlock compatible vehicles with your iPhone or Apple Watch on the car. You can use the same mechanism to start the engine, too.
Additionally, HealthKit was modified so new symptoms such as fever tracking, headaches, chills and sore throat can be included.
And there was a refinement to the way you update your iOS software. Until now, there was a single toggle to choose between automatic updates being turned on or off, now there’s a more sophisticated choice. There are two toggle switches. One for automatically downloading the updates and another one to install the updates overnight, if you wish.
The News app gained an update, too. A new tab called Audio has appeared and News+ subscribers can listen to stories read aloud.
iOS 13.5.1
Apple released iOS 13.5.1 on Monday, June 1, 2020. It had just one function: to fix the vulnerability that made jailbreaking a possibility. Jailbreaking is popular with people who want to add features not available to regular iPhones, such as widgets, different themes and more.
If there had been any doubt of the purpose of this update, it’s now confirmed that it prevents jailbreaking using the unc0ver method. Though there are many people who like the freedom jailbreaking permits, it also exposes a device to more attacks, so the vulnerability that makes the jailbreak possible can also be exploited by malicious hackers. Jailbreaking is not illegal, though it can invalidate your warranty. And it could also leave your iPhone open to attack.
iOS 13.5
Released on May 20, 2020, this was a big update with a lot in it. Most important of all, it had the framework for the Apple and Google COVID-19 exposure notification app, which potentially can save lives. It also updated FaceID so that you can use it with a face mask in place – it offers up the passcode screen much more quickly when Face ID recognizes you have a mask on. And there was an improvement to Group FaceTime.
iOS 13.4.1
This update hit the iPhone on April 7, 2020 and was brimming with fixes and bug squishes. Chief among these was a fix for a previously introduced issue with FaceTime calls where such calls didn’t work on earlier versions of iOS and macOS. The helpful new feature which lets you choose Bluetooth from the Quick Actions menu had been playing up and this was addressed, too. Oh, and an iPad-specific issue with the flashlight was also sorted.
iOS 13.4
Released on March 24, 2020, this was a huge update with lots of new features. For example, Mail has had its toolbar significantly improved, and if you’re replying to an encrypted email, your reply will be encrypted, too.
The sister to iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, included trackpad support so that the latest iPad Pro can be used in a more laptop-like way than ever. A feature that came and then went away, iCloud Folder Sharing, came back again so you can share documents easily. New Memoji stickers arrived with nine new choices, including party face and hands pressed together. Universal purchase support arrived for the App Store, meaning you can buy an app so it works on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and Apple TV all together, assuming the app supports this. As for Arcade games, recently played ones will appear in the Arcade tab so you can keep playing on each platform. Though there was no mention of CarKey, the super-cool element predicted previously which suggested you could unlock and drive your compatible car just by using your iPhone, there was extra information in the CarPlay Dashboard and support for other navigation apps in the CarPlay dashboard. The keyboard now supports predictive typing for Arabic in this version and there were plenty of bugs fixed, too
iOS 13.3.1
This landed on Wednesday, January 29. One of the main focuses was on the U1 chip. It’s on the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max and is a cool piece of kit. It allows you to AirDrop to a nearby iPhone 11 more easily. But it transpired that this chip continued to track user location even when location services were turned off. A toggle in Settings means you can turn off Bluetooth, Wi-fi and Ultra Wideband.
There were plenty of fixes. The first fix related to Screen Time and Communication Limits. Previously, it was possible for someone to get round the Limits without entering a passcode. That’s been sorted as has an issue with Deep Fusion photos, a Face Time problem, distorted sound in some cars using CarPlay, push notifications not coming through on wi-fi and connectivity issues for users on the British O2 network. Problems in Mail were also fixed. Finally, Apple added Indian English Siri voices for HomePod.
iOS 13.3
Released on Tuesday, December 10, this big-number update had a bunch of changes. It updated the layout for some newspapers in Apple News+, improved Screen Time parental controls (though a further fix was needed in iOS 13.3.1) and improved the Stocks app. Beyond that, it was all fixes and bug squishes, including how video clips are created, support for security keys, repaired an issue in Gmail, sorted an issue in text entry using the long-press on the space bar to allow a moveable cursor and resolved an issue in Voice Memos.
And as proof that hardware is affected by software, some wireless chargers were charging more slowly than they should. This software update should have aimed to fix that.
iOS 13.2.3
This was the last update before the new iOS 13.3. It went live on Monday, November 18, 2019. A smallish and unexpected update, it aimed to fix problems, including the following. System searches inside Mail weren’t working quite right, nor in Files or Notes. This update sought to fix this. Similarly, where Messages had an issue with displaying photos and attachments, this update was there to sort it. Apps that weren’t downloading content in the background before were resolved in this update, hopefully. Oh, and Exchange accounts that weren’t getting new messages or other content were the focus of this update, too.
iOS 13.2.2
Released on Thursday, November 7, 2019, this update sought to fix the way apps running in the background kept quitting. It also tried to get rid of temporary loss of cell signal, and fixed how some encrypted email messages between Exchange accounts were unreadable.
iOS 13.2.1
Don’t worry if you missed this one. Unless you have a HomePod, you literally wouldn’t have seen it. It was there to fix issues caused by iOS 13.2 which made some HomePods turn into useless, oversized paperweights. What that update had meant to do was add new HomePod features. These arrived in all their glory with this corrective update, when iOS 13.2.1 went live on October 30, 2019, just 48 hours after iOS 13.2. Something of a record, surely?
With iOS 13.2.1 HomePods were granted the ability to recognize different family members’ voices, music could be added to HomeKit scenes, you could hand off music, podcasts and phone calls just by bringing your iPhone near to the HomePod. Oh, and if you like ambient sounds, these arrived in this update, with the facility to set a sleep timer to these restful noises.
iOS 13.2
A big update, this. released on Monday, October 28, 2019. Marquee features include Deep Fusion, a new camera feature that improves images taken in medium and low light. Siri Privacy settings were updated with this release - also an important step forward. Foundations were laid for the new Research app which could have a big impact on health data collection. Oh, and scores of new emoji were set free. AirPods Pro in-ear headphones are supported in this release. More features including Siri reading out your messages were also included.
iOS 13.1.3
This was another surprise release, out on October 15, 2019. It was aimed at fixing issues more than anything else. Some devices didn’t ring or vibrate when a call came in – kind of important for a phone, right? That was fixed in this update. As was an issue with Voice Memos not downloading or problems where meeting invites didn’t open in Mail. A U.K.-focused repair was made so that Health data would display properly after British Summer Time ended (which was yesterday, October 27, by the way).
Issues which saw the Apple Watch not pairing with an iPhone and notifications not coming through to the Watch were also fixed. Other fixes included apps not downloading after an iCloud Backup and better connectivity between Bluetooth hearing aids and Apple devices. Launch performance of apps in Game Center were addressed and one relating to Bluetooth connectivity in certain vehicles. Lots of fixes, then.
iOS 13.1.2
September 30, 2019 was the release date for this recent update, just one weekend later than 13.1.1. It’s another bug fixer to do with iCloud Backup, for instance which showed a progress bar even after being completed. A malfunctioning camera was fixed here, too, as was the flashlight failing to initiate. Like in 13.1.3, this update sought to address an issue with Bluetooth dropping on some vehicles. There was also a display issue for the iPhone and a fix for problems running shortcuts from Apple HomePod.
iOS 13.1.1
This update launched on September 27, 2019. The big element was a fix for the flaw which led some third-party keyboards access the iPhone even when permission hadn’t been granted.
It also offered a solution to problems with battery drain, rather in contrast to the battery life gain which iOS 13 is all about.
Restoring from a backup was a problem in this update as well as the latest one. Siri recognition is better and syncing in Reminders shouldn’t be slow any longer.
iOS 13.1
This came out on September 24, 2019 and sought to fix issues and squish bugs such as problems opening the camera properly, improperly behaving wallpapers, text entry issues and so on. There was also a fix to a battery management problem. New features included activating the U1 chip in the latest iPhones which gives the handsets a form of spatial awareness, improving AirDrop immediately and with other benefits set to follow. The Shortcuts app also saw extra support and more features. The facility to send your ETA to others from Maps was added.
iOS 13
Released on September 19, 2019, this was a very big release with an awful lot in it. For full details, read the indepth analysis here.
Features include:
Dark mode to make the iPhone’s interface less glaring in a low-light environment, for instance. App developers can integrate Dark Mode into their apps so that the iPhone has a consistent look. Sign in with Apple lets you sign up to apps with your Apple ID and Apple will keep the site or app at arm’s length. You can sign in using Face ID or Touch ID as appropriate. Maps has been updated with a new street-level look and in-depth mapping on selected cities.
Photos and Camera apps have been seriously altered with a new look to the Photos tab and significant editing upgrades. Siri sounds more natural and will offer personalized recommendations. Reminders has been completely overhauled, and Notes has a new gallery view. Find My combines Find My iPhone and Find My Friends. It will help to locate offline devices, too.
QuickPath is the new way to enter text by swiping. It’s very cool.
Text editing has been improved, though the elegant magnifying glass which used to appear when you touched a word, making it visible even though the word itself was hidden under your thumb, say, has gone. I hope it’s coming back soon.
Among the miscellaneous treats are a pro-active system that tells you which apps have been accessing your location, for example. A message says how often it has done so in a set period of time and you can leave things as they are or adjust. It’s a very simple but highly reassuring detail.
Apple has released full and final version of iOS 13.7 and iPadOS 13.7 for iPhone and iPad users. Here’s what is new.
You Can Download iOS 13.7 and iPadOS 13.7 for Your iPhone and iPad Over the Air, IPSW Files Also Available for Clean Installation
The Cupertino giant dropped an interesting surprise last week in the form of iOS 13.7 and iPadOS 13.7 beta. And today, the full and final version of said software is with us, complete with COVID-19 exposure notifications without having to install any third-party app. Of course, this feature is heavily dependent on local authorities. If they chose not to enable it then it's of no use to you. But, along with that, you can expect this update to feature bug fixes and performance enhancements, which is always a welcome touch.
With that out of the way, you can download and install iOS 13.7 and iPadOS 13.7 on your iPhone or iPad over the air. Simply charge beyond the 50% mark and connect to a Wi-Fi network, follow the steps outlined below:
Launch the Settings app from your home screen
Tap on General
Now select Software Update
As the iOS 13.7 or iPadOS 13.7 update shows up, tap on Download and Install
It is important that you install this update immediately as it will squash a handful of bugs on your iPhone and iPad which you might have come across lately. But I highly doubt it will ever fix that one iPadOS bug in which the display orientation is all wrong and is fixed by swiping up on the home screen. It appears as though Apple has a blind eye towards this issue.
Fingers crossed anyway.
While you are here, check out the following as well:
iOS 14 is currently in beta testing with developers and public beta users, with Apple having released the sixth beta just last week. While beta testing is moving along nicely, and Apple recently switched from a biweekly schedule to a weekly schedule for releases, there is quite a bit of uncertainty about when Apple plans to release iOS 14 to everyone.
It’s no secret that iOS 13 was a rather disastrous release for Apple, plagued by bugs, performance issues, and the complicated release of iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1. This year, iOS 14 is far more stable in beta testing than iOS 13 was, but there are still comparisons we can draw.
What this means is that with the iOS 14 beta cycle this year, we are essentially running two and a half weeks — or 18 days — behind the schedule of the iOS 13 beta cycle last year. Further, this makes sense considering that WWDC 2020 was held on June 22 and WWDC 2019 was held on June 3.
iPhone 12 considerations
Then, you throw in the wrinkle of the iPhone 12 delays. Apple has already confirmed that the iPhone 12 lineup will be released “a few weeks later” than usual this year. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro were released on September 20 last year. A three-week delay this year would mean the iPhone 12 lineup could be released in mid-October at the earliest.
In the past, Apple has shipped new iPhones with the point-zero updates of iOS. For example, the iPhone 11 shipped with iOS 13 out of the box, despite the looming release of iOS 13.1. With that being said, the iPhone X was a notable exception to this rule, as it was released after iOS 11.1 had already been released.
The possibilities
Here are the release dates for prior versions of iOS:
iOS 13: September 19
iOS 12: September 17
iOS 11: September 19
iOS 10: September 13
With those dates in mind and the roughly 18-day delay in the iOS 14 beta schedule so far, it seems reasonable to expect iOS 14 to be released in early October this year. That, of course, is not guaranteed, particularly in 2020 when seemingly anything is possible.
We also have to consider the Apple Watch Series 6. As 9to5Mac readers have pointed out, the Apple Watch Series 6 will ship with watchOS 7, which requires the Apple Watch be paired to an iPhone running iOS 14. If the Apple Watch Series 6 is released in September, this would mean that iOS 14 would also have to be released in September.
So there are two possibilities for the iOS 14 release this year:
A mid-September release as usual, and the iPhone 12 lineup ships with iOS 14.1 or similar
An October release, and the iPhone 12 ships with iOS 14.0
It’s impossible to know which possibility Apple will go with, and the only thing we can do is look at the schedule of iOS 14 beta testing so far this year compared to prior years, and take into account iPhone 12 information.
iOS 13.1: September 24
iOS 12.1: October 30
iOS 11.1: October 31
iOS 10.1: October 24
There are a variety of reasons why the iOS 14 release schedule is so important, particularly for developers working to update their applications in time for day-one availability. If Apple releases iOS 14 in mid-September like usual, then developers essentially had 20 fewer days than usual to get their applications ready.
What do you think about the iOS 14 release schedule? Do you have any guesses or predictions? Let us know down in the comments!
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Apple has announced that it will release iOS 13.7 to the public today, including a major expansion of the COVID-19 Exposure Notification platform. Apple and Google have unveiled a new Exposure Notifications Express system that allows public health authorities to support COVID-19 contact tracing without developing and maintaining their own application.
Update: iOS 13.7 is now available. You can update via the Settings app on your iPhone. Apple has also released iPadOS 13.7 with bug fixes.
The backstory
When Apple and Google announced their work together on the COVID-19 Exposure Notification API at the onset of the pandemic, the companies detailed two phases of the technology. The first phase, which is what came with iOS 13.5, required that users first download an app from their public health authority to opt-in to Exposure Notifications.
At the time, Apple and Google also hinted at work on phase two, which would reduce the reliance on public health authorities and implement much of the COVID-19 Exposure Notification technology directly into iOS and Android. That is what Google and Apple are announcing today, but with a few changes compared to what was initially expected.
iOS 13.7 + Exposure Notifications Express
The basis of the new Exposure Notifications Express system is included in iOS 13.7, which Apple is releasing to all iPhone owners today. Public health authorities still have to opt-in to the system.
For public health authorities, the process of adopting Exposure Notifications Express is significantly streamlined compared to adopting the Exposure Notification API. Public health authorities simply fill out a config file that includes their name, logo, criteria for triggering an exposure notification, and information and protocol that is displayed to users following an exposure.
Apple and Google are shouldering much more of the responsibility of the COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Express system. The companies say that they will use the information provided by the public health authorities to offer a fully operational Exposure Notification Systems on behalf of the public health authority directly integrated into iOS 13.7.
Public health authorities still have full control over the system, though, despite not needing to develop their own application. This includes controlling how the notifications are triggered, what next steps are to advise, and guidance for exposed individuals.
iOS 13.7 changes
For users, you can now enable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications directly in the Settings app on their iPhone. The process is as simple as just a few taps, including agreeing to the public health agency terms. Users will also be able to opt-in to receive a push notification when their local public health authority adopts Exposure Notifications Express.
Once you enable exposure notifications in the Settings app, your iPhone will monitor begin using Bluetooth to log possible exposures so you can be notified of a potential COVID-19 exposure based on the guidelines set by your local public health authority.
Apple and Google hope that this expansion of the Exposure Notifications Express system will dramatically increase adoption, both from users and public health authorities. The first public health authorities in the United States to adopt the Exposure Notification Express system will be Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
For states that already have a standalone application using the COVID-19 Exposure Notification API, those apps can still exist and operate on their own. As of right now, Apple and Google say that 25 states and territories, representing more than 55% of the population, are exploring Exposure Notifications System solutions.
Apple and Google had the following to say in a statement to 9to5Mac:
“As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications, we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app. Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project’s core tenets of user privacy and security. Existing apps using the Exposure Notification API will be compatible with Exposure Notifications Express, and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps.”
Finally, Apple and Google emphasize that all of the original privacy protections of the Exposure Notification API also extend to the Exposure Notifications Express. Users must explicitly enable exposure notifications, nothing is enabled by default. No location data is shared and the system does not share your identity with other users, Apple, or Google. All matching is done on-device and users have full control over whether they want to report a positive test.
iOS 13.7 will roll out to all iPhone users later today.
9to5Mac’s take
In some ways, today’s announcements from Apple and Google do appear to be an expansion on what the two companies had initially anticipated for phase two of the Exposure Notifications System. The companies had initially said phase 2 would still include some reliance on public health authority applications, but today’s announcement means that Apple and Google will operate the fully functional system on behalf of the public health authorities.
Judy Monroe, MD, President and CEO, CDC Foundation:
“In this pandemic, jurisdictions need bandwidth to help develop tools for contact tracing and exposure notification. Tools like the Apple | Google notification framework offer a backbone for building privacy-centered apps for rapid exchange of data that can help protect and save lives.”
It’s notable that Apple and Google have focused on reducing the barrier of adoption for users and public health authorities alike. COVID-19 contact tracing and exposure tracking work only with high rates of adoption, and today’s announcements seem aimed precisely at helping increase adoption.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan praised the partnership between Apple and Google:
“Exposure Notifications Express will help to save lives, greatly enhance our contact tracing operation, and advance our statewide COVID-19 recovery. We appreciate our collaboration with Apple and Google, and look forward to launching this state-of-the-art technology in Maryland.”
What do you think of today’s COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Express announcement from Apple and Google? Let us know down in the comments.
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iOS 14 is currently in beta testing with developers and public beta users, with Apple having released the sixth beta just last week. While beta testing is moving along nicely, and Apple recently switched from a biweekly schedule to a weekly schedule for releases, there is quite a bit of uncertainty about when Apple plans to release iOS 14 to everyone.
How iOS 14 compares to iOS 13
It’s no secret that iOS 13 was a rather disastrous release for Apple, plagued by bugs, performance issues, and the complicated release of iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1. This year, iOS 14 is far more stable in beta testing than iOS 13 was, but there are still comparisons we can draw.
What this means is that with the iOS 14 beta cycle this year, we are essentially running two and a half weeks — or 18 days — behind the schedule of the iOS 13 beta cycle last year. Further, this makes sense considering that WWDC 2020 was held on June 22 and WWDC 2019 was held on June 3.
iPhone 12 considerations
Then, you throw in the wrinkle of the iPhone 12 delays. Apple has already confirmed that the iPhone 12 lineup will be released “a few weeks later” than usual this year. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro were released on September 20 last year. A three-week delay this year would mean the iPhone 12 lineup could be released in mid-October at the earliest.
In the past, Apple has shipped new iPhones with the point-zero updates of iOS. For example, the iPhone 11 shipped with iOS 13 out of the box, despite the looming release of iOS 13.1. With that being said, the iPhone X was a notable exception to this rule, as it was released after iOS 11.1 had already been released.
The possibilities
Here are the release dates for prior versions of iOS:
iOS 13: September 19
iOS 12: September 17
iOS 11: September 19
iOS 10: September 13
With those dates in mind and the roughly 18-day delay in the iOS 14 beta schedule so far, it seems reasonable to expect iOS 14 to be released in early October this year. That, of course, is not guaranteed, particularly in 2020 when seemingly anything is possible.
We also have to consider the Apple Watch Series 6. As 9to5Mac readers have pointed out, the Apple Watch Series 6 will ship with watchOS 7, which requires the Apple Watch be paired to an iPhone running iOS 14. If the Apple Watch Series 6 is released in September, this would mean that iOS 14 would also have to be released in September.
So there are two possibilities for the iOS 14 release this year:
A mid-September release as usual, and the iPhone 12 lineup ships with iOS 14.1 or similar
An October release, and the iPhone 12 ships with iOS 14.0
It’s impossible to know which possibility Apple will go with, and the only thing we can do is look at the schedule of iOS 14 beta testing so far this year compared to prior years, and take into account iPhone 12 information.
iOS 13.1: September 24
iOS 12.1: October 30
iOS 11.1: October 31
iOS 10.1: October 24
There are a variety of reasons why the iOS 14 release schedule is so important, particularly for developers working to update their applications in time for day-one availability. If Apple releases iOS 14 in mid-September like usual, then developers essentially had 20 fewer days than usual to get their applications ready.
What do you think about the iOS 14 release schedule? Do you have any guesses or predictions? Let us know down in the comments!
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The popular augmented reality game Pokémon GO is about to get a new update in October, but this comes as bad news for users of some old smartphones. Pokémon GO’s official Twitter profile announced today that the game is dropping support for devices running Android 5, iOS 10, and iOS 11.
For Apple users specifically, Pokémon GO currently requires an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad with a 64-bit processor running iOS 10 or later. However, this is about to change with a future update coming in October.
Pokémon GO will no longer work on any device running iOS 10 or iOS 11, which means that the next version of the game will have iOS 12 as a minimum requirement. However, developers note that iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 models will no longer run Pokémon GO, even with iOS 12 installed.
It’s quite common for developers to drop support for older versions of iOS as Apple’s mobile operating system has a very fast adoption rate when it comes to the latest available updates. There’s also the fact that Pokémon GO is an AR-based game, which demands more performance than other regular games.
In an upcoming update to Pokémon GO in October, we will end support for Android 5, iOS 10, and iOS 11, as well as iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 devices. Trainers with devices not specifically listed here will not be affected and don’t need to take any action.
It’s unclear whether users with those mentioned devices will no longer be able to play Pokémon GO immediately after the October release. Other devices will not be affected by the update. If you have an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 10 or iOS 11, you will have to update your device in order to play Pokémon GO.
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