Apple Releases iOS 10.2.1 Beta 4 for Developers

Apple has released the fourth iOS 10.2.1 beta for developer testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The latest iOS 10.2.1 beta release, identified as 14D27. iOS 10.2.1 is likely a bug fix and performance improvement release. The initial beta was released on December 14 with a second beta. A third beta version was released at the start of this week.

iOS 10.2.1 beta Released on December 12th is the next software update after the current public version iOS 10.2. iOS 10.2 includes Unicode 9.0 emoji characters, three new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus wallpapers, a new TV app, additional camera features, new Messages screen effects, and more.

Major changes are not expected in iOS 10.2.1, although a new iOS 10.3 Beta is rumored for this week and may include a new Theater Mode toggle accessible in part via Control Center ahead of iOS 11 later this year. 

Developers who have not already provisioned their iPhone or iPad to receive over-the-air updates can download iOS 10.2.1 through Apple's Developer Portal. 

Apple ID owners who enrolled their device to test Apple betas can download this seed via Apple's Beta Software Program Website.

Apple Stops Signing iOS 10.1 and 10.1.1 Following the Release of iOS 10.2

Following the release of iOS 10.2 in December 2016, Apple has stopped signing iOS 10.1 and iOS 10.1.1 for all devices. This means that users are now no longer able to downgrade to the operating system if they are having some sort of issue with the latest iOS 10.2 releases.

Because Apple has stopped signing the two operating systems, users will no longer be able to downgrade to the operating system after updating to iOS 10.2. This means that once you update, you’re permanently committed to the new version.

Generally, Apple stops signing older iOS releases to prevent users from downgrading and being vulnerable to security holes that have since been patched. This primarily affects jailbreak users the most, but there was never a jailbreak available for iOS 10.1 or iOS 10.1.1.

Read more about what is there in Apple iOS 10.2 releases.

Apple has released iOS 10.2 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10.2 includes several new features like Unicode 9.0 emoji, three new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus wallpapers, a new TV app, additional camera features, new Messages screen effects, and more.

These are the changes discovered during iOS 10.2 beta:

• Three new wallpapers in iOS 10.2 beta (only for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus)
• New widget for Videos app
• New Preserve Camera setting
• New emoji (looks like Unicode 9.0 update/also on macOS 10.12.2, watchOS 3.1.1)
• New ‘Press and Hold to Speak’ menu under Home Button Accessibility settings
• New ‘Celebration’ Messages screen effect
• New ‘Show Star Ratings’ option under Music Settings
• New headphone icon in status bar for Bluetooth audio devices (previously seen with the Beats Solo3)
• TV app now included on iOS 10.2 beta, Videos app still present
• TV widget joins Videos widget
• SOS feature similar to Apple Watch when clicking power button 5x (which may be a requirement in India next year)
• Music now points to relocated shuffle and repeat controls (which have a button look now)
• TV app totally replaces Videos app on beta 3
• Feedback app returns in beta 3
• Previously seen SOS feature now only available in India (due to upcoming requirement)
• New ‘Love’ screen effect joins ‘Celebration’ in Messages

iOS 10.2 introduces new features including the TV app (US Only), a new and unified experience for accessing your TV shows and movies across multiple video apps. Emoji have been beautifully redesigned to reveal even more detail and over 100 new emoji have been added including new faces, food, animals, sports, and professions. This update also includes stability improvements and bug fixes.

Source: 9to5mac

Apple Seeds ios 10.2.1 beta (14D10) and tVOS 10.1.1 beta (14U707)

iOS 10.2.1 Beta (14D10) Update

Apple has just dropped iOS 10.2.1 beta 1 for developers. The contents of the update are currently unknown. iOS 10.2 included newly redesigned emojis, the TV app for US users, a couple of new screen effects in Messages, amongst other enhancements.

The first seed of iOS 10.2.1 weighs in at 1.82 GB for developers over-the-air. Given the minor bump in version number, this is likely a simple bug fix release.

Apple seeded the iOS 10.2.1 beta for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on December 14th to developers with build number 14D10. iOS 10.2.1 will undoubtedly be released to members of the public beta program in a few days. For more visit Apple Developers Blog

tVOS 10.1.1 Beta (14U707) Update

Apple has issued the first tvOS 10.1.1 developer beta for testing. tvOS 10.1.1 is likely a software update focused on bug fixes and performance improvements. tvOS 10.1 was a feature update that included the new TV app for the first time.

The new version features build 14U707 and are listed on the developer center; an OTA update is expected for Apple TVs with the developer profile installed.

Release notes for tvOS 10.1 listed these changes:

Apple TV Software Update 10.1

TV app: Discover new content or pick up where you left off in a current show or movie—all in one unified place. The TV app brings together all your shows and movies from services that you subscribe to, plus your purchases from iTunes. This feature is available only in the United States for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Additional: This update also includes general performance and stability improvements. 

For more visit Apple Developers Blog

Source: Link 

Study shows iOS devices failing more often than Android - Here is the Reason!

A report claims that more iOS devices crashed this year when compared to Android. A report has revealed that the Apple iOS had a higher failure rate as compared to Android devices in Q3, 2016. It shows that iOS, which powers iPhone and iPad devices suffered 62% failure rate, while Android which powers more devices than iOS faced 47% failure.

According to the latest report from global data security firm Blannco Technology Group, there were more instances of apps crashing on iOS than Android. Apps crashed on 65% of iOS devices as compared to 25% of Android-running devices. It has been further revealed that it was the iPhone 6 which faced maximum lags at 13% followed by the iPhone 6s at 9%, iPhone 5s at 9%, and the iPad Air 2 at 2%.

Prime Reason with iOS Devices!

The prime reason why the iOS devices faced glitches is being blamed on the latest iOS 10 version. An instance of smartphones’ erratic behavior is due to the kind of processor it is equipped with. Often users unknowingly run or try to run graphic-heavy apps on a smartphone running lighter processor, which in turn leads to app crashes and overheating. 

Which App has Maximum Failure Rate?

The report notes that some apps crashed due to overheating. Pokémon GO initially crashed on 5% of iOS devices, twice as compared to Android in the third quarter. The AR game not only crashed, it further drained batteries and hogged system resources, slowing down devices completely. However, the top spot for performance-harming apps continued to be driven by social media. It has been revealed that the top four crashing apps on iOS were Instagram with 14% failure rate, Snapchat at 12%, Facebook at 9% and Messenger at 5%.

Among Android devices, China-based LeEco’s Le 2 had the maximum failure rate at 13% followed by close rival Xiaomi with its Redmi 3S and Redmi Note 3 at 9% each. Surprisingly, Redmi Note 3 is a tested performer and yet according to the Blannco Technology Group report is one of the Android devices faced with maximum performance-related issues. Other Android running devices include the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge at 5% and the Lenovo Vibe K5 Note at 4%.

Prime Reason with Android Devices!

Prime issues with Android devices were related to the battery at 7% and the screen at 6%. It has been further revealed that Samsung-branded smartphones and tablets running Android had the most failures among Android manufacturers at 11% followed by Xiaomi-built devices at 4%. On Android, IMS Service, which is an app used by merchant led the app failure list at 32% followed by the address book app at 12% and Google’s own Play Store app at 10% failure rate.