Apples closed-source mobile operating system, _______________, runs on the iphone, and ipad.

Apple iOS is a proprietary mobile operating system that runs on mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Apple iOS is based on the Mac OS X operating system for desktop and laptop computers. The iOS developer kit provides tools that allow for iOS app development.

Designed for use with Apple's multitouch devices, the mobile OS supports input through direct manipulation. The system responds to various user gestures, such as pinching, tapping and swiping.

Apple iOS stands for iPhone operating system.

Apple iOS market share

As of 2019, the Apple iOS market share was 13.4% worldwide, making it the second most popular mobile OS behind Google Android, according to IDC.

Apple iOS features

• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular connectivity, along with VPN support.
• Integrated search support, which enables simultaneous search through files, media, applications and email.
• Gesture recognition supports -- for example, shaking the device to undo the most recent action.
• Push email.
• Safari mobile browser.
• Integrated front- and rear-facing cameras with video capabilities.
• Direct access to the Apple App Store and the iTunes catalog of music, podcasts, television shows and movies available to rent or purchase. iOS is also designed to work with Apple TV.
• Compatibility with Apple's cloud service, iCloud.
• Siri is Apple's personal assistant. It can be used to set reminders, offer suggestions or interact with certain third-party apps. Siri's voice has been modified in recent years to make it sound more natural.
• Cross-platform communications between Apple devices through AirDrop;
• Support for Apple Watch, which runs watchOS 6, but requires iPhone 6s or later running iOS 13 or later.
• Apple Pay, which stores users' credit card data and allows them to pay for goods and services directly with an iOS device.
• CarPlay allows users to interact with an iOS device while driving. CarPlay supports Siri voice controls, and users can access apps through a connected vehicle's touchscreen. CarPlay provides access to maps, phone, calendar, messaging, and music apps.
• The HomePod feature allows Siri to identify family members by voice, so that everyone receives a personalized experience. HomePod's handoff feature allows users to hand off music, podcasts and phone calls so that they can listen on another device.
• HomeKit allows iOS to be used as a tool for controlling home automation. HomeKit accessories include routers, lights, security cameras and more. The Home app allows you to control these devices from iOS.

Security and privacy

iOS includes the following security features:

• Apple ID support. Users can sign into websites and apps using their existing Apple ID. Additionally, iOS supports signing in using Face ID or Touch ID, which use biometric authentication methods. Apple IDs are protected with two-factor authentication.
• Privacy and security. iOS supports the use of fine-grained controls that can be used to prevent apps from gaining location information or from accepting AirDrop content from unknown senders. Apps can also be blocked from using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without users' permission. Additionally, iOS devices use a secure boot chain to ensure that only trusted (signed) code is executed during the boot process. This allows iOS devices to verify the integrity of any code running on the device.
• Secure Enclave Support. Secure Enclave is a hardware-based feature that stores cryptographic keys in an isolated location to prevent those keys from being compromised. Secure Enclave is not exclusive to iOS devices. It also works with Apple TV, Apple Watch, Mac computers and other Apple products.

Apple iOS version history

Apple iOS was originally known as iPhone OS. The company released three versions of the mobile OS under that name before iOS 4 debuted in June 2010. Apple released iOS 2 on July 11, 2008. It premiered alongside Apple's iPhone 3G. This operating system was followed on June 17, 2009 by iOS 3. The fourth version of iOS was released on June 21, 2010, along with the iPhone 4.

On Oct. 12, 2011, Apple released iOS 5, which expanded the number of available applications to over 500,000. This iOS version also added the Notification Center, a camera app, Siri and more.

Unveiled on June 11, 2012, iOS 6 included a Maps application and the Passbook ticket storage and loyalty program application.

Released on Sept. 18, 2013, iOS 7 featured an entirely redesigned user interface. In September 2014, iOS 8 introduced Continuity, a cross-platform system that allows users of multiple Apple devices to pick up on one where they left off from another. Other new features included the Photos app and Apple Music.

Apple iOS 9 and iOS 10 -- released, respectively, on Sept. 16, 2015, and Sept. 13, 2016 -- featured upgrades such as a revamped notifications section, improved iMessage capabilities and Siri integration with third-party apps.

iOS 11 debuted on September 19, 2017. With the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. With this release, Apple dropped support for older 32-bit iPhones. iOS 12 was released to the public on September 17, 2017 along with the company's new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

iOS 13

iOS 13 was released on Sept. 19, 2019. One of this release's most significant features was dark mode, a new light on dark color scheme.

Apple has also introduced a new Maps application in iOS 13. Maps now supports street view-like capabilities.

Apple also chose to enhance Siri in iOS 13. In addition to making Siri sound more natural, Apple now allows Siri to announce messages to AirPod users.

In iOS 13, Apple rebuilt its Reminders app. Reminders are now categorized as All Tasks, Scheduled Tasks, Flagged Tasks, or Finished Tasks.

Apple has also updated its Health app to allow better health data tracking over time. The app has also been extended to support women's health by tracking menstrual cycles and predicting fertility.

iOS 14

iOS 14 was released Sept. 16, 2020. Among the features is a messaging app that gives users the ability to retract messages sent accidentally, and to include @mentions in messages. This release also allows third-party apps to be used as the default for web browsing, accessing email and playing music. Additionally, Apple integrated augmented reality capabilities into the operating system.

iOS 15

iOS 15 was released in September 2021. Since that time, Apple released several updates to iOS 15, including 15.6.1 that addressed security flaws. Features of iOS 15 include using FaceID while wearing a mask, filter notifications and apps to reduce distractions, text recognition in images, Safari redesign, SharePlay on FaceTime to share screens, and updates to notifications. Users can also invite others to join FaceTime online -- even if they do not use an Apple device.

Apple Wallet also has new updates -- including adding home, car and office keys to unlock doors with compatible HomeKit door locks; uploading personal identification; and adding multiple passes at once.

Another feature of iOS 15 includes health screening and sharing with Apple watch’s wearable technology. Users can now monitor glucose levels, walking steadiness and changes in metrics such as heart rate.

Firstly, What is an OS? A mobile operating system (OS) is software that allows smartphones, tablet PCs (personal computers) and other devices to run applications and programs. A mobile OS typically starts up when a device powers on, presenting a screen with icons or tiles that present information and provide application access. Mobile operating systems also manage cellular and wireless network connectivity, as well as phone access. There are two major players in the mobile operating system world, namely Android and Apple’s iOS. Today we will gonna study what is IOS, how it works, what is the latest ios version, it’s features, application, and much more!

What is iOS?

iOS stands for iPhone Operating System is a mobile operating system which is developed and used by Apple In exclusively for its hardware iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. iOS runs on all models of iPhones and its primary rival is Google’s Android. iOS was first released alongside the iPhone in 2007 and began running on iPads and models of iPod Touch alike. Since then, iPod Touch has somewhat fallen by the wayside and iPad’s now run on a larger screen-friendly version of iOS, named iPadOS – even if it remains fairly similar. Over the course of thirteen (13) yrs, iOS developed very well in several areas. The main noticeable development you will see is in the app store, the App Store has become more prolific than many would have imagined.

These changes have come via another feature that is of significant appeal to iOS users – frequent updates. Apple is known for supporting its devices over many years with regular updates – from solving bugs and security issues to big releases that bring new and exciting features.  iOS is the world’s second-most widely installed mobile operating system, after Android. It is the basis for three other operating systems made by Apple: iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. An iOS is a closed proprietary software.

Apples iOS AT A GLANCE

• Official website:- apple.com/ios/

• Apple iOS is created and developed by Apple inc. This iOS software is written in the language of C, C++, Objective-C, Swift, assembly language. iOS is based on a closed source model, with some open source components. iOS is initially released on June 29, 2007; 14 years ago. iOS update method is based on OTA method (Over-the-air programming, OTA programming) refers to various methods of distributing new software). iOS is based on hybrid kernal type (hybrid kernel is an operating system kernel architecture that attempts to combine aspects and benefits of microkernel and monolithic kernel architectures used in computer operating systems). IOS default user interface is Cocoa Touch (multi touch, GUI).

• “Unveiled in 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, iOS has since been extended to support other Apple devices such as the iPod Touch (September 2007) and the iPad (January 2010). As of March 2018, Apple’s App Store contains more than 2.1 million iOS applications, 1 million of which are native for iPads. These mobile apps have collectively been downloaded more than 130 billion times.
• Major versions of iOS are released annually. The current stable version, iOS 14, was released to the public on September 16, 2020 and it available in 30+ languages. It brought many user interface changes, including the ability to place widgets on the home screen, a compact UI for both Siri and phone calls, and the ability to change both the default web browser and email apps. No devices were dropped, as all devices supported by iOS 13 are able to run iOS 14.”

How was iOS created?

In 2005, when Steve Jobs began planning the iPhone, he had a choice to either “shrink the Mac, which would be an epic feat of engineering, or enlarge the iPod”. Jobs favored the former approach but pitted the Macintosh and iPod teams, led by Scott Forstall and Tony Fadell, respectively, against each other in an internal competition, with Forstall winning by creating the iPhone OS. The operating system was unveiled with the iPhone at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 9, 2007, and released in June of that year, And that’s how we get our iOS.

iOS is created for being used in Apple’s own hardware such as the iPhone and iPod Touch. This OS also plays as a basis for three other operating systems made by Apple: iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

What devices use the iOS operating system?

So far so good we all know that iOS was built for Apple products. Apple has a whole ecosystem for its products that uses iOS operating system. Mainly this iOS is used in iPhones!

Difference between iOS and iOS beta

An iOS is a stable version of an operating system that was released after many experiments and testing. While the Apple iOS Beta Software Program lets users try out pre-release software.

“Beta software is intended purely for testing. Bugs may also make iOS beta software less secure. Hackers can exploit loopholes and security to install malware or steal personal data. And that is why Apple strongly recommend that no one installs beta iOS on their “main” iPhone or device”

Can iOS be hacked?

Jailbroken iPhones are at a much higher risk for being hacked since users are able to download apps from sources other than the App Store, where malicious programs are less likely to be blocked. However, researchers have demonstrated it’s possible to sneak a malicious iOS app into Apple’s official store too.

So, Yes, both Android phones and iPhones can be hacked. But as an iOS is a closed source it may create some difficulties for hackers as compared to Android OS!

The Architectural Design of iOS

The architecture of IOS is a layered architecture. At the uppermost level iOS works as an intermediary between the underlying hardware and the apps you make. Apps do not communicate to the underlying hardware directly. Apps talk with the hardware through a collection of well defined system interfaces.

Lower layers give the basic services which all application relies on and higher-level layer gives sophisticated graphics and interface related services. Apple provides most of its system interfaces in special packages called frameworks. Every layer has a set of Frameworks which the developer uses to construct the applications.

iOS features

iOS has many features like interface (The iOS user interface is based upon direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch, and reverse pinch. Interface control elements include sliders, switches, and buttons.). The Home Screen (The home screen, rendered by SpringBoard, displays application icons and a dock at the bottom where users can pin their most frequently used apps.), There is Notification Center, Folders, System font, Siri (It is an intelligent personal assistant integrated into iOS. The assistant uses voice queries and a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services.) , And much more.

iOS 14 is the latest iOS version so far, It brought many user interface changes, including the ability to place widgets on the home screen. A compact UI for both Siri and phone calls came into existence, and the ability to change both the default web browser and email apps.

iOS 14 features

iOS 14 is compatible with all the devices which are able to run on iOS 13 which makes this new iOS 14 more user-friendly. Here are some of new additions of the latest iOS 14.

iOS 14 introduces a new design for the Home Screen that allows for far more customization with the incorporation of widgets, options to hide entire pages of apps, and the new App Library that shows you everything you have installed at a glance.

Customized Home Screen Icons

Along with widgets for Home Screen customization, iPhone users have discovered that their Home Screens can be further customized with unique icons using the Shortcuts app.

New App Library

App Library is a great new feature that shows all of the apps you have installed in an organized, simple-to-navigate view that’s similar to the app list view on the Apple Watch.

Picture in picture

The Picture in Picture feature on the iPad OS is expanded to the iPhone in iOS 14, and you can now watch videos or use FaceTime while doing something else.

No full screen calls

Incoming phone calls no longer take up the entire screen in iOS 14, and instead show up as a small banner at the top of the display. Swipe up on the banner to dismiss it, or swipe down to see more phone options and answer the call. You can also tap right on the banner’s accept and reject buttons to accept or decline a call.

For the first time since iOS was introduced, third-party mail and browser apps can be set as the default in place of Mail and Safari. That means Chrome users and those who prefer email apps like Spark, Edison, and others, can use their favorite apps more easily.

EV Routes

If you have an electric vehicle, you can get directions that include charging stops along the route and ETAs that account for charging time. When an electric vehicle is added to an iPhone, Maps can keep track of the current charge and charger type to provide the best route options for your particular vehicle. This is a great improvement in iOS 14.

App Clips

App Clips, new to iOS 14, let you use a part of an app at the moment that you need it without having to download the full app. For example, if you want to make a quick reservation at a restaurant through an app like Yelp, you might be able to use the Yelp App Clip to get it done without the hassle of installing the Yelp app.

Privacy enhancements

Apple improves privacy protections for its customers with every iteration of iOS, and iOS 14 is no exception, making it clearer what info apps collect, requiring more user permission, and providing ways to use location features without providing specific location data.

Applications of iOS

iOS devices come with preinstalled apps developed by Apple including Mail, Maps, TV, Music, FaceTime, Wallet, Health, and many more. Applications (“apps”) are the most general form of application software that can be installed on iOS. They are downloaded from the official catalog of the App Store digital store, where apps are subjected to security checks before being made available to users.

Applications for iOS are mostly built using components of UIKit, a programming framework. It allows applications to have a consistent look and feel with the OS, nevertheless offering customization.

What is UIKit (cocoa touch):- Cocoa Touch is the application development environment for building software programs to run on iOS for the iPhone and iPod Touch, iPadOS for the iPad, watchOS for the Apple Watch, and tvOS for the fourth-generation Apple TV, from Apple Inc.

UIKit elements are very adaptable, this allows developers to design a single app that looks the same on any iOS device. In addition to defining the iOS interface, UIKit defines the functionality of the application.

As Apple did not want any third party apps to be developed for iOS so at first they do not allow or intend to release an SDK for developers. However, this technology never entered into common use, which led Apple to change its opinion, so in October 2007 the SDK for developers was announced, finally released on March 6, 2008.

What is SDK? SDK is a set of tools for third-party developers to use in producing applications using a particular framework or platform, developers are required to subscribe to the Apple Developer Program. Over the year, the Apple Store apps surpassed multiple numbers in applications of 50,000, 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, 1 million, and 2 million apps.

iOS version history

Here are the list of iOS versions apple released so far.

iPhone OS 1 or iOS 1

• Apple announced iPhone OS 1 at the iPhone keynote on January 9, 2007
• The release of the iPhone OS 1.1 brought support for the iPod Touch (1st generation). iPhone OS 1.1.5 was the final version of iPhone OS 1

iPhone OS 2 or iOS 2

• Apple announced iPhone OS 2 at the iPhone software roadmap keynote in March 2008, and it was released to the public on July 11, 2008, alongside the iPhone 3G
• iPhone OS 2 was compatible with all devices released up to that time. The release of iPhone OS 2.1.1 brought support for the iPod Touch (2nd generation)

iPhone OS 3 or iOS 3

• Apple announced iPhone OS 3 on March 17, 2009.
• iPhone OS 3 was compatible with all devices released up to that time, The final release supported on the original iPhone and iPod Touch was iPhone OS 3.1.3.

iOS 4

• Apple announced iOS 4 in March 2010 and it was released to the public on June 21, 2010, alongside the iPhone 4.
• With this release, Apple dropped support for the original iPhone and the 1st generation iPod Touch, which is the first time Apple had dropped support for any device in an iOS release

iOS 5

• Apple announced iOS 5 on June 6, 2011
• iOS 5 was released for the iPhone 3GS onwards, iPod Touch (3rd generation) onwards, and the iPad (1st generation) and iPad 2

iOS 6

• Apple announced iOS 6 on June 11, 2012,
• iOS 6.1.6 was the final release supported for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch (4th generation)

iOS 7

• Apple announced iOS 7 on June 10, 2013
• The iPhone 4S, iPod Touch (5th generation), the iPad (3rd generation), and the iPad Mini (1st generation) onwards were fully supported by iOS 7

iOS 8

• Apple announced iOS 8 on June 2, 2014
• Devices from the iPhone 5 onwards, iPod Touch (6th generation), the iPad (4th generation), and the iPad Mini (1st generation) were fully supported by iOS 8

iOS 9

• Apple announced iOS 9 on June 8, 2015
• This release made the iPad 2 the first device to support six major releases of iOS, supporting iOS 4 thru iOS 9.

iOS 10

• Apple announced iOS 10 on June 13, 2016, and it was released to the public on September 13, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
• iOS 10 is the last iOS version to run on 32-bit processors and also the last to run 32-bit apps.

iOS 11

• Apple announced iOS 11 on June 5, 2017, and it was released to the public on September 19, 2017, alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
• This iOS 11 update makes iOS a 64-bit-only OS that only runs 64-bit apps

iOS 12

• Apple announced iOS 12 on June 4, 2018, and it was released to the public on September 17, 2018, alongside the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
• Devices like the iPhone 6S/6S Plus, the iPad Air (2019), the iPad (5th generation), and all iPad Pro models are fully supported by iOS 12

iOS 13

• Apple announced iOS 13 on June 3, 2019, and it was released to the public on September 19, 2019 alongside the iPhone 11 series (11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max)
• Apple dropped support for all devices with less than 2 GB of RAM, which included the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, iPod Touch (6th generation), iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, and iPad Air. iOS 13/iPadOS 13 has limited support on devices with the A8/A8X.
• The principal features include dark mode and Memoji support for A9+ devices

iOS 14

• Apple announced iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 on June 22, 2020, at its annual WWDC 2020 event, with a developer beta released on the same day and a public beta released on July 9, 2020. iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 were released on September 16, 2020.
• All devices that supported iOS 13 also support iOS 14.
• iOS 14 has some major modifications till date!

The release of iPadOS 14.0 brought support for the 8th generation iPad and the 4th generation iPad Air. And the release of iOS 14.1 brought support for the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.

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