As ever, we're back with a fistful of great apps just gone free on the App Store, and if your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is notably bereft just now, then this would be an ideal moment to stock up. There are three in total, and given that they would ordinarily set you back a total of $9, this is definitely a freebie bundle you won't want to be missing out on!
Late last week, we heard that Apple was internally testing a Control Center feature that enabled users to customize the experience similarly to the manner in which iOS 8 would enable share sheets to be tweaked at the discretion of the individual. That tidbit was based on information found in the first beta build of iOS 8 available to developers, and now, the same source has indicated - with evidence - that Apple is working on a notably funkier alternative UI, complete with alternate font and an undercurrent of orange and purple.
A couple of weeks back, it was reported that an individual, operating under the pseudonym 'Oleg Pliss', was conning iOS device owners in Australia out of hundreds of dollars using a very simple but effective scam using Apple’s Find My iPhone infrastructure. Initially, it was reported that Apple's iCloud infrastructure had been compromised somewhere along the line, but with the Cupertino outfit having swiftly stepped out and refuted these claims, it now appears that the group behind the well-organized scheme has finally got its comeuppance.
With iOS 8, Apple has introduced quite a few good new features to the table. Some are related to functionality, like the third-party keyboard support, while others, such as those we outlined in a detail article, are less obvious but nonetheless important. One particular quirk, as just discovered by one eagle-eyed beta user, definitely advocates user privacy in that in randomizes your device's MAC address before you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot, which also serves as a kick in the teeth for companies whose entire business is based on logging and tracking this information.
Apple's latest iOS software update has been well received by users, pundits and commentators, and one of the main reasons why it has been so heavily lauded can be attributed to the broader set of customization tools. Everywhere you look throughout iOS 8 beta 1 - if you've had the chance - you'll notice the increased scope for tailoring the experience beyond anything seen before with Apple's mobile software, and according to some murmurings on Twitter, Apple could be planning to offer users more jurisdiction over the Control Center.
We're still continuing to learn new bits of information all the time with regards to iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite, and with communication being an integral part of both of Apple's main operating systems, it should come as little surprise that both iMessage and FaceTime look set for some healthy improvements.
When releasing apps, developers are obligated to be transparent regarding what personal, geographical and device-based information is accessible to said app. It also helps that developers are made to explain why these apps must perpetually check our location, for instance. With iOS 8, Apple has given the user an even better insight into what goes on behind the various UI elements, and soon, apps will need permission to continue using your location data in the background.
Of the big announcements to come out of the WWDC opening keynote, Apple's decision to bring third-party keyboards to iOS was probably the most unexpected and yet, one of the most wished-for additions to a platform that has stubbornly stuck to the one keyboard for its entire life. Being able to install completely new keyboards can quite literally change the way we work.
With Apple having announced iOS 8 and subsequently rolled out the first beta over the past couple of days, it's no surprise to see that users have flocked to download and checkout some of the new features. But, being in beta and all, it's still far from finished, and having had a little taster of what's to come, it's quite likely that you'll want to revert back to the more familiar, stable environment that is iOS 7.1.x. If you have tried the beta and wish to step back to the latest public release, we've got the steps for you below.
We love free apps here, and every time we find good, paid apps gone absolutely free, we endeavor to share them with you, our wonderful readers. Here's another healthy selection of new apps for your downloading pleasure, so be sure to check the list after the break!
