iOS 8

Auxo Legacy Edition: nothing beats an original

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

The wait is over; Auxo Legacy Edition has just touched down on Cydia. For those of you that purchased Auxo 2 or Auxo 3, Auxo Legacy Edition will cost $0.99. Everyone else is asked to pay $1.99 to join in on the fun.

And fun it is.

While I liked the sequels to the original Auxo, neither of them felt as cool to me as the original version—a tweak that arguably laid the groundwork for the modern App Switcher that we enjoy today on iOS. Auxo Legacy Edition, Auxo LE hereafter, brings the well-liked card preview interface back to iOS 8 with a modern look and new features.

Android Wear meets the iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Over the past few days, I've been working with developer MohammadAG to test his in-progress iOS-to-Android Wear application on the LG G Watch. This application, which has a ton of potential for both jailbreakers and non-jailbreakers, allows iOS to forward notifications to Android Wear devices. In the video that follows, I showcase some of the features that are in the current version of Mohammad's new Android Wear APK.

DockWare for iOS 8 brings enhanced dock features to the iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Looking to add special enhancements to the dock on your iPhone? If so, then look no further than DockWare for iOS 8. The follow up to the original DockWare for iOS 7 devices, the sequel brings the ability to access the dock while within apps, hide the dock while on the Home screen, and invoke the dock using a handy Activator gesture.

New in iOS 8.3: placing phone calls through speakerphone via ‘Hey Siri’ command

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2015

Users who upgrade their iPhone to iOS 8.3 when it's released next month will be finally able to tell Siri to make a phone call through the device's speakerphone when the 'Hey Siri' option is enabled, reports 9to5Mac.

You can say, for example, 'Hey Siri, call my Mom on speaker' and the call will be automatically transferred to the iPhone's speaker, like it should have always been, may I add.

Again, provided the 'Allow Hey Siri' option is enabled in Settings > General > Siri and the phone is plugged into power.

New in iOS 8.3: download free apps and iTunes media without entering Apple ID password

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2015

A new 'Password Settings' section has been discovered in the Settings app of the current iOS 8.3 beta which will permit users to set up their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad so that downloading free iTunes apps and iTunes media won't require an Apple ID password.

The new option is only exposed to users when Touch ID is disabled, reports 9to5Mac. With Touch ID enabled, the new option is unavailable.

This is understandable to an extent, because approving purchases — free or paid — with the tap of a fingerprint is a frictionless experience.

iOS 8 adoption rate now at 77%

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

Our regular tracking of adoption rate figures is back with up-to-date, fresh stats straight from Apple indicating that iOS 8 is slowly but surely finding its way to users iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

As of today, Apple's latest mobile operating system is now powering 77 percent devices in the wild, a modest improvement over the 75 percent adoption rate as measured by the App Store two weeks ago.

Fleksy Keyboard gains Tips and Color Pops extensions, three new themes and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

Fleksy, a popular 99-cent keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 8 or later, has received another newsworthy update following its equally massive Valentine's Day release.

A dedicated Tips Extension shows you helpful tips throughout the app while a new Color Pops Extension lets you customize the colors of your key pops (disable them completely via a transparancy slider).

iOS 8.2 arriving Monday, here are full release notes

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 5, 2015

Backtracking on its previous report which claimed iOS 8.2 would be released for public consumption this week, BGR is now claiming that the software will be released to the public next week.

According to BGR founder and editor Jonathan Geller, Apple's decided to release one more Gold Master (GM) version crying a build number of 12D508 to employees and testers ahead of an expected launch this coming Monday.

Jump past the fold for full release notes.

iOS 8 adoption rate edges toward 75 percent

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

Based on Apple's official data shared at its portal for developers, iOS 8 is now running on 75 percent of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, as measured by the App Store on March 3, 2015, good for a two percentage-point increase.

Two weeks ago, Apple's mobile operating system was adopted by 73 percent of active device owners, representing a tiny one percentage point increase from the 72 percent mark recorded a month ago.

BGR: iOS 8.2 launching next Monday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Apple is shooting to release iOS 8.2 for public consumption next Monday, March 2, 2015, “or the following week at the absolute latest,” according to BGR editor Jonathan Geller who spoke to sources in the know.

March 2 is a Monday, an unusual day for an iOS software update, but so is March 9 when Apple's “Spring Forward” media event is due, at which it's expected to talk Apple Watch specifics.

Moreover, as many as four betas of iOS 8.3 could be issued before that software update is ready for public release, the BGR founder and editor has learned. He mentioned earlier in the month that iOS 8.2 would be arriving some time in March, but didn't provide a timeframe.

At last, Facebook Messenger gets native iOS 8 Share extension

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Today, social networking behemoth Facebook issued a small yet important update to its mobile messaging software for the iPhone and iPad. Facebook Messenger version 22 is now available in the App Store and with it comes a much appreciated and long overdue iOS 8 extension.

With it, you can at last send pieces of content to Messenger without leaving other apps. Using iOS 8's standard Share sheet, it's simple to share photos, videos and links directly with Messenger contacts, without leaving context of the app you're currently using.

Apple releases iOS 8.3 beta 2 to developers

Jake Smith ∙ February 23, 2015

Apple has seeded iOS 8.3 beta 2 to developers, now available to download over-the-air or from the Developer Center. Along with the iOS software, Apple has also seeded Xcode 6.3 beta 2 with Swift 1.2 for developers to begin using with their apps and a new beta for the Apple TV.