iOS

When it comes to GPS-based friend-finding apps, you either love them or you don't.

Google has been a big believer on its Android platform for some time, integrating Google Latitude into all of its Android phones. Apple's iOS 5 update brings a separate downloadable app, Find My Friends (shortened to Find Friends once it installs).

In many cases, it's another iOS 5 feature that's very similar to those existing on rival mobile platforms, but there are some features all its own. This weekend, I buddied up with some CNET friends to see how Find My Friends … Read more

One pretty cool iOS 5 feature that flew in under the radar is Shortcuts, which CNET's Jason Cipriani dubbed AutoText in his June preview, How to customize AutoText shortcuts in iOS 5.

If you've ever used AutoHotKey, PhraseExpress, or even Microsoft Word, you're probably familiar with this time-saving capability: When you type a customized abbreviation, iOS expands it into a complete text blurb. Thus, something like "omw" becomes "on my way," which is handy when you're texting.

Indeed, shortcuts are most useful for composing e-mail and text messages, though you can … Read more

In addition to announcing stellar iPhone 4S sales, Apple also revealed today that iOS 5 and iCloud are off to a running start.

According to the company, 25 million people are already using iOS 5, even though this version of the mobile operating system launched just last week. In addition, Apple's iCloud, a cloud-based data service, has added 20 million users in less than a week.

Although the iOS 5 user numbers are impressive, Apple's success with iCloud is most notable, considering that it's an entirely new product. The service allows users to sync and store content … Read more

When your wife tells you that she "hates meat packing," should you be suspicious?

This question seems to have consumed one new iPhone 4S owner, as he pondered whether his beloved always told him the truth.

According to this unnamed New York man's posting to a MacRumors forum, he was one of the privileged who managed to get his hands on an iPhone 4S.

You might have heard of these new machines. They come equipped with a highly intelligent companion called Siri. They also give you the opportunity to load an app called "Find My Friends". … Read more

This week was perhaps the busiest one of the year for Apple, with the release of a new iPhone, a new version of iOS, a handful of new iOS apps, iCloud, and updates to its Mac OS X and iLife software.

While we're still waiting for official numbers, from the looks of it the iPhone 4S is off to what's expected to be the strongest start for any iPhone yet. Buyers lined up overnight around the world to get their hands on Apple's latest phone, which went on sale yesterday. Carriers like AT&T and Sprint … Read more

In each of the last few iPhones, there's been one new feature that's stolen the show. Video recording rocked on the iPhone 3GS, FaceTime entertained on the iPhone 4, and Siri undoubtedly is the star attraction on the iPhone 4S.

Though Apple's phones have long had a Voice Control feature, Siri goes a few steps further. She'll not only follow your basic commands, she'll give you directions and answer all kinds of wacky and serious questions. She's surprisingly intelligent and rather fun.

I've been interacting with Siri for a couple of days, and … Read more

Apple's Siri service, the voice assistant feature that's an exclusive to the newly launched iPhone 4S, is experiencing downtime, according to numerous users.

At approximately 6 p.m. PT, users began posting to Twitter that they were experiencing problems getting Siri to respond to voice commands. Affected users reported that the feature activated correctly, but was not connecting to process voice commands.

Multiple tests with CNET's test unit between 6:58 p.m. and 7:50 p.m. Pacific had the feature working over CNET's Wi-Fi network and over Sprint's 3G network on a number … Read more

Now that just about everyone has high-quality cameras on their phones, people's smartphones have become the main repository for all their photos. This can be great for showing off photos of your kids or reminiscing about an event in the past. But what about when you leave your phone on your desk or coffee table--do you really want people to have access to all your pictures?

This week's iOS app collection provides a way to create a locked folder on your phone. The first is free and offers just the basics for added security. The second adds a few more features for managing photos. The third snaps a picture of would-be intruders in addition to having a secure folder.… Read more

Anyone who carries his or her life on an iDevice will run to iOS 5, Apple's new mobile operating system (compatible with the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, and the third and fourth generation of the iPod Touch) that makes day-to-day tasks easier to complete on the go.

We're excited about it, too, so we dug our hands into iOS 5 and created dozens of tutorials to help you master the new apps (like iMessage and Reminders), customize the interface, control your privacy, and uncover some hidden features.

Bookmark this page for future reference, … Read more