Apple Releases iOS 7 Beta 4 to Developers [Download]

Apple has just released iOS 7 beta 4 to developers for download as predicted earlier today. No word on any of the changes yet, however it will most likely include bug fixes and a few UI changes here and there.

The firmware is currently available via Software Update and through the dev center shortly. The delta update is 263MB for the iPhone 5 and 207MB for older devices

Also, we will let you know if the update is safe for those without a registered developer account using the update trick soon.

Non-developers who have installed iOS 7 on their devices can safely update to iOS 7 beta 4 via Software Update, according to verified reports.

As we revealed last month, you can update to iOS 7 without a registered developer UDID as long as you perform the update procedure outlined here.

Remember you will not be able to restore your device to iOS 7; however, we have also verified that downgrading to iOS 6 is in fact possible.

What's New in iOS 7 Beta 4 Extensive List of Images Show

Here is an extensive list we've collected of what's new in iOS 7 beta 4 which Apple seeded to developers.

Lock Screen
● New chevron (>) arrow added to lock screen in front of "slide to unlock".
changing the lockscreen background now previews the lockscreen.
● Control Center pull up indicator is now just a line. Notification Center pull down indicator is also a line.
● Tapping on lock screen causes a sideward bounce -- prompts users to slide to unlock
● Changing the lockscreen wallpaper will preview the wallpaper with the lockscreen



Camera
● Removed "HDR" overlay in the camera app


● Live Camera Filters for 4S

● Auto-focus square is now orange rather than green

● 'Summarise' option in Photos & Camera setting to make the views for photo collections more compact

● Picture previews aren't "negative" anymore


Phone
● Tweaked dialer call button


● Tweaked answer phone buttons


● You can now disable/enable contact photos in favorites


Music
● Shuffle artist songs


● Playlist download all button is back

Spring Board
● Folders now have better/proper color to match the wallpaper.


● Multitasking Previews are now live, not just a static image


Mail
● PDF files look different in mail app

● The gradient on the mail weather and safari icon's gradients are more subtle.

Messages
● You only see the first letter of a persons last name in the messaging app now.

Notification Center
● "Completed Uploads" in the settings for notification center


● Tabs are now capitalized


● You can now swipe between panels in Notification Center

Game Center
● Game Center settings now accessible


● You can forfeit/delete Game Center challenges within Game Center

Maps
● Frequent Locations can be used to improve Apple Maps, History of Frequent Locations is also shown differently


● Drive time now displayed under the blue car when selecting a location


General
● Dramatically improved response time.

● Animation times are much shorter and snappier.

● Spotlight tweaked, Cancel button in search fields


● Accessibility improvements with bold text

● In a selectable list, the options are now centered

● Apps that use the camera now use the iOS 7 camera

● Caps lock icon and shift icon tweaked

● Siri Q&A Screen when pressing the "?" icon in Siri

● Back button during setup says "back" instead of previous screen

● New iPad "2X' icon when viewing iPhone apps on iPad screen

● Minor Safari UI Tweaks, website without a Favicon show a Safari logo

● New Airplay Icons

● Slight Newstand UI Tweaks

● You can now select a sound for AirDrop alerts


● Compass calibration is now faster

● Screen brightness changes when closing passbook

● Few new icons in Settings.app

● Snooze during alarms says "Tap to Snooze" instead of just snooze

● Search in reminders app


● App Store opens in last section you were visiting instead of the default featured tab

● "Grabbers" have a new look (the tab that comes up for notification center when you're full screen/watching a video)

● Improved algorithm for detecting which font to display depending on wallpaper

● Second hand on clock icon is now active [Thanks @iGlassGuy]

● Numerous crashes fixed

● We have received word that some users are have difficulties controlling music playback with their headphones (headset remote controls no longer working). We believe this is simply a bug and will hopefully be fixed by the GM release.


Check back momentarily. We are continually adding to this list. Let us know if you find anything new in the comments.

iOS 7 Beta 4 offers screenshot detection API

iOS 7 Beta 2 brought with it an unintended consequence of messing up apps like Snapchat.

Specifically, as Snapchat requires a finger on the screen to hold the photo open while viewing it, the program would no longer close the photo viewing screen upon taking a screenshot.

Even worse, Snapchat couldn’t actually detect that the user took a screenshot of a sent photo, possibly creating a huge privacy concern.

With today’s release of iOS 7 Beta 4, Apple has introduced a brand new API to let third-party apps be notified when the user takes a screenshot, in order to respond accordingly…

As discovered by Scott Buscemi of 9to5Mac, iOS 7 Beta 4 solves an issue preventing Snapchat from detecting screenshots by introducing a new screenshot detection API.

“This won’t be included in Snapchat until the developers work in the new API and Beta 4 is released,” the author remarked.

The “glitch” can be put down to how iOS handles the screenshot taking process.

Currently in iOS 6, one can’t screenshot a pane like Notification Center that’s halfway open because iOS 6 cancels active touches upon detecting the user simultaneously pushing the Power and Home buttons.

iOS 7 Beta 2 has changed that behavior so the operating system no longer cancels active touches when the user takes a screenshot. As a result, I can screenshot the Lock screen’s Quick camera toggle and Control Center halfway open, as seen below.

The change has introduced a nightmare scenario in apps like Snapchat that have no way of recognizing the screenshot action and notify the user accordingly. This new API has been created specifically to address such concerns.

Of course, it’s up to developers to implement the feature and determine how their warez will detect screenshot taking events. For apps with increased privacy features, such as Snapchat and Facebook Poke, the API will no doubt be crucial in preventing any unwanted action and optionally notifing a person on the other side.

Hidden code in iOS 7 seemingly confirms iPhone with built-in fingerprint sensor

After a three week hiatus, Apple seeded the 4th beta of iOS 7 to developers this morning. The update brings about a number of UI changes and improvements, but no new features have been spotted yet—until now.

Developer Hamza Sood has discovered some hidden code within the beta that seemingly confirms the rumors that the next generation iPhone will feature a built-in fingerprint sensor…

Here’s the screenshot posted:

And here’s the code:

- Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb 
- Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home button with their thumb 
- A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process. 
- Recognition is %@ complete 

This jibes with previous reports that Apple is building a fingerprint sensor into the Home button of its next iPhone. Such rumors have been bouncing around since Apple acquiredsensor-export AuthenTec last year.

But this is the first real evidence we’ve seen that Apple is working on such a feature. There’s been a lot of speculation from pundits and industry analysts, but we have yet to see anything concrete by way of part leaks.

If the fingerprint scanner materializes this year, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple implements it. Will it stop iPhone thefts? Save you from having to remember passwords? Save/load settings for multiple users?

What do you think?

Update: 9to5Mac has added some context to the finding, saying that a source familiar with development of the new iPhone has confirmed that the UI for the fingerprint scanning system is ready. The person says the technology is built around unlocking the phone, but it’s unclear what else it will be able to do at launch time.

Apple may post three more iOS 7 betas before Golden Master seed in September

Now that Apple’s Dev Center is live again after an eight-day outage, the company is getting ready to release the fourth iOS 7 Beta later today, if prominent bloggers and Twitter are to be believed.

In fact, a bunch of inactive download links for iOS 7 Beta 4 seem to be already up ahead of the official release on the Dev Center.

And if you ask BGR, Apple will release just three more betas for developers before the Gold Master version is ready for prime time in early September…

Jonathan S. Geller who runs BGR heard from multiple sources that Apple is planning to release iOS 7 Beta 4 today at around 1pm EDT / 10am PDT, over the air and through Dev Center.

For what it’s worth, BGR recently nailed the iOS 7 Beta 3 release date. The upcoming build for an AT&T iPhone 5 should be hosted here (the Verizon download is here).

More purported download links can be found in this MacRumors forum post.

The well-informed Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac says the purported build number of iOS 7 Beta 4 is ’11a4435d’, adding:

I heard last week that Apple is nearing an initial “GM1″ candidate internally. This candidate is said to be at a zero-priority-1 bug status, which means that there are no critical bugs left in the operating system.

Of course, Apple will likely discover more bugs in its testing, and will likely have several internal GM candidates before releasing the final GM seed to developers later in the year.

BGR was told that the fourth beta should contain “more bug fixes, graphics and UI enhancements and a couple of other updates”.

Some non-developers who installed iOS 7 Betas took to Twitter to complain about the operating system’s sluggishness and a huge hit on battery, not realizing beta code is normally optimized for battery and graphics performance either in a Gold Master candidate or the beta preceding it.

With that in mind, we’re expecting the fifth or sixth beta to be optimized for battery-friendly, jerk-free performance.

Apple releases iOS 7 beta 4: this is what’s new

As expected, Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 7 this morning. The update comes three weeks after the release of beta 3—longer than the the time period between previous betas due to a lengthy Developer Center outage caused by a security breach.

Beta 4 is available now to all registered Apple developers via OTA (over the air update), which can be installed by visiting the Software Update section in the Settings app of devices that currently have iOS 7 installed. And it should post soon to the dev portal…

The previous beta brought about a number of UI tweaks and changes in apps like Music, Mail, Weather and the Notification Center. There were also several performance improvements made, making the firmware faster and more reliable than previous releases.

The fourth beta is available for compatible iPhones, iPads and iPod touch models. We’re currently installing it ourselves, and will be reporting back with any new stuff we find. So make sure you keep checking back with this post throughout the day for changes.

And as always, we welcome you to let us know if we missed anything by e-mailing us at uttamguru7513@gmail.com

What’s new in iOS 7 beta 4

As we continue to dig through the new information in iOS 7 beta 4, we’ll be listing any major changes we find below:

• Lock screen UI tweaked, no longer has confusing up arrow
• Call button in phone app, Answer/Decline buttons refreshed
• Animations are noticeably faster
• Minor changes to Spotlight UI
• New ‘Completed Uploads’ option in Notification Center
• In Messages, it now only shows the first letter of the last name of the person you’re chatting with
• HDR On/Off button relocated in Camera app
• You can now swipe between Today-All-Missed views in Notification Center
• New AirPlay icons
• Shuffle All Songs option is back in Music app
• New search bar in Reminders app
• Improved navigation in Settings app
• Apple now asks if you want to “Help Improve Maps” when you first launch Maps app
• New “Improve Maps” opt-in program in Privacy section of Settings
• Tweaked Maps.app icons
• Saved Passwords for Safari now ask you want to setup an on-device password
• Pin in Maps app now shows estimated driving time to location
• New ‘Dial Assist’ feature in Phone app
• Filters now available in Camera app for iPhone 4S
• New Q&A section in Siri’s info sheet
• New iPad resolution toggle when running iPhone apps
• Minor changes to Newsstand UI
• Minor UI tweaks to system keyboard
• Redesigned Bookmarks, Reading List and Shared Links icons in Safari app
• New ‘Play Explicit Tracks’ option in iTunes Radio
• New ‘Siri has a new voice’ notification
• You can now choose a Sound and Vibration Pattern for AirDrop alerts
• New Frequent Locations options in Settings > Privacy > System Services > Frequent Locations
• New Control Center grabber and UI when swiping up while watching a video
• You can now swipe down in Siri to see previous activity, even after exiting and reopening

Thanks to everyone who sent us in tips to help us compile this list!

Wan't Install iOS Beta 2 Without Developer Accounts & UDID for Free

iOS 7 beta 2 brings lots of new features and Apple make it more  stable, todya we will be showing you how to install iOS 7 beta 2 without a developer account. This process is simple but could be closed at any time by Apple. Again, we recommend you do not install iOS 7 on your main device as their are many glitches and it will require a restore to downgrade and you will lose your jailbreak. In addition many people are reporting problems with their iMessage. The process is very similar to the one for the first beta in which we covered on our channel here.

Here is a good place to download iOS beta 2 firmware files if you do not have a developer account.

Steps:
1. Activate on current firmware (6.1.3/6.1.4 iPhone 5).
2. Hold Alt(Mac) Shift(Win) and click update.
3. Enjoy

Apple iOS 7 allows developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos

As the tech community continues to dig through the iOS 7 betas, a new feature has been discovered. Apple’s next-generation mobile operating system contains new APIs that allow developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos.

Now, iOS has had basic facial recognition for a couple of years now (since version 5). But according to a new report, Apple has added new image detectors in iOS 7 that are capable of identifying certain facial expressions in photographs…

Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac has the scoop:

“iOS 7 adds several new camera-orientated features for developers, which may hint at future consumer-facing features. In iOS 7 beta 2, Apple has added new image detectors that find certain face expressions in photos. As of iOS 5, the APIs have provided basic face recognition, but in iOS 7, characteristics such as blinking and smiles can be individually distinguished.”

Mayo goes on to speculate that because the stock Camera app received face detection when Apple added the function in iOS 5, these new APIs that allow for the recognition of individual expressions could be an indication of things to come.

Apple has done a lot to improve the iPhone’s camera over the years, adding a Panorama mode and improving low-light quality. It’s obviously an area of great interest for the company, as it frequently touts its ranking as the #1 camera on Flickr.

And it looks like it’s going to continue to build on it with the iPhone 5S. Recent reports, as well as components leaks, suggest that Apple’s next-generation handset will feature an improved camera with a dual LED flash and 12 megapixel sensor.

Call me crazy, but if you combine that kind of hardware with these new APIs, you get one heck of a camera. Here’s hoping the rumors materialize this fall when Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone, alongside the public version of iOS 7.

New UI of Messages in IOS 7 Demo and How It Looks Like

Apple has added contact photos to group conversation threads and a few other UI enhancements in the iOS 7 beta 2.

Easily the most noticeable change to the Messages app in beta 2 are the presence of contact photos in group conversations. Similar to how jailbreak tweaks like Copic add contact photos to messaging threads, the Messages app now shows images from your contact cards in conversation.

Unfortunately, it appears that this is only the case when in group conversations. So you have to be talking with multiple people to see the contact photos. So you couldn't see the photos everywhere in Messages, including the main window that shows all of your convos.

Other changes in the app include what looks like thicker text on the Send button — in beta one, the font was very thin — as well as enhanced ‘send’ animations. And also, there are now timestamps for each message. Simply swipe to the right on a Message to reveal.

I just wonder how the UI looks like on black iPhone, Orz... What do you think about it?

Awesome 3 Features Of iOS 7 Will Likely Surprise You

We think these 3 features of iOS 7 that have been circulating around the net are likely going to surprise you though.

Siri Is Smarter With Name Pronunciation

The first feature has to do with Siri and the personal assistant’s new ability to properly pronounce names. The discovery comes from 9To5Mac who notes “when Siri first launched, many users found lots of names were pronounced incorrectly and couldn’t do much beyond adding phonetic spellings manually for each contact.” Siri in iOS 7, however, will ask for help pronouncing a name if it has trouble understanding you the first time you pronounce it. Even if Siri doesn’t ask you how you want your name pronounced you can say something along the lines of “That’s not how you pronounce [any name]” and Siri will go through the learning process.

New Blinking And Facial Expression Detection APIs

Yet another discovery from 9To5Mac points to iOS 7′s ability to recognize both blinking and smiling. Since the iOS 5 firmware generation Apple released a face detection API, but detection of more specific expressions could bring endless possibilities to applications. In the future developers may be able to make it so that Camera applications automatically exclude photos where a persons eye is shut or they are not smiling from showing.

Say Goodbye To Screenshot Detection

The last feature or limitation we are going to talk about was discovered by MacRumors who have discovered that the iOS 7 screenshot behaviour has been altered. In previous generations of iOS developers were able to disable screenshot functionality in their applications, but in iOS 7 “Active touches are no longer canceled when the user takes a screenshot.”  This means that applications like Snapchat, which relies on the ability to detect when screenshots are taken, could be in trouble.

There is definitely a lot more to be discovered in iOS 7 and we will keep you updated when we hear more.

Check Out Popular iOS Apps Redesigned As iOS 7 Style

A new tumblr blog has surfaced that is going to feature at least one major app redesign daily. Obviously this isn’t official by any means, but the redesigns are very well done and it is likely they will resemble the user interface of applications we will see updated in the near future.

Take a look:

CloudApp

Vine

Twitter

Instagram

Rdio

Limelight

Hours

What’s App

Skype

Slopes

Apple iOS 7 includes ability to control iPhone or iPad with head movements

This is kind of interesting. Hot on the heels of yesterday’s report that iOS 7 includes the ability to detect smiling and blinking faces, comes word of another odd new feature onboard: the ability to control your iPhone or iPad with head movements.

That’s right, tucked away in the Accessibility section of the Settings app in the latest beta of Apple’s new OS is a toggle that activates a new head tracking feature. Once enabled, users can control their iOS devices with simple left to right head nods…

9to5Mac was first to spot the discovery, reporting that an anonymous tipster sent in the gem. It’s not hidden, like other stuff we’ve covered, so anyone on the latest iOS 7 beta can find it. Just tap Settings > General > Accessibility > Switches > Switch Source.

The way it works is that a blue box will slowly bounce around to different buttons, toggles and other UI elements on your screen. When it lands on the object, or group of objects you’re interested in, a quick nod of your head will initiate an onscreen tap.

Though it seems to be fairly accurate, it’s extremely tough to get the hang of. In fact, my iPhone 4S is kind of stuck right now because my screen won’t scroll down far enough for me to turn off the tracking. I know, it’s a beta. I’m just giving you a heads up.

It doesn’t look like Apple has anything planned for the feature outside of accessibility, so don’t expect to see Galaxy S 4-type gesture actions. But nevertheless, it’s cool to see Apple finally start tinkering with all of those sensors it stashes in its iOS devices.

Thoughts?