iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. and was first released as iPhone OS in June 2007, coinciding with the launch of the first generation iPhone.
iPhone OS was renamed iOS following the release of the iPad, starting with iOS 4.
With iOS 13, Apple began offering a separate operating system, iPadOS, for the iPad.
iOS is also the foundation of the newer audioOS and tvOS, and shares some of its code with macOS.
New iOS versions are released every year alongside new iPhone models.
From its launch in 2007 until 2010, this occurred in June or July, since then, new major versions are released in September or October.
Since the launch of the iPhone in June 2007, there have been 16 major releases of iOS.
The current major version of iOS is iOS 16, released in September 2022.
These are the new Apple Music features in iOS 17:
– Animated Art + new mini-player
– Crossfade between songs
– New SharePlay experience for CarPlay
– Collaborative playlists (coming later)
– New song credits section
– Favorite songs playlist
– Your favorite music is now… pic.twitter.com/XCHZH2pniG— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) September 18, 2023
History of iOS versions
iOS is the operating system for Apple’s mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
Since its launch in 2007, there have been 16 major releases of iOS.
iOS 1
The first version of iOS was released in 2007 alongside the original iPhone. It featured a touch-based interface and included basic apps like Mail, Safari, and Maps.
iOS 2
Released in 2008, iOS 2 introduced the App Store, which allowed users to download third-party apps for the first time.
It also added support for Microsoft Exchange and introduced the ability to view PowerPoint and Excel files.
iOS 3
Released in 2009, iOS 3 added support for copy and paste, MMS messaging, and voice control. It also introduced the Find My iPhone feature.
iOS 4
Released in 2010, iOS 4 introduced multitasking, app folders, and FaceTime video calling. It also marked the first time Apple dropped support for any device in an iOS release.
iOS 5
Released in 2011, iOS 5 introduced the Notification Center, iMessage and iCloud. It also added support for Siri, Apple’s voice assistant.
iOS 6
Released in 2012, iOS 6 introduced Apple Maps, which replaced Google Maps as the default mapping app. It also added Passbook, which allowed users to store tickets, boarding passes and other digital items.
iOS 7
Released in 2013, iOS 7 introduced a major redesign of the operating system, with a flatter, more colorful interface.
It also added Control Center, which provided quick access to settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
iOS 8
Released in 2014, iOS 8 introduced support for third-party keyboards, HealthKit and HomeKit. It also added Continuity, which allowed users to start a task on one device and finish it on another.
iOS 9
Released in 2015, iOS 9 introduced a more proactive Siri, improved battery life, and split-screen multitasking on the iPad.
It was also the last version to run on iPhones and iPads with the 30-pin connector
iOS 10
Released in 2016, iOS 10 introduced a redesigned lock screen, a new Home app for controlling smart home devices, and improvements to iMessage and Photos.
iOS 11
Released in 2017, iOS 11 introduced a redesigned Control Center, improved Siri, and a new Files app for managing files on the device.
iOS 12
Released in 2018, iOS 12 focused on performance improvements, with faster app launch times and smoother animations.
It also introduced Screen Time, which allowed users to monitor and limit their device usage.
iOS 13
Released in 2019, iOS 13 introduced a system-wide dark mode, improved photo and video editing tools, and a redesigned Reminders app.
iOS 14
Released in 2020, iOS 14 introduced home screen widgets, an App Library for organizing apps, and improvements to Siri and Messages.
iOS 15
Released in 2021, iOS 15 introduced new features like Focus mode, which allows users to customize notifications based on their current activity, and Live Text, which can recognize text in photos and allow users to interact with it.
iOS 16
Released in 2022, iOS 16 introduced new features like Quick Note, which allows users to take notes from anywhere on the device, and SharePlay, which allows users to watch movies or listen to music together in real-time.
iOS 17 release date and time
iOS 17 was announced and demonstrated at WWDC 2023 on June 5.
The developer beta of iOS 17 was made available to Apple Developer Program members on the same day, and a public beta was available starting in July.
The new software will be released on September 18, 2023, at 10am Pacific Time.
iOS 17 supported devices! 🤌
The iPhone 8 and iPhone X have been discontinued pic.twitter.com/KA6aGK0vtA
— Apple Intro (@appleintro) September 17, 2023
