MacRumors

Nearly a month ago, we noted that Apple was apparently working on iOS 7.1.2, as revealed in our web logs by the appearance of visits from devices running the operating system version on Apple's networks.

At the time, we had no information on what the update would include, but suggested it was likely to include fixes for an email attachment encryption issue and problems for users leaving iOS for a different platform trying to disassociate their phone numbers from iMessage. In both cases, Apple acknowledged that it was working on fixes for the issues that would be included in a future software update, and iOS 7.1.2 will be the first public update released since those statements.

MacRumors has now learned that Apple is indeed nearing a public release of iOS 7.1.2 and has begun seeding carrier partners with a version of it, termed build 11D257. Apple has apparently asked carriers to sign off on the update by Friday, June 27, indicating that a public release could occur the following week.

According to sources, the build of iOS 7.1.2 does indeed address the email attachment encryption issue, as well as a bug in downloading emails. Also included in the update is a fix for a lock screen vulnerability that could allow access to "limited apps". While we can't say for certain, Apple may be referring to the "missed call" lock screen bug publicized earlier this month.

Finally, iOS 7.1.2 is said to include both improvements to iBeacon connectivity and a bug fix related to data transfer with third-party accessories such as bar code scanners. There is no explicit mention of any fixes for iMessage, but they may still be quietly included in the release.

Since the first appearance of iOS 7.1.2 in our web logs back in mid-May, traffic from devices running the upcoming operating system has increased fairly gradually with the exception of a spike on the day of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote.

Apple's iWatch is currently being tested by professional athletes from the MLB, NHL, and NBA to measure its fitness capabilities in rigorous training environments, reports 9to5Mac, citing a source with knowledge of the testing. Apple has reportedly invited several athletes, like LA Lakers player Kobe Bryant, to its Cupertino campus to discuss the iWatch.

Apple is said to be working with Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Kings right winger Dustin Brown, and a few other star athletes, including a player from the Boston Red Sox, on the testing project. The athletes are said to have signed non-disclosure-agreements regarding the existence of the upcoming Apple wearable device.

Kobe Bryant was seen on the Apple campus back in May and is said to have met with Apple's chief designer Jony Ive, who has a leading role developing the iWatch. The athletes are likely testing out the multitude of health and fitness sensors built into the device, said to measure everything from sleep quality to heart rate to provide an overall picture of health.

The source also reiterates that Apple's iWatch will be "positioned as a fashion accessory," which is in line with previous reports from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo has predicted that Apple will release the iWatch at multiple price points and in a variety of materials, competing with low and high-end watches alike. At the higher end, the iWatch could retail for thousands of dollars.

Both former Yves. St. Laurent CEO Paul Deneve, who serves as a vice president, and Angela Ahrendts, in charge of retail stores, are said to be involved in marketing and strategies for selling fashion products at Apple locations.

According to recent reports from reputable news outlets, the iWatch will come in at least two sizes, with one device having a screen size of 2.5 inches. The design is said to feature a slightly rectangular face that protrudes slightly from a band to create an arch shape around the wrist. The iWatch, which may launch at an October event, is also said to include a sapphire crystal display, a touch interface, integration with existing iOS devices, and wireless charging capabilities.

Following Apple's announcement at its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month that iOS 8 would include support for third-party keyboards on a systemwide basis, a number of companies working on the technology indicated that they would be moving forward with plans to support iOS. Among those companies was TouchPal, with quickly released a video showing an early version of its sliding gesture keyboard in action.

TouchPal has now released its first alpha version of its keyboard for iOS 8 to select media outlets, giving a good look at how third-party keyboard will work on iOS 8.

Installation is straightforward, leveraging a traditional App Store app to add TouchPal as an option when adding new keyboard in the Settings app. Once TouchPal is added, users can simply rearrange their installed keyboards in their preferred order, and rotate through each one while in use by tapping the globe key. Users who have activated the emoji keyboard on their devices will be familiar with that process.

Once activated, TouchPal is available anywhere a keyboard is traditionally used, such as in Mail, Messages, Safari, Notes, iWork apps, and third-party apps.

TouchPal's keyboard is similar to the perhaps more well-known one from Swype, allowing users to drag a finger in one continuous motion as they spell out the word. Based on the pattern drawn by the user, TouchPal suggests several options for the intended word, with highest-ranked option highlighted in the middle of the suggestions bar. Hitting the space bar or touching the word accepts the suggestion.

Numbers and common punctuation marks are input right from the main keyboard screen simply by flicking up or down on the proper key. Additional punctuation marks and emoticons are available by tapping the "12#" key at the lower left.

In our testing, there were definitely some glitches, particularly when switching between keyboards, but it is still early in the development process and Apple and third-party keyboard companies will continue to refine their implementations in the coming months leading up to the public release of iOS 8 this fall.

iOS 8 will include a revamped Weather app with data provided by the Weather Channel instead of Yahoo, which previously powered Apple's weather app for years. This switchover of weather services allegedly was masterminded by former Yahoo board member and Weather Channel CEO David Kenny after he assumed his leadership role at the weather information company last year, reports Re/Code.

Kenny allegedly negotiated a deal with Apple that cut Yahoo out of the loop that provided weather data for iOS. In earlier iOS versions, Yahoo was the provider linked in the Weather app, but the actual meteorological data came from the Weather Channel. Kenny lured Apple away from Yahoo by offering a sweeter deal that included additional technology and more robust weather information than was made available to Yahoo. As a result, the Weather app in iOS 8 now includes a nine-day weather forecast, up from five days in iOS 7, details such as sunrise/sunset times and a new "Today" weather summary located at the bottom of the app.

Though Yahoo reportedly was in talks with Apple about featuring Yahoo services more prominently in iOS, the internet company didn't realize the Weather Channel was making a power play for iOS, and let this high-profile deal slip away.

“Yahoo had been renting ocean-front property for years and did not realize the lease was up, and the Weather Channel slipped right in and took it,” said a Yahoo exec, who said the company acted too late to save the deal. “It’s a high-profile loss.”

This provider change is a big blow to Yahoo, which as recently as April wanted to increase its role in iOS by making Yahoo the default search engine on iOS.

Apple's decision to drop Yahoo as it weather source also calls into question the search company's future involvement in the iOS Stocks app. Similar to earlier versions of the Weather app, the iOS Stocks app pulls its stock information from Yahoo Finance. Though not confirmed, some believe Apple could choose Bloomberg, CNBC or Reuters over Yahoo for its stock data in future versions of iOS 8.

The Yo messaging app [Direct Link] debuted earlier this year and recently rocketed up the iOS App Store charts, where it currently sits at number five among top free iPhone apps in the United States. The simplistic app that does nothing more than allow users to ping contacts with a simple "Yo" message may be gaining traction with its quirky ease of use, but a hack, confirmed by Yo founders to TechCrunch, may put users' personal information at risk.

According to the TechCrunch report, a student at Georgia Tech discovered a flaw that allows a nefarious user to discover the phone number of another Yo user, spoof a message from any Yo member and send a text-based push notification to recipient devices. Yo founder Or Arbel confirmed to TechCrunch the service was having "security issues," but did not provide details on the vulnerability, only stating that the issues will be resolved soon.

Founder Or Arbel has now confirmed that Yo was “having security issues”.

He told TechCrunch: “Some of the stuff has been fixed and some we are still working on. We are taking this very seriously.”

He said he could not reveal which hacks were still live. He said the company has brought in a specialist security team to deal with the issues

Arbel said he hoped the security problems would be fixed “in next few hours.”

According to Valleywag, the idea for Yo came from Israeli investor and Mobli CEO Moshe Hogeg, who wanted an easy way to communicate with his secretary. Developer Or Arbel ran with the idea and created the Yo app, which Hogeg uses. Life Before Us LLC, the company created by Abel, recently received $1 million in angel funding to continue development of the Yo app.

Apple's first-generation iWatch is awaiting certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it enters mass production for a launch this Fall, claims Chinese website Laoyaoba (Google Translate, via GforGames). Citing inside sources, the site claims that Apple has already finalized the design and specifications of the watch, noting that the company is trying to get the device certified as medical equipment.

It was reported earlier this month that Apple had met with the FDA in December to discuss a number of topics, with some suggesting that Apple might be laying some groundwork for the iWatch. However, a memo issued by the FDA noted that the dialogue merely revolved around its guidance on mobile apps and making sure that the technology industry and regulators are on the same page.

Laoyaoba also claims that the iWatch will come with a number of advanced health sensors, including those that measure heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Apple has also apparently developed an in-house sweat analysis sensor for the iWatch, which will all work with iOS 8's Health app to track various health metrics.

This information also contrasts a number of past reports that pointed to the iWatch focusing on more simple functionality to make the health-tracking experience more accessible to everyone. While Apple hired a number of personnel with expertise in fields like blood glucose monitoring, it has been noted that such technologies may not make it into the first-generation iWatch, which require a lengthy-approval process from the FDA and complex hardware integration.

Reports from the The Wall Street Journal and Reuters yesterday noted that Apple is also still trying to finalize specifications for the device. Notably, the Wall Street Journal report suggested that the iWatch will ship in "multiple versions", while the Reuters report said that the device will sport a 2.5-inch screen and feature wireless charging and pulse sensing capabilities.

The iWatch is expected to be revealed and launched in October, which was a date reported earlier this month by Re/code.

Apple will launch multiple versions of its highly-rumored "iWatch" smartwatch in the Fall, according to a new report from the The Wall Street Journal. The device is said to come in multiple screen sizes and will utilize over 10 sensors to track health and fitness, with Apple aiming to go beyond the smartphone-related functionalities seen in current smartwatches.

Apple's smartwatch could launch as early as October with production to begin in two to three months at Quanta Computer Inc., a Taiwanese manufacturer that has long been Apple's supplier for Mac computers, said the people familiar with the matter. Quanta will begin some trial runs next month.

In total, sources familiar with the matter estimate that Apple will ship between 10 and 15 million units by the end of the year, as the company is still finalizing specifications before mass production starts.

The report adds additional data to a report from Reuters which claimed that the iWatch would measure in at a surprisingly large 2.5 inches diagonally, and feature wireless charging capabilities in addition to a touch interface. While the new report doesn't contradict the Reuters piece directly, it's not clear if the 2.5-inch screen will be one of the "multiple versions" of the watch that launches this Fall. Previous rumors had suggested that the device would come in a 1.3 and 1.6 inch sizes to accommodate different sized wrists.

Apple is expected to introduce the iWatch at an October event, with a launch coming in the same month.

Apple has warned consumers against using third-party power adapters with their iOS devices as they can cause safety issues such as burns and electrocutions, but as it turns out, third-party chargers that have not been approved by Apple may also be responsible for causing damage to one of the chips in the iPhone 5.

According to UK repair company mendmyi and first reported by iMore, cheap third-party iPhone chargers and USB cables can possibly damage the U2 IC chip on the logic board of the iPhone 5, which might the device to fail to boot up or charge past 1% battery life after the battery drains.

The U2 IC chip controls the charge to the battery, the sleep/wake button, some USB functions, and regulates the charging power to the power IC that actually charges the phone. When damaged, the chip can fail to work properly, which prevents an iPhone 5 from turning back on. While a fresh replacement battery will power the iPhone, once the battery is depleted, the issue resurfaces.

Mendmyi says that it has seen multiple iPhone 5 devices with a damaged U2 IC chip and has narrowed the problem down to third-party chargers and USB cables, which do not properly regulate voltage.

The cause of this component becoming faulty is really quite simple -- third party chargers and USB leads!

The original Apple chargers and USB leads regulate the voltage and current to a level that protects your valuable iPhone and prevents it from damage.

Charging your iPhone using a third party charger or USB lead that does not regulate this as much allows for larger variables in voltage and current, this then damages the U2 IC and can leave you with a seemingly dead iPhone 5.

It is not clear if the issue is limited to the iPhone 5 as some users have also reported third-party charger issues with the iPhone 5c, which may use the same component, but the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5 use different U2 IC components. Users with an iPhone 5 experiencing charging issues that have used a third-party cable may have damaged their devices, which will need to be repaired by Apple or another repair outlet.

Apple has regularly recommended against using third-party chargers and cables. In mid-2013, the company even launched a third-party power adapter recycling program, following the electrocution of a Chinese woman allegedly caused by a counterfeit charger. Apple ran the recycling program from August to October of 2013, recycling counterfeit adapters and providing customers with a $10 credit towards an Apple-branded charger.

As of iOS 7, Apple also warns customers when they are using unauthorized cables or accessories with their devices. The company's Lightning connector, introduced with the iPhone 5, fourth generation iPad, and original iPad mini, utilizes several different chips to manage dynamic pin assignment and to recognize whether connectors came from authorized channels.

Apple's own chargers, as well as those that have been MFi certified, "undergo rigorous testing for safety and reliability," according to the company, and are designed to be safe and work properly with iOS devices.

Since news of Apple's iWatch development first surfaced in 2012, supply chain rumors and analyst speculation have all pegged its display size at a modest 1.3 to 1.7 inches. Earlier today, Reuters released a report suggesting the display will be much larger than anyone expected, coming in at 2.5-inches diagonally.

MacRumors forum member Lewis Dorigo has previously speculated that the iWatch would have a 2.45-inch display with a 480x640 display, and has even created a crude mockup depicting what an iWatch of that size would look like on a wrist.

The status bar shows the current connectivity of the device that the watch is connected to. If it's connected to an iPhone, it shows the iPhone's cellular and wifi signal strengths. If it's not connected to a device, it just says "iWatch", much like iPods (and iPads without cellular) do.

On his blog, Dorigo goes deeper into his predictions for the iWatch, explaining that a 2.45-inch iWatch with a Retina display of 480x640 would have same pixel density (326 ppi) as the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 5c, and the Retina iPad mini. He's speculates on what a 2.45-inch iWatch's UI might look like, with the creation of several mockups with an iOS 7-style design.

While several rumors have suggested the iWatch will indeed run iOS, it is still possible that Apple could go in an entirely different direction with the device, creating a standalone interface or an iOS-based interface that deviates from the iPhone's interface.

Dorigo suggests that 80 pixels of the screen might be reserved for a CarPlay-style digital home button, leaving a 240 pixel space for apps, but that's pure speculation -- Apple could also choose to place a physical home button on the side of the device.

Along with a home button built into the screen, Dorigo imagines a largely touch-based interface, where Siri is activated via a press on the screen and individual apps have large, easy-to-press buttons. He also speculates on what the interface might look like when connected to an iPhone, as the iWatch is rumored to be heavily integrated with existing iOS devices.

While Dorigo's speculation gives a look at what a larger iWatch might look like, the device's screen resolution and prospective user interface remain a mystery at this time.

According to rumors, the iWatch is expected to include a range of health sensors, such as a pulse monitor, along with wireless charging capabilities. The iWatch is expected to make its debut in the fall, possibly at an October event.

More of Dorigo's predictions on Apple's iWatch can be found on his blog.

Apple's upcoming iWatch may measure in at 2.5 inches diagonally with a slightly rectangular face, reports Reuters, citing sources familiar with the product. The watch face is also expected to protrude slightly from the band to create an arch shape, and it will reportedly include a touch interface and wireless charging.

Reuters also suggests the iWatch has a sensor that monitors a user's pulse, which is just one of many sensors that may be included in the device. Rumors have indicated that the iWatch will be able to measure several different health metrics in addition to heart rate, like steps taken, sleep quality, and more.

A 2.5-inch screen is much larger than the size predicted in previous rumors, which suggested the device would come in 1.3 and 1.6 inch sizes to accommodate different sized wrists. 2.5-inches is the same size as the existing iPod nano, though the iWatch may be more squared than the nano.

Taiwan's Quanta Computer is currently producing a trial run of the smartwatch and mass production is expected to begin in July, in preparation for a possible fall launch. LG Display is said to be the exclusive supplier of the screen, which is in line with previous rumors.

While the watch is widely expected, the start date of its mass production and the extent of Quanta's involvement were not known until now. Mass production will start in July and the commercial launch will come as early as October, according to the source and another person familiar with the matter.

Along with providing an array of health-related information via sensors, Apple's iWatch is also expected to interface closely with the iPhone and iOS 8, providing users with at-a-glance notifications and information.

Reuters confirms that the iWatch is slated for an October release, a target launch date that was previously shared by Re/code.

Update 3:45 PM PT: Reuters has amended its original post with additional information, suggesting that while the iWatch will be able to perform some functions independently, "tasks like messaging and voice chat will require a paired smartphone." The iWatch will only be compatible with devices running iOS, like the iPhone.

Construction at Apple's "Spaceship" campus in Cupertino is progressing at a rapid pace, and while the circular structure is still far from finished, the old buildings on the 176-acre site have been fully demolished, roadwork is underway, and the outer walls of the campus are taking shape, outlining where foundation will be poured.

Apple isn't slated to finish its the first construction phase of its second campus until 2016, but a video rendering from Technology Integration Services, a company that focuses on 3D design, shows what Apple Campus 2 might look like when it is completed.

Created from public plans of the structure's design, the video shows the multi-story circular building surrounded by greenery, as well as all of the additional buildings and parking structures that Apple plans to add to the area. There are hiking paths snaking around the property, in addition to a performance stage in the middle and a massive fountain area where employees can gather.

The first phase of construction on the property includes a 2.8 million square foot ring-shaped main building, an underground parking facility capable of holding 2,400 cars, a 100,000 square foot fitness center, and a 120,000 square foot auditorium for events. Apple has plans to add more than 4,500 trees to the area, creating a lush working environment for employees.

Phase 2 of construction, to take place after 2016, will add research and development buildings and additional parking.

Apple is working to open up camera controls in iOS 8, giving photographers granular control over settings such as ISO, shutter speed, and more, reports AnandTech. While only a few manual controls will make it into the stock camera app, almost full manual control will be made available for third-party app developers to implement as of iOS 8.

According to AnandTech, iOS 8's AVCaptureDevice APIs will let developers tap into advanced controls such as ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance, exposure bias, EV bracketing, and shutter speed/ISO bracketing. The ability to manipulate these controls will provide photographers with new ways to creatively compose a shot or a video clip. Developers also can use these controls to offer a variety of camera presets and other behind-the-scenes algorithms that manipulate images during the capture process.

While only the exposure bias controls will make it into the stock camera application, all of these new controls exposed through the AVCaptureDevice APIs will enable camera applications similar to Nokia's Pro Camera or HTC's Sense 6 camera application. It's been said that Apple is one of the few OEMs that take camera seriously, and these new controls can only cement that position.

Apple has steadily boosted camera performance in its iPhone models by improving both the hardware and software that powers this feature. As a result, the iPhone is known for its exceptional camera performance and has been among the most popular cameras on Yahoo's image hosting service Flickr.

The next-generation iPhone 6 is expected to continue this trend with iOS 8 camera improvements such as time-lapse mode as well as new iPhone camera hardware that may include optical or electronic image stabilization, a wider aperture, as well as an ARTON filter to minimize CMOS color shifts.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published several patent applications describing an iPhone-based system to collect and analyze data from wearable and other types of accessory sensors, reports AppleInsider. Under the system, the iPhone could then track the owner's activity and respond with appropriate notifications and changes in the device settings.

One patent application, "Method and apparatus for automatically setting alarms and notifications," describes a method of associating motion data with a set of alarms. In this described invention, the iPhone could detect whether a user is sleeping or awake and adjust the settings for features such as "Do Not Disturb," for example. These motion data points may be collected from a device that is worn by the user.

In a second patent application, "Method and apparatus for automatically repeating alarms and notifications in response to device motion", Apple proposes methods to control the timing of notifications that are delivered to an iPhone owner. In this invention, the iPhone can use sensor data to determine when a user is napping and can turn off all notifications until the owner is awake and moving again.

A final patent application, "Method and Apparatus For Personal Characterization Data Collection Using Sensors," describes how an iPhone-driven system could detect a user's activity level from "motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the like." This sensor-based data may be used to create a "personal scorecard" that compares your activity level to others in a group.

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically collect data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. In certain embodiments, data from on-board sensors in the device--such as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the like--may also be used to deduce the user's current activity. In yet other embodiments, user data (such as calendar entries) may also be used to characterize the user's activty.

As with many patent applications, these inventions may or may not be incorporated into consumer-level products. In this case though, these methods align with Apple's rumored iWatch device, which is expected to ship with a variety of sensors to measure basic health and fitness parameters. Apple also recently announced a new Health app and HealthKit API that allows for the aggregation of health and fitness data from apps and wearable devices into a central repository that can provide an overview of a user's relative health.

One of the many new features coming in iOS 8 that Apple did not directly address during its Worldwide Developers Conference is "Flyover city tours". The feature is not currently available by default to those running iOS 8 betas, but developer Pierre Blazquez has discovered how to unlock Flyover city tours and partnered with Mac4Ever [Google Translate] to publish a video showing the feature in action for Paris.

At the moment, only the cities of Rome, Stockholm, Barcelona, ​​New York, Paris, Glasgow, Cape Town, Perth, Bordeaux and the San Francisco Bay are available. One imagines that the visit was carefully prepared manually, and the list is therefore extend gradually over time.

Apple's Maps app received significant criticism following the shift from a Google-powered app to an in-house version for iOS 6. But over the past two years Apple has continued to improve existing features and build out new ones to better compete with Google Maps. The Flyover feature showing 3D perspectives of buildings and physical features has been a particular emphasis for Apple, and the company has been working steadily to extend it to new areas of the world and improve the quality of its renderings.

Still, Apple's Maps team is said to be struggling with internal politics that have resulted in the departure of several key employees. While improvements such as transit information for Maps have been expected for iOS 8, the company mostly glossed over mapping issues with the exception of some new indoor mapping initiatives at WWDC. As a result, it is unclear just how many of the Maps improvements will make their appearance in time for the public launch and how many might be folded into later updates.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced today that Apple's Activation Lock feature in iOS 7 has led to a "significant" reduction of iPhone-related theft in New York, London, and San Francisco, reports The New York Times.

Measuring crime after Apple introduced Activation Lock alongside iOS 7 last Fall, police officers in San Francisco said that iPhone robberies in the city fell 38 percent, with London experiencing a 24 percent drop. Meanwhile, the New York Police Department said that iPhone robberies dropped 19 percent, while grand larcenies including the device dropped 29 percent in the first five months of 2014 compared to the same time period last year.

“The introduction of kill switches has clearly had an effect on the conduct of smartphone thieves,” Mr. Schneiderman said in an interview. “If these can be canceled like the equivalent of canceling a credit card, these are going to be the equivalent of stealing a paperweight.”

Apple's Activation Lock feature, which prevents stolen phones from being reactivated without an iCloud password, has received praise from various groups since its inclusion in iOS 7. Schneiderman, along with San Francisco attorney George Gascón, spearheaded smartphone anti-theft efforts last year and called Apple's Activation Lock the "world's first attempt to implement a technological solution to the global smartphone theft epidemic."

Apple also entered a voluntary agreement with a number of other smartphone makers in April to include anti-theft technology on all smartphones going on sale after July 2015. Under that agreement, every phone sold would have capabilities allowing users to remotely wipe data and to prevent reactivation without the owner's permission. It is likely that Apple's Activation Lock and Find My iPhone features already satisfy the requirements of the agreement.