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iOS facts for kids
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Company / developer | Apple Inc. |
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Programmed in | C, C++, Objective-C |
OS family | Unix-like (BSD), OS X |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Closed source |
Initial release | June 29, 2007 |
Latest stable release |
10.1.1 (October 31, 2016 )
10.1.1 (October 24, 2016 ) [±] |
Latest unstable release |
10.2 Beta 2 (November 7, 2016 ) [±] |
Available language(s) | 34 languages |
Supported platforms | 64- (and previously and 32-bit) ARM architectures (iPhone, iPod, iPad, iPad Mini, and 2nd gen. and higher Apple TV), Apple A4, Apple A5, Apple A5X, Apple A6, Apple A6X, Apple A7 |
Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
Default user interface | Cocoa Touch (multi-touch, GUI) |
License | Proprietary EULA except for open-source components |
iOS is a special computer program, or operating system, made by Apple. It runs on many of Apple's mobile devices. These include the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV.
At first, this system was called iPhone OS. But in 2010, Apple changed its name to iOS. This new name showed that the system worked on more than just iPhones. It also worked on other new Apple devices.
Contents
History of iOS
iPhone OS 1: The Beginning
iOS first came out in 2007. It was known as a version of OS X made for the first iPhone. On January 9, 2007, Apple announced the iPhone. They said it would have a "revolutionary" operating system.
Later, on March 6, 2008, Apple officially named this system "iPhone OS". This happened when they released the iPhone software development kit.
iPhone OS 2: The App Store Arrives
On July 11, 2008, Apple released iPhone OS 2.0. This update came with the iPhone 3G. The biggest new feature was the App Store. This allowed users to download and buy new apps.
iPhone OS 3: Small Changes
In June 2009, Apple released iPhone OS 3.0. It came out with the iPhone 3GS. This update was a small improvement over iPhone OS 2.0. It added a few new features.
iPhone OS 3.0 worked on the first iPhone and iPod Touch. However, not all new features were available on these older devices. The last version for the first iPhone and iPod Touch was 3.1.3. This version was also available for the iPad when it launched as version 3.2.
In September 2009, Apple changed the name from "iPhone OS" to "iOS". Another company, Cisco, already used the name "IOS". So, Apple got permission to use the name to avoid problems.
iOS 4: Multitasking and More
In mid-2010, Apple released iOS 4.0. This was a big update. It added multitasking, which means you could run several apps at the same time. You could also set a wallpaper for your home screen.
iOS 4 had a nicer design. It was also the first iOS version that was free for the iPod Touch. However, older devices like the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation) had fewer features. They could not multitask or have a home screen wallpaper.
iOS 5: Notifications and Siri
In October 2011, Apple released iOS 5. This version brought many new things. It added a pull-down bar for notifications. A free messaging service called iMessage was also introduced. iCloud was another important new feature.
A voice assistant named Siri was also released with iOS 5. It was first available on the iPhone 4S.
iOS 6: Maps and YouTube Changes
iOS 6 came out on September 19, 2012. It added even more features. Siri became available on the iPad (3rd generation), iPod Touch (5th generation), and iPhone 5.
With iOS 6, the built-in YouTube app was removed. Users could download a new YouTube app from the App Store. Google Maps was also removed and replaced with Apple Maps.
iOS 7: A Fresh New Look
On September 18, 2013, iOS 7 was released. It had a completely new look and many new features. A new feature called "Control Center" was added. This allowed users to quickly change settings like brightness, music, and flashlight.
iOS 8: Health and QuickType
On June 2, 2014, Apple announced iOS 8 at their yearly Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. It had several new features. These included a new app called Health. It also had a feature called QuickType, which could guess the words you were typing. iOS 8 was released to everyone on September 17, 2014.
iOS 11: Storage and Files
iOS 11 was announced in mid-2017. It works on the iPhone 5S and newer models. It also supports the iPad Air and newer, all iPad Pro models, the fourth-generation iPad mini, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
This update changed the look of some app icons. The Control Center became easier to use with bigger buttons. It also allowed custom controls for things like Low Power Mode.
iOS 11 also lets users "offload" apps. This means an app can be deleted, but its data stays on the device. This helps save storage space. Instead of the iCloud Drive app, there is a Files app. This app lets users see their files on the iPhone and in iCloud Drive.
App Store
The App Store is the main place to get software, or "apps," for iOS devices. It is an online store where you can buy or download apps. These apps are small programs that help you do different things on your device. By January 2013, Apple said there were more than 800,000 apps available in the App Store.
See also
- In Spanish: IOS para niños