Whether or not you use an Apple device, I am sure you are interested in what iOS stands for. What does iOS do, and how do your iPhone and iPad perform?
You’ve come to the right place because we will be talking about iOS and how Apple products have evolved from your desktops to laptops, tablets, and cellphones.
Before we go into the details of what iOS is, let’s look at the rise of Apple products and why Apple created iOS.
The Evolution of Apple Products
The first Apple computer was launched in April 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Apple has since developed a variety of devices, from computers and laptops to tablets and printers. Finally, in 1984, the Macintosh was introduced to the market.
But it wasn’t until 1998 that they first announced the iconic “i” brand with the iMac. According to Jobs, the meaning of the brand is “..com comes from the combination of the excitement of the Internet and the simplicity of the Macintosh.
In addition to the web benchmark and iMac’s emphasis on providing users with an excellent online experience, Jobs explained that the “i” in the tag makes a lot more sense.
The primary focus of iMac has been on users and a marketplace that supports other ‘i’ themes, which are individual, teaches, informs, and inspires.
The iBook was presented at Macworld a year later as Apple’s mainstream laptop or a “take-out iMac.” Then, at a small event in 2001, Jobs introduced the iPod.
Due to the enormous popularity of iPods, the “i” brand has become a household name. And in 2007, the iPhone was introduced to the public, presenting it as a revolutionary cellular device.
The iPod touch was released after the iPhone in the fall of 2007. Both devices ran on the iPhone OS for three years until 2010, when iOS was introduced.
Since then, Apple has released updates for its mobile devices every year.
What does iOS stand for?
The term iOS (formerly known as iPhone OS) refers to the iPhone operating system. IOS is an operating system developed by Apple for the company’s mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The iPad also runs through iOS before iPadOS 2019. It’s also running through iOS, and it’s also the second most popular mobile operating system after Android.
iOS History
In 2005, as Steve Jobs was preparing his plans to create the iPhone, he had the option of making the iPod bigger or “shrinking the Mac,” which would require a lot of engineering.
Although he favored later access, he opted for internal competition between the Macintosh and iPod teams, and the Macintosh team won by creating the iPhone OS.
iOS was initially introduced with the iPhone at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 9, 2007, and launched in June. At the time of the presentation, Jobs called it “iPhone with OS X” and launched the desktop app.
But when the first iPhone came out, its operating system was renamed “iPhone OS.”
About Apple’s User Interface
Its interface is based on direct manipulation in which users can use multi-touch gestures. Interface controls consist of switches, sliders, and buttons.
Their interactions slide, touch, slide, and recede, and they all have specific results in the system. For example, some apps respond to device shake or screen rotation (portrait or landscape).
Original third-party apps were not supported when the iPhone was first launched. According to Steve Jobs, developers could create programs through the Safari web browser and behave like native apps on the iPhone.
It wasn’t until March 2008 that they announced that the iPhone had an SDK that developers could use.
In July 2008, the iOS App Store opened with the first 500 apps available. Since then, the number of apps available on the iOS App Store has increased and is expected to reach 5 million apps by 2020.
Apple calls its mobile system the iPhone OS, but only in June 2010, when Apple renamed its iOS. Although another company, Cisco, uses the iOS brand, Apple could license the iOS brand to avoid possible legal action.
iOS Software Updates
Since the creation of iOS in 2007, it has seen many updates. From iPhone OS 1 to the latest iOS 13, significant updates have been made to accommodate the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad launch. Updates for iOS were first released via iTunes, and since iOS 5, wireless.
These updates are shipped annually to support future Apple devices. In addition, Apple recently introduced a separate operating system for its iPad, iPadOS.
iOS Functionalities
- Homepage
The iOS home screen displays icons and a docking station, allowing users to pin their most commonly used apps at the bottom. Its home screen is displayed whenever users unlock iPhone or when the “Home” button is pressed.
The spotlight was introduced in iPhone OS 3, where users can search for media, emails, contacts, messages, reminders, calendar events, and similar content. In iOS 7, the spotlight can be accessed by swiping anywhere on the Home screen.
Only iOS 4 could customize the home screen. Previously, only the jailbreak could change the wallpaper. Still, in the same version, folders can be created by dragging one app onto another, and from that point on, multiple apps can be added to the folder in the same way.
Before iOS 5, notifications were sent through a modal window, and users couldn’t access them after dismissing them. But in an update for iOS 5, Apple introduced the Notification Center, where users can access their history and have the option to tap or delete it.
- Accessibility
iOS has several accessibility features for hearing and visually impaired users. For example, its feature, VoiceOver, allows users to read what’s on their screen and navigate the device with gestures.
When iOS 7 was released, Apple developed technology to incorporate Bluetooth into the system. This allowed users to connect third-party equipment to the iPhone and iPad to stream audio directly to the ears.
- Multitasking
Apple first launched multitasking for iOS in June 2010. Meanwhile, multitasking was supported by seven background APIs, including background audio, push notifications, voice over IP, local notifications, task completion, background location, and fast switching app. The iOS 5 update introduces three new background APIs; Kiosk, external accessory, and Bluetooth accessory.
In later versions of iOS, users can switch programs by double-clicking the Start button. You can also perform tasks by briefly holding the icon and tapping the red minus circle, but this then changed to swipe up from the screen.
- Siri
One of the most popular features of iOS is the Siri virtual assistant. It was first seen on the iPhone 4S, where Siri uses voice queries to answer questions. Siri can perform various commands, including phone actions, web searches, GPS, and more.
- Gamecenter
It also has a game center where users can invite friends to play the game, start an online game through a match, track in-game achievements, and compare high scores through the scoreboard. It is an online “board game network” launched by Apple.
- Bonus: Jailbreak
Jailbreak’s first use was to bypass Apple’s payment system for the App Store. But when the iOS App Store was introduced, the use of jailbreaks changed.
Users free up their Apple device to install custom themes, change home screens, and access the file system.
On some Apple devices, jailbreaking also allowed users to install other operating systems. These include Linux, Kernel, and Android. Users use it due to iOS restrictions. But since the latest updates, users aren’t as interested in jailbreaking their phones anymore.
