ios 6.1

Apple doles out third beta of iOS 6.1

Apple's first big iOS 6 update is one step closer to a public release.

Today the company quietly released the third beta version of iOS 6.1 to developers, another step on the way to sending it out as an update to the general public.

Today's update, which includes "bug fixes and other improvements," comes 21 days after the last beta.

All three beta versions, made available to developers for testing ahead of a public release, have been light on major new additions to the software. Apple typically saves such additions for major releases, but has … Read more

Don't get Apple's Passbook? iOS 6.1 will explain it to you

iPhone users scratching their heads over how to use Apple's Passbook app will get a little more help as part of an upcoming software update.

iOS 6.1 adds an updated explanatory note to the digital-wallet app, which comes pre-installed on new iPhones and iPod Touch devices. Apple delivered a second beta testing version of the OS version to developers this morning.

Instead of kicking users out to the App Store to go find applications that offer Passbook integration, Apple now puts information about the feature inside a card that sticks around even after you've started using the … Read more

Apple testing iOS 6.1 with new map search tools

Alongside its public release of iOS 6.0.1 earlier today, Apple doled out a beta version of iOS 6.1 to developers as well.

Before you get too excited, the software so far appears to be light on new, user-facing features. Instead, one of the key improvements is new back-end technology that will let developers better use the company's homegrown maps inside their own applications.

To provide a frame of reference, it took Apple about four months to release iOS 5.1 after it released iOS 5.0.1. That update brought a reworked camera application on the … Read more