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How to Convert Firmware Zip to IPSW Easily

iOS firmware files should always arrive in IPSW file format so that they can be identified and used properly. Sometimes, users may download an IPSW firmware file for iPhone or iPad and it arrives as .zip file instead of .ipsw as expected, this usually happens on Windows computers but it can happen on a Mac too.

The reason this usually happens is usually because of the web browser you used to download the IPSW firmware file which erroneously assigns it a ZIP archive extension. Fortunately this is extremely easy to fix and to change an IPSW marked as a .zip file into a IPSW .ipsw file.

Why does this matter? This is necessary because iTunes will not recognize a firmware labeled as a .zip file as a proper .ipsw file, it must have the .ipsw file extension for it to be used by the iTunes software to be able to update iOS on an iPhone or iPad. Not to worry, it’s a piece of cake to change.

How to Change .zip File to IPSW .ipsw File

To convert the .zip to .ipsw you must have show file extensions enabled in your operating system.

For Mac: You can show file extension on a Mac as detailed here.

For Windows: you can show file extensions by going to Start Menu > Control Panel > Folder Options > View > and turn off “Hide file extensions for known types”.

Once you have file extensions visible on the computer, you simply must rename the .zip file to the .ipsw file. For example a file named “”iPhone_9_12.0_18A201_Restore.zip” would need to be renamed as “iPhone_9_12.0_18A201_Restore.ipsw”

That’s it, the .ipsw file will now be usable, you can learn how to use IPSW files here to update iOS on an iPhone or iPad, iTunes, and a Mac or PC.

How to Get IPSW Files As .ipsw Instead of .zip

As mentioned before, the reason some IPSW files are erroneously assigned a .zip file extension instead of the proper .ipsw file extension is because of the web browser used and how the firmware file is downloaded. For properly associating the IPSW file with a .ipsw file extension you simply must do the following:

Access a repository of iOS IPSW file downloads such as here, remember you will only want to get IPSW files from links that point to the original file on Apple servers
Find the IPSW file you wish to get, then right-click and choose “Save As” on the link
When saving the IPSW file, be sure it has a .ipsw file extension for example “iPhone_9_12.0_18A201_Restore.ipsw”

Once you’re IPSW file is properly labeled with a proper file extension you are free to use the IPSW file as usual with iTunes on a computer.

No, an IPSW file is not a ZIP file, and a ZIP file is not IPSW

To be clear, a .zip is a proper file format but for archives, whereas .ipsw is also a proper file format but it’s for iOS firmware files. IPSW files are not supposed to be .zip archives, when the operating system thinks an .ipsw is a .zip it is an erroneous file association based on a file extension. Thus, a .zip file is not an .ipsw file, and an ipsw file is not a zip file – you can not simply change a random .zip archive file extension to .ipsw and expect it to work and be recognized as a firmware, that’s not how it works.

Remember to always download .ipsw files only from Apple servers, if you’re not sure hover over the IPSW link to verify that it has an apple.com domain, if the ipsw file link does not point to an Apple server do not download the .ipsw file. It’s also worth remembering that only signed IPSW files are usable, go

Source: OSX Daily

May 29, 2017 0 comment

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How to Update AirPods Firmware

written by applenws

AirPods are the wireless earbud headphones from Apple which are enjoyed by many iPhone users. Much like iOS devices have firmware updates, so do AirPods, and you may be wondering how you can update AirPods firmware, and how to check and see if your AirPods are up to date.

Managing firmware updates on AirPods is simple, but it’s a bit different from other Apple products as there is no traditional software update menu. Read on to better understand how to update AirPods and how to check the current firmware version of AirPods.

Updating AirPods Firmware

AirPods Firmware will update automatically if they AirPods are stored within their case, near the synced iPhone, and the iPhone is connected to the internet. It just happens automatically when Apple pushes out an update, you don’t actively update the AirPods yourself.

The AirPod firmware update happens seamlessly and quietly in the background, and unlike updating iOS system software or an Apple Watch there is no direct “update now” button to manually trigger the AirPods software update.

If your AirPods haven’t updated to the latest version, be sure the iPhone or iPad is connected online (preferably to wi-fi), put the AirPods in the AirPod charging case for a moment, then pop open the lid. When the menu pops up on the iPhone just swipe it away as usual. Now close the lid on the case and wait a few minutes, if an update is available it should happen automatically sometime within 30 minutes or so.

How to update AirPods firmware

How to Check AirPods Firmware Version

Assuming the AirPods are actively synced to your iPhone or iPad, you can access an AirPods menu in the Settings app of iOS:

Open the Settings app and go to “General” and then to “About”
Choose ‘AirPods’ to see the AirPods firmware version

How to check AirPods firmware version

If you do not see the AirPods option in the About section then you likely don’t have the AirPods actively synced or paired to the iOS device.

Source: OSX Daily

May 26, 2017 0 comment

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How to Block Unwanted or Spam Text Messages on iPhone

written by applenws

You can block text messages that you don’t want in iOS. Prior to iOS 9, you could block a text message directly in the details of the message within the Messages app. Now, you have to add the number you want to block to your contacts and then block that contact in the Settings app. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1:

To add a phone number in the Messages app to your contacts, open the conversation for that phone number and tap the phone number or the person icon at the top of the screen.

Tap the phone number of person icon in the message.

Step 2:

Then, tap Create New Contact.

Step 3:

The phone number is automatically added to the Phone field. Enter a name and/or company for the contact and then tap Done to finish creating the contact.

Enter name and/or company and tap Done in contact.

Step 4:

The new contact is created. Next, you’ll block text messages from this contact.

Step 5:

To block text messages from the contact you just added, tap the Settings icon on the Home screen.

Step 6:

Tap Messages on the Settings screen.

Step 7:

On the Messages screen, scroll down and tap Blocked.

Tap Blocked on the Messages settings screen.

Step 8:

Then, tap Add New on the Blocked screen.

Step 9:

Type the name of the new contact you created in the search box and then tap on the contact in the results.

Search for the new contact and tap on it.

Step 10:

The new contact is added to the list of Blocked contacts for the Messages app.

Spam contact is added to the Blocked list.

You will no longer receive text messages from this phone number. That does not guarantee you will not receive any more text messages from that contact. They may use different numbers to text you, so you might have to repeat this procedure for every phone number they use. However, you can add the additional phone numbers to the existing contact you created. To do this, tap Add to Existing Contact instead of Create New Contact after tapping on the phone number or person icon at the top of the conversation screen.

If you want to block text messages and phone calls from a specific number, you do not need to add the phone number as a contact. You can block the phone number in the Phone app directly. If the phone number is only messaging you and not calling, the procedure detailed here becomes necessary.

What do you think of this new method of blocking text messages? Let us know in the comments.

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Source: OSX Daily

May 24, 2017 0 comment

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How to Reveal Hidden Message Previews with Touch ID on iPhone Lock Screen

written by applenws

The iPhone defaults to showing message previews on the lock screen of iOS, revealing the sender name and message content text. Because of potential privacy ramifications, many users turn off message previews on the lock screen which hides the message content, but then to read the full message users have to go to the Message app, right? Not entirely. Devices equipped with Touch ID can reveal the hidden message preview directly from the lock screen simply by authenticating without unlocking the device, and without having to open the messages app at all.

This is an excellent though little-known privacy trick that lets you read hidden messages from the lock screen, it’s easy to use and implement into your work flow. Privacy conscious users should particularly enjoy this tip but it can also be helpful to anyone who just wants to keep private conversations private on the screen of an iPhone or iPad, whether it’s out in the open, on a desk, or otherwise.

How to Show Hidden Message Previews on iOS Lock Screen with Touch ID

In order to use this trick you will need two basic configurations: the iPhone (or iPad) must have Touch ID enabled and in use, and the iOS device must have lock screen message previews turned off in iOS Settings. Beyond that it is simply a usage habit adjustment as follows:

Get an iMessage or text with a hidden preview as usual

The locked screen shows a hidden message preview on iOS

Rest your finger on the Touch ID but do not press to unlock, simply rest a registered fingerprint on Touch ID
In a moment the hidden message preview will reveal the full message text, without unlocking the iPhone or iPad

Using Touch ID allows you to read the hidden message without unlocking the iPhone

You can now read the entire message preview as usual, but it is protected behind an authenticated Touch ID layer. This brings a significant convenience layer to the added privacy benefit of hiding message previews, and eliminates a lot of the hassle of the feature related to requiring an app to be opened just to see what a private message may say.

Revealing a hidden message at iOS lock screen using Touch ID

One troubleshooting tip: if you disabled Press Home to Unlock in iOS you will need to turn that back on again so that simply resting your finger does not unlock the iPhone or iPad.

This is one of my favorite messaging privacy tips, it’s easy to implement and use once you know it exists. Try it out yourself if you have a Touch ID device, it works great.

Have any thoughts on this? Do you have any privacy tips for iMessage and Messages for iPhone and iPad? Let us know in the comments.

Source: OSX Daily

May 23, 2017 0 comment

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How to Resend an iMessage on iPhone to Fix a “Not Delivered” Error

written by applenws

Messages sent from an iPhone or iPad may occasionally fail to send, instead displaying a “Not Delivered” error message along with a little red ! exclamation point next to the failed message. While this may be annoying, you can easily resend a message from iOS Messages app with minimal effort.

You can resend an iMessage or a text message that has the “Not Delivered” error message easily.

Before you attempt to resend the message be sure you have a cellular connection, as without a cell connection or data service the message will not be able to send. We’re demonstrating resending a message on an iPhone but this applies the same to iPad and iOS in general.

How to Resend a Message from iPhone or iPad

Open the Message app and go to the message thread that failed to send if you have not done so already
When you see the red “Not Delivered” statement under a failed message, tap the on the red (!) button next to the message

Resend the Not Delivered message on iPhone

Choose “Try Again” to resend the message

Resending a Not Delivered message on iPhone

Give the message a moment to resend, if successful you will no longer see the “Not Delivered” red error

Successfully resending a message on iPhone

If the iMessage has been successfully re-sent you will see the typical blue bubble and a “Delivered” message, indicating that iMessage was able to resend the message.

Keep in mind that iMessages can fail to send for multiple reasons, and you may see the “Not Delivered” message due to an interruption in your internet service, and interruption in the recipients internet service, or even if iCloud and related Apple online services are down. Additionally, if you lost cell service, or switched on AirPlane mode immediately after sending a message it may also show the Not Delivered error, which is actually an intentional trick to cancel sending a message from the iPhone that works quite well.

Another option is to send again as a text message instead via SMS protocol, which can be helpful if the recipient is out of data range and therefore iMessage functionality but could otherwise receive a text message. If resending via iCloud fails and the traditional SMS also fails, you’ll likely want to troubleshoot why an iPhone is not sending text messages.

The “Not Delivered” error can appear on an iPhone, iPad, an iPod touch, and even Mac OS as well, which is also able to resend a message from the Mac too if need be.

Have any other tricks for resending messages from iOS? Let us know in the comments.

Source: OSX Daily

May 22, 2017 0 comment

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How to Print to PDF from Almost Any App on Your IPhone or iPad

written by applenws

The print to PDF feature on your iPhone and iPad makes it easy to convert a web page or document that you’re viewing to PDF and save that file to the cloud, email it to yourself, or copy or import it into another app.

Any app on your iPhone or iPad that supports printing can also print to PDF. You don’t actually print the web page or document, but you do create a PDF file that is a copy of what the document would have looked like had you printed it to a real printer. It’s not obvious how to print to PDF on an iPhone or iPad, but it’s not difficult either, and I’ll show you how.

How to Print to PDF from Almost Any App

Step 1

As an example, I will print a web page to a PDF file from within Safari. When viewing the web page in Safari, tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2

On the Share Sheet, tap the Print icon.

Step 3

A preview of the document displays with some options at the top. If you have an iPhone 6/6S or above, you can use the 3D Touch feature. Tap and hold your finger down on the preview of the document to “peek” at it and then press harder to “pop” into the full document.

If you’re using an older iPhone or an iPad without the 3D Touch feature, perform the pinch-out gesture. This means putting two fingers together on the preview of the document and then spreading your fingers out on the screen.

Use the 3D Touch feature or the pinch-out gesture on the document preview to print to PDF.

Step 4

The next screen shows what the web page or document will look like when converted to PDF. To print to PDF, tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen.

To print to PDF, tap the Share icon on the PDF preview screen.

Step 5

Now, you can choose whether you want to save the PDF file to the cloud, email it to yourself, or save it to another app that accepts PDF files. I want to save my PDF file to my Google Drive account, so I tap the Drive icon on the Share Sheet.

Tap an icon on the Share Sheet to save, copy, or send your PDF file.

Step 6

The title of the web page becomes the file name for the PDF file. Now, I can upload the PDF file to my Google Drive account and have access to it from any device. This screen differs depending on the sharing method you choose on the Share Sheet.

Saving the PDF file to my Google Drive account.

Some apps include a PDF export feature natively, such as Pages, Numbers, and Keynote with their Send a Copy feature. However, the print to PDF workaround provides support for creating PDF files in almost any app.

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Source: iPhone Hacks

April 25, 2017 0 comment

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How to Identify Outdated Apps That Might Not Be Compatible With iOS 11

written by applenws

Apple added a few new things in the iOS 10.3 update, and one of those is a tool to identify 32-bit apps that may be rendered obsolete in the next version of iOS.

Head to Settings > General > About and scroll down to Applications. If you can tap this button, you’re taken to the app compatibility page, which is essentially a graveyard of ancient apps on your phone. If you see any apps here, it means they haven’t been updated with 64-bit mode, which was introduced way back in 2013. If you can’t tap the Application section, that means all your apps are up to date.

SensorTower compiled a list of the nearly 200,000 incompatible apps in the App Store and the bulk seem to be games or education apps. If you see an app here you really care about, or worse, that you need for work, reach out to the app’s developer and see if they can update it with 64-bit support.

Source:
LifeHacker

April 3, 2017 0 comment

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How to Use 1Blocker to Hide Everything That Annoys You On Mobile Sites

written by applenws

GIF

You’re browsing the web on your iPhone when you come across a pop-up box asking you to subscribe to a newsletter. You: A) frantically search for the little “X” to make it go away, B) Roll your eyes and press the back button to leave, or C) Wish you could get rid of those annoying pop-ups while still reading your favorite sites. 1Blocker, our favorite ad blocker on iOS, just rolled out a feature that makes option C much easier.

The new 1Blocker feature is essentially a visual blocker similar to what you’d find on a desktop ad blocking tool. You can individually select specific elements from a page and hide them. This means you can hide anything that annoys you about a specific site, including specific ad types, annoying sponsored stories, or the aforementioned newsletter pop-ups. This is a great tool because it means you can really customize how a site looks and works, while still supporting the sites you like by not removing every ad. You’ll need 1Blocker premium for this to work.

Let’s use the example above, from Packed Party, which does the insanely annoying mobile internet thing where a newsletter subscription box pops up after you idle on the site for a while. Removing that is easy:

In Safari, tap the Share button, then tap 1Blocker (you might need to scroll over to More to enable it if you haven’t already).
Tap Hide Page Element and wait for the page to reload.
Tap whatever thing you want to disappear. In this case, it’s the newsletter pop-up. Then tap Save and then Return to Safari and you’ll see the site reload without that element.

This makes it super easy to customize certain web sites without totally blocking every ad or other annoyance on their site. You can do this with a variety of elements beyond pop-ups and ads. Let’s use Packed Party as an example again to get rid of those awkwardly placed social buttons.

In Safari, tap the Share button, then tap 1Blocker.
Tap Hide Page Element.
Tap one of the social buttons, like Twitter or Pinterest on the side. In a lot of cases, doing so will only select one of those little buttons at a time, but you can tap the Expand button at the bottom of the screen to select all of them at once. You can also tap the Narrow button if the selection is too big.
When you’re done, press Save and then Return to Safari to reload the page (you can also tap “Hide Another Element” to continue to add new rules).

As these types of things tend to be, the element-hiding feature is a little quirky, but it works most of the time in my experience. I’ve found it incredibly helpful as I usually don’t want to use ad blocking all the time, but the mobile web has so many annoyances that it’s often frustrating to use without blocking every ad. Aside from the above two examples, you can also use it to block those stupid chat box pop-ups that started appearing a year or two ago and I’m pretty sure nobody has ever intentionally used, promoted stories sections, or those weird “you may also like” boxes that are usually just ads to extremely shady looking sites.

Obviously, you’ll only bother to do this for the select few sites you frequent on a daily basis, but it’s well worth the added effort to make a site a little less horrible without cutting off their revenue streams completely.

Source:
LifeHacker

March 28, 2017 0 comment