Original stories by our editorial team bring you everything from exclusive world premieres to behind-the-scenes interviews. Tap the Today tab and read about influential developers and game creators, learn a few tips and tricks, or see how apps are changing how people work, play, and live.
When you download an app, it should work as promised. Which is why human App Reviewers ensure that the apps on the App Store adhere to our strict app review standards. Our App Store Review Guidelines require apps to be safe, provide a good user experience, comply with our privacy rules, secure devices from malware and threats, and use approved business models.
App Inventor has worked with iPhones and iPads since March 2021, and we've added many more capabilities since then. Almost all apps in our list of tutorials work well on the iOS Companion app (see "Future Work" below for exceptions). Now, you can create, test, and share apps for iOS devices!
Check out the following resources for making iOS apps: Live Test Your iOS App Get the App Inventor iOS Companion for your iPhone or iPad by clicking the button to the right, installing Companion, and following the regular App Inventor instructions to test your app while you code.
Apple Inc. develops many apps for iOS that come bundled by default or installed through system updates. Several of the default apps found on iOS have counterparts on Apple's other operating systems macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS, which are often modified versions of or similar to the iOS application. As each app is integrated into the operating system itself, they often feature greater support for system features than third-party alternatives and are quick to adapt new features of iOS.
Apple has also included versions of iWork, iMovie, and GarageBand for free with new device activations since the release of iOS 7; however, these apps are maintained independently from the operating system, with updates instead released through the App Store.[1] Since iOS 10, most pre-installed apps have been removable.[2] With iOS 14 or later, as well as iPadOS 15 or later, users can hide pre-installed apps in the newly introduced App Library, as well as change their default web browser and email client to a third-party alternative.
The App Store is a digital distribution platform which allows users to browse and download apps developed with Apple's iOS Software Development Kit. The App Store opened on July 10, 2008, with the release of IPhone OS 2, launching with 500 applications available. The number of apps peaked at around 2.2 million in 2017, but declined slightly over the next few years as Apple began a process to remove old apps or 32-bit apps that do not function as intended or that don't follow current app guidelines.[3] As of 2020, the store features around 1.8 million apps. On September 19, 2019, Apple Arcade, a gaming subscription service that provides unlimited access to a catalogue of games for a monthly fee, was released through a dedicated tab on the App Store.[4]
Books, formerly iBooks, is an e-book reading and store app released in mid-2010, as part of the iOS 4 update.[5] Initially, iBooks was not pre-loaded onto iOS devices, but users could install it free of charge from the App Store. With the release of iOS 8, it became an integrated app. It primarily receives EPUB content from the Apple Books store, but users can also add their own EPUB and Portable Document Format (PDF) files via data synchronization with iTunes. Additionally, the files can be downloaded to Apple Books through Safari or Apple Mail. It is also capable of displaying e-books that incorporate multimedia.[6] Books has also expanded to allow the purchase and listening of audiobooks through the app. Reading goals can be set which encourage users to read for an amount of time each day.[7]
Calculator is a basic calculator app introduced with the initial launch of the iPhone and iPhone OS 1 in 2007.[8] The standard mode includes a number pad, buttons for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. A scientific calculator can be accessed by rotating the device landscape, which supports exponents and trigonometric functions.
Calendar is a personal calendar app introduced with the initial launch of the iPhone and iPhone OS 1 in 2007.[8] It tracks events and appointments added by the user and includes various holidays depending on the location the phone is set to as well as birthdays from contacts.[9] Users are also able to subscribe to other calendars from friends or third parties. Since iOS 5, Calendar supports online cloud backup of calendars using Apple's iCloud service, or synchronization with other calendar services, including Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange Server.
Camera is a photo taking app introduced with the initial launch of the iPhone and iPhone OS 1 in 2007.[8] Photos can be taken with flash or with filters applied, as well as a timer option which will take a photo after three seconds have passed since hitting the capture button. The ability to record video footage was introduced in iPhone OS 3 and has since been updated so that videos can be filmed in time-lapse or slow motion. On the iPhone 7 Plus and above, photos can be taken in 'portrait mode', which creates a depth effect so that the subject is in focus while the background is blurred.[10] The camera is also capable of creating panoramic images.[11] On iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone SE (2nd generation) with iOS 13 or iPhone XR or later on iOS 14 or later, the camera app was redesigned with a new font and a new UI for controls.
Clock is a timekeeping app introduced with the initial launch of the iPhone and iPhone OS 1 in 2007.[8] It allows users to view the current time in locations around the world, set alarms and timers, and use their phone as a stopwatch.[5] Alarms and timers will play a chime once completed, which the user can choose from their ringtone library. A bedtime feature was introduced in iOS 10, which acts as a special alarm in which the user sets both a time they would like to go to bed and a time they would like to wake up. A notification is sent to the user before their set bedtime and the phone is automatically placed into Do Not Disturb mode until morning.[12]
Compass is a simple navigation app featuring a compass that was introduced with iPhone OS 3 on June 17, 2009. It displays the user's direction on a compass rose, as well as their current geographical coordinates, location, and altitude.[13] It is exclusive to iPhone, however, could unofficially be installed on iPad via jailbreaking.[14]
Contacts is an address book app that was first included as part of the Phone app with the launch of the iPhone in 2007 but was split off into a standalone application with the release of iPhone OS 2. Contacts can be synchronized over iCloud and other online address book services and allows for the storage of names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, job titles, birthdays, and social media usernames.
FaceTime is a videotelephony app available on supported iOS devices running iOS 4 and later which allows for video calls between participants using any camera of their device. FaceTime Audio, an audio-only version, is available on any iOS device that supports iOS 7 or newer.[15] In 2018, Apple added group video and audio support to FaceTime which can support up to 32 people alongside the release of iOS 12.[16] With iOS 15, users are able to share and watch music and video content together over FaceTime with SharePlay.[17]
Files is a file management app for devices that run iOS 11 and later. Files allows users to browse local files stored within apps, as well as files stored in cloud storage services, including iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.[18] It allows for the saving, opening and organization of files, including placement into structured folders and sub-folders. Further organization can be done through the use of color-coded or custom-named tags, and a persistent search bar allows for finding files inside folders, though not inside other apps. A list view enables different sorting options. The app offers the exclusive playback of high-quality FLAC audio files,[19] and also offers support for viewing text files, images, and ZIP archives,[20] as well as limited support for video.
Find My is an app and service that enables users to track the locations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, AirPods, AirTags and accessories compatible with the Find My network. The app was first released with iOS 13 on September 19, 2019, and combines both the Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps.[21] Missing devices can be made to play a sound at maximum volume, flagged as lost and locked with a passcode, or remotely erased. Users are also able to share their GPS locations with friends and family who own Apple devices of their own and can set notifications for when a person arrives or leaves a destination.[22] For select iPhone models, users can share their location via a satellite connection when there is no Wi-Fi connection or cell service available.[23]
Fitness, formerly Activity, is an exercise tracking companion app available on iPhones running iOS 8.2 or above for users with a connected Apple Watch, or on any device running iOS 16. The app displays a summary view of user's recorded workouts from the Apple Watch or supported third-party apps and exercise equipment.[24] Workouts in the fitness app show relevant metrics, such as heart rate, depending on the type of exercise and after a 180-day period, the app will also begin to show users their exercise trends averaged over the present and past rolling 90-day windows.[25]
Freeform is a virtual brainstorming app first made available on December 13, 2022, alongside iOS 16.2.[26] It allows users to create canvases called "boards", which can display a range of inputs including text notes, photos, documents, and web links.[27] There are also a variety of pen and brush tools available on the iOS and iPadOS versions of the software, letting users add sketches or handwriting to their boards similar to the tools available in the Notes app, which are compatible with the Apple Pencil. The app offers real-time collaboration between users, with support for FaceTime and iCloud syncing.[28]
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