iOS
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| Developer | Apple, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Source model | Closed source (with open source components) |
| Initial release | iPhone OS 1 (29 June 2007) |
| Latest release | iOS 15.4.1 (31 March 2022) |
| Latest preview | iOS 15.4 (19E5241a) (1 March 2022) |
| Supported platforms | ARM64, ARM32 (until iOS 11) |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| User interface | Cocoa Touch |
| License | Proprietary (with open source components) |
iOS is a series of mobile operating systems developed by Apple for their mobile device platforms (iPhone, iPod, and iPad). It was initially known as iPhone OS and introduced alongside the 1st generation iPhone. The name would stay until the release of the iPad in 2010 when Apple rebranded it to iOS. In 2019, Apple began to use the iPadOS moniker to brand the version of the operating system that is used on iPad devices.
iOS is based on macOS's codebase and shares the same kernel, filesystem, and binary formats. The userland of iOS is similar to that of macOS, but with a mobile-friendly design that is touchscreen and content-centric. iOS lacks direct access to the filesystem and cannot run arbitrary code by default. The only distribution method for software officially allowed on iOS is the built-in App Store. As of 2017, iOS has only been compiled for ARM-based processors and only runs on the iOS platforms that Apple manufactures.
iOS's userland consists of a home screen (known as Springboard) that manages the user's applications. Many applications from macOS exist in iOS and vice-versa.
iPhone OS 1.0 through iOS 10 is 32 and 64-bit compatible, although iOS 11 dropped any support for 32-bit ARM processors and corresponding binaries.
No emulators exist that can run the retail version of iOS, however, Apple does provide the iOS Simulator, which runs a modified build of iOS on top of macOS with output in a dedicated window.
Timeline[edit | edit source]
| Name | Darwin version | Codename | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone OS 1 | 9.0 | Alpine (iPhone OS 1.0) SUHeavenlyJuly (iPhone OS 1.0.1 - 1.0.2) Snowbird (iPhone OS 1.1 - 1.1.1) Oktoberfest (iPhone OS 1.1.2) Little Bear (iPhone OS 1.1.3 - 1.1.5) |
June 2007 | |
| iPhone OS 2 | 9.? | Big Bear (iPhone OS 2.0 - 2.0.2) Sugar Bowl (iPhone OS 2.1 - 2.1.1) Timberline (iPhone OS 2.2) SUTimberline (2.2.1) |
July 2008 | |
| iPhone OS 3 | 9.? | Kirkwood (iPhone OS 3.0 - 3.0.1) Northstar (iPhone OS 3.1 - 3.1.2) SUNorthstarTwo (iPhone OS 3.1.3) Wildcat (iPhone OS 3.2 - 3.2.2) |
June 2009 | |
| iOS 4 | 10.3.1 | Apex (iOS 4) Baker (iOS 4.1) Jasper (iOS 4.2) Phoenix (iOS 4.2.5 - 4.2.10) Durango (iOS 4.3) |
June 2010 | |
| iOS 5 | 11 | Telluride (iOS 5) Hoodoo (iOS 5.1) |
October 2011 | |
| iOS 6 | 13 | Sundance (iOS 6) Brighton (iOS 6.1) |
September 2012 | |
| iOS 7 | 14 | Innsbruck (iOS 7) Sochi (iOS 7.1) |
September 2013 | First version of iOS to support ARM64. |
| iOS 8 | 14 | Okemo (iOS 8.0 - 8.0.2) OkemoTaos (iOS 8.1) OkemoZurs (iOS 8.2) Stowe (iOS 8.3) Copper (iOS 8.4) |
September 2014 | |
| iOS 9 | 15 | Monarch (iOS 9.0 - 9.0.2) Boulder (iOS 9.1) Castlerock (iOS 9.2) Eagle (iOS 9.3 & 9.3.1) Frisco (iOS 9.3.2) Genoa (iOS 9.3.3 - 9.3.5) |
September 2015 | |
| iOS 10 | 16 | Whitetail (iOS 10.0 - 10.0.2) Butler (iOS 10.1) Corry (iOS 10.2) Erie (iOS 10.3 & 10.3.1) Franklin (iOS 10.3.2) Greensburg (iOS 10.3.3) |
September 2016 | Last version of iOS to have 32-bit ARM support |
| iOS 11 | 17 | Tigris (iOS 11.0 - 11.0.3) Bursa (iOS 11.1) Cinar (iOS 11.2) Dalaman (iOS 11.2.5 & 11.2.6) Emet (iOS 11.3) Fatsa (iOS 11.4) Gebze (iOS 11.4.1) |
September 2017 | It is the first version of iOS to drop 32-bit ARM support |
| iOS 12 | 18 | Peace (iOS 12.0 - 12.0.1) | September 2018 | |
| iOS 13 | 19 | Yukon (iOS 13.0) | September 2019 | |
| iOS 14 | 20 | Azul (iOS 14.0) | September 2020 | |
| iOS 15 | 21 | Sky (iOS 15.0) | September 2021 |