Guides

The next generation of iOS has arrived. Many enhancements and refinements contained in iOS 8 were revealed by Apple at the recent WWDC keynote. Developers have had access to the iOS 8 beta firmware since June 2, with the public release coming later this fall. Now that Apple signs firmware, downgrades to a previous IPSW file are not normally possible.

Developers looking to revert to iOS 7.1.1 are in luck for the time being. Since the latest version of iOS is still being signed by Apple, downgrades from iOS 8 beta to iOS 7.1.1 are possible. No matter what the reason for a downgrade on a particular iPhone with iOS 8 installed, the procedure can be accomplished easily by following the steps below.

iPhoto makes it possible to tweak and modify the appearance of photos without permanently changing the original image files. The export function provides several options to control how photos are exported from the iPhoto library. Photos can be exported in their original state or with any modifications that were added by editing in iPhoto.

To start, open the event or album that contains the photos you wish to export. Photos can be selected by clicking a thumbnail. When selected, thumbnails will have a yellow border. To select multiple photos click while holding the shift or command key. All photos can be selected at once using select all (command-A).

The stock Voice Memos app on the iPhone provides a convenient way to record audio on the go. While voice memos can be managed and played back directly on an iOS device, the files can be more useful when transferred to a computer. Not only does this save space on the iOS device, but audio files can be edited and used for different purposes after syncing.

The process of transferring voice memos to a computer only takes a few minutes on a Mac or PC with iTunes installed. To begin the process make sure the iPhone is connected to a computer via USB cable. Open iTunes and click on the name of the iOS device that contains the voice memos. This appears in the left iTunes menu under DEVICES.

Malware targeted at iPhones doesn't come around too often, however this doesn't mean it's nonexistent. The latest threat, dubbed "Unflod Baby Panda" targets jailbroken iOS devices, collecting Apple ID and password information and sending it to servers in China. The malware only affects jailbroken devices, and is thought to have originated on unofficial Chinese repositories distributing pirated apps.

First off, if your iPhone is not jailbroken, go play Hearthstone and forget about Unflod forever. Jailbreakers will want to follow the steps below to check for infection. If the device is not affected by Unflod, users can keep it that way by avoiding pirated apps and untrusted repos on Cydia. Should Unflod Baby Panda exist on your iOS device, continue reading to clean the malware and secure your Apple ID.

When it comes to security concerns, the Heartbleed security flaw is currently dominating headlines everywhere. The good news is that iOS devices are not vulnerable to Heartbleed. Regardless of this fact, setting a passcode is the first step in securing personal information on the iPhone from prying eyes.

Simple passcodes are convenient to use, but limited to a four-digit number. For those looking to beef up the security of their iOS devices, replacing these four digits with a complex passcode will help. Once activated, this feature allows numbers, letters and special characters to be used, vastly improving the strength of the passcode. A long string or several words strung together can be used, locking down an iOS device at the specified time interval.