iOS 13 is now available: How to update, its best new iPhone features

There will be several iterations of iOS 13 before Apple unveils iOS 14 next year, and if you want to be the very first to try out new features, join the Apple Developer Program.

The program is designed for app developers—individuals and companies. If you're in it just to get the latest iOS, provide your Apple ID and some basic information about yourself, and pay the membership fee of $99 per year.

A note of caution, though: since you'll have an early version of iOS, you'll face bugs that are more than the minor annoyances you're used to on stable versions of iOS. The entire point of developers having the software is to test it out with their apps, so you might find that some of your apps become unusable or that you lose information. Make sure you're comfortable with that before signing up. Or install the dev version on a second, non-primary iOS device.

Public Beta

If you're not risk-averse but a bit cautious—and want to save $99—there's always a public beta released before the final version of iOS and it's fairly stable. Some of your existing apps might not work with the OS and you could lose data, but if you're willing to try it out there's no fee to join.

The point of a public beta is to find bugs developers have not yet uncovered. If you're an iOS fan, this can be an interesting side project. Especially if you have an older iOS device you can afford to upgrade with possibly buggy software.

Make sure to back up your phone before you do anything. Then sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program. If you've done this before and already are registered, sign in. Next, open Safari to beta.apple.com/profile and select Download Profile. Approve the installation, restart your phone, and connect to a Wi-Fi network. Now go to Settings > General > Software Update and select Download and Install. Once your phone restarts, you'll have the latest version of iOS. If you come across any bugs, use the built-in Feedback Assistant app to report them.

See if your iPhone or iPad works with the new OSes

Check out the most interesting and useful new additions to Apple's iOS experience, from Dark Mode and video editing to privacy-focused features like Sign In with Apple.

Stop unknown callers

With a single button, you can effectively stop unknown callers from making your iPhone ring ever again. With the feature enabled, iOS 13 will only allow calls through from your contacts and numbers found in Mail or Messages. 

Everyone else will go straight to voicemail. 

Quicker Wi-Fi, Bluetooth selection

For years we've thought it would make sense for there to be some method to connect to Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices from Control Center, instead of having to open the Settings app and tap several times. 

With iOS 13, Apple has finally made it possible to view and connect to available networks or devices without ever opening Settings. Hallelujah. For us, this fixes one of the iPhone's most annoying quirks.  

That swipey keyboard

Android users have been swiping their keyboards to type for years, through a number of third-party apps, like Swype and SwiftKey. At long last, Apple has added the capability, letting you trace a word to spell it out. 

Apple calls it QuickPath Typing. In theory, it's faster than and just as accurate as pecking away at the virtual keyboard, and you still get spelling suggestions as you go along.

The feature is especially useful for one-handed typing and is ready for use as soon as you install iOS 13.

Dark mode for all

Dark mode, which replaces the usual light screen with a dark screen, is available across core apps in iOS 13, including the calendar, music and photo apps. 

This appears to be systemwide, but we'll need to see if there are any exceptions. Dark mode is a popular trend across apps and will come to Android Q, too.

Photos app adds video-editing tools

The Photos app received a pretty significant overhaul. Organizing and surfacing photos are both now easier, and the edit tools have a new look. But most impressive is the ability to use all of the picture editing tools you're familiar with on videos in the Photos app.

Yes, that means you can apply filters, adjust brightness and even crop a video right in the Photos app. This is what you need to know about photos in iOS 13.

iPadOS gestures

The iPad is growing into its own computing platform, and with it comes plenty of new gestures used to get around apps and the homescreen. From opening multiple apps, or quickly switching between workspaces, we have you covered. 

Hidden features

One of the best parts about using new software is finding features that haven't been announced. Often these features are the most notable in a major update, and iOS 13 has its fair share of hidden features. 

Naturally, hidden features have to actually, well, be discovered, so right now the current tally of hidden features worth highlighting is at 11. As we uncover more, that list is sure to grow. 

Custom fonts inside apps

Apple will still limit font selection for iOS as a whole; however, the company is opening up iOS 13 to allow custom fonts inside apps. 

The added flexibility is perhaps an indicator that Apple is loosening its grip on controlling every aspect of the user experience. We haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but rest assured, once Apple begins publishing new fonts in the App Store, we'll be all over it. This is everything we know about installing, managing and downloading custom iPhone fonts.

Find My Phone and Find My Friends join forces

Apple combined Find My Friends and Find My iPhone into a single app now called Find My. And on top of combining the apps, Apple added the capability to help find lost devices for people you don't even know. 

When you mark one of your Apple devices as lost, Apple will crowdsource the device's location by asking all Apple devices to look for your device's Bluetooth signal. Once another Apple device finds your lost phone, tablet or computer, you'll receive an alert. Apple says the free service is completely anonymous and encrypted. 

Sign In with Apple won't share your email address

A new privacy feature called Sign In with Apple logs you into accounts and apps without your having to add your email address, which Apple says will protect users from third-party apps that want to track them. 

This is Apple's version of logging in with Facebook and Google, with one major exception. Those tools can be used to track you online, but Apple's version will use your iPhone or iPad to authenticate your credentials when you log in. You tap to authenticate with Face ID without revealing any personal information about yourself. 

You can also choose to share or hide your email address, and can ask Apple to create a random email for the app or service that forwards to your actual email address, therefore masking your real identity without your needing to use a junk account.

Apple also blocks apps that track your location from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and lets you decide if you'd like apps to ask your permission each time they request your location data.

Memoji avatars come to Messages, stickers

Apple's Messages apps will now get support for Memoji profiles, which puts a thumbnail of your Memoji (an emoji of your face) into the Messages app. New controls let you go in depth with customization, makeup -- even adding braces to your teeth. You also get a sticker pack across your iOS 13 devices.

iMessages will also now work on dual-SIM phones (unfortunately, we don't have more detail than that).

Share music or a movie with a second pair of AirPods

Instead of sharing an AirPod with a friend or loved one, your iPhone can now stream audio to two pairs of AirPods thanks to Audio Sharing. If you've used Apple Pay to buy something, you're already a pro at setting up Audio Share. 

Siri finds a new voice

Apple's voice assistant Siri gets an audio update in iOS 13. Instead of the clipped tones often associated with AI, Apple is hoping the new Siri will sound smoother and more natural to your ears. Using a neural talk-to-speak network, Siri will speak with fewer gaps and fewer inhuman-sounding modulations.

iOS 13's Siri also works better with AirPods ($145 at Amazon), the HomePod ($299 at Walmart), CarPlay and Safari:

• You can create personalized shortcuts using a new Shortcuts app.
• Siri reads messages as soon as they arrive and you can instantly respond.
• Hand off a phone call or music from your iPhone to your HomePod.
• CarPlay: Siri smart suggestions work here, like suggesting you open your garage door when you get close to home.
• Siri Suggestions comes to the Safari browser.

More app updates in iOS 13

• Mail: Gets rich new fonts, an option to mute threads. 
• Notes: A new gallery view, support for shared folders.
• Reminders: You can add details for when and where to remind you of an item. Message integration lets you tag a person in a reminder, and the reminder will show up the next time you're messaging that contact. 
• Camera: Portrait Mode gains new lighting effects and the ability to control the intensity as well as lighting direction.

• Maps: Apple Maps has a new look, with more details for things like roads, buildings and even beaches. Expanded Favorites support, and a built-in option to share your ETA with a contact. 
• CarPlay: An entirely new design, with more information on the main screen as well as "Hey, Siri" support. 

Subtle improvements to iOS 13 

• Add attachments to events in Calendar.
• Time-synced lyrics for Apple Music.
• Support for 3D AR apps like Minecraft Earth, coming to iOS 13 this summer.
• Face ID unlocking is now 30 percent faster.
• Apps launch 2x faster.
• Downloads are 50% smaller and updates are 60% smaller.
• Low-data mode
• 38 new language keyboards
• Language selection per app

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