Quick Takes: iOS 11.4 Confirmed, Apple Watch Trade-Up Program Expands, and More

[MacRumors]

In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.

Today's edition of Quick Takes focuses on tidbits from Apple's education-themed event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago today. For bigger news from the event, we've put together a roundup of links and a video that recaps everything that Apple announced on stage in under three minutes.

Tuesday, March 27
Apple confirms there will be an iOS 11.4 software update: It will be the first point-four version since iOS 8.4 was released with Apple Music in June 2015. iOS 11.3 remains in beta testing, so we're likely a few months away from the public release of iOS 11.4.

From the Introducing ClassKit for Education Apps entry in the News and Updates section of Apple's Developer Program website:

The ClassKit framework, coming in iOS 11.4, works with a powerful new iPad app called Schoolwork that helps teachers and students keep track of assignments and progress. With ClassKit, you can help teachers easily discover specific learning activities in your app, take students directly to the right activity with a single tap, and securely and privately share progress data to help teachers personalize instruction.

Apple Watch's trade-up program expands: The program is now available online or at Apple Stores in Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and select other countries. Trade-in values for the original Apple Watch, Series 1, and Series 2 models vary.

Apple Pencil is now available for $89 with education pricing in the United States: The $10 discount is available to students, educators, and select faculty members. Proof of enrollment or employment at a K-12 or higher-education institution may be required.
Apple has further discounted the price of refurbished 2017 iPad models: On the heels of introducing the sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad, Apple has lowered the prices of refurbished fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad models, originally released in March 2017.In the United States, for example, a Wi-Fi model with 128GB of storage is available for $309, down from $359 previously and 28 percent off the original $429 price for the equivalent brand new model. Just keep in mind that fifth-generation iPads lack Apple Pencil support.
iBooks Author is not being retired: Apple's app for creating iBooks on Mac will remain in development, according to iMore's Serenity Caldwell. In a tweet, she said Pages is not a replacement for iBooks Author, despite the app receiving updates related to creating e-books earlier today.

OKAY, getting some clarifications on iBooks Author and Pages. Bear with me.iBooks Author is NOT being sunset. It's continuing development. This Pages update is not a replacement. Instead, this is just bringing Pages's ePub 3 features and export to iPad, with new templates. - Serenity Caldwell @🍎👩🏻?🏫 (@settern) March 27, 2018

Apple shares environmental report for the new sixth-generation iPad
For more coverage of Apple's event, visit our Front Page, Mac Blog, and iOS Blog. Also visit our forums to join in the discussion.

Article Link: Quick Takes: iOS 11.4 Confirmed, Apple Watch Trade-Up Program Expands, and More

 

[Baymowe335]

In before people say iOS 12 or bust.

 

[Superhappytree]

iOS 12 OR BU.... well okay, at least they're attempting to fix as much of their mess as they can before we get to that.

 

[scrapesleon]

What are the trade in value price for each version Apple Watch

 

[Michael Goff]

It’s good that Apple is throwing one more update before they probably cut off the iPhone 5S and all A7 devices.

 

[Pirate!]

So the education price of the pencil is almost half the cost of the new education-priced iPad? That seems a little imbalanced...

 

[mbc2237]

Hasn't 11.3 been in testing for the last 6 months?

 

[Andres Cantu]

iOS 11 has been even more buggy than iOS 8, so it makes sense that it also gets its very own .4 release.

 

[Agit21]

Why do we even need iOS 12? Make it iOS 11.5 or whatever.

 

[sniffies]

By the time iOS 11.4 is out, we’ll be on iOS 12 beta 2

 

[Solver]

iOS 11.4. So that’s where Airplay 2 will be.

 

[zahuh]

is iMessage cloud syncing confirmed for iOS 11.3?

 

[Michael Goff]

So the education price of the pencil is almost half the cost of the new education-priced iPad? That seems a little imbalanced...

:does the math repeatedly to try to make 89$ half of 299$:

 

[BaracksPhallusPalace]

So you gotta jump through extra hoops to "qualify" to buy an Apple Pencil as a Student/Educator only to save $10... not even a 20% discount. So generous.

 

[Solomani]

Serenity of iMore posted about the iBook thing, and she posted in her same Twitter feed about an Apple Store with a view. Where is this Store??

 

[naturalstar]

Serenity of iMore posted about the iBook thing, and she posted in her same Twitter feed about an Apple Store with a view. Where is this Store??


View attachment 755800

It’s the Apple Store on North Michigan Ave, downtown Chicago. It looks at the Chicago River.

 

[Solomani]

It’s the Apple Store on North Michigan Ave, downtown Chicago. It looks at the Chicago River.

Thanks for info. That is some view!

 

[JosephAW]

Yes, stayed on iOS 8.4.1 for two years on my iPhone 6 and Planning to stay on iOS 10.3.3 on my 7+ until my next iPhone in two.

 

[martyjmclean]

iOS 11 is my favourite release so far sans the ridiculous amount of bugs, it's good to see Apple taking their time to refine it.

 

[now i see it]

the dot four of shame

 

[DaPizzaMan]

is iMessage cloud syncing confirmed for iOS 11.3?

No

 

[xero9]

No

But it’s been in 11.3 beta..

 

[MacsRgr8]

Didn't Apple say somewhere that they wanted to stop the nearly (self-inflicted) compulsory annual major updates...?
iOS 11.4 @ WWDC?
iOS 12 early new year etc?

 

[Ixon2001]

iOS 10.3.3 was very stable then iOS 11 came out caused no end of problems for alot of folk, continuation of iOS 11 would make alot more sense until 12 is actually ready for public release.

So it wouldn't surprise me if this year the new iPhones launched with iOS 11.4 rather than iOS 12.

 

[-BigMac-]

iOS 11.4. So that’s where Airplay 2 will be.

You mean that feature announced last year? Haha yeah. Apple is really good at staying on top of their time lines
[doublepost=1522218687][/doublepost]

iOS 10.3.3 was very stable then iOS 11 came out caused no end of problems for alot of folk, continuation of iOS 11 would make alot more sense until 12 is actually ready for public release.

So it wouldn't surprise me if this year the new iPhones launched with iOS 11.4 rather than iOS 12.

That would surprise everyone in the know.
1. Its never been done
2. Would show the new iPhones have no new software features over previous iphone (never been done).
3. A new iOS version is free marketing for a ‘fresh’ new iPhone.
4. People are already bored with iOS design of the past 4 years.. not updating iOS version would drive a lot of consumers to virtual Apple suicide