It's been a busy week for the Apple faithful. We got the final software update for the iOS 11 public beta, the Golden Master, and I took a look back at the beta process. The GM, of course, prompted some to wonder why they still had their device up for beta testing. And then, learning from its mistakes last year, Apple reached out to iPhone Upgrade Program participants and let them know they could get their paperwork out of the way early to pre-order an iPhone 8. I also figured out who's giving the most bang for your old iPhone 6s buck. Not a bad time to be Applerati.
Stay Gold, iOS
AppleGet iOS 11 A Week Early - The Public Beta Golden Master Is Available For Download
Congratulations fellow Betanauts! You've made it through the crucible that was Apple's iOS 11 Public Beta and come out the other side with (most of) your data intact and your iPhone or iPad just that much farther into the future. Your reward? You get a copy of iOS 11 before anyone else. Apple announced next Tuesday, September 19, as the public release date of iOS 11 at today's iPhone event, but if you participated in the beta, you get to download it right now (assuming you didn't sneak the copy that was leaked over the weeekend).
Remember installing this four months ago?
Anthony KarczDelete One Thing To Stop Beta Testing iOS 11
Now that you've downloaded the Golden Master of iOS 11 to your device, what's left for a beta tester to do? Not much, actually. Instead of uninstalling and downgrading back to iOS 10, you can keep your Golden Master copy of iOS 11 and delete your Beta profile. This will put you back on the public release track so that you only get commercial release software from here on out.
Why wait for a two year contract to expire? Upgrade now!
AppleFind Out If You Can Upgrade To An iPhone 8 Or iPhone X Right Now
If you're on the Apple Upgrade Program, you can find out right now if you're eligible to pre-order Apple's latest and greatest this Friday, September 15 (for iPhone 8) or next month, on October 27 (for iPhone X). Navigate to the iPhone Upgrade Program website and enter either your Apple ID or slog through your Settings app to find your iPhone's serial number and IMEI number.
But there's a better way.
Learning from last year, Apple's letting iPhone Upgrade Program customers get the paperwork out of... [+]
Apple iPhone Upgrade Program Members Get A Head Start On Pre-Ordering iPhone 8
Apple is giving current iPhone Upgrade Program participants the chance to get the paperwork out of the way right now so that all they have to do on Friday morning is click madly like they're trying to order Taylor Swift tickets.
The process is fairly simple and much better than watching an Apple employee click through the same screens and confirming and reconfirming data you've already given them.
Maybe just two clicks? It's not many.
Anthony KarczGet Your Pre-Ordered iPhone 8 In Three Clicks, Right Now
When Apple said they were going to give iPhone Upgrade Program members a head start, they weren't kidding. If you're pre-approved, the app will drop you immediately into a splash screen where you can click Continue to finish your upgrade. No selecting menus, no digging around to find your pre-approval. As long as the iPhone 8 model you selected is still available, the entire process takes about three clicks.
Unless you're really, really attached to the headphone jack, this is the equation that makes the... [+]
Find Out Who Will Give You The Most Money For Your iPhone 6s
If you're on the iPhone Upgrade Program and decided not to cash in on an iPhone 7 upgrade last year, congratulations! You now own (or will soon own) your iPhone 6s outright and can do whatever you want with it. But do you sell it or trade it in? It depends.
