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iOS 7.0.4 on iPad 3 Review: One Month Later

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Just about a month ago, Apple released its current version of iOS 7, iOS 7.0.4. The update, which is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, will be replaced by another iOS update in the future though the iOS 7.1 release date has been pegged for March, months away from now. With iOS 7.0.4 likely sticking around for a little while and with a month of use under our belt, we wanted to revisit the iOS 7.0.4 update for iPad 3, Apple’s third-generation iPad.

In September, Apple released iOS 7, its brand new iOS update that replaced iOS 6 and delivered new features and a brand new look to uses of its mobile devices. The software delivered new features and a brand new look though the software also brought a number of issues along with it as well, issues that Apple has been trying to work out since release.

First, it was iOS 7.0.1, an update that emerged on the day that the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c came out. A few days later, iOS 7.0.2 arrived to tackle a lock screen issue across all iOS 7 devices. Weeks after that, iOS 7.0.3, a fairly big iOS 7 update arrived with bug fixes and iCloud Keychain in two. And shortly after that, iOS 7.0.4 arrived for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners.

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It has been about a month since Apple released iOS 7.0.4 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and we’re still hearing about iOS 7.0.4 problems that are apparently plaguing iPhone and iPad users. Many of those users are looking for a brand new iOS 7 update, though, it’s still not clear what is coming next.

iOS 7.1 is in the beta process with new features and fixes but its release date is rumored to be arriving in March. That’s three months from right now, much longer than many iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners likely expected. With no iOS 7.1 release in sight, we felt it appropriate to revisit the iOS 7.0.4 update in an effort to spark discussion about iOS 7.0.4 problems, about iOS 7.1 and more.

Here, we take another look at the iOS 7.0.4 update for iPad 3, one month later.

iOS 7.0.4 Review for iPad

Applications

For those that are here for the first time, I want to point out that there are five things that I typically look for from an incremental iOS update. The first, whether applications are working properly, both Apple apps and third-party applications. Second, I examine battery life to see if it’s normal or if there is abnormal drain. Third, I look for bugs, small and large. Fourth, I take a look at connectivity. And finally, fifth, I take note of overall speed, something that is extremely important to mobile users.

After spending a month with iOS 7.0.4, I can safely say that I haven’t experienced any broken applications inside iOS 7.0.4, Apple or otherwise. They all open and work. Some are just buggier than others.

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As I’ve pointed out, Google’s Chrome browser crashes on a daily basis on my iPhone but I haven’t seen the same frequency on the iPad. The real thorn in my side has been Netflix. The application has been unstable since the arrival of iOS 7 back in September. That said, after updating the app on December 17th, my experience has been a little more stable. The crashes and lockups are less frequent but are still there.

It’s disappointing considering my experience with Netflix in iOS 6 was a very good one. My hope is that Netflix continues to work on the issues and that they are wiped out after iOS 7.1 arrives. Fingers are crossed.

Battery Life

There are always complaints about battery life after both major and incremental iOS updates. So it was no surprise when users started complaining about battery drain inside iOS 7.0.4. Sometimes, this is an Apple issue. We saw Apple rush out an iOS 6.1 update to fix an Exchange battery drain issue. Other times, it likely has to do with applications on board the device. Facebook is notorious for sucking up battery life.

I for one haven’t experienced any battery life issues in the month that I’ve been using iOS 7.0.4. It’s stable and reliable even when I find myself playing the occasional game. I also stream a lot of content through Netflix and I honestly can’t remember the last time I charged the thing. It’s that good.

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Those that are experiencing issues would be wise to consider a few different roads. The first, taking a look at our iOS 7 battery life tips. I’ve passed these along to a number of people and they do help. The other road is a more difficult one. Factory resetting the iPad might be in the best interest of some users. In other words, starting from scratch.

Many times, this will fix battery drain issues and many of the other issues that are on board the software. It will take awhile, as files need to be backed up, but it’s worth trying out for those that can’t find a temporary fix or don’t want to wait for iOS 7.1.

Bugs

Complaints about iOS 7.0.4 have died down over the past few weeks though I’m still seeing chatter amongst iPad owners on places like Apple’s Discussion forums. From what I’ve read, I can’t find any hero-level bugs that are plaguing users inside iOS 7.0.4, hero-level meaning catastrophic bugs that are widespread.

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Instead, it’s a mixed bag of issues. The random reboot issues seem limited to the iPhone 5s though I will say that I’ve seen them on the iPad mini with Retina Display. I haven’t seen them on the iPad 3. In fact, I haven’t run into any bugs, at least ones that I’ve caught, during my month with iOS 7.0.4. Either I’m not looking hard enough or they’re not there. Either way, they haven’t been detrimental to my experience with iOS 7.

Connectivity

Complaints about Wi-Fi on the iPad have not slowed down since iOS 6. Users are complaining about an assortment of issues particularly one where the Wi-Fi option is grayed out. I haven’t experienced this nor have I experienced any Wi-Fi issues on my iPad 3 in iOS 7. The last time I had some trouble was in iOS 6.1 and that was almost a year ago.

Wi-Fi connectivity, both at the office with a Belkin router and out and about on various other routers, has been fantastic. Speeds are solid and connectivity issues are non-existent. I realize that plenty of people are having problems but I can’t speak to them. What I can say is that there are a host of temporary fixes out there that iPad users might want to try. And if all else fails, a factory reset might be in order.

Speed

My biggest complaint about iOS 7 on the iPad has to do with speed. The speed of the user interface just has not been up to par. If the iPad 3 were three years old, I’d understand, but it’s not three years old.

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The UI in iOS 7.0.4 is in a word, sluggish. It crawls. Opening a folder is a chore, shifting from landscape to portrait and back, something I do very often on my iPad, is clunky, and the whole thing just feels like it was rushed out of the gates. iOS 7.1 has the potential to fix these issues and I’m hopeful that it will. But for now, speed of the user interface is the most glaring issue on board iOS 7.0.4.

It’s not a game-changing issue but it’s certainly a four month headache that I hope gets fixed sooner than March.

Final Thoughts

iOS 7.1 has the potential to clean up the remaining mess inside iOS 7 and I’m confident that it will. March is certainly a long ways away but if the extra time means a more stable iOS 7.1 update. I’m OK with waiting. If iOS 7.1 fails to deliver a smoother experience, it’s going to be tough not to replace the iPad 3 in the coming year.

How has iOS 7.0.4 been treating you?

19 Comments

19 Comments

  1. Larissa

    12/23/2013 at 3:27 pm

    what Aaron answered I am alarmed that some people able to earn $5267 in 4 weeks on the internet. go to this website………… https://alturl.com/pevp4

    • j thorn

      12/29/2013 at 4:17 pm

      SPAM

  2. Jeff

    12/24/2013 at 9:15 am

    It’s sad that an IOS update forces you to buy new hardware..
    I guess I’ll just stick with version 6.15 on my IPAD 3.

  3. Pat

    12/24/2013 at 10:40 am

    This is nuts. Apple will chase customers to the ever-improving android pads, and I really don’t think that’s what they want to do. I refuse to have this beautiful, relatively new device made obsolete before its time. This is absurd. Therefore, I’m waiting to update.

    Apple – get it fixed!

  4. Rodney

    12/26/2013 at 11:01 am

    I have major battery drain issues on my ipad 3 in standby mod in 7.0.4, when I have the cellular radio service on. To fix it, I put it in airplane mode and turn on the wi-fi service and the battery life is excellent. It appears that the cellular radio is constantly running and never sleeps.

  5. Bao Nguyen

    12/26/2013 at 5:35 pm

    After reading all the reviews about iOS 7, I decided to stay with 6.1.3 on my 4S. And still a good decision. GUI is fast, no random reboot, wifi stable, battery is still ok.

    • Lee S

      01/07/2014 at 12:14 pm

      You are correct. Stick with what meets your expectations.

  6. John Howley

    12/29/2013 at 12:58 am

    Why did I buy an iPad? Because every review I read on other tablets finished with. “At the end of the day it’s not an iPad” so it seemed that as I could afford one it would be worth it right? WRONG! If I made heavy use of ‘i’ dependent apps that would have been the right decision, but I don’t and now I’ve upgraded to iOS 7 I hate the iPad and take every opportunity to recommend an android tablet to whoever I speak to. Apple are 100% responsible for my opinion. Why should I pay such a price premium for an Apple product if they don’t bother testing them – which no one in their right mind would accept that they have for this release of the OS. I’m sorely tempted to eBay my iPad 3 and buy a Lenovo or samsung tablet – both of which are much better at this moment in time.

  7. Unpaid Apple tester.

    01/01/2014 at 12:44 am

    I stupidly upgraded to IOS6 on my iPad3 and lost a LOT of battery life. I just want it back. Wifi is weak, my Mac finds so many more signals.

    So, in other words, until they solve the real problems with their IOS7, I am unwilling to gamble (it IS a gamble … it should not be, but is) with a new IOS, I am not paid to TEST their buggy upgrades. They are. Don’t expect the user (paying) to find your bugs Apple.

    I know that they release point 4, point 5 etc, to address issues, but listen here Apple do some checks so we don’t have to.

    You make so much money … vast, Japanese economy amounts … spend some money on testing … please.

    • Eric

      01/07/2014 at 6:42 pm

      Apple is an American company, who has all its production and assembly in China, not Japan.

      • Ade

        02/01/2014 at 3:36 am

        What he said was ‘Japanese economy amounts’ – i.e. likening Apple’s profits to the Japanese economy – not that Apple is a Japanese company! Duh… do try and process what you read before you retort with what you mistakenly believe to be a smart comment!

  8. Amsterdamian

    01/09/2014 at 12:46 pm

    My jailbroken iPad 3 with iOS 7.04 is also very ‘laggy’. Just by typing this message now. No other apps than Safari. I also use ‘iCleaner’ and it always shows at least 70% of the RAM in use. ;-/

    *** Just try to type a comment below ***

  9. Amsterdamian

    01/09/2014 at 12:50 pm

    *** Correction to my post; “No other apps than Safari RUNNING, the whole thing laggs.”

  10. dkreineR

    01/12/2014 at 9:48 pm

    Can I go back to 6? Is there a way? I really don’t like the calendar or the notes or well, anything.

  11. Alan Root

    01/15/2014 at 10:07 am

    APPLE TAKE NOTICE… Carefully read the many online criticisms of iOS through its various generations and FIX THEM in the approaching iOS-7 update. And we need an end to the Apple-Adobe war. Apple is at the start of a very suicidal decline. It needs to move from its formal attire across the playing field to a nuts & bolts blue collar image.

  12. Atul Raicha

    01/19/2014 at 12:03 pm

    Since my iOS 7.0.4 update, I have lost sound on my ipad 3,still not managed to sort it out.
    Tried all the usual,still not working sound on the speaker
    Headphones work ok
    Apple please sort out ASAP

  13. Carol Connors

    01/22/2014 at 12:47 am

    Updated OS to 7.0.1. Randomly, Screen turns a pinkish hue briefly & thin white lines appear sporadically. Battery life is horrible. Never again. Apple doesn’t understand or listen to its customers.

  14. Toledo

    02/03/2014 at 5:39 pm

    I’m still running the original 5.1! Works without a glitch! :-)

  15. Atul

    02/04/2014 at 7:39 am

    Hi
    Had appointment to reset my ipad 3,because of no sound
    Apple said it’s not a software problem,although problems started after update to iOS 7.0.4,
    They couldn’t fix sound and suggested buying a replacement for £250.
    It’s out of warranty
    Well peed off
    They also suggested taking it back where it was bought from for help,but as it was a present I don’t have the receipt and so they would not help
    Not happy

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