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iOS 8.1.1 Release: What to Expect

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Yesterday, Apple released a surprise iOS 8.1.1 update into its beta program ahead of a public release for iOS 8 users around the world. With an iOS 8.1.1 update release now confirmed for iPhone and iPad users, we want to take a look at what those of you with an iPhone, iPad and iPod touch can expect from Apple’s next iOS 8 release.

Earlier this year, Apple released its iOS 8.1 update into the beta program. For several weeks Apple, and its developer partners, poked and prodded the update ahead of its highly anticipated public release date. In mid-October, Apple took the stage to announce several new products and there, it confirmed an October release for the iOS 8.1 upgrade for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Several weeks ago, Apple’s iOS 8.1 update rolled out to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users all over the globe. While iOS 8.1 fixed some of the initial iOS 8 problems affecting iPhone and iPad users, the iOS 8.1 update failed to tackle all of the annoying problems that emerged in September’s iOS 8.0 update leaving some iPhone and iPad users looking for relief.

iPhone 6

While we’ve provided some common fixes for iOS 8.1 problems, many users are hoping for permanent fixes from Apple. While those are never guaranteed, yesterday’s iOS 8.1.1 release is certainly good news for those dealing with frustrating iOS 8 problems.

The next iOS 8 update is now in Apple’s beta program and it’s dubbed iOS 8.1.1. The release came as a bit of a surprise given that betas are typically reserved for much larger updates including iOS x.0 upgrades and iOS x.1 updates. Smaller bug fixes are typically rolled out without any developer testing. It’s clear what pushed Apple to change its policy though iOS 8 problems, and iOS 8 updates (iOS 8.0.1 was a disaster), have wrecked havoc on some devices. Perhaps, Apple is just playing it safe.

With the iOS 8.1.1 release on the horizon, we want to take a look at what we expect from the iOS 8.1.1 release from iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Here, we blend what we already know with stuff that we think we know to give iPhone and iPad users an educated outlook on their next iOS 8 update, an update that will almost certainly be iOS 8.1.1.

iOS 8.1.1 Release for All iOS 8 Devices

First off, if you are running a device that’s compatible with iOS 8, you’re almost certainly going to be getting the iOS 8.1.1 update. The iOS 8.1.1 beta is available for Apple’s entire stable of iOS 8 devices including the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 1, and iPod touch fifth-gen.

iPhone 6

You can expect Apple to release all of these iOS 8.1.1 updates at the same time as it never staggers iOS releases for its devices based on age or readiness. It always rolls them all out at once. Expect some updates to be larger than others but expect the updates to be similar. iOS 8.1.1 is expected to be smaller than a typical iOS update in the beta program.

iOS 8.1.1 Release Date Within Weeks

iOS 8.1.1 appears to be a much smaller update than iOS 8.1.1. iOS 8.1 only spent a few weeks in the beta program before it was released to the public. We don’t expect the iOS 8.1.1 update to spend months inside the beta process, not with iOS 8.1 as stable as it is and not with its change log being as small as it is.

We expect the iOS 8.1.1 release date to be weeks away and we’d be shocked if it arrived any time after mid-December with Apple engineers and plenty of others likely on holiday at that time. The release of a small beta like this is certainly surprising but it looks like Apple’s in the business of regaining trust after several iOS mishaps in the weeks after its release. It wants to ensure that this update is solid and it should only take a few weeks, at most, to do that.

Unpredictable iOS 8.1.1 Release Day

We expect the iOS 8.1.1 release day, the actual release date itself, to remain in the shadows in the build up to its arrival. Apple only confirms specific release dates for its major iOS upgrades, iOS 8 for instance was given an exact release day. iOS 8.1 was given an exact release day. iOS 8.1.1 is a small incremental bug fixer and with no Apple event scheduled, we should see the iOS 8.1.1 update push out on a mystery day in the future.

iPhone 6 Review - 2

One thing that you can expect is a release during the working week. Apple never releases its iOS updates on weekends. So, expect to see the update push out within the confines of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Predictable iOS 8.1.1 Release Time

Do expect the iOS 8.1.1 update release time to emerge around 10AM PST. While Apple’s release dates are typically a little unpredictable, the release times are not. Apple almost always delivers its iOS updates in the early afternoon for those on the east coast and in the late morning for those on the west coast. It almost never deviates from this and we expect something similar with a smaller update like iOS 8.1.1.

Performance Improvements

While iOS 8 performance has been solid for owners of Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8 has been shaky for owners of older devices. iOS 8.1 improved things somewhat for iPad 2 and iPhone 4s users though owners of those aging former flagships are still complaining about their experience inside Apple’s new operating system.

iPhone 6 Review - 6

iOS 8.1.1 is expected to deliver performance enhancements that tackle these issues. While they may not improve overall performance for every single iPad 2 and iPhone 4s user out there, there’s a good chance that things will get better for a lot of people. If something gets listed inside an iOS updates change log, there’s a very good chance that it will deliver.

Bug Fixes for iOS 8.1 Problems

It also looks like iOS 8.1.1 contains fixes for problems inside iOS 8. x.x.1 and x.0.1 updates typically come loaded with select bug fixes and we’re expecting the iOS 8.1.1 update to come with some solutions for iOS 8.1 problems and lingering iOS 8.0.2 and iOS 8.0 problems. It’s clear that Apple wants to get this software stabilized ahead of Black Friday and the holidays. iOS 8.1.1 should build on iOS 8.1’s solid foundation.

iOS 8 Issues to Remain

Of course, we expect iOS 8.1 problems and other issues to linger after the iOS 8.1.1 update arrives. iOS 8.1.1 should have a fairly lengthy list of bug fixes on board but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to have a fix for every single problem plaguing the iPhone and iPad. Apple’s done a good job of eradicating as many iOS 8 problems as possible though it, like other companies in the software business, have a hard time eliminating every single problem. Apple does a better job than most though it still lets issues slip through the cracks.

iPhone 6 Review - 3

Obviously, we can’t say what issues will get left behind but we’re fairly certainly that at least some people dealing with problems on iOS 8.1 and below will see those problems make the transition to iOS 8.1.1 and perhaps, beyond.

New iOS 8.1.1 Problems

We also expect the iOS 8.1.1 update to deliver some problems of its own. Incremental updates have, in the past, been problematic for iPhone and iPad users and we don’t expect iOS 8.1.1 to be any different. Again, it’s hard to say what it might break but there’s a good chance that we’ll see users complain about new battery life issues, Wi-Fi problems and issues with Bluetooth. Those almost always crop up after an iOS update.

More iOS 8 Releases

Expect more iOS 8 updates after the release of iOS 8.1.1. If iOS 8.1.1. doesn’t eradicate enough issues or if complaining gets too loud, we could see Apple release another iOS 8.1 bug fixer in the form of iOS 8.1.2. Even if Apple doesn’t release another iOS 8.1 update, we should see more iOS 8 upgrades for iPhone, iPod and iPod touch.

iPhone-5-1

iOS 8.2 and iOS 8.3 are both rumored for next and we know that Apple is going to have to release something big to coincide with the arrival of the Apple Watch in early 2015. It could be that the new device accompanies iOS 8.2 or iOS 8.3 to iPhones and iPads around the world. Whatever the case, expect more bug fixes and expect more features to hit iOS 8 in the weeks and months ahead.

iOS 8.1.1 is not the end of the road.

iOS 8.1 Jailbreak Questions

It looks like the iOS 8.1.1 beta release patches up the exploit used by the iOS 8 Pangu jailbreak. In other words, there’s a very good chance that the public release of iOS 8.1.1 will kill off support for the jailbreak. Those that want to jailbreak their device are encouraged to upgrade to iOS 8.1, the version that supports the Pangu release.

iPhone-5

Of course, we expect the arrival of iOS 8.1.1 to bring up more iOS 8 jailbreak questions. Questions like whether or not the development team will concoct a release for iOS 8.1.1 or any iOS 8 update in the future. The iOS jailbreak release process is always sketchy and unpredictable and the release of a new iOS upgrade, especially one that clogs up the exploit, only makes the future more cloudy.

15 Comments

15 Comments

  1. Eli

    11/04/2014 at 1:21 pm

    This article has zero information. Thanks for wasting my time.

  2. Shane

    11/05/2014 at 2:36 am

    Adam Mills what an amateur writing an article that has no information whatsoever! Waste of space!

  3. Guesty

    11/05/2014 at 3:34 am

    you don’t actually tell us anything!!! What a waste of time!

  4. Helen

    11/05/2014 at 4:17 am

    The latest update on Ipad does not work well with lots of crashes, pauses and other problems, not good at all.

  5. asdasdddaasd

    11/05/2014 at 4:45 am

    you real dumb fool.. stop writing.

    • Helen

      11/05/2014 at 4:57 am

      I don’t kow who asdasddaasd ismreplying to but no update has arrived in my country to fix the problems I mentioned. There is no need to be so rude to anyone.

  6. Alex

    11/05/2014 at 5:09 am

    These updates bring nothing but problems! But keep working hard, someday you’ might get it right……………

  7. Waster

    11/05/2014 at 11:18 am

    If the padding and repitition is removed from this article we are left with a few lines where the author tells us he doesn’t know anything of substance about fixes in iOS 8.1.1. Another garbage web site “stealing” hits. Note to self avoid all companies that choose to place adverts on such a tacky web site.

  8. Oliver Topple

    11/05/2014 at 11:21 am

    Still this website continues to publish pages and pages of useless drivel. There is no actual content in this article whatsoever.

  9. ohsocleverone

    11/05/2014 at 1:02 pm

    Pointless article with zero useful information. Awful!

  10. BlahBlah

    11/06/2014 at 11:40 am

    What an interesting article. A great reference for others to learn what not to write. This whole thing could have been written with simply a title that said, “I have no idea what IOS 8.1.1 is. Full Stop!”

  11. iBastards Galore

    11/06/2014 at 12:22 pm

    Crapolla absolute nonsense! I demand more!seems like the person who wrote this is real good at stating absolutely nothing! Apple seriously needs to pull it together with the worst iOS ever invented! What happened to the motto of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!? iOS 6 was the last best iOS and will likely always Remain to be…..

  12. Ralph

    11/07/2014 at 1:02 pm

    Who writes crap? No information worth anything!

  13. tom

    11/11/2014 at 10:44 am

    This is a huge article that explains nothing really.

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