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iOS 8: 7 Things to Know Before Installing

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Apple’s iOS 8 update is now two months old and many iPhone and iPad users have made the transition from iOS 7 and below to the company’s new operating system. There are, however, still some stragglers out there that are still trying to decide if the update is worth it. With two months of iOS 8 use under our belts, we want to help those of you on the fence and today we take a look at seven things you absolutely must know before installing iOS 8 on iPhone and iPad.

In June, Apple took the stage at WWDC 2014 and revealed bits and pieces of its iOS 8 update for iPhone and iPad, the follow up to last year’s massive iOS 7 upgrade. The company released the software into its beta program where it lingered for several months. After a fairly lengthy beta process, Apple finally announced an iOS 8 release date for September and right on cue, the company delivered.

iOS 8 doesn’t introduce the same widespread changes that arrived on last year’s iOS 7 overhaul but it does come with an impressive collection of tweaks, enhancements and features of its own. Those changes helped push many iPhone and iPad users over the fence in the last two months and many users have made the transition from iOS 7.1 and below to iOS 8.

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That said, we still know some iPhone and iPad users that are struggling with the decision. iOS 8 problems have left some iPhone and iPad users wavering when it comes to a decision about iOS 8. We’ve heard from many people on iOS 7.1 and below who are on the fence. In the two months since iOS 8’s arrival, we’ve been trying to educate as many iPhone and iPad users are we can and today, that education continues.

Today, we want to take a look at seven things that iPhone and iPad users absolutely must know before installing Apple’s brand new update. After spending two months with iOS 8 these are the most important things you need to know, right now, about Apple’s new operating system.

You Don’t Have to Install iOS 8 Right Now

To start off, we want to make something abundantly clear. You do not need to install iOS 8 right now. Apple doesn’t force an upgrade and there’s no reason why you should force this upgrade upon your own devices or devices of your loved ones. The best advice we can give to those of you on iOS 7.1.2 and below is, take your time. Research iOS 8’s features and its performance, especially if you’re coming from iOS 7 or below. iOS 8 is going to deliver some big changes to your device. To do that, start with our latest reviews.

Now here’s what’s interesting. There actually might be good reason to hold off on the iOS 8 update right now. With an iOS 8.1.1 bug fixer now out for iPhone and iPad, you might want to wait a few days to see how the update plays out. Sometimes, incremental upgrades will play nice, other times they won’t. We typically know after about a week or so. iOS 8.1.1 is primarily a bug fixer though so there’s a good chance it will bring some added stability.

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Don’t force it, be patient, and know that you have a lot of time to make a decision about an upgrade to iOS 8 and iOS 8.1.1. Just because the iPhone or iPad is showing an update in settings doesn’t mean you need to install it.

You’ll Move Directly to iOS 8.1.1

If you install iOS 8 today, know that you’re going to move directly to iOS 8.1.1. This should be a good thing. iOS 8.1.1, as we pointed out, comes with an assortment of bug fixes for iOS 8 problems. It should be a little more stable than iOS 8.1, especially on the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4s. The change log notes that both devices will see improved performance.

You Can’t Go Back to iOS 7

If you are running iOS 7.1.2 or below, you should not rush into any kind of decision about iOS 8. Why? Simple. There is no way to go back to iOS 7. We’ve been seeing people, even developers, tell people that there is or should be a way back to iOS 7 after the upgrade to iOS 8. There isn’t and once you move to the new software, you’re stuck.

So, you need to be one hundred and ten percent sure that iOS 8 and it’s features are for you. While we can’t make that decision for you, we can tell you that we’re loving the features that iOS deliver to the iPhone and iPad. Features like improved notifications, improved iMessaging, and battery usage tracker have all become integral parts of our iPhone and iPad experience in iOS 8 and we imagine that you’ll probably end up using them as well.

iOS 8 Fixes Issues

iOS 8 actually fixed several of the bugs that we were experiencing on iOS 7.1.2. iOS 8.1 and iOS 8.1.1 also tackled some of the bugs that were lingering after September’s iOS 8.0 update. Point is, there is some incentive to make the move to Apple’s current update, especially if you have a newer iPhone or a newer iPad. Our iOS 8 experience on the iPhone 5, iPad Air and iPad mini has been outstanding.

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There is a very good chance that iOS 8 will fix at least some of the problems you’re experiencing on your iPhone and iPad. It may not fix them all but it will almost certainly fix some of the bigger ones. The iOS 8.0 update’s change log had a laundry list of fixes for iOS 7 issues and iOS 8.1 and iOS 8.1 have just added to that long list of changes.

Apps Are Ready For It

We should also note that most applications have now been upgraded with iOS 8 support and fixes for initial iOS 8 bugs. App stability is crucial, especially if you’re making a massive move like the one from iOS 7 to iOS 8, so you can take solace in the fact that most top apps are working fine with iOS 8 and iOS 8.1 on board. If this has been holding you back, no need to let it hold you back any longer.

iOS 8 Problems Are Still Common

Keep in mind, iOS 8 problems are still very common. We’ve detailed several of them in our iOS 8.1 reviews and the iPhone iOS 8.1 update in particular has been a bit of a let down. Our hope is that iOS 8.1.1 helps, rather than hurts, the iOS 8 performance on the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, three of the devices that have been a bit problematic.

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There’s a chance that your device, especially if it’s a newer model, will escape issues with iOS 8. We’ve have pretty flawless experiences on the iPad mini 2 and iPad Air for instance. But just know that there is always a chance that you run into issues with Apple’s brand new operating system. There are bugs still lurking out there and mileage is going to vary.

As we’ve noted, there are some ways to prepare for the iOS 8 update. If you follow these tips, there’s a good chance that you’ll mitigate the amount of iOS 8 problems that you see.

You Can’t Jailbreak iOS 8.1.1

Plain and simple. If you were ready to make the jump to iOS 8 and you were at all interested in jailbreaking, you needed to make the move to iOS 8.1. We pointed this out in the build up to the release, that the Pangu jailbreak was patched up with iOS 8.1.1. If you’re on iOS 7 with a jailbreak, you’re going to want to avoid iOS 8.1.1 for now while the developers work behind the scenes.

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