iPad Air iOS 8.2 Update: 5 Things You Need to Know

Last week, Apple released its seventh iOS 8 update into the wild. The company’s new iOS 8.2 update is now available for all devices capable of running iOS 8, including the first-gen iPad Air. Today, we want to take another look at the iPad Air iOS 8.2 update and tell you about five things we think all iPad Air users need to know, right now, about iOS 8.2 and the device’s future.

In the weeks since the initial iOS 8.0 release for its mobile devices, Apple has been working to correct iOS 8 problems that were brought to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with the initial roll out. iOS 8 problems have been a problem for iOS 8 users since the update’s arrival and Apple continues to try and squash them with incremental iOS upgrades.

Last week’s iOS 8.2 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch represents the company’s seventh iOS 8 update since iOS 8.0. The all new iOS 8.2 update brings support for Apple’s upcoming Apple Watch but it also brings a ton of enhancements and bug fixes to the company’s mobile operating system. iOS 8.2 is the biggest update to iOS 8 since iOS 8.1.

iOS 8.2 got lost in the Apple’s hardware announcements though we’re slowly starting to see interest pick up. And as the smoke settles, we’re starting to get, and see, tons of questions about the iOS 8.2 update. First-gen iPad Air users in particular are curious about the new update and that doesn’t come as too much of a surprise to us.

With current and prospective iPad Air iOS 8.2 users in mind, we want to take a look at what we think are the five most important things to know now about the iPad Air iOS 8.1.2 update. This will serve as the bridge between our initial iOS 8.2 impressions and our full iOS 8.2 review which will come out sometime this week.

iPad Air on iOS 8.2: No Bugs, So Far

On Monday, we installed the iOS 8.2 update on the first-gen iPad Air. We’ve been using it extensively since Monday’s release and so far, we haven’t discovered any major problems with Apple’s latest update. At least not on our version of the iPad.

In the days since the initial release, we’ve relied on the iPad Air quite a bit during work and during travel. Apple’s latest upgrade has held up well over the past week and we haven’t seen any major problems crop up. We’ve also yet to discover any small bugs hiding in the software. Smaller bugs are a whole lot harder to spot but the fact that we haven’t been able to find anything on board after a week of use is a great sign.

Is the update bug free? Probably not but it’s very, very stable on the first-generation iPad Air. We haven’t run into any of the iOS 8.2 problems that some iPhone and iPad users have and we don’t expect to. iOS 8 on the iPad Air 1 has been very, very stable throughout.

iOS 8.2 Performance = Solid

Same goes for performance. iOS 8’s performance on the iPad Air has been excellent and nothing has changed with iOS 8.2 on board. Connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) is still holding up nicely and battery life, which was crucial to our travel plans, has been steady for the past week as well.

The iPad Air is also still very fast and fluid and we haven’t noticed any abnormal slowdown after replacing iOS 8.1.3. That’s precisely what you want from an incremental update like iOS 8.2.

Remember, this is a device that utilizes some powerful hardware. And while its release might seem like it was ages ago, the iPad Air is only a year old. It still has a long life left and we expect to continue to see it handle Apple’s iOS updates with ease. So far, it’s handling iOS 8.2.

iOS 8.2 Problems & Fixes

While we aren’t seeing any major iOS 8.2 problems on the iPad Air, it’s worth noting that some iPad users are running into some issues. Apple’s discussion forums are filling up with complaints about Apple’s new software and we’ve pointed out a number of different iOS 8.2 problems affecting owners of the iPad Air and other iOS 8.2 powered devices.

We’ve heard from a few iPad users who are complaining about connectivity issues, mainly Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Fortunately, the issues that we’re seeing pop up in the week after the iOS 8.2 release are extremely isolated, at least for the iPad Air. That could certainly change at some point down the road but we’re extremely optimistic.

iOS 8.2 Jailbreak & Downgrading to iOS 8.1.3

If your iPad Air is currently jailbroken, do not install iOS 8.2. A jailbreak is not available and we’re not sure when one will arrive. It could be that jailbreak developers wait for Apple’s next big update which is expected to take place in just a few short weeks. It could be that we see it arrive this month. As a reminder, the most recent iOS 8 jailbreak is for iOS 8.1.2. If you’ve moved off that, you’re just going to have to keep those fingers crossed.

It’s also worth noting that iPad Air users dealing with iOS 8.2 problems can move back down to iOS 8.1.3 right now. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will take you through the downgrade process. This is only going to be available for a little while longer so if you do want to make a move back down to iOS 8.1.3 because of problems or for some other reason, you’re going to have to do so soon.

iOS 8.3 Release Date

Finally, it’s worth knowing that the iPad Air’s next iOS update will probably be iOS 8.3. iOS 8.3 is another big update for the iOS 8 operating system and it has inched closer to its arrival.

Last week, Apple released iOS 8.3 beta 3 to developers. Rumor has it, the iOS 8.3 will go through four betas before it’s released to the public. That’s not confirmed but it’s clear that Apple is making significant progress behind the scenes.

Apple’s new iOS 8.3 beta 3 reportedly comes with the new Apple Watch app that arrived with iOS 8.2, new filters for conversations in Messages, and a “Report Junk” feature that allows users to report messages from unknown contacts.

iOS 8.3 is confirmed to have wireless support for CarPlay on board. It’s also expected to bring better support for two-form authentication for Google apps like Gmail.

According to 9to5Mac, it’s also going to bring some small changes to Emoji, links to the Mayo Clinic in the Health app, and Apple Pay support for China. It should also bring some improvements to Siri’s voice which can be heard in the video below.

It’s an update to keep an eye on if you’re leery of iOS 8.2. It’s also an update that you can install right now on your iPad Air 2. Yes, the iOS 8.2 beta is public which means that you don’t have to be a developer to download and try it out. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will take you through the process though remember, this is beta software and the public release could perform much differently.