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10 iOS 8.3 Release Tips

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Apple’s brand new iOS 8.3 update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is now available and it brings a number of fixes for iOS 8 problems and big changes to the Emoji keyboard. With that in mind, we offer some iOS 8.3 update tips will help make the today’s release date less stressful for those that own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch compatible with Apple’s iOS 8 operating system.

In February, Apple released the iOS 8.3 update into its beta program, a move that confirmed an iOS 8.3 release for the public. In the days that followed, Apple rolled out several new iOS 8.3 beta updates including two iOS 8.3 betas for all iOS 8 users. And today, after a short stint in beta, Apple’s released the iOS 8.3 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

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A short time ago, Apple released the highly anticipated iOS 8.3 update for iOS 8 users and the update comes with a number of big changes including a laundry list of bug fixes, changes to CarPlay and some enhancements for the Emoji keyboard. It’s a big update and one that many iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users have their eyes on.

With an iOS 8.3 release confirmed, we want to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible when you finally decide to take a look at Apple’s new software. If you’re one of the many people excited about the iOS 8.3 release and you plan to install the update in the near future, these iOS 8.3 release date tips are going to come in handy today and down the road as well.

There Are Tons of Big Changes, Get Familiar With Them Now

The first thing you’re going to want to do, before installing iOS 8.3, is to get familiar with the changes that are on board the iOS 8.3 update. This is a massive update, bigger than most iOS updates, and you’re not going to want to install it blindly.

iOS 8.3 vs iOS 8.2: What’s New in iOS 8.3

New iPhone Emoji in iOS 8.3

New iPhone Emoji in iOS 8.3

Apple adds over 300 new iPhone emoji in iOS 8.3. There are new Emoji like the Apple Watch and a new Mac, but most users will focus on the addition of more family choices including more kids, families of two men or two women and now there is an option to change the skin tone of many emoji.

Read: How to Use New Emojis

With this update you can tap and hold to choose the skin tone of an emoji icon for many emoji options and then tap to pick the color option. Tap and hold on a new color option to make it the default.

The iOS 8.3 emoji keyboard for iPhone now offers continuous scrolling so it is easier to scroll through the emoji options and find the ones you want.

The slideshow above offers an overview of the differences between iOS 8.2 and iOS 8.3. iOS 8.3 brings some notable changes and you’ll want to investigate those before making a decision.

You Can Downgrade to iOS 8.2 if You Need To

It’s worth noting that as of right now, you can download and install iOS 8.3 and still drop back down to iOS 8.2 if you aren’t liking the changes to Emoji or if you are experiencing bugs.

We’ve put together a guide that will take you through the iOS 8.3 to iOS 8.2 downgrade process. Keep in mind though, the downgrade won’t be available forever. Apple typically plugs it up at the two week mark so you’ll need to be on your toes.

You Don’t Need to Install iOS 8.3 Right Now

We’ve said this many times before but it bears repeating: You do not need to install iOS 8.3 update today. Apple never forces you to install its iOS updates and there are some reasons why you might want to think about letting the smoke settle before installing. The potential for iOS 8.3 problems is probably at the top of the list.

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Do your homework, weigh the pros and cons of the move, gather feedback, and make a decision. iOS 8 itself will be around for quite awhile, up until Apple releases iOS 9 alongside its next iPhone so you’ve got plenty of time to decide whether you want to stay on iOS 7 (if it’s stable), or any of the earlier versions of iOS 8. There is no rush so don’t install this update without thinking it through.

You Need This Update for the Apple Watch

If you are planning to buy the Apple Watch this month, and you haven’t already moved to iOS 8.2, you’re going to have to move to iOS 8.3. iOS 8.3, like iOS 8.2, will bring the necessary Apple Watch application to your iPhone.

Come to the iOS 8.3 Update Prepared

If you’re looking to install the iOS 8.3 update today or in the near future, you should show up prepared. We’ve come up with a very specific game plan for those looking to install the iOS 8.3 release and we suggest checking in on those before firing up the installation process.

Install iOS 8.3 at Home

We always recommend installing iOS software updates from the comfort of your home rather than installing them on-the-go. Installing iOS 8.3 from your home base will afford you some advantages.

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First of all, it means that there will be fewer distractions. It also means that you should have access to all of the proper information in case something goes wrong. The last thing that you want is for something to go haywire while at work or in the middle of class without your credentials or iTunes handy.

Those of you who are tempted to install the iOS 8.3 update at work or at school might want to wait until you get home, particularly if the iPhone or iPad is important to work flow. There is no telling what might happen during, or after, the installation process and you wouldn’t want the iOS 8.3 installation process to impact presentations, meetings, or whatever you’ve got going on.

Set Aside Time for the Update

iOS 8.3 is a rather large update, well over 200MB, and that means that it’s going to take some time to download and install. If you don’t have a fast Wi-Fi connection at home, you’ll want to set aside some time to monitor the installation process. We also recommend setting aside some time in case you run into installation issues. It has taken well over an hour for the update to get loaded up onto one of our iPhone 6 variants.

If you have a number of iOS 8 powered devices or if you’re going to be installing over a slow connection, make some time for the installation process. The installation process can be unpredictable at times so you’ll want to have some extra time just in case something goes wrong.

Don’t Panic If There Are iOS 8.3 Problems

If you happen to run into iOS 8.3 problems today, there’s no need to panic. There’s a simple way to get around installation errors and we’ve put together a list of fixes for the most common bugs that typically affect the iPhone and iPad after large updates like iOS 8.3.

Apple is less inclined to fix minor iOS bugs so if you do run into some smaller bugs on iOS 8.3, you’ll need to be very proactive. If you aren’t, you could be sitting around for a number of weeks while Apple prepares its next iOS update. And even then, you aren’t guaranteed to see an official bug fix arrive for your iPhone or iPad.

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Apple does, however, tend to fix major issues immediately so if there are some big time problems with iOS 8.3, we’d expect the company to push out an iOS 8.3.1 update very soon.

Here Are Some Solid Resources

If our list of fixes doesn’t work out for you, and it may not, Apple’s discussion forums are a good place to look for potential fixes for your problems. There, users will share their own issues and perhaps, temporary or permanent fixes for those iOS 8.3 problems. Search for your problem and if you can’t find it, ask around. Someone will be willing to help.

Comment sections and social media sites like Twitter are also helpful places to go should something come up during the iOS 8.3 installation process or after you get the software installed. The MacRumors forums are also another solid place to look for possible fixes or help with the iOS 8.3 update should you need it in the future.

iOS 8.3 Jailbreak

If you are planning to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad in the near future, do not move to iOS 8.3 right now. An iOS 8.3 jailbreak isn’t available and it’s not clear when one will arrive. Look for more details to emerge as we push away from the initial iOS 8.3 release. It’s clear that devs are still working on an updated jailbreak, it’s just not clear when it will arrive.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. ANGEL Paul

    07/20/2015 at 12:39 pm

    NEED EXTREMELY QUICK => WIRELESS UPDATE LINK FOR IPHONE 5s, ALL I HAVE TRIED OUT, DID NOT FUNCTION MANY THANKS FOR LINK => [email protected] FROM THE LITTLE DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG

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