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iOS 8.1.1: 5 Things iPad mini Users Need to Know

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Last week, Apple pushed out a new iOS 8 update for iPad in the form of iOS 8.1.1. iOS 8.1.1 is a small bug fix update aimed at improving performance across Apple’s iOS 8 powered iPads. With iOS 8.1.1 problems swirling and iPad mini users looking for feedback, we want to take a look at the five most important things owners of Apple’s 7.9-inch slate need to know, right now, about their new iOS 8 update.

Two months ago, Apple rolled out its brand new update for iPhone and iPad, an operating system that it dubbed iOS 8.0. The new iOS 8 doesn’t deliver the massive overhaul that arrived with last year’s iOS 7 update but it still brings some important new features to the table including improved notifications, Apple Pay, changes to iMessage and the Camera app, a new keyboard, and more.

Like any software update, the iOS 8 update delivered bugs and problems to owners of the iPhone and iPad. Over the past two months, Apple’s worked to iron out those kinks with a series of incremental upgrades. First, the company pushed out iOS 8.0.1. Next, it was iOS 8.0.2, an update that delivered fixes for iOS 8.0.1 bugs. After that, Apple rolled out iOS 8.1, a much larger update that spent time in its beta program. Last week, after another beta period, Apple pushed out iOS 8.1.1.

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Apple’s latest iOS 8 update, like the iOS 8 updates before it, delivers bug fixes for iOS 8 problems. It also comes with self-proclaimed performance enhancements for the iPhone 4s and the iPad 2. While there are benefits, the iOS 8.1.1 update also delivered a number of problems for iPad users, problems that have many users on edge with some looking to go back down to iOS 8.1.

iPad mini users continue to bombard us with questions about the iOS 8.1.1 update and today, with those users in mind, we want to take a look at the most important things that iPad mini users need to know about their iOS 8.1.1 update, an update that is small in size but could have a big impact on one of Apple’s most popular slates.

Solid Performance

The first thing that you iPad mini users need to know is that we recently reviewed the iOS 8.1.1 update for the iPad mini 2. We have not yet reviewed it for the original iPad mini or the iPad mini 3 but this review will give you some idea about what to expect from Apple’s latest iOS 8 update. For those of you with the iPad mini 2, this is a detailed look at the update’s performance and it’s a great starting point for those of you on the fence about the upgrade.

It’s worth noting that iOS 8.1.1 continues a long tradition of great performance on the iPad mini. Every single update, from iOS 7.1.2 to iOS 8.1, has treated the iPad mini 2 extremely well. In other words, the move from iOS 7 to iOS 8 has been fantastic. iOS 8’s features are great and the performance is excellent. You can’t ask for much more and that’s something that those of you still on iOS 7 will want to think about.

There Are iOS 8.1.1 Problems

You should know that there are iOS 8.1.1 problems plaguing iPad mini users post iOS 8.1.1 release. However, we should note that the complaints simply aren’t as loud as they were after the iOS 8.1 update and after the iOS 8.0 update. iPad mini users took to Apple’s discussion forums in force after those two major upgrades. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise given that we haven’t discovered any nagging issues on our version of the iPad mini.

Still, there are issues, issues that you should be aware of. iPad mini users are complaining about a number of different issues. Users are dealing with Wi-Fi problems, iPad mini users are again seeing random reboots, issues with App Store, battery drain issues, keyboard freezing issues, issues with iMessage, and more.

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We bring these iOS 8.1.1 problems up because we think that it’s essential that you know there is some risk involved in making this upgrade. iOS 8.1.1 does fix some problems but it also has the chance to deliver some new ones to your iPad mini. Before upgrading, make sure you take a look at user feedback and potential fixes so that you are better prepared in case you do run into issues with iOS 8.1.1 in the near future or further down the road.

iOS 8.1.1 Is Stable For Many Users

It’s also important to note that these problems appear to be very isolated. Apple’s Discussion Forums are typically flooded with complaints after iOS updates but we simply aren’t seeing the same volume after Apple’s latest upgrade. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise given that we haven’t discovered any nagging issues on our version of the iPad mini.

We’ve also spoken to several other owners of the iPad mini who claim that the iOS 8.1.1 update actually improved performance on their variant. That’s not going to be typical but the point is this. Not everyone is having issues with iOS 8.1.1. Keep that in mind before you start believing stories about an iOS 8.1.1 “crisis“. There are bugs on board iOS 8.1.1 sure but many iPad mini users seem to have come out of the iOS 8.1.1 update with a piece of software that’s very stable.

Fixes for iOS 8.1.1 Problems

We’ve put together a big list of the most common iOS 8.1.1 problems affecting iPad mini users. Many of these problems have plagued iPad mini users for years and that’s why were confident about the fixes. Fixes are often passed down from iOS update to iOS update and many of them work for users on iOS 8. We know because they’ve worked for us.

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If you’re experiencing issues with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, battery life, or even the iOS 8.1.1 installation process, head on over to our list of fixes and see if you can’t get yourself sorted. These fixes aren’t going to work for everyone but there’s a good chance that at least some of you will find the remedy you’ve been looking for. This is important because we still don’t know when Apple’s going to roll out its next iOS update. iOS 8.2 is in the beta process but it could be weeks away.

You Can Go Back to iOS 8.1

iPad mini users need to know that you can go back to iOS 8.1, right now, if you really need to get off of iOS 8.1.1. The option probably won’t be available forever but if you act fast and follow our guide, you’ll be able to move back to Apple’s aging iOS 8.1 update. There’s a few reasons to consider moving down.

One, you were having a good experience with iOS 8.1 and things have fallen apart after installing iOS 8.1.1. And two, you want to jailbreak your iPad mini. The Pangu Jailbreak does not work with iOS 8.1.1, at least not yet, which means that the only way you’re going to be able to take full advantage of the tweaks and features afforded to jailbreak users is if you move back to iOS 8.1.

If you don’t want to go back and you’re experiencing issues, again, you’re going to have to rely on temporary fixes for the moment because it’s not clear when the next iOS 8 update is going to roll out.

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