Apple’s iOS 8 may have brought some welcome changes and new features, but it hasn’t exactly been a smooth path for the updated operating system. There have been many complaints from iPhone and iPad users since the general release of the update, as well as after subsequent updates. The last was iOS 8.0.2, but it’s evident that iOS 8.0.3 is needed for problem fixes before 8.1.
We have been inundated with comments and emails from readers about issues they have faced with their iOS devices since iOS 8 was made available to the public. A look at Apple Support forums and social media tells us that some of these problems are being encountered by many people. We’ve documented these over the last week or so, and also written about the iOS 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 updates that followed that included various fixes, but seemed to lead to more difficulties.
A few days ago we wrote about problems still existing since the latest iOS 8.02 update and it soon became very evident to us that many readers were still frustrated by various issues. We had numerous comments in response to this article, and just some of the compaints concern WiFi, cellular connectivity, battery drain, and random crashes. Another thing we noted is that these problems are not just affecting the new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, as owners of the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and iPads have also contacted us.
In fairness we also wrote an article about how iOS 8.0.2 does appear to have solved WiFi issues for some iPhone 6 owners, but in response to that post we are still receiving further comments from owners whose device problems haven’t been resolved yet. For example one user wrote today, “My iPhone 6 with iOS 8.0.2 will not send or receive i messages – resetting network hasn’t fixed the problem. It has forgotten all my wifi passwords/connections for hotspots in my regular cafes/shops/workplace and always links to wifi at home via my phone network and not my home wifi box. I have the same problem with my 4s and 4th gen iPad.”
Another writes, “Wish I had my 5! I’m on my second iPhone 6 since launch. Bluetooth won’t hold connectivity in my car starting third day I had the phone. Wifi drops yet works perfectly on my iPad Air. I’ve spent at least 15 hours with Apple techs both via phone and Apple Store. What a botched launch! I had three Androids prior to my 5 and am considering going back to Android even though I prefer the Apple product WHEN IT WORKS! I bet Steve Jobs is rolling over in his grave!”
It is becoming very clear that further updates will be needed to bring fixes, and we are hoping that Apple will release iOS 8.0.3 with this in mind. Just a few days ago it was reported that Apple is already preparing iOS 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3, which is surprising at this early stage. Since then we heard that Apple has seeded a beta of iOS 8.1 to developers for testing (see full changelog here), and this is unusual as an iOS x.1 release doesn’t usually arrive until a couple of months after a new iOS version.
At this moment we cannot tell when iOS 8.1 will be pushed out to end users, so in the meantime we have to put our faith in iOS 8.0.3 and hope it arrives soon, AND that it contains the necessary bug fixes. Are you an iPhone or iPad user who has encountered problems with iOS 8 and updates since? Maybe you’re still facing issues since iOS 8.0.2 and want Apple to release iOS 8.0.3 as soon as possible? It would be good to hear more from readers about this so do send us your comments.