It’s that time of year. Apple is upgrading its operating system. This is usually a good thing, but there are always some catches and some bugs. Are you ready for the upgrade for your iDevices?
iOS 8 will NOT be compatible with all of the previous iPhone or iPad models. Only the following models will be supported, per Apple: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad 2, iPad 3rd and 4th generations, iPad Air, 5th generation iPod Touches, iPad Mini, and the iPad Mini with Retina display. Original iPads and any phone below the 4s (if you’re using a 4, you’re out of luck) will not be able to upgrade from iOS 7.
Operating system upgrades generally need free space for installation, so some housekeeping might be in order. You can check the storage space on your device by opening Settings, General, and Usage. If you find that you do need to free up some space, and you really don’t use that app that you downloaded to make yourself look like a zombie, take it off your phone. By plugging your device into your computer, you can manage content quickly and remove any movies or other media onto your computer or iCloud. Apps can also be deleted by simply pressing the Home button until the app boxes begin to shake. Each will have an “x” in the corner. Tap the x of the ones you want to remove. This does not delete them, it simply removes them from the device.
Before you update, it is usually recommended that you backup your device data. Using iTunes is the easiest way to do this. Plug in your device via USB, click Summary tab, and Back Up Now. Sometimes there is a prompt to do this before you upgrade. You can choose to backup to iCloud or your computer. The iCloud option requires Wi-Fi rather than a computer connection. Via Settings, then iCloud, you can choose what to keep in the cloud.
Apple claims that iOS 8 will be the biggest update it has ever released. It has been designed with the user in mind, to enhance the experience when using your iPhone or iPad. A few of the new features include the use of voice in the Messaging app; new shortcuts to finding the people you interact with the most; improved keyboard; a new integrated health tracker; and integration with all of your Apple devices.
One important thing to remember: there will be a lot of hype when iOS 8 is released. Make sure you don’t get sucked in too soon. You will have excessive wait times for downloading and then you may experience the initial bugs that accompany every release. It seems as though Apple relies on users to find the bugs and then they fix them as they are reported. You might want to wait a week or so and see how it is working for others… or if there’s a bug-fix update required.
Remember, not all devices will be compatible with the upgrade. If yours is, enjoy it and let us know what you think!
