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The new iOS release also fixes some minor issues with WebKit, which is the open source code base used by most web browsers. For more information on security issues fixed in iOS 7.1.1, check out this page on Apple’s support site.
iOS 7.1.1 Battery Life Improvements
After every iOS update, some users complain that their battery life is shortened. I have never experienced this, however, I regularly calibrate my iPhone and iPad’s batteries. I also make sure to do the upgrade after charging the device and letting it rest for at least an hour. This ensures that the battery is cool. Upgrading iOS is an intensive process and if you do it after playing Infinity Blade for several hours, the heat will damage the lithium-ion battery. This is not a flaw in Apple products, but a limitation of lithium-ion batteries. Other smart phones and tablets run at much higher temperatures, which exacerbates damage to the battery.
iOS 7.1.1 actually offers some improvements to battery life. Apple did not mention these improvements, however, all tech companies release software updates with undisclosed fixes. According to AppleInsider, battery life has been improved in iOS 7.1.1.
iOS 7.1.1 Worth Upgrading?
Overall, I have found iOS 7.1.1 to be stable and recommend upgrading. If you have an iPhone 5S and use Touch ID, it is highly recommended. It’s impressive that Apple released 7.1 with so many changes and so few bugs. The 7.1.1 patch is quite small and fixes a few minor issues. I have to admit, Apple’s software release quality has improved greatly over the past two years. I started this site out of frustration with the buggy iOS 5 and corresponding Apple TV releases. Apple had some major changes in their organization, which seemed to have improved quality.
If you have been holding off on upgrading to iOS 7, iOS 7.1.1 is about as good as it gets. There may be a few more updates, however, iOS 8 is on the horizon. There will not be an iOS 7.2 release. If you are a conservative user, you should upgrade to iOS 7 before iOS 8 is released. Once iOS 8 is out there, you will not be able to install iOS 7 without jailbreaking your device, which is something most cautious iOS users wouldn’t want to do. iOS 8 is expected to release in mid September of 2014.