page 2 of 2
iOS 8.1.3 Fixes Messages and FaceTime Password Entry Issue
Messages and FaceTime are some of the most important iOS apps. These apps are critical to communication. Unfortunately, for some users, the apps proved difficult to use. When prompted to enter their Apple ID password, they were unable to do so. This defect only affected a few users and has been fixed in iOS 8.1.3.
Security Fixes for iOS 8.1.3
As with every release, iOS 8.1.3 introduces several security updates that (surprisingly) go unnoticed. This is astonishing, given the blogosphere’s ability to turn any small Apple flaw into a new “gate”. Most of these vulnerabilities are difficult to exploit and require physical access to the device or access to the user’s WiFi network.
iOS 8.1.3 fixes several security flaws, many of which are actually quite serious. 8.1.3 has more security fixes than any other iOS 8 update. One of the issues fixed involves PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files. It was possible to execute malicious code simply by viewing a PDF file. It is surprising that this didn’t turn into PDF-gate.
Many of the other security fixes are minor and hard to exploit. I strongly recommend upgrading to iOS 8.1.3 as soon as possible to improve the security of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Visit Apple’s website for more information on the security updates in iOS 8.1.3.
iOS 8.1.3 Does Not Diminish Battery Life
Like most iOS updates, iOS 8.1.3 doesn’t introduce regressive bugs or new features affecting battery life. After using the update for a few weeks, I have found no significant change in battery life.
Some iOS updates introduce major changes that require iCloud or Spotlight “housekeeping”. Spotlight may need to re-index content on your device. iCloud could be synchronizing data. These tasks will slow your device and use battery power. This is the main reason why people complain about poor battery life after upgrading to a new version of iOS. You may want to wait before you go onto social media complaining about how an iOS update ruined your battery and that the sky is falling. Also, make sure to calibrate your device’s battery, if you notice diminished battery life.
Grayed Out WiFi After Upgrading?
After every iOS update, there are a few devices that no longer have WiFi connectivity. The WiFi settings appear to be grayed out and are disabled. This is typically due to the combination of physical damage to the WiFi module combined with heat from the update process. Downloading and installing the update, especially while plugged into the charging cable, can generate heat. If you were just using your iPhone for several hours and then plug it in and install the update, the risk of damaging the WiFi module increases.
This issue mainly affects a few of the older “glass sandwich” iPhones, as glass acts as an insulator. The bigger the update, the more common this problem is, but it still affects very few iOS devices. For more information on this issue, please read “Fix Grayed Out iPhone WiFi“. In some cases, you may be able to fix this issue with iOS settings.
iOS 8.1.3: Worth Upgrading?
Given the big fixes, enhancements and security patches, I strongly recommend upgrading to iOS 8.1.3 as soon as possible. I haven’t experienced any regressive bugs and find the update to further improve the stability and quality of iOS. Make sure to upgrade to iOS 8.1.3 soon, as it will no longer be available when iOS 8.2 is launched. Being a major release, 8.2 will likely introduce some new defects. You may want to skip that one and wait for 8.2.1, but it is too early to recommend this. As always, you can visit Appledystopia for comprehensive and detailed reviews of iOS updates.