Article by Domain Support
In case you missed it, Apple has now moved to iOS 10.3 and it is a major update. iOS 10.3.1 only takes 30 megabytes of space on your iOS device which is one of the smallest updates that Apple has ever released but it is important for you to consider updating for the following good reasons. If you haven’t already updated to iOS 10.3 then it will take a bit more space (approximately 600 megabytes) but in the long run will increase your storage if you continue reading below. If you are running iOS 10.2 or older and you update it may take some time so be patient with this update. As Forbes puts it, “if you wait this one out, your patience will be rewarded.”
Security
Apple has fixed a flaw in WiFi that, according to its 10.3.1 security update page, prevents “an attacker [who] within range may be able to execute arbitrary code on the Wi-Fi chip.”
Another serious security issue fixes a flaw in iOS 10.2. According to appleinsider which “allowed scammers to enact an endless loop of pop-ups, effectively locking users out of the browser.” In addition, this security update from Apple patches a mobile Safari bug creating JavaScript pop-up windows that ransomware scammers use to primarily target users accessing bootlegged music and other content, reports ArsTechnica. The BBC reports, “the ransomware was fake – and clearing the browser cache was actually enough to restore full access.” Apple has fixed this loophole and is an important reason to always update your iOS device to the latest version simply for security. As Apple puts it on its security page, “Keeping your software up-to-date is one of the most important things that you can do to maintain the security of your Apple product.”
If you haven’t already updated to iOS 10.3 which included the new Apple File System (APFS), then, a huge benefit of updating to 10.3.1 is you can reclaim as much as 7.8GB of available storage! According to appleinsider, “it appears that the conversion to the new Apple File System (APFS) included in iOS 10.3 is more efficient in how it formats volume storage.” “Find My AirPods” feature is included with this update.
Usually updates generally take up more of your available storage, however iOS 10.3 update frees up gigabytes of available storage for many users making the upgrade which is an added bonus to those who keep getting those warning messages that your iPhone is almost full. We posted on what else you can do to free up more storage on your iOS device if you need even more space. The APFS optimizes for solid state drives (SSDs) which have been used in iPhones and iPads since the beginning. APFS replaces the 19 year old HFS+, which itself is based on the 32 year old HFS, so optimization is the new plus for your device with this update. So be patient if this update takes extra time if you are upgrading from iOS 10.2 or older.
Increased Storage in iOS 10.3
If you haven’t already updated to iOS 10.3 which included the new Apple File System (APFS), then, a huge benefit of updating to 10.3.1 is you can reclaim as much as 7.8GB of available storage! According to appleinsider, “it appears that the conversion to the new Apple File System (APFS) included in iOS 10.3 is more efficient in how it formats volume storage.” Usually updates generally take up more of your available storage, however iOS 10.3 update frees up gigabytes of available storage for many users making the upgrade which is an added bonus to those who keep getting those warning messages that your iPhone is almost full. We posted on what else you can do to free up more storage on your iOS device if you need even more space. The APFS optimises for solid state drives (SSDs) which have been used in iPhones and iPads since the beginning. APFS replaces the 19 year old HFS+, which itself is based on the 32 year old HFS, so optimisation is the new plus for your device with this update.
Snappier
Forbes reports that an Apple engineer tweeted about iOS 10.3, “iOS 10.3 feels ‘snappier’ because many animations were slightly tweaked & shortened, for the better.” appleinsider reports that iOS 10.3 includes “new features in for Siri, support for locating lost AirPods, new CarPlay features and a revamped Settings app that centralizes user-related information related to passwords, devices and iCloud, App Store and Family Sharing accounts.”
iOS Users Update Better Than Android Users
We reported in November 2016 that iOS users update better than Android users by a hefty margin with our post Are You Updating Your Phone OS? The current statistics still show the same trend. According to Wikipedia, 79% of iOS users have updated to iOS 10 or higher, while only 2.8% of Android users have updated to Android 7.0 or higher. With good reason you should update your iOS device as the vast majority of iOS users do.
How to Update
Apple recommends that if you update any iOS device to always back up your device before installing any iOS update. What devices can update to 10.3.1? Answer: The iPhone 5 or later, iPad 4 or later and the 6th generation iPod touch or later. You can manually trigger the update to iOS 10.3.1 by going to Settings > General > Software Update, but you should be notified automatically. Depending on the device involved, the update may require 30-50 minutes (possibly longer if you are updating from iOS 10.2 or older). The instructions on how to update your iOS device are provided by Apple. However, if you need assistance, Connectech can help. Contact us for more information.