Once Apple Fixes Battery Bug iOS 7.1 Should Be a Home Run

Though Apple’s iOS 7.1 update is meant to fix a few bugs and add CarPlay, an interface with touch screens installed in new vehicles, the change making waves isn’t any of those that Apple would have wanted. Rather users are complaining of battery drain to the tune of about one percent battery life dropping every ten minutes. A non-scientific poll from 9to5mac.com measured problems from almost sixty percent of users who responded. Ars Technica also performed test for battery life on multiple devices including the iPhones 4 and 5, iPad Mini and 4, and the iPod Touch. Everything but the iPhone 5 showed at least a small loss in battery life as measured by Wi-Fi browsing minutes.

Apple faced this issue with the release of the iPhone 4S and the user fix that quickly circulated was running a clean install by restoring through iTunes. Though some users have reported trying this fix on 7.1 it doesn’t seem to be working as well this time around.

Once Apple works this bug out the system should get rave reviews however, with adopters please by faster animations that make the device feel more responsive. Positive reactions are also coming in for design upgrades like a thicker, bolder font on the keyboard, now set against a slightly altered background color to increase contrast and readability. The shift key indicator has been reconfigured to provide clearer indication of its position relative to functions. A few other design and settings changes may initially confuse existing users, like the “add to contacts” function on the phone screen moving from text below the number you dial to a plus sign out to the left. Though these design alterations will get a lot of reaction one of the most important changes could be bug fixed that eliminate crash and reboot issues reported on the iPhone 5S.

Users have a new option to let Siri know they’re done talking by holding down the home button while they speak. The release will tell Siri it’s her turn to talk or the user can just wait out the few second pause that Siri has been using all along. A tap function to purchase a full album on iTunes expands on the previous option to purchase singles, and a camera update allows 5S users an HDR photo function. That update is limited to the iPhone 5 due to the new processor used in that generation.

CarPlay will take some time to make waves but as more people purchase new cars we’ll start getting feedback on how they like the interface. Though it requires a cable and isn’t yet Bluetooth capable, it allows limited access to certain iPhone 5 functions like maps, music and contacts though an installed touchscreen.

As a side note, this spring Apple users will reportedly be getting access to an in-flight movie service on United Airlines allowing them to watch more than 150 movies and dozens of TV shows for free.