The system, iOS 7,
comes installed on the new iPhone 5S and 5C models that are on sale. Owners of some older Apple devices also can download it to
replace their current systems. But should they?
Before you jump in and upgrade, here's what you need to know about iOS 7.
What is iOS 7?
Apple's iOS is the
software that controls all the basics of your gadget, including the
look, feel, settings and hardware. iOS 7 is Apple's latest update to
this system and its biggest change since iOS debuted six years ago.
What time is the iOS 7 download available?
Developers have been
testing early versions of the new operating system for months, but Apple
has made it available to the general public.
To see whether it is
available, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your
device, or visit iTunes on your computer.
How is it different from what's already on my iPhone or iPad?
Six years is a long time
to wear the same look. Apple's iOS has received a major design overhaul
in this version and now has a more streamlined, flat, abstract look.
The typography is all new, and nice touches like transparency and subtle
animations abound.
There are also a handful of new features, though some are not available on all older devices. Here are a few of the biggies:
• A new time-saving
control center slides up from the bottom of the screen for easy access
to basic settings such as brightness and Airplane Mode. It has shortcuts
for the flashlight, timer, calculator and camera.
• An updated
notification center now shows a summary of what you have in store for
the day and details on the weather and your commute.
• The camera adds a
square-photo option and new filters, while the photos app drops the map
view and sorts your images into events by date and location.
• It adds AirDrop, a
feature for people who use iCloud that makes it easier to move photos
and files between computers and mobile devices.
• The Siri voice-search
tool adds an option for male voice, defaults to Bing for Web searches
and pulls in results from Twitter and Wikipedia.
• Multitasking looks
different. The same double-click of the home button now zooms you out to
show a carousel of mini versions of all your open apps.
iOS 7 dont require a
great deal of re-learning. The basic layout and functions are the same:
The home screen is still a grid of icons, there's a dock with your
favorite apps at the bottom, and the gestures you've become used to work
the same. There will probably be some initial confusion as you struggle
to re-identify all the new icons, but a proper upgrade should leave
them all in the same spots they were in before.
Can I update my iPhone/ iPad /iPod Touch?
Although iOS is
out the same time as a pair of brand new iPhone models, it can also be
installed for free on some older devices.
At the press event
announcing the new models, Apple CEO Tim Cook said there were 600
million devices running iOS. Just because you have a year-old iPhone 5
doesn't mean you can't freshen it up with the latest operating system.
Look for your device below to see whether it is eligible.
• iPhone (original): No
• iPhone 3G: No
• iPhone 3GS: No
• iPhone 4: Yes. Does not include AirDrop, Siri or camera filters (you can add filters later in the photos app).
• iPhone 4S: Yes. No AirDrop.
• iPhone 5: Yes. Includes all new iOS 7 features.
• iPod Touch: Only the 5th-generation iPod Touch can upgrade but will include all new iOS 7 features.
• iPad (original): No
• iPad 2: Yes. No AirDrop, Siri, camera filters or square format, or Photos app filters.
• iPad 3rd generation: Yes. No AirDrop or camera filters.
• iPad 4th generation: Yes
• iPad Mini: Yes
Some of the cooler new
features you may have heard about, like the Touch ID fingerprint sensor
and the new camera tools -- slow-motion, burst mode and
image-stabilization -- are available only on the new Phone 5S.
Should I update?
Just because your device
is compatible doesn't mean it should be upgraded right away. Once you
update your device to iOS 7, there is no going back to iOS 6 or
whichever earlier iOS you were running. (Yes, there are unofficial ways
to downgrade, but these are not recommended for regular iPhone and iPad
users.)
If you are not in a
rush, wait a few weeks or months until Apple releases the first updated
version of iOS 7. The early releases of the operation system can include
bugs that should be addressed with subsequent iOS 7 updates. Let other
eager people spend the next few weeks finding and reporting these issues
so you don't have to deal with them.
Older devices can
experience frustrating performance issues when upgraded to a new OS. The
iOS 7 software was designed specifically for the hardware that's faster
than your trusty old iPhone 4. If your device is anything older than
the most recent generation, it might suddenly slow down, and battery
life can suffer.
This should not be as
much of a problem for newer devices, such as the iPhone 5, 4th
generation iPad and iPad Mini, or the latest iPod Touch. If you are
worried about performance issues, skip the update.
Updating immediately is recommended only for tech-savvy early adopters who are comfortable with the risks.
Are there any downsides of not updating?
Immediately, not much. You won't have the new features to play with, but your phone will continue to work as it always did.
In the long run, there
could be a few drawbacks. Apple has been pushing developers to update
their apps to be iOS 7 compatible. The updates can be as minor as
changing the look of an icon or as major as adding all new features.
Many developers may stop updating and supporting older versions of their
apps as they move their focus to iOS 7. That means eventually, you
could be stuck with out-of-date (or even non-working) versions of your
favorite apps.
Going for it? How do I upgrade?
1. Back up:
Before you make the leap, it is very important that you back up your
iPhone or iPad. There is always a small chance your device could be
wiped clean in the upgrade process, so make a full backup of everything.
To back up, plug your device into your computer, open iTunes, and if it
does not start backing up automatically, click the "Back Up Now"
button.
If your photos are not
set to back up automatically, use Image Capture or iPhone on a Mac and
Windows Explorer on a Windows PC to make copies of all your pictures.
Another option is to
skip the cord and back up to iCloud over Wi-Fi. On your device, go to
Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup. Tap the "Back Up Now"
button.
2: Download the new iOS:
You can get the update by plugging into a computer and opening iTunes
(this is the faster option) or over a Wi-Fi connection directly to your
phone.
If iTunes doesn't
automatically ask whether you'd like to upgrade when you plug in, click
"Check For Updates" in the Summary tab. It will do the rest
automatically.
From your phone, go to
Settings > Software Update and click the install button. Make sure
your phone is fully charged and connected to a Wi-Fi network, not your
cellular network.
source: edition.cnn.com
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