Apple iPhone, iPod, iPad: Downgrade to iOS 7.1.2 from iOS 8 Update

iOS 8 has been installed by 46% of iDevice users, and of course, there are those who are beginning to regret that decision. This is mainly because of the app compatibility and ability to jailbreak. It is still possible to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7.1.2, but it’s unknown as to how long Apple will allow this.

There are a few things that must be known beforehand. When you downgrade your iDevice to iOS 7.1.2, you’re putting a fresh restore on your device. Of course, if iCloud backups worked, this would be much easier, but sadly, iOS 8 iCloud backups do not work when downgrading to iOS 7, so you’ll have to manually back your device up on your computer.

If you have an iPad 2, iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina Display, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, or 5th-generation iPod Touch, you’re currently eligible to downgrade.

In order to downgrade your device, just simply follow the instructions below.

Double-check your device is eligible.

Go to this TSSstatus checker, find your device, and make sure it has a green checkmark next to ‘7.1.2’ that says ‘yes’. If it does, you’re all set and ready to go. This is a lengthy list, so you may want to just Ctrl+F and type in your device instead of scrolling through the list.

Download the iOS 7.1.2 IPSW package for your specific device.

It’s a 1GB+ file, so it may take a while. You can simply view our links below and select your device out of the bunch. The GSM is for U.S. phones on the AT&T and T-Mobile network and European devices – CDMA is for U.S. phones on the Sprint and Verizon Wireless network. If you’re still not sure if your device is a GSM model or CDMA model, you can check the build number and compare it to Apple’s list (which you can view here).

iPad Air (5th-generation WiFi)

iPad Air (5th-generation WiFi + Cellular)

iPad (4th-generation CDMA)

iPad (4th-generation GSM)

iPad (4th-generation WiFi)

iPad Mini (CDMA)

iPad Mini (GSM)

iPad Mini (WiFi)

iPad Mini 2 (WiFi + Cellular)

iPad Mini 2 (WiFi)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi + Cellular GSM)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi + Cellular CDMA)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi Rev A)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi + Cellular GSM)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi + Cellular CDMA)

iPhone 5 (CDMA)

iPhone 5 (GSM)

iPhone 5C (GSM)

iPhone 5C (CDMA)

iPhone 5S (GSM)

iPhone 5S (CDMA)

iPhone 4S

iPod Touch (5th generation)

Connect your iDevice to your computer and bring up iTunes

Make sure your Find My iPhone feature is turned off before you begin this next process. Next, click on Summary within the iPhone portion of your iTunes. Then hold Shift (if you’re on a Mac, press Options) and click the Restore button, then select your freshly downloaded IPSW file. The restore process will begin and your device will be back on iOS 7.1.2 again.

iOS 8.0.2 Release Fixes iOS 8.0.1 Problems

iOS 8.0.2 Release Fixes iOS 8.0.1 Problems

Just a day after the iOS 8.0.1 release, Apple’s released a new iOS 8.0.2 update that not only tackles iOS 8 problems but also iOS 8.0.1 problems that impacted iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 users after iOS 8.0.1′s arrival.

Yesterday, Apple released its first iOS 8 bug fix update in the form of iOS 8.0.1. The update came a week after the iOS 8.0 release and it was aimed at solving some of the initial problems brought on by Apple’s brand new update for iPhone and iPad. And while it did deliver fixes to iOS users, it also delivered some problems of its own.

Almost immediately after the iOS 8.0.1 release, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users started complaining about iOS 8.0.1 problems and specifically, issues with cellular data and Touch ID. Within minutes, Apple pulled the iOS 8.0.1 update from its servers leaving a bunch of angry iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus users in the update’s wake.

Earlier today, it appeared as if Apple would wait a few days before releasing an iOS 8.0.2 update. Tonight though, it delivered a surprise update to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users running iOS 8.0 and iOS 8.0.1.

That surprise is the iOS 8.0.2 update, a bug fixer that not only fixes the iOS 8.0.1 issues from yesterday but also includes the same bug fixes that iOS 8.0.1 had on board when it touched down earlier this week. The update is available for all devices running iOS 8 which includes the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad Air, iPad mini with Retina Display, iPad mini, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, and iPod touch fifth-generation.

Here’s what’s new inside of Apple’s latest iOS 8 update:

• Fixes an issue in iOS 8.0.1 that impacted cellular network connectivity and Touch ID on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• Fixes a bug so HealthKit apps can now be made available on the App Store
• Addresses an issue where 3rd party keyboards could become deselected when a user enters their passcode
• Fixes an issue that prevented some apps from accessing photos from the Photo Library
• Improves the reliability of the Reachability feature on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• Fixes an issue that could cause unexpected cellular data usage when receiving SMS/MMS messages
• Better support of Ask To Buy for Family Sharing for In-App Purchases
• Fixes an issue where ringtones were sometimes not restored from iCloud backups
• Fixes a bug that prevented uploading photos and videos from Safari

This is an essential update for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were left without network activity after the arrival of iOS 8.0.2 though owners of other iPhones and iPads might want to see how the update plays out. While these small updates bring bug fixes, they can also bring trouble. We saw that first-hand with Apple’s iOS 8.0.1 update.

The iOS 8.0.2 update is fairly large on the iPhone 6, nearly 80MB, though it’s much smaller on an iPhone 5 running iOS 8.0.1. That update is a mere 14MB and it took only minutes to download and install. Those with precious files will still want to make sure the device is backed up before installing Apple’s brand new software update.

iOS 8.0.2 will likely be the second of many upcoming bug fixes. Apple tends to roll out several bug fix updates over the course of the year including a mid-year x.1 update that typically delivers new features in addition to key bug fixes. iOS 8.1 still isn’t confirmed though rumors have alluded to several features that it could have when it arrives months down the road.

he release of iOS 8.0.2 comes just days after the arrival of Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The two new iPhones replace the iPhone 5s as the company’s flagship models and it will be the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that take on the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, LG G3, and Moto X during the holiday shopping season.

Apple iOS 8′s Wave Wireless Charging Feature for iPhone is a Hoax

Apple iOS 8′s Wave Wireless Charging Feature for iPhone is a Hoax

Apple’s latest iOS 8 mobile operating system was released for all supported iPhone and iPad models on the 17th. The new iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8 have also started shipping to those who’ve pre-ordered the devices. Since it hasn’t been long since iOS 8 started rolling out, some individual or a group decided to spread a hoax related to iOS 8. A fake advertisement showing the alleged “Wave” charging feature included in iOS 8 has been making the rounds on Twitter. The image claims that with iOS 8, you can charge your iPhone or iPad wirelessly through microwave frequencies.

Apple iOS 8 Wave “Feature” is Quite Humorous

The ad claims the Wave feature is an iOS 8 exclusive, allowing Apple iPhone and iPad owners to charge their devices wirelessly and quickly in about a few minutes using any standard household microwave. It further claims the feature comes pre-activated after updating to iOS 8 and requires no action from the user to start charging their device.

The explanation on how the Wave feature works is quite amusing. They claim iOS 8 comes with new drivers that interface with your device’s radio baseband that lets it sync with microwave frequencies and use them to recharge the battery. Quite obviously, this isn’t possible by any means and the humor is quite apparent. Unfortunately, a few people didn’t realize it was nothing more than a hoax. Many users have tweeted about trying to use this apparent new feature, but not seeing it work as mentioned. The ad recommended that iPhone and iPad owners place their devices in the microwave for one-and-a-half minutes.

How to Fix iOS 8 Wi-Fi Problems

How to Fix iOS 8 Wi-Fi Problems

iOS 8 problems continue to plague iPhone and iPad users of all shapes and sizes in the days after the update’s release. Here, we address one of the biggest iOS 8 problems and tell you how to fix most iOS 8 Wi-Fi problems.

A week ago, Apple finally released its all new iOS 8 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. iOS 8 is a massive update that delivers new features, design tweaks, enhancements, and fixes for lingering iOS 7 problems. It also, as iPhone and iPad users discovered after the release date, delivered its own set of problems and issues.

In the days after the iOS 8 release, iPhone and iPad users noticed a series of iOS 8 problems including poor battery life, broken Wi-Fi, random crashes and freezes, sluggishness, poor app performance, issues switching from portrait to landscape mode, and poor performance in a number of other areas. These iOS 8 issues caused many iPhone and iPad users to cry out for an iOS 8.0.1 update.

Today, that iOS 8.0.1 update arrived though like iOS 8, it also came loaded with issues, issues that forced Apple to pull the update from its servers. While it works on fixing its update, we want to work on fixing your iOS 8 problems and today we want to take a look at iOS 8 Wi-Fi issues in particular.

For the past two years, Apple’s discussion forum has been rife with complaints about Wi-Fi issues. iPhone and iPad users have complained about a wide variety of issues from grayed out Wi-Fi to unstable connections. From the look of things, those issues persist for iPhone and iPad users inside Apple’s new iOS 8 update.

While there is no guaranteed fix for iOS 8 Wi-Fi issues, there are a few things that iPhone and iPad users can try before performing a factory reset, replacing a router, or taking the device to an Apple Store to get looked at. These fixes have been passed down from the iOS 6 update and they’ve worked for many users in the past.

The first thing you’ll want to do is reset your networking settings. This is an extremely easy process though it could take a couple of minutes to complete so you’ll want to set aside some time. To do this, open up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and head to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

You’ll need your passcode and again, a few minutes of time because the phone or tablet is going to reboot itself. You’ll also want to track down your commonly used Wi-Fi passwords because this is going to reset those forcing you to enter them again.

If that doesn’t fix things, you can also try turning off Wi-Fi Networking. To do that, head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services. After performing these two steps, you’ll want to reboot your phone. Once it’s rebooted, there’s a chance, again a chance, that your Wi-Fi will be working normally again.

If neither of those steps works, then it’s time to take some drastic steps. First, you might want to try restarting your modem and/or router. We suggest doing both. If that doesn’t work, try installing the latest firmware for your router. If none of that works, you can take your iPhone or iPad to an Apple Store and have a Genius look at it.

Apple iOS 8 Update: Battery Life Issues & Solutions

Apple iOS 8 Update: Battery Life Issues & Solutions

Although most people have had no issues with iOS 8 just yet, some are experiencing severe battery drain issues. This is rather surprising as it’s just a few days after the public release of iOS 8. It seems most people reporting battery issues have an iPhone 4S, but they aren’t the only people experiencing problems. There are a few solutions though, and hopefully one of these listed will help you.

iOS 8 battery problems & their solutions                      

First things first, check if any of your apps are causing severe drainage. Apple has made this extremely easy to do in the new update. First, go to Settings, then Usage, and then Battery Usage. From there, see the apps that use the most of your battery life and consider removing them. If you cannot or don’t want to remove an app, go into the app’s settings and turn off Background Refresh. This should minimize the drainage.

If you don’t find an app that’s draining your battery, you might want to make sure a few features are off. If you specifically use your device on Wi-Fi, but have cellular data, you may want to consider turning off your data by going into Settings and then Mobile. From there, you can slide Cellular Data.

If neither of these are giving you any assistance, you may want to try doing two different resets on your iPhone. First, try doing a soft reset. A soft reset is done by simply turning your device off as you normally would. If this doesn’t solve anything, attempt a hard reset. A hard reset is done by first going into Settings, then General, then Reset, and then clicking Reset All Settings. This shouldn’t delete everything off your device, but it’s recommended you do a full backup of your device before doing this, just in case. From there, hold your power and home button together until the device turns off, and then let it restart.

From there, make sure your brightness is set down in the middle if possible, if not lower. Your display’s brightness can take up quite a bit of battery life, so this could be a major cause of your iOS 8 issues.

Make sure Bluetooth is turned off, Location Services are turned off, and also check and make sure all your e-mail data fetches aren’t constantly trying to search for new items.

If none of these help your battery life, you may want to try doing a full restore by going into DFU mode. Of course, even a fresh restore doesn’t guarantee getting your battery life back.

We’ll likely see an update come along soon to address this, but until then, try and hold out, or consider purchasing an external battery pack.

Apple Keynote: Where to Watch the Live Streams

Apple Keynote: Where to Watch the Live Streams

Apple’s expected to release the newest addition to its smartphone lineup, the iPhone 6, today, September 9th, via a scheduled media event. Apple live streams this event every year via a keynote.

Last year, you could view this keynote on your Apple TV, and were able to watch the event after the keynote was finished as well. We expect that Apple will allow users to tune in on their Apple TVs this year, but if you don’t have one of those fancy black boxes, how else can you watch this highly anticipated event?

If you have access to a computer, you can always tune in to the event by going to Apple’s official website and clicking on their events page. This page always features a livestream of the event, but there’s usually nothing up regarding it until that very day, so be sure to continuously check back the page for any updates.

Apple iPhone 6, iOS 8 and iWatch expected to be launched

We can expect to see the unveiling of the iPhone 6 at this event, some information about the public release of iOS 8, possibly a new smartwatch dubbed as the iWatch, and maybe even the new iPad Air. Apple will be confirming the specs and pricing on all of their devices, so we’ll see which rumors end up being correct and which end up being false.

Although iOS 8 was already unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier in the year, we can expect to get some more information and see a few updates to the new software. We’ll also be hearing about when exactly you can expect to download the new iOS update on your device.

Apple iPhone 6 Air: Concept Design for 2015

Apple iPhone 6 Air: Concept Design for 2015

We’re only a week away from getting our hands on Apple’s latest iPhone 6, and leaks about the famous device are still coming through. Some new renders by the designer, Giorgi Tedoradze, have appeared on various press sites, turning our attention to 2015, towards a device called “iPhone 6 Air”, which is basically a phone-tablet running a concept version of the iOS. The new design seems to ignore the two individual varieties of the iPhone 6, which comes in a 4.7-inch version, as well as a 5.5-inch version.

The concept operating system that’s running in the renders is apparently iOS 9, which is strange, given the fact Apple hasn’t even released iOS 8 yet. iPhone 6 Air is also a very slim device, packing the following set of dimensions: 149.5mm x 73.2mm x 6mm, and weighing 127g. The device is powered by a 1.8GHz Apple A8 quad-core processor, and has a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The camera is also supposedly very good – it’s a 10MP primary shooter with optical image stabilization and dual LED flash. The gadget also has a 2600mAh battery.

This is all great, but nothing is confirmed. Right now, it seems the device is merely a concept and there’s nothing solid about it, but it’s always good to know what Apple has in store for us next year. Whether these concepts will come to life is up for speculation, but we’re definitely going to keep a very close eye on all the media outlets for any news. Right now though, our attention is focused on the iPhone 6 release next week.

Apple iWatch Release Date Shifted to Next Year?

Apple iWatch Release Date Shifted to Next Year?

Apple iWatch rumors have certainly been a roller coaster ride so far. First we heard it would be available for sale this year, and then we heard some rumors claiming it will not ship until December or even early next year. Just too many contradictory reports. The most recent report claimed Apple will certainly be unveiling its iWatch smartwatch at the September 9th event being hosted at the Flint Center for The Performing Arts in Cupertino, California.

A fresh report from recode claims the iWatch will indeed be announced on September 9th, but will not be shipping soon after launch. Their trusted sources claim the Apple iWatch will not be available for purchase during the holiday season this year and will probably launch sometime in early 2015. That’s quite disappointing frankly, but probably expected given the number of rumors that were claiming iWatch production was delayed significantly due to a possible shortage of the sapphire crystal glass component being used in the smartwatch.

The rumor mills have been buzzing about the Apple iWatch over the last few months and everyone is curious to see what Apple will come up with in its very first smartwatch product. Earlier reports had mentioned only about 3 million units of the iWatch will be shipped this year due to production delays, but it looks like things have clearly worsened since that report came out.

Rumored iWatch Specifications

The iWatch has been rumored to sport a flexible OLED display with sapphire glass coating to protect the screen. It will also come equipped with more than 10 health and fitness sensors that will allow it to keep detailed records of your medical and fitness information. iOS 8 brings theHealthKit developer API which will allow developers to create various apps to help you monitor your vital health statistics at regular intervals, and also to store your medical info on your iPhone that could be accessed by medical professionals in case of an emergency. The iWatch is expected to play a major role and will include most of the sensors used by the HealthKit API.

iOS 8 Update (Beta): Battery Drain Affecting Apple iPhone/iPad Developers

iOS 8 Update (Beta): Battery Drain Affecting Apple iPhone/iPad Developers

Apple’s newest mobile OS, iOS 8, is still in beta, and is expected to be released at some point around September 9th. But there are some serious battery drain issues that come with this update. Apple made iOS 8 beta 6 available for carriers only, and not developers. All developers are still stuck on beta 5, which was available for the iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, iPads, and iPod Touches.

Apple iOS 8 Developers Still Facing Serious Battery Drain

Developers previously reported while using iOS 8 beta 4 that their iDevices were getting extremely hot while using iCloud, while charging, playing games, or even after charging. They had also reported they were facing some serious battery drain. Many hoped beta 5 would address these issues, but it doesn’t seem that it has.

Many users are still reporting that after updating to the last beta available for developers, their devices were still getting a little too hot and they’re seeing even worse battery life than before.

The reason for concern over these issues is that Apple’s iOS 8 public release is right around the corner. With all the recent issues with iOS 7.1.2 and the iPhone 5 recall, having another iOS come out and be just as much, if not more, of a drain on users devices would be a huge disappointment and may sway some users from ever owning an iPhone again.

There are some developers who have said that hardware is to blame for the issues, or bad software installs, but no one is truly sure what the cause of the problem is. The debate regarding the problems is hot right now, and no one can be sure what to expect of the public release of iOS 8.

Apple iOS 8 Update: iPhone 5S, 5C, 4S, iPod, iPad Air Release Date

Apple iOS 8 Update: iPhone 5S, 5C, 4S, iPod, iPad Air Release Date

Apple’s iOS 8 is due to launch this fall, along with the iPhone 6, as the tech magnate Apple is preparing for a bright future. The operating system comes in the wake of other huge releases, bringing along huge improvements on battery life and stability, and also introducing new features such as sending phone location before the battery dies, a song-identifying feature, credit card scanning, phone calls over Wi-Fi, a new battery usage screen, and talk-to-type.

A new video has been released recently, showcasing some of the features we listed above, as well as the overall feel of the operating system. A list of devices that will be upgraded to iOS 8 has also been released. These are the devices:

·         iPhone 5s

·         iPhone 5c

·         iPhone 5

·         iPhone 4s

·         iPod touch 5th generation

·         iPad Air

·         iPad Mini Retina

·         iPad Mini

·         iPad 4

·         iPad 3

·         iPad 2

Release date of the iOS 8 update

Regarding the launch date, nothing is set in stone. However, if we look at past Apple events, it’s very likely the iOS 8 launch will be the same as the iPhone 6 launch in September. It’s also very likely that a new powerful feature of the iOS 8 will be launched along with it, as the tech giant makes a habit of keeping the best ones secret until the event itself.

The whole tech industry is keeping its eyes peeled on Apple’s grand event. September is going to be a huge month, and there’s going to be a lot of things to report. Who knows what Apple has planned next? Will things cool down or will they keep getting bigger and bigger? Only the future can tell, but we’re going to be here to report it when it does.