The iOS 10.3.1 update is a small update but it brings some important changes to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. And while some of you will want to install the iOS 10.3.1 update on your device today, others might want to skip it.
Unlike iOS 10.3, Apple’s iOS 10.3.1 update is a tiny maintenance update with one important security patch and bug fixes. Despite its small stature, iOS 10.3.1 is worthy of your attention as we push away from its release date.
There are plenty of reasons to consider installing iOS 10.3.1 on your device right now but there are also some reasons why you might be better off waiting a few days before installing iOS 10.3.1 on your phone, tablet or iPod. At this point, you might even consider taking a permanent rain check.
This guide will walk you through these reasons and help you make a decision about your version of Apple’s iOS 10.3.1 update today.
Install iOS 10.3.1 If You Want Better Security
If you value your security, you’ll want to seriously consider downloading the iOS 10.3.1 update on your iPhone or iPad.
iOS 10.3.1 brings a single security patch for a potential Wi-Fi exploit. But if you failed to install iOS 10.3, your iOS 10.3.1 update will bring its monster list of patches as well.
The iOS 10.3 update delivered over 60 known patches for potential exploits. That’s substantial, even for a milestone upgrade. The previous version of iOS 10, iOS 10.2.1, brought 14 known patches. Among them is a patch for a Safari ransomware bug that scammers used to extort iOS users who viewed pornography on their device.
These patches enhance the security on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch making them ideal for those of you who store sensitive files/data on your device. Most people do.
If you failed to install Apple’s iOS 9.3.5 update, iOS 10.3.1 will also bring the three crucial security patches it delivered last year. These patch up serious security problems that could potentially expose your calls, contacts, texts, and emails.
If security is important to you, iOS 10.3.1 is probably worth a download right now.
Install iOS 10.3.1 If You Want to Try Clips
In March, Apple confirmed plans to release a brand new application called Clips in April. The app, which requires iOS 10.3/iOS 10.3.1 to work, is now out on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
In a nutshell, Clips lets you create fun videos with the content you’ve shot on your iOS device. The app comes with effects like animated speech bubbles, arrows, and banners and it also comes with a feature called Live Tiles.
Live Tiles lets you create animated titles and captions using your voice. Captions are generated automatically as you speak and they’ll match the timing of your voiceover. Once you’re finished with your video, Clips allows you to easily share the content with friends over iMessage, Facebook, or another social network.
If you think you might want to try Clips you’ll need iOS 10.3.1 on board your iPhone or iPad.
Install iOS 10.3.1 to Keep App Support
Developers of popular applications are starting to kill support for older versions of iOS. The most recent example is Asana.
In April, Asana released a new update that effectively kills support for Apple’s iOS 8 operating system. If you use Asana, and you’re currently using a device that runs iOS 8, you’ll need to update to iOS 10.3.1 in order to use it. Plain and simple.
This is just one example but it could be the start of a growing trend as we push deeper into the year, closer to the release of Apple’s iOS 11 update.
iOS 11 is expected to kill 32-bit app support entirely when it’s released alongside the new iPhone later this year. If you’ve been toiling on an older version of iOS, now might be the time to make your move.
Install iOS 10.3.1 if You Rent Movies via iTunes
If you rent movies via iTunes, you’ll probably want to download the latest version of iTunes and the iOS 10.3.1 update today.
If you download the latest version of iTunes (iTunes 12.6) and iOS 10.3.1, you’ll be able to rent a movie and watch it across all of your devices. Before the iTunes 12.6 update and the iOS 10.3 release, an iTunes movie rental was only available on one device at a time.
Again, you need both of these installed in order to use the feature. If you own an AppleTV you’ll need to have tvOS 10.2 installed in order to take advantage of this awesome feature.
Install iOS 10.3.1 If You Own AirPods
If you own a pair of AirPods you’ll want to consider the iOS 10.3.1 update for a new feature that’s tucked away inside the Find My iPhone application.
If you’re prone to losing track of your AirPods, the iOS 10.3.1 could be a godsend. The update delivers a new Find My AirPods feature that’s located inside of the Find My iPhone application.
The app lists the last known location where your AirPods were connected to an iOS device over Bluetooth. It also lets you create a sound to help you find your lost headset.
This feature could come in handy around the house or office and it could be a lifesaver if you misplace them at a restaurant, a friends house, on a bus or inside of an taxi.
Install iOS 10.3.1 If You Want to Free Up Some Space
The iOS 10.3 update delivered Apple’s new file system dubbed APFS.
Apple first announced this major change back at WWDC 2016 though it took nearly a year for the company to implement the change. APFS is optimized for Flash and SSD storages. It also delivers stronger encryption, space sharing, and copy-on write metadata. It also might free up a bunch of storage on your device.
Many iPhone and iPad users are noticing a sharp increase to the amount of internal storage space available on their device. You probably won’t get an extra 30GB of storage space but you could reclaim 7GB+ of free space. We got about 2GB back on our iPhone 7.
If you’re running out of internal space or you simply want to get some breathing room (it might help your device’s performance), think about installing the iOS 10.3.1 update.
Install iOS 10.3.1 if You Use CarPlay
In iOS 10.3, Apple’s eliminated the need for a second tap. Now you’ll notice three applications sitting in a dock aligned on the left side of the screen. These are static and they’ll stay in view when you’re inside other apps.
A majority of the time you’ll see Maps, one of your entertainment applications like Spotify or Music, and an app for communication purposes (Phone, Messages, Skype, etc).
iOS 10.3/iOS 10.3.1 also brings daily curated playlists, new music categories in Apple Music, an Up Next function in the Now Playing screen inside the Music app that allows you to easily skip around tracks in a playlist, and the ability to tap an album title from the Now Playing screen so you can easily jump to the song’s root album.
Install If You’re Dealing With An iOS Problem
If you’re dealing with a bug or performance issue on iOS 9 or an older version of iOS 10, you might think about installing iOS 10.3.1 on your device. It could have a positive effect on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch’s performance.
The iOS 10.3.1 update could patch up the performance issues you’re dealing with on an older version of iOS. Issues include UI lag, bad Bluetooth, various issues with Wi-Fi, or bad iOS 10 battery life. We’ve already noticed improvements to UI speed on the iPhone 5.
If you’re dealing with an unfixable iOS problem, the iOS 10.3.1 update is probably worth a try. If you skipped a previous version of iOS 10 you’ll get fixes from those updates baked into iOS 10.3. So if you skipped iOS 10.2.1, iOS 10.2, iOS 10.1.1 or iOS 10.1, you’ll get their fixes with iOS 10.3.1.
Don’t Install iOS 10.3.1 If You’re Unprepared
A majority of you will want to install the iOS 10.3.1 on your device. However, some of you might want to consider waiting a few days or perhaps even a few weeks before upgrading.
Don’t install Apple’s iOS 10.3.1 update on your device until you’ve prepared your device for Apple’s iOS 10.3.1 update. It’s impossible to predict what kind of trouble you might run into with the iOS 10.3.1 update. Most of you will come out of the installation process unscathed but others will run into various problems. This is why you’ll want to prepare for iOS 10.3.1.
Don’t Install iOS 10.3.1 If You’re Worried About Problems
If you’re having an excellent experience on iOS 10.3 or below, and iOS 10.3.1 fails to excite you, consider holding out.
iOS 10.3.1 users are already complaining about Wi-Fi issues, various issues with Bluetooth, activation issues, problems with various third-party applications, installation problems, UI lag, random reboots, and battery drain issues.
If you’re feeling comfortable with your current version of iOS you might think about waiting for more iOS 10.3.1 feedback to arrive. You might also think about waiting for the next iOS 10.3 update to arrive. iOS 10.3.2 is currently in beta.
Don’t Install iOS 10.3.1 If You’re Jailbroken
Avoid the iOS 10.3.1 update if you’re jailbroken or if you’re even slightly interested in jailbreaking your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Developers have released an iOS 10.2 jailbreak for select devices but nothing is available for iOS 10.3.1. So, if you move your device to iOS 10.3.1, you’ll lose your current jailbreak and you’ll also lose the ability to jailbreak your phone or tablet.
We still don’t have any details about an official iOS 10.3.1 jailbreak release and it could be days, weeks or even months before something lands for the general public. In fact, it looks like the next jailbreak release could be a new tool for iOS 10.2, not iOS 10.3.1.
Don’t Install iOS 10.3.1 If You’re Traveling
If you’re about to hit the road on a trip for the holidays or if you’re in the middle of a trip, we strongly recommend putting off iOS 10.3.1 until you’re back home.
Over the years, we’ve talked to a number of people stranded with a malfunctioning device because they updated to a new version of iOS right before leaving or during the trip itself. The last thing you want is for apps and services to breakdown when you’re in a different city.
If you are traveling away from your comfort zone and your backups, it’s a good idea to wait to do this upgrade until you get back to your base of operations. If that’s the hotel, so be it. It’s probably not worth putting a personal trip, a business meeting or an important business trip in jeopardy to get iOS 10.3.1 on your phone or tablet.
Wait until you have some downtime and then install iOS 10.3.1 if you need it.
Source: GBM