Apple apologizes for iOS 8.0.1 debacle, recommends downgrade until iOS 8.0.2 arrives

[Himanshu Arora]

A day after it released and then pulled back the iOS 8.0.1 update, Apple has issued an official statement on the fiasco. "We apologize for the great inconvenience experienced by users", the Cupertino-based company said, adding that they are working "around the clock" to prepare iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it in the "next few days".

Less than an hour after rolling out iOS 8.0.1, which claimed to fix various issues including the one that prevented the company from publishing any third-party HealthKit apps on the App Store, Apple pulled it from distribution servers, as it caused TouchID and cellular failures on iPhone 6 and Plus models.

In addition to the apology, the company also offered a temporary workaround -- essentially instructing the affected users how to downgrade back to iOS 8.0 while it prepares a fix. Here are the steps:

• Make sure that you're using the latest version of iTunes.
• Connect your iPhone to iTunes.
• Back up your iPhone in iTunes on your Mac or PC. iCloud backups won't restore to earlier versions, including iOS 8.0.
• Download the file for either the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.
• Select the file you just downloaded by doing one of these in iTunes:
   
  • Mac: Press the Option key and click Check for Update.
  • Windows: Press the Shift key and click Check for Update.
• Press Update to install iOS 8 on your iPhone.

A point worth noting is that the Health app will again stop working after you apply these steps. The iPhone maker says that the issues will finally be fixed in the upcoming iOS 8.0.2 software update.

The launch weekend for Apple's new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was the strongest yet for the company, reaching 10 million units sold. But not everything has gone without a hitch. Aside from the recent iOS 8.0.1 snafu, a bug in its HealthKit platform prevented the company from launching several third-party health and fitness apps. In addition, there have been reports that some of the new iPhones had bent after being placed in users' pockets.

Lastly, though unrelated to the iPhone and iOS, researchers have discovered a new "catastrophic" vulnerability that affects Unix-based operating systems including Apple's Mac OS X.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/58194-apple-apologizes-for-ios-801-debacle-recommends-downgrade-until-ios-802-arrives.html

 

[Jad Chaar]

It really disappoints me to see Apple in such a state. The iOS 8 update was pretty buggy and now 8.0.1 breaks phones? What is up with their software testing lately? Very disappointed in Apple.

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Wow, downgrade back a version until they can fix it? Having users back out your software because you can't fix it is about as big a problem as you can have in software. Backing out is a last resort.

I know it's important to keep a lid on the latest and greatest so you can have a big reveal and impress everyone but maybe it's not the best idea, Apple. In software testing there's something called User Acceptance Testing; it means letting actual, real users try it out and see what happens. (this is called a Focus Group in product development) Just testing in your secret testing lab under controlled conditions doesn't catch everything. Any decent IT team knows this... why doesn't Apple?

 

[cliffordcooley]

Having users back out your software because you can't fix it is about as big a problem as you can have in software.

Automating the 8.0.2 uninstall would have been a perfect 8.0.3 update.

 

[Lionvibez]

It really disappoints me to see Apple in such a state. The iOS 8 update was pretty buggy and now 8.0.1 breaks phones? What is up with their software testing lately? Very disappointed in Apple.

What do you expect jobs is gone.

 

[Jad Chaar]

Wow, downgrade back a version until they can fix it? Having users back out your software because you can't fix it is about as big a problem as you can have in software. Backing out is a last resort.

I know it's important to keep a lid on the latest and greatest so you can have a big reveal and impress everyone but maybe it's not the best idea, Apple. In software testing there's something called User Acceptance Testing; it means letting actual, real users try it out and see what happens. (this is called a Focus Group in product development) Just testing in your secret testing lab under controlled conditions doesn't catch everything. Any decent IT team knows this... why doesn't Apple?

Yeah I agree. Apple is definitely going downhill.

 

[Nima304]

Every time a new major iOS version is released, we always hear about bugs or vulnerabilities in the software. Honestly, can't Apple spend a bit of their massive profits QAing their products?

 

[Lionvibez]

Every time a new major iOS version is released, we always hear about bugs or vulnerabilities in the software. Honestly, can't Apple spend a bit of their massive profits QAing their products?

Why QA your products when your sheepish users will camp out infront of bestbuy for 2 weeks prior to launch.

They will buy it anyways so why spend the money lol.

 

[Nima304]

Why QA your products when your sheepish users will camp out infront of bestbuy for 2 weeks prior to launch.

They will buy it anyways so why spend the money lol.

That's what's so disappointing about it. You'd think after all of these issues, along with the inherent limitations and overpricing of Apple products, people wouldn't buy them, but there's still a massive line whenever a new iDevice comes out. It's be great if the collective consumer could use a quarter of their brain and vote with their wallets; Apple might actually put out good products with a reasonable price if people didn't buy their ****.

 

[Guest]

Bill Gates here! All those having problems contact me from a phone booth
and I'll fix you up!

 

[tonylukac]

My aunt lost most of her games upgrading her ipad. She's russian. I call her aunty spy.

 

[Guest]

Microsoft may have had their problems, but Apple is just amateur by comparison.

Never buy an Apple product again.