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.