iOS 10 — What A Let Down!

The most awaited iOS update might not be all of what it promised to be.

Branded as the “biggest iOS release ever”, the iOS 10 update has not been as promising as the company, and we, the consumers, wanted it to be.

The new operating system update for Apple devices did bring a lot of new features, but it ended up being a mess for its users too.

Let us talk first about the update. The update brought a host of new features like photography settings, enhanced intelligence for the keyboard, new notification screen and more uses for the voice-activated assistant Siri.
Apple claimed over the last few months that there was artificial intelligence embedded into the software to help users with everyday activities like identifying photos and locations.

Add to that, that the OS is not cut and dry. It includes a lot of fun features like a totally revamped iMessages app with a Messages Store, to boot. The company added a host of animations and GIF images to the app making it exciting for users, and helping it score points against Facebook’s Messenger that is known for their graphics.

On the face of it, the update is quite well and good. Let’s not forget, that it’s an update, something we do all the time, however an update doesn’t remain an update when it becomes an issue for the users. At that, iOS 10 showcases some graves ones.

The first one, and the most important one is that of security.

Elcomsoft, a Russian forensics company, highlighted earlier today, that Apple’s new software update leaves the backup of the device a lot more vulnerable, 2,500 times more vulnerable to be exact!
“We discovered a major security flaw in the iOS 10 backup protection mechanism. This security flaw allows us developing a new attack that is able to bypass certain security checks when enumerating passwords protecting local (iTunes) backup made by iOS 10 devices”, said Oleg Afonin in Elcomsoft’s blog post. “The impact of this security weakness is severe”.
This was an oversight by Apple and a by-product of their new alternative password verification mechanism.

“We’re aware of an issue that affects the encryption strength for backups of devices on iOS 10 when backing up to iTunes on the Mac or PC. We are addressing this issue in an upcoming security update. This does not affect iCloud backups”, an Apple spokesperson shared in response. “We recommend users ensure their Mac or PC are protected with strong passwords and can only be accessed by authorized users. Additional security is also available with FileVault whole disk encryption.”

But the world was scared, and there were other user-debilitating issues too.
T-Mobile, a telecom company, asked its users to not download the new operating system, stating that the ones doing so were facing issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. They did also report that Apple was working to fix the issue, which it eventually did, but truth be told, the warning from a major telecom operator did some irrepairable damage to the the credibility of the iOS 10.

Amidst all other chaos, there were reports that the new operating system ‘bricked’ certain devices, leaving them practically unusable. In addition, there were other reports from journalists at The Guardian and Endgadget that some devices were left in continuous rebooting loops after the update, again leaving them virtually unusable.
It brought back memories of the past where iOS 7.0.6 had bricked the iOS 5 and iPad Air, while the iOS 9.3.2, had allegedly bricked the 9.7-inch iPad Pro a few months ago.

Amongst the smaller problems, some users reportedly faced problems with certain apps, including the updated iMessages app crashing repeatedly.

With regards to both the issues, Apple stated that they were temporary, and only a few devices were affected.
“We experienced a brief issue with the software update process, affecting a small number of users during the first hour of availability”, said Apple in an emailed statement. “The problem was quickly resolved and we apologize to those customers. Anyone who was affected should connect to iTunes to complete the update or contact AppleCare for help”.
In addition, they asked the users to back up their device and download the update only through iTunes as a precaution.

Regardless, the launch of the operating system, at least, has not been a smooth ride for the company.

In the light of this mess, and the one that Samsung made with Note7, I believe that the tech companies need to rest their ladles down a little, and extensively test their ware, only then should they launch them out.

The market has pretty much turned into a “product” or “feature” launch race these days, with companies releasing anywhere between three to six new devices every year, in addition to new software. And we, as customers have come to rely on them (the companies) and their products, too extensively, to be held up by badly or even hurriedly executed products/software.

It’s ironical that the world’s barometer of customer experience and customer satisfaction, Apple, is finding itself derided in the tech world that once swore by it’s (Apple’s) commitment to the customer. It’s like finding out that your idol, your mentor, and your best uncle is having an affair.

It’s not a fun place to be. And Apple (and the rest of the tech gods) need to realise that.

Originally published at Chip-Monks.