Why Automatic Updates in iOS 7 Are a Breath of Fresh Air
And how to embrace them effectively.
Although iOS 7's beta has improved leaps and bounds since its initial release in June, the debate around many of its features is still noticeably polarised. One such example of a much argued-over feature is the App Store app’s automatic updates.
Background
App updates, are of course a cornerstone of functionality for both developers and users (of iOS). They serve as a way of delivering not only bug fixes and issue patches, but also as a way of introducing brand new features, content and design changes. This latter purpose seems to be the point of irritation for users who are complaining about such updates going automatic. For these users, what was once a choice-led routine is now being threatened into a completely hands-off direction.
The old system (iOS 6 and below) relied on users checking the App Store app’s ‘Updates’ tab and manually downloading all/some updates. A ‘What’s New’ section per app served as a point-of-contact for developers to reference and introduce users to their app’s changes. In the new system (iOS 7), the ‘Updates’ tab still exists, as well as a ‘What’s New’ app outline, but the choice to update apps has been removed (although this can be reverted in the settings menu). By default, apps will be added to the ‘Updates’ tab when they have been updated, and a little blue dot will appear next to the app icon on the Home Screen to indicate a new version has been installed.
The furore is perhaps in some ways understandable. After all, there are examples of apps that have failed miserably at captivating the popular opinion they once deserved. An example of this is the Scrabble app for iPad. Having been bought-out and its original development team changed to EA Games, an update was introduced that angered and alienated many of its devout user-base. Holding back off an update with such an unfavourable reception, as a user, is going to be much more difficult in iOS 7. However, there are still rich benefits to be had for both developers and users.
Why They’re Good for Users and Developers Alike
Despite the examples of failure, if developers follow a feedback-led approach to their updating schedule, the negativity surrounding automatic updates could die off pretty quickly. Automatically updating benefits both users and developers accordingly (with some overlap).
For users, the most obvious benefit is that of convenience. Gone will be the days of an App Store app brimming with updates (and a 50+ badge count), as this will now be taken care of. Users can also receive the enhanced experience a new version brings (bug fixes or bigger), as soon as it is released. This is also great for developers, as knowing that the majority of their users will receive new versions automatically can give them the peace of mind that important fixes will be delivered with ease.
Developers have also been given an opportunity to introduce a new way of dealing with updates directly from the app; something that is rarely currently thought about…
Embracing the Change
The opportunity for developers to make updates a more fluid experience is bigger than before. A slight onus has been handed to developers, in making it clear when their app has been updated. Nonetheless, this can be leveraged into something great.
Take, for example, a Photo-sharing app that is releasing a new version that allows users to add image filters to their photos. Before iOS 7, some users may have clocked on to the app update (or told via a push notification from the developer), and manually updated to start using the new, awesome feature. However, some users may have not yet seen/installed the update, and are confused as to why other users of the app are posting photos with cool, new effects.
This type of situation can be eradicated with iOS 7, as all the developer needs to do, when the app has been automatically updated, is to pop a little view up within the app when a user opens up a new version for the first time. Think of it as a ‘What’s New’ within apps themselves. This can be done very easily, and helps developers to communicate with their users more easily and instantly than before. This approach can be improved in itself, too, for example by prompting for feedback on the app’s version/update after x amount of usage. Not only does such an approach yield greater feedback data and update-uptake, but it also enriches user experience by keeping them in the loop.
To conclude, although automatic updates will likely still result in some Scrabble-esque catastrophes across the App Store, it seems to be worth it, as developers with a super-strong focus on iterative feedback will come out winners, and their users will continue to be delighted.
