14 DAY TRIAL // You can ditch any hopes that you may one day return to iOS 7 if things take a turn for the worse under iOS 8. Apple has stopped code-signing 7.1 firmware, so the only way to go back to that world is to buy an older iPhone.
The confirmation comes from developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who wrote on Twitter, “I guess Apple’s stopping iOS 7.1 signing. No downgrades for you!” (tweet embedded below).
Apple wants everyone in the “loop”
It’s a practice many have accused. But it’s something that helps Apple ensure some quality control, security, and a firmware span that doesn’t give headaches to developers.
It’s in the user’s best interest to be on the latest OS, but it’s also important to feel that you have a saying in these things. The only way to put it is take the good with the bad.
Document yourself
If you’re still on iOS 7 and you’re unsure whether or not iOS 8 is for you, the best approach is to just read about iOS 8. Try Softpedia’s trusty tags at the bottom of this piece, couple that with some documentation from Apple’s support site, and you’ll soon know if there’s something in your phone that won’t work as well under iOS 8.
And whatever you do, don’t manually install iOS 8.0.1 from the Interwebs. It’s a crippled update. Instead, get the official iOS 8.0.2 from Apple’s servers using iTunes or OTA on your iDevice.
What’s code signing
It’s basically a security check to ensure that apps run well and don’t pose any threats to the user.
According to Apple’s iOS Security documentation from February 2014, “Once the iOS kernel has started, it controls which user processes and apps can be run. To ensure that all apps come from a known and approved source and have not been tampered with, iOS requires that all executable code be signed using an Apple-issued certificate.”
“Apps provided with the device, like Mail and Safari, are signed by Apple. Third-party apps must also be validated and signed using an Apple-issued certificate. Mandatory code signing extends the concept of chain of trust from the OS to apps, and prevents third-party apps from loading unsigned code resources or using self- modifying code,” the PDF adds.
An OS that isn’t signed anymore doesn’t have support for downgrades from firmware with newer signatures. Simple as that.
Check out more iOS 8 and iPhone 6 stories below and don’t be afraid to take the plunge just because the press is up in arms about some bugs.
I guess Apple’s stopping iOS 7.1 signing. No downgrades for you!
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) September 26, 2014