14 DAY TRIAL // A new version of iOS 8 is being prepared for release to the masses. Sources familiar with Apple’s plans say that the new bits could drop as early as Tuesday or Wednesday this coming week.
Forever in need of fixes in recent years, iOS is being incremented on a monthly basis. 2015 starts with a planned maintenance update labeled iOS 8.1.3, packing under-the-hood changes and no new features (or at least none that can be seen at first glance anyway).
A minor update
Sources close to the Cupertino giant have revealed to BGR that a small iOS 8 update will be released next week. The source couldn’t confirm whether this will be another beta for developers (which certainly makes the report sound like a stab in the dark), or whether it will be a public update that everyone can download and install. In any case, this person says to expect a move from Apple on Tuesday, or Wednesday the latest.
Separately, a source talking to MacRumors said to expect the same thing, lending more credence to the sketchy BGR report. This person claims that Apple seeded iOS 8.1.3 build 12B460 to select retail employees on Wednesday, January 7, for testing purposes. Apple regularly does this to ensure that the final bits are bug-free, even though some flaws still slip through the cracks sometimes.
What to expect
It will not pack any major new features, this source adds, and even the fixes included in this maintenance update are not “readily apparent.” We’ll be sure to let you know when Apple makes its move so you can be among the first to download and experience iOS 8.1.3 next week, if these claims indeed pan out.
To ensure that iOS 8.1.3 can be installed without a hiccup, have at least a few hundred megabytes of free storage space available.