While the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are now flying off shelves, it has been a somewhat less glorious start for iOS 9. Initial download failures were quickly followed by upgrade problems and now Apple admits a third problem has arisen…
Once again taking to its official news site, Apple has published an admission that one of the most useful new features in iOS 9 is currently broken due to bugs in iCloud:
“App slicing is currently unavailable for iOS 9 apps due to an issue affecting iCloud backups created from iOS 9 where some apps from the App Store would only restore to the same model of iOS device,” Apple states. “When a customer downloads your iOS 9 app, they will get the Universal version of your app, rather than the variant specific for their device type.”
The Importance Of App Slicing
So what is App Slicing? When working it is a potentially brilliant advancement which allows the App Store to identify a user’s device and only download the necessary files for that specific model.
iOS 9 App Slicing ingeniously cuts down on wasted storage space – when it works. Image credit Apple
Before App Slicing in iOS 9, devices simply had to download the app files for every type of device: iPad variants, iPhone variants or iPod touch variants which meant a lot of wasted space. How much space? Potentially between 20-40% when downloading new apps.
So losing App Slicing at a time when the addition of 4K video, 12MP cameras and Live Photos has effectively made the base level 16GB iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus borderline pointless, is far from ideal.
But there’s good news: Apple states App Slicing will return and “be reenabled with a future software update.” No date has been put on when this will be or which future iOS 9 version will feature it (the new iOS 9.0.1 release left App Slicing on the cutting room floor), but no further user involvement will be required other than installing the update when it comes along.
iOS 9 App Slicing picks only the pieces needed for the specific device it is being installed up. Image credit Apple
The Silver Lining
While a third problem so soon after release is the last thing iOS 9 needed (especially given its otherwise impressive feature set), this is another positive example of Apple being more upfront with its users this generation.
It comes in stark contrast to the company’s behaviour during the lifespan of iOS 8 where it refused to acknowledge many high profile bugs for months on end (admission of the GMT Bug took 5 months, WiFried took 7 months). So while no bugs is clearly the most preferable situation, an open, honest and transparent Apple comes as a very welcome consolation.
Source : http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/09/27/apple-ios-9-third-problem/