Inside iOS 9: Apple makes it easier to upgrade with automatic overnight updates, smaller files
In a bid to drive the already-impressive iOS upgrade rate even higher, Apple has brought a bit of OS X to iOS 9 with a new automatic installation option that will let iPhones and iPads update themselves --?at a convenient time for the user.
"We're also changing the way software updates are presented to the user," OS X platform lead Andreas Wendker explained at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June. "Users will be given a choice to install right now, or later at night when they might not need access to devices."
This change has brought iOS in line with OS X, which began offering such an option in Mavericks.
On the desktop, selecting "Try Tonight" will automatically install available updates between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., whenever the computer is not being used. The update process is fully automatic --?the computer saves state, restarts itself when necessary, and presents the same state when the user logs on again.
The new iOS 9 update mechanisms appear to follow the same pattern. A post-update dialog shown on screen confirms that the update was successfully installed, and gives the user an option to read more information about the changes.
Apple has also reduced the amount of free space required to install updates on the device, from 4.6 gigabytes for iOS 8 to 1.3 gigabytes for iOS 9.
"So we think this is going to keep pushing users to update quickly, and will allow you to keep focusing your energies on the latest version of iOS," Wendker told audience.
"We're also changing the way software updates are presented to the user," OS X platform lead Andreas Wendker explained at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June. "Users will be given a choice to install right now, or later at night when they might not need access to devices."
This change has brought iOS in line with OS X, which began offering such an option in Mavericks.
On the desktop, selecting "Try Tonight" will automatically install available updates between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., whenever the computer is not being used. The update process is fully automatic --?the computer saves state, restarts itself when necessary, and presents the same state when the user logs on again.
The new iOS 9 update mechanisms appear to follow the same pattern. A post-update dialog shown on screen confirms that the update was successfully installed, and gives the user an option to read more information about the changes.
Apple has also reduced the amount of free space required to install updates on the device, from 4.6 gigabytes for iOS 8 to 1.3 gigabytes for iOS 9.
"So we think this is going to keep pushing users to update quickly, and will allow you to keep focusing your energies on the latest version of iOS," Wendker told audience.
Comments
Brilliant! As usual for Apple.
Such attention to detail.
Best.
Will that be as critical if they bump their minimum storage to 32GB?
I think this is partly Apple's way of telling us they intend to keep 16GB low end size for one more year. The 16GB, 64GB and 128GB sizing/pricing was hugely successful for them last year because most chose the 64GB thinking they were paying the same and getting more when they were really just getting what they should for that fair market price of flash RAM that Apple themselves set. It allows more wiggle room for Apple to price cleverly this September and the following Septembers.
Will that be as critical if they bump their minimum storage to 32GB?
Absolutely no reason for them to do this.
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Slimmed down updates is great, and automatic overnight updates is even better. It should follow similar behavior to iCloud Backups and OS X Updates. Plugged in, Locked, Connected to WiFi, and between the hours of 2 and 4 am. Follow that criteria and almost all users will have the latest update within days.
Troll post. Absolutely no reason for them to do this.
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"Troll post."
Nonsense. A rather legitimate question, and answered as such by another poster. The sole reason for shrinking the update file size (and risking the consequent compromises to effectiveness) in these days of faster bandwidth is accommodating close to full devices: and devices with larger starting capacity are less likely to be "full" I would suggest (and I seem to recall, which is why I phrased the question that way, that there was firm speculation (okay maybe an oxymoron) that the minimum WAS going to be bumped to 32GB). OTOH this may be another nod towards the legacy device community alongside their notes of greater compatibility overall with older devices in the next OS release.
Quote:
When you use your iPhone for an alarm so you make it that important meeting in the morning, it's going to suck if the update fails & your alarm doesn't go off!
I have never had, nor heard of (unless jailbroken – then all bets are off) an update failing. At all. And I am a day one user of iOS.
This is truly not something to be concerned about.
I think this is partly Apple's way of telling us they intend to keep 16GB low end size for one more year. The 16GB, 64GB and 128GB sizing/pricing was hugely successful for them last year because most chose the 64GB thinking they were paying the same and getting more when they were really just getting what they should for that fair market price of flash RAM that Apple themselves set. It allows more wiggle room for Apple to price cleverly this September and the following Septembers.
Hadn't some one of repute reported out a firm-ish bump to 32GB? That was actually the spirit of why I asked that, as as you say this would seem to be an indication there won't be a storage minimum bump. And as I prefer using a computer to moderate the updates where free capacity is just about a non-issue I'm pretty agnostic on the whole thing.
Well iOS 9 will be available for any device that got iOS 8 so my guess is it's a nod to older devices which I'm sure a lot of them are 16GB or even some 8GB.
When you use your iPhone for an alarm so you make it that important meeting in the morning, it's going to suck if the update fails & your alarm doesn't go off!
Well hopefully that won't happen! Microsoft is forcing automatic updtes with Windows 10. Google has been doing Automatic updates with Chrome forever. Lets hope for better testing before throwing a auto update release out there. Otherwise everyone with a iphone could be screwed at once, instead of a few people who warn everyone else to NOT get that update!!!!
"Troll post."
Nonsense. A rather legitimate question, and answered as such by another poster. The sole reason for shrinking the update file size (and risking the consequent compromises to effectiveness) in these days of faster bandwidth is accommodating close to full devices: and devices with larger starting capacity are less likely to be "full" I would suggest (and I seem to recall, which is why I phrased the question that way, that there was firm speculation (okay maybe an oxymoron) that the minimum WAS going to be bumped to 32GB). OTOH this may be another nod towards the legacy device community alongside their notes of greater compatibility overall with older devices in the next OS release.
I still believe Apple will keep the 16 Gig phones as the low end. Because it's $100 to get 64 Gig's, and 16 Gig's a pretty much a joke for anyone except for those Minor Smartphone users that just wants to make calls, a few messages, a little twitter and facebook and a few pictures and that's it. So most people are spending a extra $100 to get the 64 gig version. If the low end was 32gig's, how many of those that spent the $100, wouldn't have and been happy with 32 gig's? my last iPhone, the iPhone 4 was 32gigs. I used it for over 4+ years. I tend to hold onto my phones for a long time, so my iPhone 6 I just got the 128 gig version!!! What the hell.
If Apple can just bump up from 16 to 64 and get people to jump on that for another $100, that's more money into Apple's pocket. I sure don't see this changing for the iPhone 6S or 6S+.
Currently a decent library of photos and apps would fill the device and prevent any attempts at updating.
Apple doesn't work on a technology as significant as this to make like easier for one more year of users. In fact it clearly benefits as users. Once all apps update we can expect fairly huge savings particularly in games.
It's future proofing. Games can shave off 50% or more so they can add more resources and code overall.
"In a bid to drive the already-impressive iOS upgrade rate even higher"...
Actually, I hope they don't make it more "inline with OSX"...
I haven't yet upgraded to 10.10.3 because of general concerns about photo collections and streams.
But I DO have a lovely reminder box on my desktop which can't be removed and takes precedence
over anything else on the desktop.
I have to say I don't particularly appreciate this as a way to bump up the "already-impressive"
upgrade rate...and it'd be even worse to have an unavoidable reminder on the smaller iPhone screen,
were they actually to design it that way.
Will that be as critical if they bump their minimum storage to 32GB?
What do you think the answer to that question is?
I just wish Apple offered incremental updates for the built-in apps in legacy versions of iOS.
At least security updates or fixes for crashes, e.g., Safari on iPad1 with Apple's very own Swift Developer blog page.
I still believe Apple will keep the 16 Gig phones as the low end. Because it's $100 to get 64 Gig's, and 16 Gig's a pretty much a joke for anyone except for those Minor Smartphone users that just wants to make calls, a few messages, a little twitter and facebook and a few pictures and that's it. So most people are spending a extra $100 to get the 64 gig version. If the low end was 32gig's, how many of those that spent the $100, wouldn't have and been happy with 32 gig's? my last iPhone, the iPhone 4 was 32gigs. I used it for over 4+ years. I tend to hold onto my phones for a long time, so my iPhone 6 I just got the 128 gig version!!! What the hell.
If Apple can just bump up from 16 to 64 and get people to jump on that for another $100, that's more money into Apple's pocket. I sure don't see this changing for the iPhone 6S or 6S+.
Yes that's the aspect I forgot about: the legacy installed base for the iPhone is enormous and respecting customers like that IS a good thing no matter if a future minimum storage offer was larger. I take it they're doing something similar (backward compatibility) with El Capitan.
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I have never had, nor heard of (unless jailbroken – then all bets are off) an update failing. At all. And I am a day one user of iOS.
This is truly not something to be concerned about.
I have had the rather unpleasant experience of updates failing on vanilla iOS, so now you cant say you have never heard of this happening.
It does happen and it can put the fear of God (other supranatural entaties are available) in you when it does. There's nothing like having an expensive paperweight and an overwhelming urge to find a computer post haste to get it fixed!