iOS 6 – Some things to consider when upgrading your iPhones and iPads to the new operating system

September 20th, 2012
Alright, iOS 6 is finally here, so now what?

First off, I’ll start by saying that I am totally loving the new features and have not had any “side effects” from the new update.  As someone that updated to the new iPad the last go around, I finally get a real version of Siri and the native GPS navigation and spoken directions I was hoping for 🙂

A summary of the new features is listed here http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/.

Prerequisites:

I have updated a number of new and old devices so far and here are some tips:

  1. Plug it in - You need to have ample battery power and should plug in your device before starting (seriously).
  2. Give yourself plenty of time – This is a monster, especially if you listen to my advice and backup everything first.  I would set aside a good hour+ to get through everything.  Don’t even attempt to do this mid-day if you are going to need your device to get other work done.
  3. Back it up - If you are risk averse like me, I would suggest doing an iTunes backup (physically plug into your computer and get a local copy ) as well as a cloud backup (if you have a newer device that does this, setup an account).
  4. Turn off your cellular Data (if you are subscribed to a data plan) – Trust me, you will kill your plan and likely get some overages charges if you are not careful.
  5. Make sure you have a good internet connection and do not move the device or disrupt in during the update process.
  6. Go for it – Do the updates (from Settings>General>Software Update).
  7. Answer the questions at startup regarding new features, etc.
  8. Go to the App Store Updates tab and update your Apps - There are probably many – lots of Apps have been developing in advance of this update.
Special notes for those of you on Cloud Connect (our hosted virtual office)
  • Make sure your Citrix Receiver app is up to date so your applications run properly.
  • Check out the new features of the Safari Browser. The iCloud Tabs will allow you to pick up your browser on another device. This is handy if you had your Webtop open on your iPad and then want to continue that same window on your iPhone for instance.
  • Make sure you try the new Full-Screen Landscape option so you can fit more of the Webtop on the screen

And of course, if you have any problems or questions, give us a call.  That’s what we’re here for.

Dan Paquette,
Managing Partner, Key Methods