Taking a Leap

Both Android and iOS devices are commonly updated through OTA (over the air) cellular or WiFi connections.

However, if you are an early adopter and tempted to jump to the latest versions, you should be prepared for problems. Make sure you have a backup before you begin.

In the mobile software update landscape of the past, opting for the newest version wasn’t always a smooth ride, especially for early adopters.

While both Android and iOS offered the convenience of over-the-air (OTA) updates, these updates sometimes introduced unforeseen bugs or compatibility problems. This could be particularly risky for those eager to experience the latest features. Here’s why waiting a beat before hitting download might have been a wise decision:

Firstly, early software updates, especially for major version jumps, could be riddled with bugs that hadn’t been fully ironed out during testing. These bugs could manifest as anything from performance issues and app crashes to complete system instability. Since rollbacks to previous versions weren’t always readily available, encountering a major bug could leave you stuck with a malfunctioning phone until a patch was released.

Secondly, depending on your device and carrier, the update rollout for new versions wasn’t always immediate or uniform. This meant that early adopters might be the first to experience compatibility issues with specific apps or hardware on their devices. By waiting a bit, you could benefit from the experiences of others and learn if the update caused problems for similar devices on your carrier’s network. 

Popular trusted user forums were a valuable resource, as users were quick to share their experiences with new updates.

Reading through forum posts from early adopters could serve as a warning system, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether to update immediately or wait for a potential bug fix.

Having a PC or Mac nearby when you perform the update will allow you to reset the device should your update encounter problems.

Also, by checking a popular trusted user forum for posts from early adopters can save you some headaches as any post of failures will be a good warning for you.