Apple Upgrades to iOS 7

The Mobile Revolution…Starting with the Apple App Store

Many sites are reporting that today is the day that many iPad and iPhone users can upgrade to iOS 7. Naturally, much of the reporting at this point focuses on what the new iteration of the operating system offers.

Tech Radar says that the iOS 7 update is applicable to the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and iPod 5^th generation.

CBS News reports that iOS 7 features a new user interface, a control center that offers an easier way to make common changes than accessing “settings,” AirDrop file sharing; better camera and photo management apps, improved multitasking, an upgrade to the Safari browser and enhancements to Siri. The Los Angeles Times adds its take on what is new in the updated OS. Much of the story overlaps with CBS News,’ though there is some fresh material. Apple’s official version gives the full story.

Such announcements lend themselves to list-type stories. Indeed, there are many lists of new features beyond the ones cited above.

ZDNet, however, has another sort of list. It has six reasons to delay upgrading to iOS 7, which it says offers more than 200 new features. The story points out that some apps won’t immediately be compatible with the new environment, it is not yet jailbroken, the first few weeks will have the quirks and bugs that are part and parcel of such rollouts, some older devices won’t perform well and it may be impossible or difficult to downgrade from iOS 7 to earlier versions of Apple’s OS. Finally, the story has some words for its use in the workplace:

In any case, internal apps or mobile device management (MDM) solutions may not yet be compatible with the latest software, systems may need to be adjusted to accommodate new features, or it may simply be too early for businesses to risk jumping on the early adoption train so soon. If you upgrade without permission from work, you could find your device barred from use on the corporate network.

In yet another list, CNET’s Jason Cipriani suggests five things to do to prepare for iOS 7: check device compatibility, delete apps that no longer are used, make sure desired apps are up to date, back up everything and upgrade iTunes. The piece links to a full review of the new OS.

It is likely that the same Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) issues that are a part of mobility today will be evident on a smaller scale in the rollout of iOS 7. IT departments must be prepared for the new OS and ensure that it fits into the existing infrastructure seamlessly.

In the bigger picture, the backdrop to the upgrade is the growing pressure on Apple. It is not very surprising: The company released products that dominated for a significant period of time and set the market. However, there are lots of very smart people working at other very well financed companies. It is inevitable that the Apple’s hegemony will fade and that others will gain ground. In this context, iOS 7 can be seen as the pushback against inroads made by Samsung and other device makers.