iPhone may get OTA software updates with iOS 5 release
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According to rumors circulating on the web, Apple is going to make iPhone users' lives a bit easier by enabling hassle-free, over-the-air updates. No more looking for the iPhone's USB cable anymore – software updates will be delivered straight to the smartphone over the carrier's cellular internet connection. Android users, for example, have been enjoying that feature for ages so probably many have been wondering why Apple is not doing anything to make updates a bit more convenient.
If the rumors turn out to be true, OTA updates are very likely to be introduced as a part of iOS 5 when it launches later this year. Some say that Apple and Verizon are already negotiating the details around the feature, but there is no word about talks with AT&T or other carriers around the world just yet. It wouldn't be very kind of them to make OTA updates Verizon-exclusive now, would it? Anyway, we are hoping to learn more in about a month's time, on June 6, when Apple is going to host WWDC and hopefully give iOS 5's first preview.
source: 9to5 Mac
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33 Comments
1. Droid_X_Doug posted on 05 May 2011, 10:27 0 0
Is OTA updating exclusive to the iPhone? Or, all iOS devices running v. 5+? If limited to iPhone, that would suck.
2. Astreo posted on 05 May 2011, 10:42 0 0
maybe ipods can use the wifi but for iphones it would be nice in any coverage areas. what critical updates and features does an ipod need anyways?
3. Astreo posted on 05 May 2011, 10:43 1 0
Oh and as an android user i can say that OTA updates dont always work. on my old captivate for instance it wouldnt download at all and i had to find the updates online and move them to my phone.
7. protozeloz posted on 05 May 2011, 11:38 1 0
indeed OTAS will depend on how stable your connection is, thats why its recommended using wifi at home
10. JeffdaBeat posted on 05 May 2011, 12:36 1 0
They would definitely have to change the practice of the user having to download the entire OS over the air. They would have to do it in the way that OSX is updated, in small portions as the update becomes available. Of course when the OS switches entirely to the next version, you'd have to plug your phone in...
Still, I think this is needed. There are a lot of folks out there who only update because iTunes randomly prompts them to do so. This would help people keep their devices up to date...even if they aren't tech wizards.
11. protozeloz posted on 05 May 2011, 12:53 0 0
some updates are small, only entirely new versions update downloading the OS all over again, Ive seen small updates before, still a good idea to do it a a place you know your connection will be good
12. protozeloz posted on 05 May 2011, 12:58 0 0
but personalty to me OTAS and cloud services are an important step when it comes to phones and tablets, unties your device completely from your computer making it completely standalone, you can decide not to have a PC/Mac at home, and yet get the latest your company provides you with
33. NVPMOTHA (unregistered) posted on 06 May 2011, 22:28 0 0
I think that an iphone ota would definately be cool, but the bad thing about it is, with how large the update is, it would take forever if you didnt have sufficient coverage. On top of the coverage issue, you might not be able to update fully which would cause issues. I think that doing it tethered is a smarter way to ensure full update.
23. remixfa posted on 05 May 2011, 18:29 2 1
welcome to 2007, iphone users!!! I can hardly beleive.. first you get an update for MMS, then cut n paste.. now OTA updates!!! who woulda thought!! Sooo revolutionary! Im glad we waited for steve jobs to invent all that!!
:) :) :) :) :)
24. Lucas777 posted on 05 May 2011, 18:31 2 0
oh rnt u funny, well how r those OTA updates treating u cause my iphone is on the current software, can u say that about ur android phone? probably 90% of people cant.
28. Goldeneye posted on 05 May 2011, 21:35 1 0
I just can't imagine Apple leave updates up to the carriers, mister Jobs controls every single detail about his baby.
5. vette21man posted on 05 May 2011, 11:05 1 0
"...software updates will be delivered straight to the smartphone over the carrier's cellular internet connection."
Will this charge against AT&T's 2GB of data? Hopefully, AT&T would make an exception for an iOS update to NOT count against your monthly data allowance.
6. android_hitman posted on 05 May 2011, 11:32 0 1
i don't see why the wouldn't charge! they can't make exceptions ..
the 2GB plan is part of your contract :(
i am 99% sure that the evil corporation whould not make an exception
8. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 12:01 1 7
And I can guarantee that if the feature is introduced it'll be treated as exclusive innovation by Apple.
"Reinventing updates. Again."
25. Lucas777 posted on 05 May 2011, 18:33 4 1
of course... becuause they probably will actually do it right... unlike android with everybody on different softwares
9. AppleFUD (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2011, 12:16 1 2
but using iTunes is so much easier
/s
15. AppleFUD (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2011, 15:47 0 1
arent i funny guys? arent i funny? i hope theres some cute guys reading this, i need me some man lovin!
xoxoxoxoxo toodles!
13. hawk62 posted on 05 May 2011, 14:42 2 2
NO NO NO NO. Let stupid android keep ota! Using itunes for your updates is one of the best things about the iphone. You get to pick when to do it. You use your home broadband connection not slow ass cellullar. You dont worry about how much battery charge is left. Remember all the android bricks because their battery was not at full charge.
16. derp (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2011, 16:08 0 2
Android phones turn into bricks because their so called "updates" usually create more problems than they fix.
17. hawk62 posted on 05 May 2011, 16:12 0 2
Plus the ota to android is very small to save the cell networks. Using itunes, apple can make the update large and it works.
22. protozeloz posted on 05 May 2011, 17:32 0 0
1. your phone is probably soft bricked and fixing that is stupidly easy.
2. you can do updates thought cable and will download the whole package if you want it to, so OTA is just a bonus you get making the phone stand out by itself
20. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 16:23 1 0
Yes. Because Gingerbread with new Blur has caused SOOO many problems with my X. *rolls eyes*
18. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 16:22 1 0
Oh, so THAT'S how you managed to brick 3 brand newnew DROID Xs in a row, Hawk? Here I just thought you were extraordinarily horrible with technology. Now I know that you were just too stupid to decline the update until you could plug the phone into the charger and/or get a wifi connection. Three times. In a row.
Lol.
26. hawk62 posted on 05 May 2011, 21:00 0 0
My x never bricked. Took shit vz n moto too long to get ota out. Say want u want, apple plain n simple has a better os.
27. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 21:20 0 0
But you DID somehow destroy 3 Droid Xs in a row. So if that's not your excuse, what is?
14. downphoenix posted on 05 May 2011, 15:07 2 0
wow, Iphones didnt have OTA updates? I didn't think Apple was that far behind... EVERYONE ELSE. That's the only freakin' phone that requires you to plug into computer to download updates, even Blackberrys went OTA about a year or so ago, LMAO.
19. JPage (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2011, 16:22 0 1
Yeah I'm sure Apple doesn't do OTA because their way behind everyone else please I'd rather update when I want and not have it pushed on my phone, can't stand people that go Android because they don't want to go mainstream, please Android just as mainstream as iOS everytime I look another cookiecutter Android phone comes out, talk about oversaturation.
21. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 16:31 1 0
If you've ever owned an Android phone you'd know that an OTA update can be delayed until you're ready for it.
29. TKFox007 posted on 05 May 2011, 21:46 0 0
Oh yeah, because everyone loves downloading a 600+ megabyte software update over 3G
30. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 22:59 0 0
It can be done over wifi. In which case it'll take maybe ten, fifteen minutes. Ish.
31. IOS5 (unregistered) posted on 06 May 2011, 09:53 0 0
OTA the first company introduce this technology it's Nokia! I know fandroid and iOS fan like me ^^ going to say who cares! 4 years ago used to be Nokia fan not exactly 100% fan but Nokia used to have this thing OTA, I used to update my 5800 through the OTA but I got lot of shit from those update kind of camera bugs and some time phone freez in the middle of conversation!
32. protozeloz posted on 06 May 2011, 15:55 0 0
Indeed OTA's has being rolling around since I had memory, is one of the best way to update a device (pc or phone) there is no need to so so many things when getting an update, making it more stand alone.
OTAS will rock on any device they are implemented, glad to know apple is implementing it (I'll be there to remind people this is being out for years ;P is my hobby) but for those thinking is a bad idea because android has it and only because of only that its a stupid feature GET LOST its gonna be great for end users and I'm glad it happens.
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