All iPhone 6 models come with the normal 5W 1A wall charger, but it turns out you can charge your iPhone 6 faster than the 5W charger could, and it’s thanks to support for Apple’s 10W 2.1A iPad chargers.
In the past, you could technically charge your iPhone 5s or iPhone 5 using the larger iPad chargers, with the false notion that more output from the larger charger would allow for faster charging. However, the iPhone is designed to only pull in enough juice that will adequately charge it, meaning that using a larger iPad charger wasn’t really worth it in the long run.
However, the folks at iLounge confirm that the iPhone 6 can draw in 2.1A without a problem, meaning that users can use the larger 10W iPad chargers and charge their iPhone 6 faster than a regular 5W iPhone charger would.
When using a 2.1A iPad charger to charge an iPhone 6, it’ll take around two hours to charge it up to about 90%, whereas it would take quite longer with a 5W charger.
Support for 2.1A charging applies for both the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, as well as the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.
With previous iPhones, it was recommended to charge them with their included 5W charger, mostly because using any kind of larger charger wouldn’t really help a whole lot, due to the reasons stated above, and some experts even claimed that charging your phone with a larger charger could damage your phone’s battery over time. However, it looks like the iPhone 6 can use iPad chargers without a problem.
So then why does the iPhone 6 come with only a 5W charger by default?
It’s most likely due to manufacturing costs. Those smaller 5W chargers cost less to manufacture than the larger 10W iPad chargers. Thus, it’s Apple’s way of saving money and giving users the smaller chargers in order to make a bit more profit off of iPhone 6 sales.
Granted, the iPhone 6 will charge just fine using a 5W charger, but it seems that users will finally get real benefits from using a larger 10W iPad charger.
Using a Non-iPhone Charger
Every smartphone comes with its own charger, mostly because each phone requires a different amount of amperage, wattage, etc. when it comes to charging them. However, there are cases where you can use a non-iPhone charger with your iPhone 6.
It short, most USB wall chargers will work with most smartphones, but there are a couple things you’ll want to be aware.
Ideally, you should use the charger that came with your iPhone to charge it, but in certain scenarios, it doesn’t hurt to use a different charger, just as long as the amperage matches up. With the iPhone 6, it supports 2.1A, which means you can effectively use an iPad charger, but for older iPhones, 1A chargers are the go-to option, and most smartphone chargers are between 1.0 and 1.5 amps.
For instance, the Nexus 5 charger is set at 1.2A. So you might be asking yourself, since the Nexus 5 charger has more amperage, wouldn’t it charge an iPhone 5s quicker than a normal iPhone charger? Not exactly, While the Nexus 5 charger could technically deliver more power than necessary for the iPhone, devices only draw as much power as they can handle. Thus, an iPhone would still only draw 1A from the 1.2A charger.
As for voltage and wattage, the only time you really need to worry about voltage when it comes to charging your iPhone is when you’re traveling to a different country. The US uses a completely different system than Europe, so you’ll have to get a voltage converter if you want to use your American gadgets across the pond.
Otherwise, all USB devices rely on the 5V standard, so all USB chargers for all smartphones use 5V. Thus, this is something you don’t really need to worry about.
The same goes for wattage, although Apple markets their various chargers by labeling them with their respective wattages. The iPhone charger is 5W, while the iPad charger uses either 10W or 12W. Wattage is nothing more than a measurement of volts multiplied by the amperage, and since all USB devices use 5V, you really only need to take a look at the amperage to get an idea of how much power it can deliver.
By this point it is clear Apple is working on a new iPhone for 2014 that many call an iPhone 6. We’ve brought you many iPhone 6 concepts and several alleged iPhone 6 videos that show how thin this new phone might be.
Now we’re back with something really cool — iPhone 6 headphones that can track your heart rate, blood pressure and more.
Smart head phones may sound like science fiction, but a leak, an Apple patent and a key Apple hire all point to the potential for the most advanced iPhone headphones ever to arrive with the iPhone 6 this fall.
At first, smart earbuds that can monitor all of this information also sound like a large unwieldy contraption that would have the style benefit of wearing Google Glass, but thanks to advances these could be almost the same size as a pair of regular headphones.
The headphones below look like a simple pair of headphones geared towards running, but these are actually fitness headphones from Intel that can capture a user’s heart rate and send it to a companion app to help with personal training and to pick the best music to motivate you to run faster or harder depending on your heart rate. This version of smart earbuds uses a headphone jack for power so there is no need for a battery.
Like Apple’s iPhone 6 headphones, these normal looking headphones can track biometric info like a heart rate. (Intel Free Press)
This pair of smart headphones that can track your heart rate isn’t just a trinket Intel decided to show off at CES, the company says that it plans to release them in the middle of 2014 and is working with an un-named partner to make this happen.
Much of the attention is on the actual iPhone 6, which we expect will arrive with a thinner design, a bigger screen and a new look, but this week the attention turned to an official Apple accessory that might work with the iPhone 6, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5. The iWatch is old news as far as rumors go, but the new Apple wearable might be something anyone is comfortable wearing, a new pair of smart white iPhone earbuds.
The first clue arrived on an iPhone app called Secret, where users can anonymously share juicy gossip, confessions and secrets. A users shared three potential iPhone 6 earbud features with the community. Here’s what the individual claims Apple is working on;
EarPods that can measure heart rate and blood pressure.
iBeacons to help users find their headphones around the house or in a bag.
Lightning port connectivity for data transfer
Stores the data encrypted similar to Touch ID, but can share with a doctor.
New remote with a added microphone for better noise canceling.
A stepping stone to convince iPhone users to buy an iWatch.
There is no way to check this individual’s accuracy, but allegedly it comes from a disgruntled former Apple employee. Alone this rumor is juicy, but again tough to get excited about without verification.
Apple EarPods with sensors could look as normal as these heart rate sensing smart headphones. (Intel Free Press)
This is where things start to come together. An Apple patent from 2007 shows a method of including a variety of sensors in a pair of headphones. This patent focuses on a clip that attaches to an ear or a patch that attaches to the skin, but advances in sensors could simplify this setup to something like you see above. There are also sketches that show sensors embedded in an earbud, like the Intel headphones.
The patent describes the smart Apple headphones as,
“In one embodiment, the present invention can include headsets having one or more integrated physiological sensors. The headsets can be, for example, headphones for receiving audio signals from a media device or headsets for communication with cellular telephones. The sensor signals can be transmitted to a data repository through the same communication channel through which audio signals are transmitted to the headset (e.g., hard-wired or wireless).”
Adding to this rumor of health tracking headphones from Apple is a report on MacRumors that Apple hired an MIT grad with an expertise in tracking health data from ear-worn machines. A source tells the publication that Apple hired Eric Winokur who will soon be working with Apple, likely on something like these secret Apple EarPods that can track heart rate and more.
In 2011 Winokur described his work with ear-worn biometric tracking to ABC, talking about a device that, “… measures heart rate and blood pressure at your head, and could help doctors track conditions like high blood pressure more accurately and continuously to better personalize treatment.”
If Apple is working on smart EarPods that can track important fitness data they could arrive around the release of iOS 8 and the iPhone 6. Rumors point to a major health focus in iOS 8, which we may learn about during WWDC 2014 in early June. An iOS 8 HealthBook app may store various pieces of health data that is tracked by an iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s with many sensors, an iWatch or in the case of this rumor smart earbuds.
Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are now on saleto the general public. And while many consumers have already picked up their new iPhone, others are still trying to make a decision about which iPhone to buy. While we can’t make your decision for you, we can offer some advice, and here we take a look at the one iPhone 6 model you probably want to avoid.
Last week, Apple took the stage and announced its brand new iPhone. The company’s brand new smartphone is dubbed iPhone 6 though it will be coming in two very different versions: The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. As we now know, the two will take over the flagship role from last year’s iPhone 5s and push the iPhone 5c down to Apple’s free on-contract slot.
It’s easier to find an iPhone 6 in stock now.
Apple’s two new iPhones both come with sleek and slim metal designs, A8 processor, upgraded cameras including Optical Image Stabilization on the iPhone 6 Plus, tons of storage options, Retina HD displays, a number of different price points, major U.S. carrier options, and Apple’s new iOS 8 operating system. They have instantly become best sellers with Apple claiming a record number of pre-orders.
On Friday, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus went on sale for the first time. They also landed on doorsteps across the United States and in regions around the world. And while millions of consumers have already placed their order, millions of others are still trying to decide which iPhone to buy. We offered a number of tips in the build up to the iPhone 6 release and today, we want to offer some more advice to those that are straddling the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus fence.
There is one iPhone 6 in particular that we think consumers should avoid. The 16GB iPhone 6 (and iPhone 6 Plus) is the cheapest iPhone model but if you can help it, there are some reasons to buy another version of the iPhone 6.
You Will Run Out of Space
Two years ago, I spent the extra $100 and bought the 32GB iPhone 5. It turned out to be a very wise decision. Over the past two years, I’ve slowly filled up my iPhone with applications and other files like photos, messages, and more. With 32GB of space, I’ve never had to worry about storage problems though as I found out on Wednesday, I’m walking a thin line.
I have about 1GB of free space on my iPhone 5. That’s it. Most of that space is occupied by applications, songs that I’ve saved locally for use when I don’t have a data connection during travel, messages, photos, and videos that I’ve taken over the past two years. I did not know how close I was to my limit until I tried to install iOS 8 a few days ago.
The point I’m trying to make here is two-fold. One, the larger 32GB model gave me peace of mind over the past two years. I never had to deal with storage issues or the hassle of deleting stuff or paying for iCloud and I also found out how easy it really is to fill up space on my primary smartphone. I don’t know how long I’ve been teetering on the edge but I am willing to bet that it’s months not days.
I cannot even imagine having 16GB of storage on my iPhone 5 let alone an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, both of which take high-resolution photos, offer beautiful looking apps and games, and more. Like many of you, I want to use my new iPhone 6 the same as before and if I did that, I’d probably fill up a 16GB model in a few days or less. I say this from experience.
I own a 16GB iPad Air. I regret not paying the extra $100 for the 32GB model as I’ve filled it up to the brink and now find myself deleting apps to make space for other apps Many of my friends are in the same boat with the 16GB iPhone and they’ve made it known to me in a series of complaints over the past two years. Many of them have vowed to buy the 64GB iPhone 6.
64GB iPhone 6
So if you have the extra $100 sitting around, you would be wise to invest in the 64GB version of the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus especially the iPhone 6 Plus. This is a device that’s built for things like gaming and games take up a ton of free space.
I honestly don’t understand why Apple kept the 16GB iPhone around. The base model really should have been 32GB of storage with 64GB and 128GB options rounding out the lineup. Apple did do one thing right. It positioned the 64GB iPhone in the same spot as the now extinct 32GB iPhone. To me, that’s a steal and reason why I bought the 64GB iPhone 6 last week when it went on sale.
If money is an issue and for many of you, it will be, I suggest taking a long hard look at the 32GB iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5s is still a very solid smartphone and now that Apple’s dropped the price down to $99 and $149, it’s going to be a great fit for those of you that really do want the extra storage but can’t afford to shell out $299.99 for the 64GB iPhone 6 or $399.99 for the 64GB iPhone 6 Plus.
Even if you don’t plan to use a ton of applications, shoot a ton of photos, or download a bunch of music, I personally guarantee that that 16GB of internal storage on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 is going to fill up a whole lot faster than you think. So if you have a little extra money to spend right now or even if you have to wait a few months to get that extra money, I think you’re going to be better off skipping 16GB model and going for the 64GB. For most people 128GB is going to be way too much.
Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are now on sale in the United States and both will hit smaller, regional U.S. carriers on September 26th.
If you have to take your iPhone into the Apple store for service you might be surprised to watch the Apple Genius pull apart your iPhone and take a look at a small dot on the inside.
This small sensor tells the Apple tech if your phone has been in contact with water, and it’s something that might change in the iPhone 5 thanks to a recent patent.
Right now it’s tough for you to check to see if your iPhone has a tripped water sensor because the indicator sits inside the phone near the SIM card slot. It’s the pink dot in the image below.
The pink sensor inside the iPhone indicates water damage and or exposure.
This phone was sent to SquareTrade for warranty service after coming into contact with water.
Apple depends on these sensors to determine if it will replace your broken iPhone under warranty or not. The standard Apple warranty does not cover water damage, but AppleCare+ and SquareTrade warranties do.
We spoke with Ty Shay, Chief Marketing Office at SquareTrade to learn more about water damaged iPhones and why Apple might make the switch to an external indicator.
Shay told GottaBeMobile that about 20% of SquareTrade’s claims are from water damage, but cautions that full water immersion is not the major killer.
Shay points to factors such as,
Humidity,
Condensation,
Spills,
Sweat,
and other activities as common reasons for a tripped water sensor. Even with these non immersion triggers he says the sensors are not overly sensitive.
Spilled drinks at restaurants are increasingly landing on iPhones, and Shay warns that a growing number of restaurants are putting warnings up saying they are not responsible.
The waitress really just spilled water all over my iPhone. WTF??? #pissed
If Apple includes the new water sensor in the iPhone 5 or a future iPhone the phone could track events where water damage occurred. This would provide Apple Geniuses with more information about damaged iPhones.
For users it might mean an end to free replacements for under warranty iPhones, if an easier and more accurate sensor is used.
An extended warranty that covers accidental damage is quickly becoming a must have phone accessory for many users.
For a detailed comparison of iPhone warranty and insurance options, check out our iPhone 4S Warranty Showdown.
While the launch of the iPhone 6 was one of Apple’s best opening weekend releases ever for the iPhone, the company isn’t getting let off easy. The internet has been buzzing lately over some users noticing that their iPhone 6 Plus units slightly bend while tucked in their pocket, but this “fiasco” is being incredibly overblown.
While there has been enough attention to warrant Apple to address the issue and replace affected units, the company says that only nine customers have complained to Apple about the iPhone 6 bending problem.
Apple says that the iPhone 6 bending is “extremely rare” during normal use, which probably explains why there have only been nine complainst out of the 10 million iPhone 6 units that were sold over opening weekend, with that number growing as more and more iPhone 6 devices continue to sell.
Since the attention of the issue started to gain steam, YouTubers began to post videos of iPhone 6 units bending, and there’s even a video that shows a user actually physically trying to get his iPhone 6 Plus to bend. Spoiler alert: it bent. Frankly, I’m surprised the phone didn’t snap in half due to the amount of pressure and force he was applying. In that case, the device held up quite well.
Is this problem with skipping the iPhone 6 or canceling an already-purchased iPhone 6? Probably not.
As mentioned, Apple has only received nine complaints about a bent iPhone 6 units. Of course, there could be more users out there that haven’t filed a complaint yet, but even if there were 20 complaints filed, they would only make up a measly 0.0002% of all the iPhone 6 units that have been sold. That’s an extremely low ratio, and it’s almost nonexistent.
Nevertheless, Apple says that they will replace iPhone 6 units which become bent from the force applied while sitting down, just as long as your unit passes their visual inspection.
What kind of visual inspection, exactly? And what are the criteria that Apple will use to determine if a bent iPhone 6 is eligible for a replacement? The company says it will be “100% up to the Genius that you speak with at the Apple Store.”
There is a test called a Visual Mechanical Inspection that the iPhone 6 will have to pass. If it is within the guidelines, Apple will replacement the device free of charge, but if not, the customer will have to pony up money for a replacement iPhone 6.
It’s still not completely clear what these “guidelines” are, but it’s probably safe to say that if the phone still functions and there isn’t anything else wrong with it, Apple will most likely hand you a free replacement. The company has always been generous about giving out free replacements anyway.
Apple has been rather quiet about this specific issue, but that’s likely because the fiasco with iOS 8.0.1 has garnered a lot of attention as well. However, Apple says that it is “looking into this with an insane amount of detail, ” but it looks like there’s nothing they can really do to prevent the problem from happening again, seeing as they would have to redesign the phone completely in order to strengthen its structural integrity. The company will have to wait until the iPhone 6s or the iPhone 7 before making changes.
In any case, a phone made out of thin aluminum will bend with the right amount of force, so we don’t see this as something incredibly surprising. In fact, there were several reports back when the iPhone 5s released of units bending in people’s pockets. Of course, the amount of attention the issue got was nothing compared to what the iPhone 6 “bendgate” is receiving now, which is rather unfortunate, since this issue is nothing new.
So what can you do to prevent your iPhone 6 from bending like this? For starters, a little bit of common sense goes a long way: don’t put your iPhone 6 in your back pocket and sit on it. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to not where tight pants with tight pockets that could restrict the movement of the iPhone 6 in your front pocket, which could lead to a slow bend in the device.
Many users put their smartphones on the desk or table in front of them if they’re sitting down, not only to have easy access to it when they need it, but it also prevents any kind of accidental damage from occurring.
Otherwise, if you notice your iPhone 6 is bent, take it into your local Apple Store and see if you can get a free replacement. You’ll most likely be able to, but as mentioned earlier, it’ll be up to the Genius Bar employee as to whether or not you get your wish granted.
Apple’s iOS 8.0.2 update was released to fix lingering iOS 8.0.1 problems and iOS 8 problems. However, in the days since its release, we’ve heard numerous iPhone and iPad users complain about a slew of iOS 8.0.2 issues and here, we take a look at some of the most common iOS 8 problems and possible fixes for them.
On September 17th, after a stint in Apple’s beta program, the company released the iOS 8.0 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. As expected, the iOS 8 update delivered a number of big time changes including improvements to the Photos app, iMessage, battery usage, accessibility, and more. In addition to these features, the update also delivered iOS 8 problems to iPhone and iPad users.
We detailed many of these problems in the hours and days after the iOS 8.0 release date in our initial impressions and roundups. And ultimately, complaints about these various iOS 8 issues forced Apple to release a couple of bug fix updates in iOS 8.0.1 and iOS 8.0.2, updates aimed at squashing these initial iOS 8 bugs.
Apple’s first bug fix update was iOS 8.0.1, an upgrade that rolled out in late September and one that immediately caused problems for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users. Cellular connectivity died and Touch ID stopped working for thousands of users around the world. Apple pulled the plug on iOS 8.0.1 and promised to issue a fix.
A day later, Apple made good on its promise to fix those iOS 8.0.1 problems. In late September, Apple pushed out iOS 8.0.2, an update similar to iOS 8.0.1 but one that came with fixes for those iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus problems. Despite these bug fixes, iOS 8 and iOS 8.0.2 continue to cause problems for iPhone and iPad users and over the past few weeks, we’ve seen tons of complaints.
With an iOS 8.1 release date imminent, we could see some permanent fixes arrive in the near future. That said, iOS 8.1 probably won’t fix everything when it arrives. With that in mind, we wanted to share seven iOS 8 problems that we’ve been hearing about and offer eight potential fixes, some temporary, to those in need.
How to Fix iOS 8 Battery Life Problems
One of the issues that typically surfaces after every iOS update is battery drain. iPhone and iPad owners consistently complain about the negative impact that iOS updates have on their battery life and iOS 8 unfortunately has not escaped their ire.
iPhone and iPad owners have been complaining about iOS 8 battery life problems though it does not appear to be widespread enough to push Apple to offer a fix. If these problems were widespread, Apple would have acknowledged the problem and offered details about a potential fix. In other words, those of you dealing with issues will probably need to solve them on your own.
Fortunately, there are quite a few things that you iPhone and iPad owners can try should your device start experiencing heavy battery drain after installing iOS 8, iOS 8.0.2 or any other iOS 8 update.
While there are a ton of things that people recommend, we think there are several key fixes that iPhone and iPad owners should try. These fixes range from small settings tweaks to changes in your daily use. All of them have the potential to fix bad iOS 8 battery life and we highly recommend looking at them before performing a hard reset.
How to Fix iOS 8 Wi-Fi Issues
For the past two years, Apple’s discussion forum have been rife with complaints about iOS Wi-Fi issues. iPhone and iPad users have complained about a wide variety of issues from grayed out Wi-Fi to unstable connections. Those issues persist inside iOS 8 and we’ve heard from a number of iOS 8 users dealing with these problems.
While there is no guaranteed fix for iOS 8 Wi-Fi issues, there are a few things that iPhone and iPad users can try before performing a factory reset, replacing a router, or taking the device to an Apple Store. These fixes have been passed down from the iOS 6 and iOS 7 updates and they’ve worked for many users in the past.
The first thing you’ll want to do is reset your networking settings. This is an extremely easy process though it could take a couple of minutes to complete. So, you’ll want to set aside some time to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. To do this, open up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and head toSettings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
You’ll need your passcode and again, a few minutes of time because the phone or tablet is going to reboot itself. You’ll also want to track down your commonly used Wi-Fi passwords because this is going to force you to re-enter them.
If that doesn’t fix things, you can also try turning off Wi-Fi Networking. To do that, head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services. After performing these two steps, you’ll want to reboot your phone. Once it’s rebooted, there’s a chance, again a chance, that your Wi-Fi will be working normally again.
How to Fix iOS 8 Bluetooth Problems
iOS 8 Bluetooth problems appear to be extremely common with many users complaining about problems when using the software in the car. We ourselves have run into iOS 8 Bluetooth issues with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and we’re hopeful that the iOS 8.1 update delivers some permanent fixes for these very visible problems.
While there doesn’t appear to be a cure all, an Apple discussion forum puts forth few different fixes for these issues. Users have singled out “Reset All Settings” as a solid fix. It hasn’t worked for everyone but there are a ton of people that are claiming success after using it.
To do this, open up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and head to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This is going to take a bit of time and you’re going to lose a ton of your saved settings but again, it seems to be fixing Bluetooth issues for many people so it’s certainly worth a try if you’re experiencing headaches.
How to Fix iOS 8 App Issues
We’ve been hearing a lot of complaints about applications crashing and freezing in iOS 8. Apple’s not going to be fixing these issues and it’s going to be up to third-party developers to take care of any random problems with their apps inside iOS 8. There are a few things that iOS 8 users can try to make things more stable though.
First, make sure applications are updated. App updates with support for iOS 8 have been trickling out since launch. Many of you iPhone and iPad owners out there are terrible about updating apps and that’s a habit you need to break right now. Those who don’t like doing this will want to turn on automatic App Store updates because it will keep apps updated automatically and ensure that they are always on the latest version with the latest bug fixes.
How to Improve iOS 8 Performance on the iPhone 4s
Performance for many iPhone 4s users has taken a hit after installing the iOS 8 update. And while it’s a shame, it isn’t too surprising given how old the device is and given Apple’s track record when it comes to new updates for older devices. iOS 8 has been very buggy, and slow, for iPhone 4s users though there are some things that you can try to alleviate those issues ahead of iOS 8.1.
We’ve outlined a number of different strategies including reducing animations and pretty effects, resetting your settings, or restoring back to factory settings. There is no cure all for the iPhone 4s though before performing a factory reset or going crazy, you’ll probably want to wait for the iOS 8.1 update. It’s said to be coming with some major improvements.
How to Fix iOS 8 Landscape Issues
One of the biggest issues that we’ve outlined in our iOS 8 reviews is an issue wherein the iPhone (mainly the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus) gets stuck in landscape mode after shifting to portrait. This is a huge problem, especially when using the camera app. It’s an issue that’s affecting a number of other iOS 8 users as well so we want to offer up some advice.
While we can’t offer a cure all fix, we can offer a temporary solution. Instead of throwing the phone against a wall, simply lock the orientation of the phone in portrait. This way, when you turn the phone when using an app like the camera, it won’t shift to landscape mode, get stuck, and potentially ruin your footage.
To lock it in portrait, pull up Control Center from the bottom of the phone, look for the lock in the top right corner, and hit that. This will lock it up so that it won’t move out of portrait mode. It’s a temporary fix for an issue that’s driving some iPhone users (including us) insane.
How to Fix iOS 8 iMessage Problems
We’ve been running into a number of iMessage problems in the days after the iOS 8 release. Some problems, like the apps inability to mark new messages as read, are new. Others, like an issue wherein messages come hours late, are not. Fortunately, there are some fixes that are worth trying, fixes that have actually helped to alleviate our own iOS 8 iMessage problems.
Many users can install iOS 8.0.2 without a problem, but there is a potential for frustration.
The first thing to try is toggling iMessage off an on. If that doesn’t work, try rebooting the phone. If neither of those work, it’s time to reset the device’s network settings. To do that, head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. The phone will reboot, and while you’ll lose your stored Wi-Fi networks, reentering a Wi-Fi password is a small price to pay for working iMessages.
How to Fix iOS 8 Problems If Nothing Else Works
If none of this works and you can’t find a solution on Apple’s discussion forums, we have two recommendations. First, take the iPhone or iPad to a Genius Bar at your local Apple Store. They’ll help you diagnose the problem.
If you can’t or don’t want to do that, it might be worth performing a factory reset. Factory resets will wipe your device clean and it has worked wonders for older devices in the past.
To do that choose Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will wipe everything from the iPhone or iPad, so make a back up before you do this, even though we recommend not installing from a restore. Setting up all of your accounts and apps is time-consuming, but it may be the fastest way to fix bad iOS 8 problems.
Apple no longer signs iOS 7 or iOS 7.1.2, effectively killing off the iOS 8 downgrade option for almost all iPhone and iPad users.
Update: Apple No Longer Supports the iOS 8 to iOS 7 Downgrade
Apple normally does not allow users to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7, but for a very small period of time Apple servers will verify the update with iOS 7.1.2 or iOS 8.
Apple no longer allows this manual method to downgrade from iOS 8. This was a great option for iPhone 4S users who discovered the iOS 8 performance is not up to their needs.
You can downgrade from IOS 8 to iOS 7 for a limited time.
Another user who might like this is an iOS 7 jailbreak user who tried iOS 8 thanks to the new features, but decided they couldn’t use their iPhone without a jailbreak. The iOS 8 jailbreak is likely far off, so if you need a jailbreak to happily use your phone don’t delay, downgrade today.
Before you start the iOS 8 downgrade to iOS 7 you need to visit this page to see if Apple is still signing the iOS 7.1.2 update. Once Apple stops signing the iOS 7.1.2 update for your device there is no way to downgrade unless you saved blobs long ago on an iPad 2.
Make sure you can still downgrade to iOS 7 before you start.
If this is still green you can move fast and downgrade to iOS 7 while Apple is still signing updates. If you attempt to do this after Apple stops signing updates the verification will fail and you will need to restore to iOS 8.
As long as it is green you can download the iOS 7.1.2 ipsw for your device. The best place to go for a fast iOS 7.1.2 update now is direct from Apple. You can use the iOS 7.1.2 direct download links fromRedMondPie. The iOS 7.1.12 download is pretty large so it may take about 15 minutes to download.
After you download you will need to follow the directions below. You must restore, which wipes the iPhone or iPad clean to factory settings. You can not restore from an iOS 8 backup, but if you have a recent backup from when you were on iOS 7.1.2 you should be able to restore that when this completes.
Downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7
Before you proceed make sure Apples is still verifying the iOS 7.1.2 update. Failure to do so will lead to an annoying restore to iOS 8 and a waste of your time.
1. Download the iOS 7.1.2 ipsw for your device
2. Plug your iPhone into a computer and open iTunes.
3. In iTunes click on the iPhone option in the upper right. If you see the Restore and Upgrade options you are on the right screen.
5. Special Click on Restore iPhone. A special click involves holding a key while you left click.
Hold alt/option on Mac when you click Restore iPhone…
On Windows, hold Shift when you click Restore iPhone…
Do not try the Check for Update option.
6. Find the ios 7.1.2 download and click on the .ipsw file.
After a few minutes the iOS 7.1.2 update will complete. If Apple is still signing the iOS 7.1.2 files you are good to go. Just make sure you don’t update to iOS 8 again. If the process fails it is likely Apple stopped signing the iOS 7.1.2 update and you need to Restore to iOS 8.
How to Charge the iPhone 6 Faster