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Poll: has iOS 8.0.1 update broken Cellular + Touch ID for you?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

If you have just updated your trusty iPhone to the just-released iOS 8.0.1, chances are you may have ended up with a device that can't connect to the cellular network (shows No Service in the status bar) or read fingerprint data through the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. As you could imagine, social media is awash with complaints from disgruntled users who are venting their frustration over the cellular and Touch ID issues.

At any rate, your best bet is to steer away from this update until Apple address the situation and releases a fix. Not everyone is affected, of course, but keep in mind we have no real indication as to how widespread those issues are because Apple, at the moment, isn't talking much.

That's why we're asking you, our readers, to tell us whether iOS 8.0.1 has broken cellular connectivity and Touch ID for you.

Expert says Touch ID has improved with iPhone 6, but is still vulnerable to hack

Cody Lee ∙ September 24, 2014

Touch ID in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has improved, but it's still vulnerable to attack according to Lookout Mobile Security researcher Marc Rogers. Rogers says that the same fake fingerprint hack he used to bypass Touch ID on the iPhone 5s works flawlessly on the new handsets.

The improvement comes in the form of better accuracy, thanks to its higher resolution scanner, which Rogers has found makes it harder to clone fingerprints. But, he says, Apple has done nothing to tighten up Touch ID's security in the iPhone 6, leaving the door open for determined hackers.

Don’t update to iOS 8.0.1

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 15, 2023

Warning: we are noticing that after installing iOS 8.0.1, our iPhones are showing 'no service' and Touch ID no longer works. We've confirmed this with several readers as well, so until we know more, we recommend holding off on the update. Video below.

Apple has released iOS 8.0.1 to the public this morning. The update comes exactly one week after the official iOS 8 release, and includes a myriad of bug fixes pertaining to third-party keyboards, the Reachability feature for newer iPhones, and uploading content in Safari.

Another notable item in the 8.0.1 change log is that the bug that prevented HealthKit-enabled apps from entering the App Store has been remedied. Apple says that it will now start approving HealthKit apps, meaning it shouldn't be too long before they start popping up.

Amazon revamps Goodreads app, adds friend updates, improved shelving and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Goodreads, the popular social cataloging service owned by Amazon, on Wednesday pushed a major 3.0 update to its iPhone and iPad application.

Now with a revamped user interface and several new features such as friend updates, improved shelving, a handy reading progress indicator and streamlined navigation, the app gives reading aficionados greater flexibility in terms of content discovery and exploring their favorite books.

Goodreads boasts more than 20 million members who have added an enormous 570 million books to their shelves. The app is available free of charge in the App Store.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus beat all smartphones in reputable camera benchmark

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

The improved rear camera on both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has scored Apple a major victory over its biggest rivals in exhaustive smartphone camera benchmarks published Wednesday by the reputable camera and lens experts at DxOMark.

Achieving an impressive rating of 82 out of 100, both new iPhones have managed to beat Apple's chief competitors in the smartphone space.

Not only does this include the usual suspects like Samsung's flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone, which scored 79 out of 100, and the previous Galaxy S4 (75/100), but also other quality devices such as Sony's Xperia Z1 (76/100), Z2 (29/100) and Z3 (79/100) and yes — even the 41-megapixel sensor featured on the Nokia 808 PureView (77/100).

Twitterrific gains 1Password integration via in-app browser and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 24, 2014

Twitterrific by Iconfactory, a third-party Twitter client for the iPhone and iPad, has received an update Tuesday evening enabling extension support for AgileBits’ 1Password via Twitterrific's in-app browser, in addition to taking advantage of the bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screens.

This version also includes more than a dozen bug fixes, improvements and enhancements. The 8.6-megabyte download is available free of charge in the App Store, with advanced features locked behind several In-App Purchases.

Photo comparisons show how the iPhone’s camera has evolved over the years

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2014

The folks over at Taptaptap, the creators of Camera+, have posted an interesting set of photo comparisons, showing how the iPhone's camera has evolved over the years. Included in the set are photos taken using Camera+ on the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5s and the new iPhone 6, in various situations.

Your $650 iPhone 6 only cost Apple around $200 to build

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2014

Your $650+ iPhone 6 (or $199+ with carrier contract) only cost Apple around $200 to build, according to a new report from Recode. Using teardown data from research firm IHS, the site says that the Cupertino firm spends between $200 and $247 in parts and labor to build an iPhone 6.

For the larger iPhone 6 Plus, IHS says that Apple spends between $216 and $263 on parts and labor, depending on the model. The estimates include the cost of labor associated with assembly as between $4 and $4.50 for each device, but not R&D, shipping, marketing and other affiliated costs.

Riffsy launches customizable GIF keyboard for iOS 8

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2014

Riffsy has added to the onslaught of third party keyboards we've seen since iOS 8 launched last week with its new GIF Keyboard. It installs natively, and as the name suggests, it allows you to quickly send a variety of animated GIFs directly from your keyboard.

While it may sound gimmicky, the app has a library of "millions" of GIFs that Riffsy has collected over the past year. And since many of them are tagged with hashtags, it's actually pretty easy to search for and find a specific GIF that conveys your current mood.

EA Sports releases FIFA 15 Ultimate Team for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

EA Sports, formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts but now a brand that creates and develops sports video games, on Tuesday released FIFA 15 Ultimate Team as a freemium download in the App Store.

Coming in at a massive 1.06 gigabytes, this iPhone and iPad game features authentic football action backed by Electronic Arts' massive marketing budget and whiz-bang campaign, with licensed player and team names, motion-captured animations and other goodies.

Microsoft to update Skype for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2014

Software giant Microsoft, which owns and runs the Skype service, will unleash an update next month that will optimize the popular VoIP platform for the bigger 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus's 5.5-inch display, according to a Skype spokesperson Tuesday.

“We’re currently working on an update to Skype for iPhone that scales for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus screen sizes, which we plan to release in the next month,” said Skype.

The company wouldn't reveal if the new version will take full advantage of the larger canvas or simply blow up the user interface on 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 devices.

iOS 8.0.1 said to bring fixes for bugs in keyboard, Safari, Phone and more

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2014

Apple has provided carrier partners with a pre-release version of iOS 8.0.1, reports MacRumors. This means that, barring any major issues, the public release shouldn't be far behind, and it sounds like it's going to include a number of bug fixes.

According to the site, iOS 8.0.1 will address the bug in mobile Safari that causes some videos not to play, and one that prevents Passbook passes from being shared over AirDrop. It will also address an issue with installing VPN profiles, and more.