Apple today released iOS 9.3.1 to the public, marking the first update to iOS 9 since iOS 9.3 launched on March 21. iOS 9.3.1 comes just over a week after the launch of iOS 9.3 and likely brings a fix for a significant web link crashing issue that has been affecting many iOS users.
Today's iOS 9.3.1 release is available as an over-the-air update for all iOS 9 users and it can also be downloaded through iTunes. iOS 9.3.1 is the seventh update to iOS 9, following iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, iOS 9.2.1, and iOS 9.3.
Shortly after iOS 9.3 was released, a number of iPhone and iPad users found Safari, Mail, Messages, Notes, Chrome and some other pre-installed and third-party apps would crash or freeze after tapping or long pressing on a web link. While most users affected were on iOS 9.3, some customers on earlier versions of iOS also complained of crashing problems.
The exact underlying cause of the problem has not been discovered, but there is speculation that it is related to Universal Links and the Shared Web Credentials daemon, which allows apps and websites to share login credentials. No quick fix has been available, but shortly after the bug was publicized, Apple said it was working on a fix and has made good on that promise in the iOS 9.3.1 update.
Any other changes found in the iOS 9.3.1 update will be listed below.
Top Rated Comments
At least with Antenna-Gate on the iPhone 4, you could still make a phone call. This was bigger than that.
iPad Air 2 - bug showed
Bookingdotcom - was once installed but removed from both devices at some point long before 9.3
Some sort of plist or cache for the app must still have caused the issue on iPad Air2. Not sure why iPhone was spared.
As for software freeze. I just can't see in today's climate of always adding features to keep users, stockholders and market share happy and growing that any company could do that. Bugs are going to get released. Known or unknown. It's just how things have become.
Every platform, every vendor, every device being created will suffer some form of an issue. Millions/Billions lines of code. Millions of programs/apps. Billions of devices. Billions of parts.
Tbh it's amazing that it all holds together as well as it does from concept to production to end user. One tiny defect in raw materials, programming, assembly, shipping, use etc can ripple thru in ways no one can predict.
I work as a technology integrator and use a wide array of products and manufacturers. I run into issues and problems daily as unexpected cases arise where something in the system has unexpected behavior. You work thru it, try to replicate and move on.
Technology is not infallible, people are not infallible. Expecting perfection on this scale is not realistic.