Apple iOS 5.1.1 available, but do you want it?

It's all well and good giving a shout out to a new software update that will touch the lives of millions, but how certain can we be that our lives will actually improve after the time-consuming effort of updating an iPad or sumsuch?  KitGuru optimistically plugs an iPad 3 into a USB 3 port, hoping that things might go quicker.

While the iPad 2 seemed as solid as a rock from the day it arrived, we have to say that there have been times with the iPad 3 when ‘your window just disappears'. You're doing something one second and the next, it's gone.

Microsoft users roll with these punches – it takes more than randomly ending browser windows before we get psyched. That said, once you do lock yourself into the locked down world of the Apple-ites, you sort of expect things to work.

Cue Apple iOS 5.1.1

According to Apple's own site, users have been suffering from a number of afflictions, including (but not limited to) the following (with solutions):-

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase' alert could be displayed after successful purchase

The update takes a while, so it's nice to get the ‘things seem OK' message at the end.

The main security issues fixed with Safari/WebKit are described as follows:-

Safari
Available for: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation) and later, iPad, iPad 2
Impact: A maliciously crafted website may be able to spoof the address in the location bar
Description: A URL spoofing issue existed in Safari. This could be used in a malicious web site to direct the user to a spoofed site that visually appeared to be a legitimate domain. This issue is addressed through improved URL handling. This issue does not affect OS X systems.

WebKit
Impact: Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to a cross-site scripting attack
Description: Multiple cross-site scripting issues existed in WebKit.
Impact: Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution
Description: A memory corruption issue existed in WebKit.

Being protected from all of these evils is certainly a good thing. What's less good is the speed with which ‘issues' with iOS 5.1.1. are posted – almost as soon as anyone has had a chance to install the update.

One quick glance through Google and the most common seem to centre on things like synchronisation and battery life.

KitGuru says: While the benefits almost always outweigh the problems, it's still worrying that with Apple's ‘100% lock down' approach to hardware/software/OS, these issues can still exist and in such a plentiful fashion.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

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