Apple postpones iPhone update

Apple has decided to delay software updates for iPhones and Macs to review possible glitches. According to Bloomberg, despite the delay, software updates are still planned to be released at the previously determined time. In an unprecedented move in the company’s history, Apple has decided to pause development of next year’s software updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices in order to address glitches. According to sources who spoke to Bloomberg, the delay, which was announced to employees within the company last week, is aimed at helping maintain quality control after bugs in early versions increased. The sources said that the company’s engineers are being tasked with fixing glitches and improving the performance of the software rather than adding new features. Apple’s software, famous for its clean interfaces, easy-to-use controls and focus on privacy, stands out as one of its biggest selling points. This makes quality control essential. However, the company has to strike a balance between adding new features and making sure that its operating systems run as smoothly as possible. Apple has been focusing more on quality, not new features, according to Bloomberg. In recent years, Apple has been focusing more on quality, even if it means delaying new features. In 2018, Craig Federighi, the head of software engineering at Apple, delayed several unreleased iPhone features until next year because he worried that the software was too buggy. In 2019, Apple tried to get ahead of the problems by overhauling its software development methodology. Under this approach, each feature must be manually enabled through a process called “feature flags,” which allows employee testers to isolate the impact on the overall system before adding the feature. That year, Apple also adopted an approach known internally as “Pact.” This agreement requires employees to never knowingly allow “regressions” — when software that once worked stops working correctly — and to fix bugs quickly. “A lot of bugs were found,” Bloomberg reported. The software engineering management team found a lot of bugs while reviewing new operating systems set to be released next year. That’s why the division took the unusual step of pausing all new feature development for a week to work on fixing bugs. Last month, the company completed the first version of its next operating system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. That version is called M1. Apple has delayed work on the next iteration, known as M2. The delay also applies to the next Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 11, known as “Moonstone,” and the current iOS 17 update, called iOS 17.4. That software, used by the iPhone and iPad, is expected to be released around March.