Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug

[ZenThought]

So, let me get this straight.

Apples update caused some bricking of older devices. They released a .. special version .. to allow people to log in under their icloud account.

Amazingly, at this same time, the government had a .. bricked older device .. that they wanted into .. and amazingly, at the same time of the ... special update only for older devices ... they suddenly dont need Apples help cause they already got in through some Israeli company.

Coincidence, i guess.

 

[baddna5]

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.

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug

Okay, so I stupidly installed the update. NOW i am having the problems this update was supposed to alleviate. So what do I do until they get an update for the update.

 

[Black Magic]

Why?
I will admit that 6.0.1 has some benefits however none of it is earthshaking to the point I need to be on it.
Do I have the latest security updates? Yes.
Am I running encrypted? Yes.
Is my device stable and running pretty much error free? Yes.

Should I be? Yes. Is it critical? No.
It would be great to see a way to get more timely OS upgrades. The current design makes that difficult. The thing most iOS users forget about Android: Android Samsung <> Android HTC <> Android Lenovo <> Android X. They are all different. So just updating core Android does't mean instant roll-out. I knew that going in. If I wanted the "Instant" update, I have that option; buy Nexus. This continued "well iOS does it so why can't..." really makes no sense when you look at realistically. It is iPhone vs. Nexus.
Google is looking for ways to change this OEM/Carrier mess and that started wth the Android System updates via the Play Store. There will be more changes going forward.

Critical? I would say yes! 6.0.1 would provide new features and security enhancements regardless of how you try and downplay it. In Android's current state, you have to buy a new phone to get the latest features and enhancements which is pretty messed up when you think about it.

To your last point, of course Google is trying to fix it. It's a broken system! Google currently tries to spin it as being different while they privately desire for everyone to be on the same OS like Apple.

 

[tazdevl]

This is the "instant hotspot" functionality.
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18564

Thx but Mac is nowhere around. If the hotspot radio button is off on the phone, no device should be able to see it.

The issue is, literally 1 day ago with my iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6S, exact same settings as the Pro, I didn't see the personal hotspot on my iPhone 6S in iPad Air wifi settings.

Only change is iPad Pro and iOS 9.3.1.

Occam's Razor....

 

[chrfr]

Thx but Mac is nowhere around. If the hotspot radio button is off on the phone, no device should be able to see it.

Instant hotspot makes it unnecessary to turn on the hotspot switch. The Mac is not an essential part of it (I just included the link as an explanation of what's happening); I have the same functionality between my iPad and iPhone.
Also, only your own devices will see the instant hotspot as an option. It requires that devices are signed into the same iCloud account.
Another link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204681#hotspot

 

[marcanthony]

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.

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug

[doublepost=1459603829][/doublepost]My iPhone 6 plus was affected by the iOS 9.3 update with safari links not working and the phone freezing so i updated to the 9.3.1 fix and the safari links work but the phone keeps freezing and parts of the touch screen become unresponsive making the phone unusable

 

[dk001]

Critical? I would say yes! 6.0.1 would provide new features and security enhancements regardless of how you try and downplay it. In Android's current state, you have to buy a new phone to get the latest features and enhancements which is pretty messed up when you think about it.

To your last point, of course Google is trying to fix it. It's a broken system! Google currently tries to spin it as being different while they privately desire for everyone to be on the same OS like Apple.

I call hogwash. Finer app control. Integrating fingerprint into Android instead of an add-on. Encryption by default. Better security for stock backups...
These are nice to haves, not critical to haves.
Features for the most you can get via other launchers or add-ons.

Don't get me wrong, 6.0.1 is a nice build. However to get the critical security I do not have to have the 6.0.1 update. Unlike iOS where you have to upgrade to get the security updates.

Features? If I absolutely have to have them, I would have bought a Nexus.

 

[69650]

Same sentiments were expressed by some in years perior as well, like most year with a good amount of iOS 8 updates....and where we are still with record sales, pretty much the appostie of "alienating".

Just because we're still buying their products doesn't mean they're not alienating large sections of their user base. Microsoft have done it for years and they're still selling shed loads of products.

 

[waveboreale]

The waiting was excruciating. Finally Apple did something about it.

 

[997941]

Seriously, what's going on at Apple? Things used to just work. I know these problems are few and far between, but when they do happen it's always some crippling bug. They release a new update to fix the web link freezing and create new bugs. How does this proces work? Don't they double and triple check their updates?

My iPad Pro, air and iPhone 6 are still freezing on web links after the update. I can only regain control by closing out Safari. Very disappointing to say the least.

 

[smorrissey]

If you update in iTunes, you always get the full OS image;

^ Now you get my point?

 

[chrfr]

^ Now you get my point?

No. This is how it's designed to work. If you're concerned with data consumption, use the OTA update.

 

[C DM]

Just because we're still buying their products doesn't mean they're not alienating large sections of their user base. Microsoft have done it for years and they're still selling shed loads of products.

If large sections are being alienated then we would see some effect from that, right? Otherwise if there isn't any effect then it's fairly moot (kind like if a tree falls, but there's no one to hear it, then does it really matter if it makes a sound or not, even if it does).

 

[Stjepan]

I love Night Shift mode -- put it on my iPhone, iPad and with f.lux on MacBook. The only thing... now my watch flashes notably blue in the evening. Apple Watch should follow the iPhone with color temperature settings!

 

[69650]

If large sections are being alienated then we would see some effect from that, right? Otherwise if there isn't any effect then it's fairly moot (kind like if a tree falls, but there's no one to hear it, then does it really matter if it makes a sound or not, even if it does).

iPad sales have fallen like a stone over the past couple of years. Mac sales are starting to fall. And wait for it... iPhone sales have started to level off. Is that evidence enough for you?

 

[Jessica Lares]

If large sections are being alienated then we would see some effect from that, right? Otherwise if there isn't any effect then it's fairly moot (kind like if a tree falls, but there's no one to hear it, then does it really matter if it makes a sound or not, even if it does).

What's the alternative? I could deal with bugs, or I could go back to Android or Windows Phone, which both have their own problems. The same thing can be said for Windows, Chrome OS, Ubuntu, etc.

 

[C DM]

iPad sales have fallen like a stone over the past couple of years. Mac sales are starting to fall. And wait for it... iPhone sales have started to level off. Is that evidence enough for you?

Evidence of what? That not as many people need or want a tablet compared to a phone and that families might have one compared to a few phones for each person? Or that people don't generally keep tablets around for much longer compared to phones and so don't upgrade as often? Or that the computer market has been seeing low numbers for a while and Macs are doing better than most of it? Or that the smartphone market is becoming saturated and iPhones (and other phones) are better and can last longer and over time sales just can't keep on accelerating faster and faster and would slow down naturally? I mean plenty of evidence of a lot of fairly basic things based on reality that don't really spell anything out alienation in any way without something else actually indicating that those things are happening specifically because of that and not of any of those far more realistic and normal things mentioned above.
[doublepost=1459731756][/doublepost]

What's the alternative? I could deal with bugs, or I could go back to Android or Windows Phone, which both have their own problems. The same thing can be said for Windows, Chrome OS, Ubuntu, etc.

Whatever alternative would work for you personally, as it can be and is different for everyone, assuming you need/want an alternative.

 

[smorrissey]

No. This is how it's designed to work. If you're concerned with data consumption, use the OTA update.

I've never said i concerned about data consumption, it is just as pain in the back downloading between 1.5GB - 2GB per device each week, time consuming, and Apple speeds are not always constant, sometimes if you are lucky, your download will only take 5 mins but if your are not it can take up to an hour (with the same internet speed on my side). A very tedious process nowadays. Firmwares are too big now.
And yes, i prefer to have the complete firmwares on my PC in case i need to restore, always.

 

[saytheenay]

I downloaded via iTunes, but it takes much longer than it used to--45 minutes for a 2+ GB file (same slowness for anything on the Mac App Store) in Southern California on a 50 mbps internet connection, whereas it used to be ~20 minutes tops.

Yet if I download a 7+ GB Linux ISO, it completes in ~15 minutes. Anyone else notice Apple's servers seem to be slower than they used to be? Are they no longer on a CDN and/or hosting updates on the east coast now?

 

[The Game 161]

Battery life is awful today

Down to 44% already

11.30am here

 

[Shanghaichica]

Battery life is awful today

Down to 44% already

11.30am here

My battery life has been ok. The only time I noticed a drop was when I downloaded the Google photos app, even when I turned off automatic backup it still drained the battery. Now that I've uninstalled it my battery life has gone back to normal.

 

[The Game 161]

My battery life has been ok. The only time I noticed a drop was when I downloaded the Google photos app, even when I turned off automatic backup it still drained the battery. Now that I've uninstalled it my battery life has gone back to normal.

Twitter and Facebook seems to why

 

[sd70mac]

Heres to hoping it also address battery life issues.

It seems to have done so, from my limited experience.