Today for the first time since the IOS was first released, Apple has made major changes to its core operating system for I phone and I Pad. If you have an older device, you will 
have to upgrade to the new operating system if you want to try it. All new versions of the I Phone will have it pre-installed when you purchase the phone.
Scanning through my posts on Facebook, I saw tons of people who were all set to upgrade the second it was released at 1 PM. I know that lots of folks were having issues getting the software to download because of the over loaded servers as everybody rushed to get the latest and greatest all at the same time.
First, we have to answer the question on whether or not you should upgrade today? The answer is a probable no. You have to remember that even though this software has been tested, there will be bugs. It is the same thing when a new operating system comes out for your computer. It is always best to wait and let others find and report the bugs so when you do upgrade, things will work smoothly.
There is another reason to wait on the upgrade. If you have an older phone, the new OS could create a slower experience and could even compromise your battery life. Remember that IOS 7 was created for the faster hardware in the new I Phone 5. If you have an older I Phone 4, the OS will install but many of the new features will not be available. I have seen many blog reports of the IOS 4 running slower and having a delay after upgrading.
Most folks I know were trying to upgrade by using phones built in updater. This will work, but it will be painfully slow. The better and more solid option is to connect your I Phone to your computer and update it through I Tunes. The process will do a full back up and then install the OS and return all your settings to where they were before you started. The process will be MUCH faster and there will be less chance of an issue with the upgrade. With I Tunes, if you do not want to use the USB cable, you can now choose to update through Wi Fi to the computer hosting the I Tunes and do it that way as well. If you own an older I Phone 3, you are out of luck, as the new operating system is not designed for that phone.
To access the updater through your phone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and click on the Install button. If you are updating through I Tunes, plug your phone into the computer with the supplied cable and I Tunes should recognize your phone. If the update is not immediately offered, click on check for updates to get the new update to load and install. Follow the instructions for backing up your phone prior to the update.
There are a ton of new features but unless you have the I Phone 5, you will not get to use them all. Features like Air Drop, Siri and camera filters will not work on the I Phone 4. One of the changes you will see are that four dots replace the old Wi Fi bar in the upper left hand corner to indicate the signal strength. This allows for a slightly smaller area that is used and allows for more real estate for your browser or app. The fingerprint lock feature will only be available on the new I Phone 5S.
Well there you have it. That is the basic rundown of the new operating system and if it is worth the upgrade. In summary, if you have anything less then an I Phone 5, hold off for now. If you have version 5, you might want to give it a try. It is still best to wait for the next release because any bugs found in this release will be fixed.
Article by, Joe Z
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