As many people know, IOS 4.2 comes to iPad in a couple of months, maybe less. The second it is released, there will be a stampede to download and install it onto people's ipads.
Of course, people in the App Development program have advanced beta versions to help them test and if necessary, recode their apps so they work on day one.
But Fanboi's all over the world wait with baited breath to take their iPads and upgrade them to allow multitasking and various other features. It is however at this point that the moaning will start.
"App A crashes with 4.2, and I can't live without it"
and this is where people fail to do proper risk analysis and treat their phones and personal devices as the computers they are.
It amazes me that so many people rush so quickly to update the phones they base their lives around without the slightest thought that something might actually go wrong, or that 3rd party developers may not have had time to test their mobile apps against the new version.
My point is that a smartphone is a computer and an upgrade changes the coding of that device so before you upgrade your device consider the following points. Would you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 without taking precautions?
1) Before you do anything, consider what would happen if your device does not work after the upgrade, can you manage without it until you can get it fixed? (e.g. don't do it the day before you go away for a week.)
2) If you absolutely cannot do without it, wait and see what issues come out when other people do the upgrade.
3) If you have any apps you absolutely cannot live without, check that they have been tested against the new version by the developer.
4) Make a backup before you start the upgrade process.
5) Cross your fingers and hope that all goes well.
Of course, people in the App Development program have advanced beta versions to help them test and if necessary, recode their apps so they work on day one.
But Fanboi's all over the world wait with baited breath to take their iPads and upgrade them to allow multitasking and various other features. It is however at this point that the moaning will start.
"App A crashes with 4.2, and I can't live without it"
and this is where people fail to do proper risk analysis and treat their phones and personal devices as the computers they are.
It amazes me that so many people rush so quickly to update the phones they base their lives around without the slightest thought that something might actually go wrong, or that 3rd party developers may not have had time to test their mobile apps against the new version.
My point is that a smartphone is a computer and an upgrade changes the coding of that device so before you upgrade your device consider the following points. Would you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 without taking precautions?
1) Before you do anything, consider what would happen if your device does not work after the upgrade, can you manage without it until you can get it fixed? (e.g. don't do it the day before you go away for a week.)
2) If you absolutely cannot do without it, wait and see what issues come out when other people do the upgrade.
3) If you have any apps you absolutely cannot live without, check that they have been tested against the new version by the developer.
4) Make a backup before you start the upgrade process.
5) Cross your fingers and hope that all goes well.
I buy into this 100%. I take the same approach with virtually all software upgrades including the WSUS server I run in the office: Unless it's *absolutely* critical nothing goes live until it's been in the wild for at least a week.
ReplyDeleteSorry Marko, I only just saw this for some reason.
ReplyDeleteLet's let someone else 'Beta' test for us ;-)