Published on the 26/09/2014 | Written by Mark Webster

As the author of Apple Matters, the blog for all things Apple, Mark Webster keeps a keen eye on the Apple landscape and described the recent launch of iOS 8 as “a bit of a confusing release”. Critics have been harsh, complaining that currently iOS 8 does not support the iCloud Drive – Apple’s answer to Dropbox – which is being touted as one of the major features of the new operating system. iCloud Drive needs the new Mac OS, Yosemite, which has not been launched yet, although it is generally expected to be released in October. Until then iOS 8 cannot fully deliver on its promises, and has even left some people who inadvertently upgraded to iCloud Drive with software that won’t sync. Webster commented that perhaps it would have been wiser for Apple to launch iOS 8 without the iCloud Drive and release it as an update once Yosemite is available, rather than confuse everybody. Webster advises caution if you are upgrading.

The release was not without other issues. Despite Apple’s fastidious attention to detail and quality, the iOS 8.0.1 version,which was released a week after the original iOS 8, had some major issues, chiefly the fact that it disabled the new iPhone 6’s ability to make phone calls (oops). Apple pulled the update an hour after it went live on the App Store (presumably NOT after the call centre went mad). Fortunately all of this happened while we were still peacefully slumbering here in Australia and New Zealand. Asked if it was unusual for Apple to make such a blunder, Webster said: “I think the difference between Apple now and Apple under Steve Jobs is that Apple now tries to please its audience, whereas Steve Jobs didn’t care. Nothing was ever released until he signed it off, and I think Apple nowadays is much more responsive to what people want.”

With that desire to please comes pressure to deliver and Webster suggests that it was this that pushed the company to release things that possibly weren’t quite as rigidly signed off as they might once have been. The new era has also brought the larger format iPhones – which Jobs had flatly refused to do – and they have been hugely popular. Apple has sold 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in just three days. Apple is now taking more heed of its customers, not just pleasing Steve Jobs, Webster said, which can only be a good thing. On a personal level he added that it has been much more pleasant dealing with Apple in the last two years.

The concerns that everything might fall apart post-Jobs have been well documented, but new CEO Tim Cook is making his mark and the quality of the products shows, said Webster. iCloud Drive issues aside, he said the new system is really slick and there are lots of little details that make for an overall improved experience. For example you have more control over the camera (timer, exposure, focus), and easier, faster access and reply options for recently called contacts, incoming mail and messages which can all be done without having to boot up the individual apps. Although it’s not a game-changer right now, he said he thinks the full effect of iOS 8 will be felt when Apple Watch comes out as it will make the Apple ecosystem much more powerful. He added that the Apple Watch is much more impressive and sleek than people thought it would be, which is bound to help it on its way to becoming the accessory du jour.

If you are keen to try the new iOS 8, Webster said to make sure to pay attention to the pop-up boxes so as not to upgrade to the new iCloud Drive. He also said that although Apple says iOS 8 works on the iPhone 4S upwards and the iPad 2 upwards, the iPhone 4S can barely handle the new system– “it gets very hot and struggles,” he said.

Mark Webster is an independent writer of Apple Mac and iOS/iDevice news and reviews for Australia and New Zealand, covering Apple Mac and iDevice (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch) hardware and software and accessories. His guest blog posts make it easy to find the most up-to-date news and information on Apple products and software.