iOS 7.0.3 Update To Fix ‘Blue Screen of Death’ Error
Everyone knows that new software always comes with a bug or two and new hardware always has a problem or two soon after launch. As it seems, the newly released seventh version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 7 and the latest high end smartphone, the iPhone 5S, were released with a few problems. Even though the Cupertino based company takes pride in its iOS ecosystem as offering increased stability, we recently reported that many iPhone 5S users are starting to complain about reboots and reset of their iOS 7 running smartphones. The error is very similar to Microsoft Windows Blue Screen of Death error; as such, all of the affected iPhone 5S users are waiting for the iOS 7.0.3 update that they hope will fix the bug that generates the BSOD error.
The Blue Screen of Death error is thought to be cause by a bug in iOS 7, to be more specific in version 7.0.2 of iOS, as most BSOD complains have started to appear after the release of the iOS 7.0.2 update. Many iPhone 5S users reported that the Blue Screen of Death error appears just before the iPhone 5s reboots and they say the error always comes after using iWork related apps; the iWork apps are free with all new iOS devices bought after the release of iOS 7. It also seems the Blue Screen of Death error is specific to the iPhone 5s.
Some of the iPhone 5S users affected by the Blue Screen of Death error have posted videos on Youtube showing the BSOD error and how it is triggered by multitasking between apps (iWork related apps as we mentioned above). You can watch a video here – it describes the Blue Screen of Death error.
However, as it turns out, the Blue Screen of Death error (and the reboot that follows it) is not the only problem that iPhone 5S users are facing. Besides the iMessage bug and battery life issues on iOS 7 (you can follow these links for more details about these problems and solutions for both of them), iPhone 5S suffer two times as many crashes than other owner of other iPhone models, including iPhone 5C and iPhone 5. Crittercism, from San Francisco, suggests the reason behind the high number of crashes iPhone 5s owners have to deal with, is the fact the iPhone 5S is powered by the A7 System on Chip, that is a completely new architecture (the A7 SoC is the mobile’s first 64 bit System on Chip), compared to the 32 bit architecture used by both iPhone 5C’s and iPhone 5′s System on Chips.
It is thought that Apple will fix the bug that triggers the Blue Screen of Death error and other bugs and glitches in the next iOS update, iOS 7.0.3. iOS 7 was released last month, on September 18th and since then it was updated twice: the first update, iOS 7.0.1 was released two days after the initial release, on September 20th, the same date the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C were released. The second update, version 7.0.3 of iOS, was released six days later, on September 26th. iOS 7.0.2 fixed a lock screen bypass bug, but it did not fix the Blue Screen of Death errors.
Since the number of users complaining about BSOD errors grows with every day and since there have been more than two weeks since the last update, we expect Apple to launch the third iOS 7 update sometime during the next couple of weeks. There are some rumors also mentioning an iOS 7.0.3 release during or just before the release of OS X Mavericks, at the end of this month or just before November 1st, the rumored release date of both the fifth generation iPad and the second generation iPad mini. However, we believe the update will be released sooner, as Apple is aware of the Blue Screen of Death errors and understands it is a very serious stability issue.
In an interview with AllThingsD, Crittercism CEO Andrew Levy said “The good news is that Apple is certainly aware of issues [...] They’ve pushed out two iOS updates for iOS 7 … Apple is doing a really good job of addressing these issues as they come up”. Both the initial version of iOS 7 and its latest version, iOS 7.0.2 are compatible all iPhone models since the iPhone 4 (iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and of course, iPhone 5s), iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4 and also with the fifth generation iPod Touch. The upcoming update, the will fix iPhone 5S’ Blue Screen of Death errors, will also be compatible with the above mentioned iOS devices.
About The iPhone 5s
As we already mentioned, the iPhone 5S has its share of bugs and problems; but that doesn’t mean it’s not a very good smartphone. In fact, Blue Screen of Death errors aside, most critics, analysts and consumers agree that the iPhone 5S is one of the best high end smartphones available on the market today.
The iPhone 5S’ design remains unchanged from last year’s iPhone 5, which was actually the first major iPhone redesign, featuring a lighter, thinner form factor but also a larger (4 inch) display. As expected, this year’s ‘S’ model isn’t about aesthetics, though new color variants were introduced and one of them, the gold iPhone 5S, enjoyed amazing success being even now in very high demand. But as we said, the iPhone 5S isn’t about the outside; it’s about hardware and Apple really made sure the inside of the iPhone 5S shines, by adding a better System on Chip, the A7, which is also the first 64 bit System on Chip to ever be used in a smartphone; this makes it a future proof option. But a 64 bit SoC is not the only new thing; Apple also included a fingerprint sensor for increased security and a motion coprocessor (the M7), that makes the iPhone 5S the ideal choice for health and fitness apps. Coupled with iOS 7, the iPhone 5S offers a next generation experience that no other smartphone can currently match, though it must be said the iPhone 5C is not a bad smartphone either.
Even though the iPhone 5S is not a redesign, it does differ from the iPhone 5 in two ways. One cosmetic difference is represented by the fact that the single, circular flash of last year’s iPhone was replaced by a dual LED flash that is built with amber and white LEDs for increased color accuracy, especially for skin tones. The other major cosmetic difference between the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5 is represented by the three color variants of the iPhone 5S: the first is the same silver on white color of the iPhone 5, and the other two new color variants are a space grey on black (which replaces the slate on black iPhone 5, that many customers complaint about being easily scratch-able) and a new white on gold color that is in very high demand, while supply is too low.
Also, the above mentioned A7 System on Chip that powers the iPhone 5S, is twice as fast as the iPhone 5′s System on Chip in both graphics performance and computational performance. And while the fact that the A7 SoC is built on “billions of transistors[...]” is pretty impressive, even more impressive is the fact that the iPhone 5S is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by a 64 bit System on Chip. For now that may not be too important, as there aren’t many 64 bit optimized apps available; however, in the near future, more 64 bit apps will start to be released and they will make a lot of difference; the 64 bit architecture of the A7 SoC may allow developers to make desktop class apps for the iPhone 5S and that will be nothing short of amazing.
The iPhone 5S also comes equipped with a new iSight camera sensor, that is just as amazing as the fingerprint sensor. The new camera sensor is vastly improved from the iPhone 5′s camera sensor, due to a larger aperture (f/2.2) that receives more light from the environment and larger sized pixels in its image sensor than iPhone 5′s camera sensor. While featuring the same resolution as iPhone 5′s camera, 8 MP, thanks to its dual LEDs iPhone 5S’ camera can adjust its flash intensity based on the color temperature of the photo, thus improving color balance; it can choose from nearly 1000 combinations for an almost perfect lighting in every picture you take with your iPhone 5S. As a result, pictures taken with the iPhone 5S’ camera will look more accurate than pictures taken with the iPhone 5′s camera.
iPhone 5S’ new iSight camera also includes a pretty cool (and useful) feature: burst mode. This feature allows you to capture 10 pictures per second by holding the shutter button down. The feature than chooses the best picture based on lighting and pose. The new iSight camera also performs admirably when recording videos, thanks its auto image stabilization and live video zoom (up to 3x); it also comes with a feature that allows you to record videos in slow motion at 120 frames per second and a resolution of 720p. Videos recorded in slow motion benefit from a dramatic effect and we are shower most of you will find the slow motion feature lots of fun after playing around with it for a while.
Next is the fingerprint sensor, another innovative feature of the iPhone 5S. It is very thin (170 microns), it senses 550 pixels per inch and it can scan your sub epidermal skin layers using a 360 degree design that allows it to read the print at any angle. Touch ID, the security system using the integrated fingerprint sensor, can detect and remember multiple fingerprints, up to five individual fingerprints. This will allow you to share your iPhone 5s with a few people.
Touch ID is very easy to set up: going to Settings in iOS 7, you can program a finger or thumb by simply lifting and placing it (repeatedly) on the smartphone’s Home button. The iPhone 5s will let you know when to lift your finger (or thumb) via vibrations. While the fingerprint sensor scans your fingerprint, a graphic representation of a fingerprint is shown on the iPhone 5S’ display, changing to red. Once your fingerprint is scanned and Touch ID is set up, you will be able not only to unlock your iPhone 5S but also purchase content from the App Store and from iTunes without needing a pass code; all you will need to do is touch the Home button so the fingerprint sensor scans your fingerprint.
Many consumers expressed their concerns regarding privacy issues that may be related to iPhone 5S’ fingerprint sensor. However, there is no reason to worry about fingerprint data being stolen from your iPhone 5S. The A7 System on Chip, that handles all data collected from the fingerprint sensor, keeps your fingerprint data in a remote part and this section of the A7 SoC (that holds the fingerprint data) cannot normally communicate with other parts of itself or with the cloud. The only way that the fingerprint data section of the A7 System on Chip communicates with other parts of the A7 SoC is via a simple interrogation; the A7 SoC answers with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, depending on whether the fingerprint sensor was able to authenticate the user’s identity or not. This implementation makes the Touch ID not only incredibly secure (as the data is safely stored in a remote part of the A7 SoC) but also very fast: when you put your finger on the Home button to unlock your iPhone 5S, Touch ID works instantly. Touch ID marks a very huge leap forward from the old ‘Swipe to unlock’ experience.
