Bugs Reported in iOS 5.0.1

While in general, the new iOS 5.0.1 operating system appears to be working well enough for prepaid phone services and most iPhones, other users are not as happy. It seems there’s a new Apple glitch in town and this time it’s affecting some mobile devices running off the iOS 5.0.1 system. The primary glitch appears to impair the use of the Contacts app, making some users’ address books forget names when trying to call or text. The iOS 5.0.1 was released under the expectation of fixing other glitches, including the low battery life problem that has effected iPhone 4S users. Not only has the new release not universally fixed the battery bug, it’s added new headaches for Apple and its customers.

So far the new glitch has only appeared for Verison 4S users who used the ‘over the air’ method of installation in order to update to iOS 5.0.1. Originally the OTA upgrade was considered one of the improvements of the new system, but it seems that the iTunes install alternative works better, at least as far as avoiding the new bug. The tech sites The Startup Foundry and Redmond Pie have offered a couple potential fixes to the problem but it’s unclear how reliable these solutions will be in the long run.

Users are reporting still other bugs, including dropped Wi-Fi, cellular network connection problems and microphone glitches. It’s unclear whether these flaws are pre-existing are particular to the new firmware. Apple’s only comment so far has been that tests will have to be conducted in order to get to the root of the newest bugs. They were unclear as far as a timetable for when users might expect an official fix.

Despite these problems, iOS 5.0.1 boasts multiple improvements for mobile devices. Among these are a return to the Multi-Tasking Gestures on the original iPad, improved functionality of Cloud Documents, and better voice recognition for Australian users giving dictation. But while these upgrades may garner smiles from iPad users and Australians, for people who can’t properly access the contacts in their address books, a more rapid jump to 5.0.2 may be in order.

With more than 500,000 apps available in the iOS universe and around 18 billion downloads it’s unlikely Apple’s operating furnace will lose heat anytime soon, but the recent rash of bugs does not bode well for a company competing in one of the biggest growth industries in the world.