Apple has just started rolling out its latest iOS 7.1 update with performance improvements, design tweaks, and more. This is the first major update we’ve seen since iOS 7 made its debut last September, and it’s available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
We expected a few design changes after iOS 7’s major overhaul last fall, and that’s what we’ve gotten in iOS 7.1. In addition to a tweaked Phone dialer and call screen, Apple has made some minor changes to the “slide to power off” screen, and the controls inside the Music app – you can see all the changes in our gallery.
Some of the system animations have also been sped up to make for a slightly snappier experience, and users now have the option to disable wallpaper motion when they select a new background image. There are also some keyboard tweaks that make function keys like shift and delete a little easier to see.
This update adds support for CarPlay, formerly known as iOS in the Car, which was officially announced by Apple last week. So, if you’re planning to pick up a new vehicle that boasts CarPlay integration, your iOS devices will be ready for it.
iOS 7.1 also includes a fix for the random reboots many users have been experiencing on the latest iOS devices, including the iPhone 5s, the iPad mini with Retina display, and the iPad Air. This should prevent your device from crashing when you’re in the middle of something.
There’s a fix for Touch ID on the iPhone 5s, too, which promises to make the feature more reliable. Users have been reporting that their fingerprints aren’t recognized all too often, but hopefully that will no longer be the case.
iOS 7.1 supports the iPhone 4 and above, iPad 2 and above, the first- and second-generation iPad mini, the iPad Air, and the fifth-generation iPad Air. You can download it now from within the Settings app.
