Apple releases iOS 8 for download

After months of being in beta, Apple has finally released iOS 8 for free to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. You can grab it now in iTunes or through Software Update.

iOS 8 introduces many new features, including the new Health app, Notification Center widgets, Handoff, actionable notifications, and Extensibility for developers. You’ll start to see many of your favorite apps offer features specific for iOS 8, like the ability to interact directly with other apps.

We’ve been digging into iOS 8 for months now, and we’re collected some of the best features to check out while you’re downloading. We’ll have more in-depth looks at aspects of the new OS throughout the day.

Is my device supported?

Most likely, yes. Any iPhone from the 4s and up is capable of running iOS 8, although you should probably avoid installing iOS 8 on the 4s.

Ars Technica did a speed test and found iOS 8’s performance on the 4s to be sluggish at best. Unless you’re absolutely chomping at the big for iOS 8’s new features, sticking to iOS 7 on the 4s is probably a good idea. If you do upgrade, you won’t get features like AirDrop and Handoff, which is unfortunate.

iOS 8 also supports the Retina 10-inch iPad (2nd, 3rd and 4th-gen), iPad Air, iPad mini, Retina iPad mini and 5th-gen iPod touch.

If you’d like to download iOS 8 directly from Apple’s servers instead of through iTunes or Software Update, here are the links:

• Apple TV 2 (AppleTV2,1) version 6.2.1 (Build 11D258), Download
• Apple TV 3 (AppleTV3,1) version 7.0 (Build 12A365b), Download
• Apple TV 3 (2013) (AppleTV3,2) version 7.0 (Build 12A365b), Download
• iPad 2 (Wi-Fi) (iPad2,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 2 (GSM) (iPad2,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 2 (CDMA) (iPad2,3) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 2 (Mid 2012) (iPad2,4) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini (Wi-Fi) (iPad2,5) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini (GSM) (iPad2,6) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini (CDMA) (iPad2,7) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 3 (Wi-Fi) (iPad3,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 3 (GSM) (iPad3,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 3 (CDMA) (iPad3,3) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 4 (Wi-Fi) (iPad3,4) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 4 (GSM) (iPad3,5) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad 4 (CDMA) (iPad3,6) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad Air (Wi-Fi) (iPad4,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad Air (GSM) (iPad4,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad Air (CDMA) (iPad4,3) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini Retina (Wi-Fi) (iPad4,4) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini Retina (GSM) (iPad4,5) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPad mini Retina (CDMA) (iPad4,6) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 4s (iPhone4,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5 (GSM) (iPhone5,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5 (CDMA) (iPhone5,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5c (GSM) (iPhone5,3) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5c (CDMA) (iPhone5,4) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5s (GSM) (iPhone6,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone 5s (CDMA) (iPhone6,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPhone7,1 (iPhone7,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A366), Download
• iPhone7,2 (iPhone7,2) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download
• iPod touch 5G (iPod5,1) version 8.0 (Build 12A365), Download

Alex Heath

Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.