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iOS 8 Troubles Continue. iPhones Hit By Bluetooth Problems

This article is more than 9 years old.

When will it stop? My fellow contributor Mark Rogowsky recently pointed out Apple ’s tumultuous September of highs and lows and now it appears October is kicking off in equally controversial fashion.

Following Apple’s quick fire release of (the disastrous) iOS 8.0.1 and subsequent 8.0.2 fix, MacRumours reports complaints are rapidly building in both its own and the Apple Support Forums over Bluetooth connectivity problems.

According to the comments the issue is affecting connection to Bluetooth speakers, keyboards, headsets and car audio systems. The symptoms are numerous including straight refusal to connect, partial connection with no audio and disconnection when calls come in. Complaints come from owners of both new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Pluses as well as older iPhones.

Car systems seem the hardest hit with this Apple Support Communities thread calling out Bluetooth issues with numerous makes. Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus , Toyota and Ford are just some of the manufacturers specifically mentioned.

Apple has yet to comment officially on the issue (I have reached out for a comment), but the company has already seeded iOS 8.1 to developers and according to MacRumours this is clearing up Bluetooth issues for many.

Read more: iPhone 6 And iPhone 6 Plus vs iPhone 5S And iPhone 5: Should You Upgrade?

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Record iPhone sales will keep Apple accountants happy, but it cannot hide the fact the company has had a rough couple of weeks. iOS 8 WiFi and battery life complaints, Bendgate, the U2 debacle, the iOS 8.0.1 recall and the Bash bug hitting OS X have all created the wrong sort of headlines and, for once, Apple will be hoping for a spell out of the limelight and aim to let its sales figures do the talking.

Of course, like all reports of bug complaints, the scale of the iOS 8/8.0.2 Bluetooth connectivity issues currently remains unclear (I didn't suffer any during my iPhone 6 review) but it does appear to be something Apple has deemed serious enough to specifically address in iOS 8.1.

Ultimately these reports, like past high profile controversies such as 'Antennagate', are unlikely to do long term damage but they do also come as Google prepares to take the wrappers off the heavily anticipated Android L (likely to be Android 5.0) and the iPhone 6 Plus challenging Nexus 6. Meanwhile Microsoft has shown its cards with the announcement of Windows 10 - a single OS to run across PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Apple retains a unique position in the tech sector commanding margins and customer loyalty far beyond its rivals, but with competition heating up it will be determined to avoid any more slip ups.

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