iOS 5.1.1 update squashes iPad 3 2G/3G network switching bug

Apple has just released iOS 5.1.1 update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This update fixes a number of bugs, including a particular annoying one affecting the iPad 3 which resulted users losing access to their cellular data connection until they rebooted their tablet

This is the first iOS update for the iPad 3.

The update includes the following bug fixes and improvements:

• Improves the reliability of using the HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in certain circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

The most troublesome bug fixed by this update is one that affected switching between 2G and 3G networks on the new iPad. It’s a bug that iPad 3 owners have been quite vocal about over on theApple support forums. If the iPad 3 had to switch between a 2G or 3G network, or temporarily lost connection to a cellular data network, then this iOS 5.1 bug meant that it might not be able to reestablish the connection.

Prior to this update the only solution to the problem was to reboot the iPad — a rather lengthy process which some users reported having had to carry out several times a day.

Apple makes no mention of having fixed the ‘Batterygate’ issue reported to affect the iPad 3. ‘Batterygate’ was the term given to describe an effect first reported by Dr. Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate. During testing, he noticed that the iPad 3 continues to charge the battery for an extra hour after the battery meter reaches 100 percent, and that charging the iPad 3 for this extra hour resulted in an extra 1.2 hours of runtime.

While this behavior is normal for all devices making use of lithium-ion battery technology, it isn’t usually as noticeable as it is with the iPad 3. There had been speculation that Apple would recalibrate the battery meter to make this effect less noticable.

I will carry out some testing to see whether Apple has indeed recalibrated the battery meter, or decided that this was a non-issue and left the battery meter unchanged.