Apple Fixes IPhone 4S Battery Woes

Apple released an iOS 5 update with fixes for iPhone 4S battery and iCloud issues, polishing its popular handset's image after initial glitches marred its release.

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Apple iPhone 4S

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said the 5.0.1 update solves users' complaints that 4S phones lost battery power randomly and significantly following iOS 5 upgrades.

In addition, the upgrade fixes bugs in iCloud Documents, gives iPad owners multitasking gestures, and helps the Siri voice-recognition service better understand Australian accents.

The update is available for all iPad and iPhone models from 3GS onward, as well as third-and fourth-generation iPods.

Apple's upgrade addresses at least some of the many problems that have plagued its iPhone 4S and iOS 5 launches.

Beginning in mid-October, some iPhone 4S owners began tocomplain of a yellowish screen tint that may have been caused by uncured adhesives.

Then in the first week of November, reports surfaced of iPhone 4S battery drains that occurred even when the device was not in use. Two days later, Apple acknowledged the issue and promised the software upgrade it rolled out today.

The iPhone 4S also faced a Siri outage on November 3, prompting the personal assistant to say, "There's something wrong, and I can't answer your questions right now," when addressed.

Siri's silence lasted only one day, but analysts from the Saugatuck research firm warn this blackout may discourage businesses from adopting apparently unreliable cloud-based services.

Some people owning the iPhone 4S also report they can't hear outgoing calls through the handset's earpiece.

Despite these problems, Apple's handset is surging in sales, and people are still lining up to buy the device, even after four million purchased the handset in its first three days. The 4S is set to debut in 38 total countries including the U.S., heralding high sales in time for the holidays.

Consumer Reports recommended the iPhone 4S but listed Samsung's Galaxy S2, Motorola's Droid Bionic and several others ahead of Apple's handset.

Apple's quick responses to the reported 4S problems earn the company credibility, but if it wants strong sales to continue, Apple will need to seek out and eliminate any further bugs.