iphonefeatured121Apple just released an update for all iOS 8 users today that brings a set of fixes for bugs that have cropped up on its mobile operating system.

iOS 8.1.3, which just rolled out this morning, comes with a marquee feature that should help people who have phones with small amounts of storage space. Apple’s release notes say that the update “Reduces the amount of storage required to perform a software update.” It’s unclear how drastic the space savings are, but it could help fix one of the major criticisms of Apple’s iOS 8 update. It requires a lot of space on a device – space that people with 8 GB of storage don’t have.

The update also brings new configuration options for iOS devices to prepare them for use on standardized tests in education scenarios, just in time for spring testing season, along with a couple of other small fixes and Apple’s usual bundle of security updates.

IMG_0401It’s a moderately-sized update, clocking in at 247 MB on my iPhone 6, and 136 MB on my 4th generation iPad. The download will take a few minutes, and the installation process takes a little while as well, so people should probably hold off on running the update until they have at least a half hour on a stable wi-fi connection. To update, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

As with any iOS update, it’s important to make sure that the updating device in question is backed up prior to installing anything, just in case something happens to go sideways.

While this is the first update to iOS in the new year, it’s not the big one people are waiting for. iOS 8.2, which is currently in developer beta testing, will bring support for the Apple Watch. Apple’s smartwatch is expected to launch sometime early this year, though it’s unclear whether the 8.2 update will precede or coincide with its launch.

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