HIGHLIGHTS
The iOS 11.1 update has 70 new emoji characters
The update brings back 3D Touch App Switcher that was live until iOS 11
Apple has also released new watchOS and tvOS updates
Weeks after rolling out three minor updates to iOS 11, Apple has released iOS 11.1 as the first major point release of its latest platform. The new update is available for all iOS 11-compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models. The company has added a bunch of new emoji models as well as brought back the gesture-enabled 3D Touch App Switch through the newest update. Separately, it has released watchOS 4.1 and tvOS 11.1 updates.
You can download the iOS 11.1 update on iPhone 5s and above models, iPad Air and above models, iPad mini 2 and above models, or the sixth generation iPod touch. To download the update, you need to go to Settings > General > Software Update and then follow the on-screen instructions. Your device should be running on a Wi-Fi connection to download the over-the-air (OTA) update. Also, it is advisable to back up your data before beginning the update process.
The first major change that comes with the iOS 11.1 update is the range of over 70 new emoji characters that include new food types, animals, mythical creatures, clothing options, some more expressive smiley faces and gender-neutral characters. You would notice ten Unicode emoji models such as a crazy face, pie, pretzel, t-rex, vampire, exploding head and face vomiting among others. Similarly, there are improvements to existing creatures like dolphin, bee, snail, and whale to enhance your messaging experience.
In addition to the new emoji characters, the iOS 11.1 update has tons of fixes and improvements for Photos and VoiceOver. The update has also brought back support for accessing the app switcher using 3D Touch. This means you can now press the left edge of the 3D Touch-enabled display of your iPhone to access the multitasking App Switcher interface - without using the home button. The feature was well present until the release of iOS 11, but Apple disabled its existence supposedly to promote the button-less gestures of the iPhone X.
The iOS update also includes a list of security improvements. Notably, it patches the widespread vulnerability that was recently spotted in the WPA2 Wi-Fi protocol and was letting attackers use a key reinstallation attack (KRACK) to decrypt network traffic and gain access to personal data.
New watchOS and tvOS
Alongside the release of iOS 11.1, Apple has brought watchOS 4.1 and tvOS 11.1. The new watchOS version is compatible with all the Apple Watch models, including the Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3, while the new tvOS is available for the fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV devices.
The watchOS 4.1 update brings access to iCloud Music Library within the native Music app. There is also support for streaming music from both Apple Music and Radio. You leverage the LTE support of your Apple Watch Series 3 or connect your older Watch model to an active Wi-Fi network to stream your favourite tracks. Additionally, Apple has enabled GymKit support that will let you share your workout data through advanced gym equipment.
Here's how you update to watchOS 4.1. First, you need to have at least 50 percent charge on the Apple Watch before you start the update - it is also recommended to keep it charging while updating. Your iPhone will to be in close proximity to the Apple Watch, and will need to be on Wi-Fi. After this, users will need to launch the Watch app on their iPhone and head to the My Watch tab and then General > Software Update. Enter the Watch passcode if prompted and then follow the prompts from your iPhone. The Apple Watch should restart twice before the update is completed.
Unlike the feature-rich watchOS 4.1, the tvOS 11.1 update doesn't include any noticeable upgrades. The new version, however, fixes the WPA2 Wi-Fi vulnerability. Apple is also set to bring more settings control to Apple TV 4K users, but through tvOS 11.2, as spotted from the first developer beta of the next update.
To update to tvOS 11.1, users need to open the Settings app on their Apple TV, and then navigate to Settings > Systems > Software Update. Once this is done, the Apple TV will search for the update and you can proceed to download tvOS 11.1 following the on-screen prompts.