An early iOS 14 flaw has re-emerged in a slightly different way, once again undermining the ability to set default apps for email and web browsing.
According to some iOS 14 users, default choices reset to Apple’s Safari and Mail apps whenever the third-party apps are updated from the App Store.
The initial issue, which reset the default apps following a reboot, was quickly resolved with an iOS 14.0.1 update in the days following launch. Now Apple will have to deal with a second flaw in the coming days.
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Programmer David Clarke tweeted a screen recording of the flaw within iOS 14, which he says remains present in yesterday’s iOS 14.1 release. He writes (via 9to5Mac): “It seems that every time an email or browser app is updated on iOS 14, it resets the default settings.”
Same bug exists in 14.1 as well.
— David Clarke (@DCOneFourSeven) October 21, 2020
While this isn’t a major issue, it is another teething problem for one of the most popular promised features within iOS 14. iPhone and iPad users have long waited for the ability to set default third-party apps, a luxury Android users have taken for granted for quite some time.
When working, it’s handy for those using clicking email links within web pages, for example. Instead of automatically opening in the Mail app, users can instead summon the compose window in an app like Gmail or Outlook.
In order to change the mail app, you can enter that app’s portion of the Settings Menu. Then scroll down until you see the Default Mail App option, and then select whichever installed app you wish to use. The same methodology applies if you wish to choose Edge or Chrome as your default browser.
Other than this minor quibble, which can still be rectified manually pretty easily, Apple has enjoyed a successful iOS 14 launch with very few teething problems. This week’s iOS 14.1 launch squished a new bugs and introduced the Intercom feature for HomePod.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
