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Why are iOS updates so big every time changing e. g. from 4.3.2 to 4.3.3?

Hi there,


after posting my question as mentioned in the subject in a german board I only got "on the surface" answers. I'm not a software engineer, only a bloody newbie - but nevertheless I ask myself any time, when 666 MB iOS updates running - why these updates sooo big. Unfortunately my DSL line is not the fastest one, I'm waiting and waiting ... chrrr.

May be here in this community there is an expert who can tell me with "normal" speech (not programmers chinese) what's the reason for that huge updates. Thanks a lot in advance. I run a iphone 4, 32 GB, with iOS4 4.3.3.

iPhone 4

Posted on May 8, 2011 1:38 AM

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6 replies

May 8, 2011 2:30 AM in response to platon57

Each update is the full iOS operating system.


Typically, when you update a desktop (Windows or Mac) OS, you just get the changes (patch or delta update). Apple chose to provide all iOS updates as the full OS, rather than just the changes.


I suppose that's because Apple felt it was a safer, more robust, easier-to-manage process. Users simply download and install one file, and whatever version of the system you're on, you know it's complete and correct.


Prior to the advent of the iPhone. mobile device software updates were very chancy, and required a level of understanding and technical competence. You'd get multiple versions of the same update, depending where in the world you were and what features you wanted; you'd get separate updates for the basic OS and for the radio; the installation processes was multi-step and had severe bricking risks. So the Apple process was, at the time, a breath of fresh air. It was easy to understand, didn't need any technical knowledge, and was consistent.


However, for some time, there would only be 2 or so iOS updates a year - one for the new version, usually in June/July, and one bug-fix/feature-add; the iOS files were smaller (around 200MB originally); and there were less variations in version for different devices (which probably affects file size).


Now we get more frequent updates (3 in the last couple of months), and the files are 600MB+. iOS 4 is more complex than previous versions, hence the increased file size; and its complexity may well be creating room for more bugs (hence the more frequent updates).


There is a suggestion that iOS5 will include the ability to update over the air (i.e direct to the phone, rather than via iTunes). That presupposes that the updates will be as patches/deltas, since 600MB (more, probably, since each iOS version is bigger than the last) is an unreasonable over-the-air download, both for users and carriers.


If that happens (only speculation thus far - nothing official from Apple), that will help those of us who have less-than-perfect broadband (in my case, I get reasonably solid 2MB connection, but I have to update 3 different devices, so I get the pleasure of 1.8GB of download).


If the over-the-air method comes to pass, I suspect we might get an option - take just the changes over the air, or take the full file via iTunes.


Hope all that makes sense

May 9, 2012 9:48 PM in response to nick101

Nice summary.


What's interesting is the moral (if not legal) point of who is liable for the cost of these massive downloads.


A security update is, it could be argued, the patching of a software/firmware product that isn't "fit for purpose". The "fix" is necessary for the proper and continued secure functioning of the device. Sure, some security patches fix unforseen issues that have literally come out the blue and taken everyone by surprise. Sure – but I've worked in IT long enough to know that some security issues are also caused by other factors such as staff incompetence, limited project budgets and short timeframes.


Now, it's one thing to put up with a small(ish) security patch that the user can opt to download separately from the rest of the update bundle; it's quite another to endure a massive update package simply because the security upgrade (and/or App security updates, if applicable) cannot be installed seperately. The first of these is, of course, possible under OSX; but it's not under iOS.


Here's a real-world example: iOS 1.5.1 has just been released and the iPhone and iPad update packages together total about 1500Mb. Tough luck for anyone who owns both products. Now, each contains security improvements that cannot be downloaded on their own, but consider the following facts:


Australia's main teleco is Telstra and their cheapest ADSL plan is 5GB a month (then slowed to an unusable snail pace for data over this limit). This plan costs AUD$30 (per month).


Fortunately I'm not on this plan, but many of Australians will be or will be on similar. And going by the above example they'd each be paying around AUD $9.00 to receive Apple security updates, inseperably bundled into the whole download. More, if they have additional Apple products. And aside from the cost, they'd be losing over 25% of their download quota.


Be interesting to hear more on this subject. What do you think?

May 9, 2012 10:27 PM in response to ThatguyfromThatplace

That's fantastic news. Unfortunately, I don't think it's widely known. Possibly because it's not widely publicised.


At the end of last month I accompanied an 67-year-old lady to the Apple Store (Melbourne) where she went to purchase an iPad2 3G+WiFi. Not being the customer allowed me to concentrate closely on the sales technique, which was very interesting to watch.


While the sales person did an excellent job, particularly with the product orientation, there was absolutely no mention made of the data savings available by updating directly to the device, as you've indicated.


As an iPad owner myself, I would have remembered that!


Anyway, thanks very much for your feedback – hopefully others will find this as useful as I have.

May 23, 2012 7:50 PM in response to platon57

My suspicion is that Apple have done deals with many Telcos around the world, especially those who charge per gb. for data, to make their updates as massive as possible to make the telcos the most money possible. E.g. once i go over 15 gb per month (many people are on far less) I get hit with $50 per gb, over that limit. So sick of it! And apparently Apple are about to introduce automatic updating with the new Lion OS update. Also it discriminates massively against the world 's poor in developing nations, making their products unuseable in those countries.


And "Thatguyfromthatplace" I think you are wrong. I went to download IOS 5.1.1 yesterday (which conveniently didn't state its size) and it was saying it would take 40 minutes to download at 350kb/s. that is considerably more than "50mb"! I'm quickly turning from a long term (1999) Apple groupie to somebody who loathes them, especially as I work in pro video as well.

May 23, 2012 10:37 PM in response to tangeoftheinland

I donwloaded 5.1.1 on 2 iPhones (a 4 and a 4S) and 2 iPads (a 1 and a 3). In each case, the update screen on the device stated the size of the download and, in each case, it was between 50MB and 60MB - different sizes for each device.


If, however, you choose to do the upadte through iTunes on the desktop, the download is the full OS, which runs to 800MB or so, depending on the device.

Why are iOS updates so big every time changing e. g. from 4.3.2 to 4.3.3?

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