iOS 8.4 Expected to Launch by June 30 with GPS Fixes
During Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) keynote yesterday, Apple announced several new services that will be included in iOS 8.4 and available by June 30th. This release is expected to fix the open iOS bugs affecting external GPS receiver accessories. Although we had hoped for a 8.3.1 update or 8.4 release to launch much sooner than this, at least we now have a firm date.
Look for another blog post soon announcing our Bad Elf: Cleared to Update program, along with a debrief of some lessons learned and upgrades we've made to our QA process to reduce the odds of running into similar issues in the future.
If you haven't already, please sign up for our mailing list to be notified ASAP when we've confirmed the public iOS 8.4 release resolves the GPS issue. The sign-up form is at the bottom of every page on our website.
The Bad Elf engineering team is attending WWDC this week, and we had the opportunity to meet Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, after the keynote.
Although we didn't talk to Tim specifically about the iOS 8.3 bug, we did discuss platform accessory support. He mentioned that Apple sees accessories as a vital part of the ecosystem and driver of innovation in niche markets such as aviation, marine, and survey. We're excited to be part of that!
Once again, we want to thank our amazing customers for their patience and support during the last 9 weeks since this issue appeared. As always, please contact us via support@bad-elf.com and we'll do whatever we can to help.
21 Responses
Gene
@David, I certainly appreciate your comments. However, when we the lowly private pilots with one iPad, not 2700 hear it’s fixed from three vendors: Apple, Foreflight and Bad Elf we have 2 choices, 1.) trust them, 2.) wait and let others test for us.
Having seen the notices on 8.3 I held fast on the previous release (whew).
Seeing all the pronouncements that it was fixed in 8.4 I upgraded trusting these guys knew what they were doing and had thoroughly tested. Bad choice. While I don’t depend on the iPad as a VFR Private Pilot for anything more than a convenience, I was a bit bummed this morning when I went flying.
Message to Apple, Bad Elf and Foreflight ++ is pilots looking for reliability will turn to the hardened platforms e.g. Garmin 430xx or equivalent.
For the rest of us, we’ll dust off our Sectional Plotters and get some new batteries for the E6B.
Todd Doyle
8.4 Fixed it. It works now.
Airman32
The GPS bug fix has NOT been done. My Bluetooth GPS Receiver still does not connect to my iPhone or iPad. I’m hoping the IOS 4.9 will fix this.
Marco Polo
8.4 is out. Anyone think it’s a good idea to install 8.4 yet? Fool me once Apple. Seriously, can someone post a link for an aviation site that QC’s iOS?
David
To all of you aviators who are making the negative comments, here is my two cents worth. If you are going to use a device for electronic flight deck (EFD), you need to follow FAA policy, procedures, and Advisory Circulars ( which are really regulatory, not advisory.) As a professional pilot, regardless of your application, you must air on the side of safety each and every time you update an app, operating system, or hardware. When a new ios comes out, my company prohibits updates until the FAA and my company both thoroughly test the new ios with all of the software we use on our EFBs. In my case, they are ipads, 2700 of them. thats right, 2700 of us and NO updates till things are tested and approved. You guys should do the same thing for SAFETY. It is the prudent, responsible, professional way to operate aircraft. give up on Apple? What a joke. Ipads are in the hands of nearly every professional pilot in this country.
Dwayne M
I am so glad that I had a blackberry so that my navigation could continue. I have lost all faith in Apple, and will never give them any more $$.
Also of interest I see that Isailor will be coming available for android devices, and my ipad mini can go to the kids to play games on.
Steve Fortman
What a snafu, how do we trust 8.4 on a July 4 trip?
The wait is unacceptable!
From my perspective there is plenty blame for all 3 of my suppliers. Apple, Foreflight & Bad Elf. I’m not totally down and it’s still B.S.
Cliff
Hey Team, good stuff here. Do you have a version that supports ADS B IN?
David Fenn
Very disappointed? That doesn’t cut it anymore! * I was “very disappointed” after the first month of being as patient as one can be.
$600. iPad. * Foreflight Canada/Us Pro at $250 for the year. * A New GPS at $ 150. * Out of Pocket $1000.
What did I learn?
iPads are not a reliable source for Navigation. Back to the Old paper Maps and Approach Plates.
Cancel subscriptions and sell all the useless stuff that many are calling “A Paper Weight”
Thanks Apple. To think I almost bought an Apple watch! NOT NOW
Bert
I was very fortunate to read about apples issues with Bad Elf Pro prior to 8.3
download. very surprise this has NOT yet been resolved! many, many pilots are
very disappointed with Apple. and why was it not possible to roll back?
Justin
Is there an option to purchase with intent to return or “borrow” (with a deposit) a unit that works until the wifi update is cleared? I have a trip planned which leaves before June 30th and won’t have internet access to update while we’re en route to trail.
Gene
Did the garmin gps have this same trouble?
Yves
Glad to hear Apple policy is to take care of the collaborative echosystem.
The GPS “bug” has frozen a lot of customers and could alter seriously the confidence.
Waiting now for the solution promised for June the 30th.
Tony
Thank you for the update. I am surprised you did not discus the IOS 8.3 bug with Tim. Was this to sensitive considering the balance of power?
Mark Quinlan
I agree Glen Kowalchuk’s assertion that you should negotiate a “Rollback” with Apple so your users can rollback to the previous version to restore the external GPS and iPad use to all the pilots who rely on the Bad Elf.
Any chance you’ve already approached Apple on this and if so, what is their response?
Thank you,
Mark J. Quinlan
Paul
Hope the fix is in as I sure have missed using Bad Elf & I-Pad for Marine and Land navigation.
Dee
Glad to see a fix has been scheduled – unfortunately it comes too late for the 50+ racers in the Air Race Classic 22-25 June.
Glen Kowalchuk
FOLKS,
Pilots around the world have been “GROUNDED” by this bug, so as to speak.
Would it not make sense that APPLE have a ROLL BACK option so the next time this happens we can simply ROLL BACK to the previous version? PLEASE CONTACT APPLE and ask for the ROLL BACK option like my MACBOOK has!
Yes my iPad is a paperweight, but the $300 for Foreflight is also a “paperweight” while we wait for APPLE.
:(
Brian S.
I’ll be glad when this is resolved. I feel like I have a $150 paperweight. I saved and spent hard earned money for a product that is apparently susceptible to MONTHS of inoperability.
Darryl
Horay
Rich Moore
Thanks for the update. It is crazy that it has taken apple this long to fix these issues, but good that they are finally moving to fix it.
I watched the keynote, it looks like this next iOS (and OS X) will hopefully have way more focus of stability and bug fixes, in addition to a few new features (split screen on Air 2.)
BTW, Wing X EFB app now has a work around for apple’s GPS bug using a bad elf device. In addition, it will now show a waas flag and some basic hardware information when a bad elf device is used.
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