Users of iOS 5 devices noticed that their devices lacked juice.  Apple confirmed that there is indeed an issue on iOS 5 that led to poor battery life, as well as other bugs.

Apple has since released a beta software update, iOS 5.0.1 to developers.  The software update includes bug fixes that will solve the battery issue as well as add multitasking features to the original iPad, address issues with documents in the cloud, improve voice recognition of Siri for Australian users, and a beefed up security system.

It is also believed that the bug fix will include resolving the issue with Smart Covers.  It was reported that those using Smart Covers were at risk of having their devices unlocked even if is password protected because of the Smart Cover.

Unfortunately, developers who were eager to try out the beta version slammed into another wall, as their devices wouldn’t work when they upgraded to the newer version of the iOS.  They are now warning other developers to avoid iOS all together until the bugs have been fixed.

It seems a regular cycle for iOS, and even other mobile platforms, as the key players find themselves dealing with bug fixes at every new release.  Maintaining updates on software and making them widely available is difficult enough.  Dealing with rampant bug fixes adds another layer of complexity to a software-centric mobile industry where demand is high and timing is of the essence.  Apple tends to manage such software rollouts better than Android, but also faces a very scrutinizing crowd.  With promises of fixes on the way, all we can do is wait for a resolution and hope it doesn’t cause any additional problems for iOS users and developers.