iOS 10.1 Released: 3 Reasons To Upgrade

iOS 10.1 has arrived and with it comes a number of new features, fixes, and tweaks. The changelog for big releases like this can get pretty long, especially when there are new features coming down the pipeline like there are with iOS 10.1. With that in mind, here are three reasons to jump to the newest release of Apple's mobile operating system.

The addition of Portrait Camera for those on an iPhone 7 Plus is probably the biggest draw of this update. With Portrait Camera, you iPhone 7 Plus will use both its wide-angle lens and telephoto lens to create images where your subject is sharp and in focus while the background is blurred. It's a cool effect, and one that was shown off when Apple revealed the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that this feature is launching in beta. That means you might encounter some bugs or find that the Portrait Camera feature is a little rough around the edges. Portrait Camera will likely get a full release with an incoming update, so if you do experience some issues, hopefully they won't be around for long.

Along with iOS 10.1 comes a handful of updates for Apple Watch. While most of them are fixes, there is one handy addition coming to outdoor wheelchair workouts. Now your Apple Watch will display both distance and average pace for outdoor wheelchair runs and walks.

On top of that, an issue that prevented Apple Music playlists from syncing has now been fixed, along with an issue that saw Activity Sharing data update automatically over mobile data even when that feature had been manually shut off. If you noticed that you were missing invitations from Activity Sharing, that should work from here on out too. Finally, third-party apps should crash less when you're inputting text using you Apple Watch.

With Messages in iOS 10.1, you now have the option to replay full screen and bubble effects. You'll also find that message effects will play even when the Reduced Motion feature has been turned on, which is a nice touch for those who want the best of both worlds. If you've ever opened the Messages app only to be greeted by a white screen, then good news, as that particular bug has been squashed in this update.

Just as well, Apple has fixed an issue that made contact names appear incorrectly within the app. There was also a particularly frustrating bug making the rounds prior to this release that would strip audio from video that was recorded and then sent within the Messages app. That, like the white screen and contacts bugs, has been fixed in this latest iOS version.

While those are some of the biggest additions in iOS 10.1, there's definitely more coming along for the ride. For instance, Apple has improved connectivity to third party Bluetooth devices, along with fixing an rather annoying issue that prevented some users from restoring an iCloud backup. iPhone users in Japan will also want to take a look at the Maps app, as it now features transit support for trains, subways, ferries, and local and national bus lines in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

To install iOS 10.1, you'll want to navigate to your settings menu and select "General." From there, head into your "Software Update" sub-menu, where your iPhone should automatically find iOS 10.1. Tell it to download and install, then kick back and wait for the update to finish applying. Apple's full release notes can be found by tapping the "Learn More" button you see on the Software Update page.