Apple releases iOS 8.1.3 to fix bugs

Apple has rolled out its latest iOS update, aimed at fixing bugs and improving performance.

The update, iOS 8.1.3, was made available Tuesday. It fixes an issue that prevented some users from entering their Apple ID passwords for Messages and FaceTime, addresses a problem that caused Spotlight to stop displaying app results, fixes a bug that prevented multitasking gestures from working on iPads and adds new configuration options for educational standardized testing.

For users without a lot of free space on their mobile devices, iOS 8.1.3 reduces the amount of storage required to perform a software update, although Apple didn’t specify by how much.

Notably, the update doesn’t appear to address many of the complaints owners of older-model iPhones and iPads had about iOS 8, such as rapid battery drain and sluggish performance. As a result, adoption of iOS 8 has been slow.

We’re guessing Apple isn’t too bent out of shape about that, particularly after its blockbuster quarterly earnings released late Tuesday sent the Cupertino, Calif., company’s shares up as much as 8.2% Wednesday morning.

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