
When Apple said that iOS 8 was the biggest iOS release ever, they weren't joking. It seems like iOS 8 is going to have the highest number of iteration updates that any iOS firmware release has ever had in the history of Apple's widely-used mobile operating system.
Reports are now indicating that Apple is also working on a version of iOS 8 dubbed iOS 8.4, although it's unknown what Apple would be planning for new features or improvements in the new release, although 9to5Mac has been given word that it could include Apple's new re-branded Beats Music streaming service.
At this point in time, iOS 8.2 is nearing a public release alongside the Apple Watch, and iOS 8.3 was just seeded to developers for testing Monday afternoon.
iOS 8.4 is expected to be the last major iOS release before Apple begins serious work on iOS 9, which was reported today to bring some serious stability and performance improvements to the operating system overall since the introduction of all of these new features and user interfaces that we've received starting with iOS 7. Because the software engineering teams at Apple would be working so hard to fine-tune iOS 9's performance and stability, it's expected that iOS 9 won't bring with it a ton of new features.
As it sits right now, iOS 8.2 should be released within the next month or so, and iOS 8.3 should be released some time in Summer. iOS 8.4 could be released in the Summer as well, or could be postponed until the Fall. This leaves us with the question of when said iOS 9 would be released – if not this year (as reports are indicating), then next year is plausible. Apple definitely seems to be de-railing their usual iOS schedule.
Sources: 9to5Mac
Message