To Update or Not to Update: Revisited

One of the most often-asked questions I get from teachers and administrators is whether or not to update (or upgrade) software when it’s released. This question applies both to district-issued Macs and iPads, as well as personal iPhones and other devices. Last year, I wrote a short article on the topic.

In addition to questions, I often see teacher devices with a tell-tale red numeral on the App Store icon (indicating that updates are available), or an operating system clearly stuck one, two, or more versions in the past.

In each situation, my advice would be the same: update your device. 

The author of a recent article on one of my favorite tech blogs, Michael Potuck of 9to5Mac, agrees with this notion. He states, “App and operating system updates typically provide bug fixes, security updates, and introduce new features. While it’s possible that installing an update may cause an issue, it’s also possible that not installing the update could cause problems.”

Potuck goes far beyond giving that great advice; he also gives excellent step-by-step instructions for completing the various types of upgrades and updates available on a Mac, including accessing the App Store in macOS, updating apps downloaded from the web, and dealing with Adobe Flash Player.

Read Potuck’s excellent posts: 

Become Tech Savvy: How to approach updating software on your Mac

Become Tech Savvy: How to approach updating software on iPhone and iPad

Of course, the Barrington 220 tech support team is also available to help you with updates and upgrades. While in the district, simply call x.1500 to speak with a Tech Support Associate.