Report: Apple Already Testing iOS 8.1, 8.2, 8.3

In the wake of its well-publicized iOS 8.0.1 snafu, word is that Apple (AAPL) already is toiling on major iOS 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 revisions, according to a 9to5Mac report.

Saddled with well-publicized snafus from its recent spate of on-the-fly iOS 8 fixes, Apple may be altering its traditional iOS delivery schedule of releasing a major revision each fall followed by an update months later, a scheme it has followed with iOS 6 and 6.1, and iOS 7 and 7.1.

And, there are some clues the vendor already has iOS 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 in the works, as 9to5Mac has sourced information that all three versions currently are being tested by Apple employees. In addition, Google (GOOG) Analytics data from 9to5Mac’s own website indicate users are visiting it through iOS 8.1, iOS 8.2, and iOS 8.3 devices. The report said iOS 8.1 hits to the 9to5Mac website first appeared prior to iOS 8’s launch, with visits from versions 8.2 and 8.3 increasing in the last month.

The 9to5Mac report speculated that Apple may be changing its iOS release pattern owing to what’s just happened with iOS 8—with the new version mapping to the introduction of new hardware but carrying with it the risk of problems; or, the vendor merely is compressing its iOS development schedule and still planning to come out with iOS 8 updates throughout 2015, followed by iOS 9 in the early fall.

As for the latter possibility, Apple is said to be working on an iOS 8 update that improves the Maps app, a version specific to iPad updates, an update to activate the Apple Pay service and, of course, a release for the Apple Watch, all of which could be staged with additional iOS 8.x releases, the report said.