Apple on the defensive as iPhone 4S system update doesn’t fix battery issues for all

An iOS software update designed for the iPhone 4S intended to fix a problem with the gadget’s battery life has not actually worked for all users, it has been revealed.

The puzzling finding comes after Apple has made the unusual move of issuing a replacement program for a five-year old product, with the first ever iPad Nano being identified as a potential risk due to an overheating battery.

Apple has said the update has been released but that there are still issues needing to be resolved.

The iOS 5.0.1 update released last week was expected to fix a number of issues, including providing better voice recognition for Australian users frustrated by the new voice assistant, Siri. One of the major fixes was for iPhone 4 users who saw their batteries running out much faster than usual.

Unfortunately, users on various online forums have complained the problems still exist, and some have even said it is getting worse.

“The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices,” an Apple spokesperson told Bloomberg. “We continue to investigate a few remaining issues.”

While some users have expressed their battery life is much better, others have said they have seen no difference, and in some cases is actually worse.

The glitch has tarnished what has been an otherwise overwhelming response for the new iPhone 4S, which sparked a record number of pre-orders and sales in the first few weeks of its release.

Meanwhile, the company has also updated its website to issue a replacement program for the first-generation Nano, saying that in some cases, the case of the gadget may overheat.

“This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages,” the company said.

“Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod Nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.”

It isn’t the first time an Apple product has been the focus of a safety controversy. Two years ago iPhone users in both Europe and the United States became alarmed after their gadgets appeared to overheat and explode with cracks appearing in the screens.