Apple CEO Tim Cook Introduces IOS 8
Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the IOS 8 operating system during his keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California Reuters/Robert Galbraith

The iOS 8 release date of Sept 17 is arriving soon. Apple is calling the iOS 8 as 'the biggest iOS release ever.' The Gold Master edition of the iOS 8 which is the last testing edition of the OS has been tried and tested and now the time has come for the final version of iOS 8 to arrive.

iOS 8 Compatible Devices

The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus which are going to release on Sept 19 will come preloaded with the newest iOS 8 release. However, even existing iDevices can be upgraded to the iOS 8 update.

iPhone handsets like iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, and iPhone 4S can support the iOS 8. Apple tablets like 2nd gen iPad, 3rd gen iPad, 4th gen iPad and the iPad Air are also compatible with iOS 8.

Small-sized Apple tablets like iPad Mini and iPad Mini with Retina Display can also be upgraded to iOS 8. The iOS8 is also available for iPod Touch 5G.

Apple usually requires its users to have the most recent of the existing opearting system before you update your device to the new one. Hence, users are required to first update their iDevices to iOS 7.1.2 to avail iOS 8.

iOS 8 Release Date and Time

On Tuesday, Apple had announced to the media that the iOS 7 release date is Sept 17.Apple has never disclosed the exact release time for its iOS editions. However, by checking the previous release patterns, we can guess the iOS 8 release time.

Usually, Apple starts rolling out the iOS update to the public at 10AM Pacific Time. People who stay in Eastern Time zone can update their iDevices with iOS 8 around afternoon as there is three hours time deficit.

For Europe, the iOS 8 update will be made available at sometime in the evening. iDevice users in eastern countries like China and Japan can expect the update to be available during the wee hours of Sept 18.

How to Access the iOS 8 Update?

There are two ways to update your iDevice with iOS 8. The first one is over-the-air (OTA) method which requires you to check for software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The second method is all about hooking up your iDevice to the computer and accessing the iOS 8 download through iTunes.