Apple's iPhone 2.0 update is failing

(Credit: Matt Asay)

Look familiar? It's what I and others have been seeing this morning when trying to upgrade to the iPhone 2.0 firmware. Apple's servers are apparently being dismantled by heavy traffic. That's nice. But now I have a brick with no ability to call, no contacts, nothing.

Isn't there some way to prepare for this? Don't hype a product unless you're prepared to let people actually use it.

Follow-up: Unfortunately, the day didn't get any better. It veered toward success with an eventual 2.0 upgrade on my existing iPhone and success with ActiveSync and Zimbra, but then cratered when an unstable 2.0 build and an equally shaky ActiveSync started eating my email. Couple this with Apple's and AT&T's shocking inability to get the right hand to talk to the left on activation and I was left wishing that I would have sold my spot in line for the $200 that was on offer. Friday was not Apple's finest day...or mine.

[sticks1839]

I had the same problem this morning, so my phone is sitting at home while I'm at work until the traffic calms down. Also, some quirk in the updated iTunes caused an issue with the syncing of my iPhone's contacts/calendar with Outlook, so it constantly tries to find the Microsoft Office Professional CD, even after I abort the sync, correct the error, and close iTunes.

[Chkyerself]

My phone was not unlocked, etc. just 2.0 bricked it to only doing emergency calling. i tried doing the phone reset, by pressing home button and top button until red switch appeared and it eventually fixed the phone, sync'd and only now itunes does not load the phone but atleast it recovered it. But i can use the app store from the phone.

[b_baggins]

So, exactly, how is your product a brick? The iPhone doesn't stop working because the iTunes store can't download the update yet. Methinks there's more to this story than you're telling us.

[jzito1]

b_baggins....Hapened to me too. It's a brick because the "on" slide access a keypad for emergency calls only and that does not work because there is no signal. A Brick

[jpc1258]

Because it died during the update. With no option to roll back. So it is a brick.

[facummings]

It is a Brick, not only does the update fail with a Apple Network Error, Apple supports says all agents are busy and hangs up on you. I can't think of a worst customer support issue than that. Brick is the right term.

[nathanprinter]

Once you start the 2.0 update unless it gets all the way through YOU WILL HAVE A BRICK. It does stop working! Try it yourself if you don't believe it.

[michbol]

it is a brick because itunes wipes out the old os on the phone and then fails to upload the new 2.0 version. no os on the phone = brick. Methinks you are an arrogant little prick.

[UKStory1355]

I updated my iTunes last night so I could update my iPhone this morining; however, when I tried to update my phone this morning, iTunes told me that iPhone 1.1.4 is still the most current software.

[Sabroson]

Perhaps Apple is doing this to curb down the server demand ... allowing only some iPhones to update at a given time ... who knows !

[knowsnothing]

I know at 9:40 this morning EST the new update was up and I am preaty sure that they took it back down before 12 EST

[java21]

have you gotten your update to work yet? i'm still waiting....

[googler88]

Yep, woke up this morning, and clicked the Update button. Then clicked Learn More. Then it displayed an error message. Then repeated 50 times. Then said that 1.1.4 was the latest firmware,

[Sabroson]

Remember .. this morning to you might be too early Cupertino time

[googler88]

UPDATE: The servers are completely down. You cannot even see the iPhone 2.0 update. Try this link. https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/touchLandingPage

[Vegaman_Dan]

My 32Gb Touch bricked. Well, not exactly a brick- it does the BSD boot error loop thing, which is something that happens with corrupted files, a bad app install, or problems during jailbreaking. For a new Touch out the box and the first thing done is the update- that's not a good sign. Unfortunately there is no recovery- iTunes doesn't recognize the unit is attached anymore. Apple tells me to return the unit to the store- the store says send it to Apple. Lovely. Looks like I get to pay to send it to Apple and be without it for however long.

There's always a few lemons in any production run. I should have waited a few days for the rush to die down before trying to do the update. I can see where the problem happened.

[sandor_f]

if you just bought it, simply return it as DOA and get your money back.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Returning this unit as DOA is indeed my plan of action. I was hoping it would last long enough so that I could jailbreak it, but it didn't make it that far. From macrumors.com's forums, this is not an unusual problem today as the iTunes store is having issues with corrupted firmware updates on the backend due to the servers going up and down. Ah well, the joys of being an early adopter. :)

[matthewadavid]

I downloaded the update last night. The update took - which was nice - but I am already seeing that there are bugs. For instance, I was playing AquaForest and the phone suddenly decided to re-start.

[john-tn]

iTunes successfully downloaded and installed 2.0..., but the phone will not activate with iTunes store.

Tech support says server crashed because it was overloaded. All the iPhone will do is tell you to connect to iTunes or Emergency Calls....that is all. No apps, not music, not phone, nothing. I can see nothing or use nothing on your iPhone!

Tech support said to try later. So the "Brick" description is 100% on target. The iPhone is useless for anything until they get their mess together and it will activate my iPhone.

[Jimmy_Legs]

The server crashed??? What, I thought macs were bullet proof. Maybe they should switch over to windows. Whatever, my iPhone has been the most disappointing piece of technology I have ever purchased, not to mention what I paid for this "smart phone". Oh well "live and learn". Never buy a first generation product, especially one bundled with a 2 year contract from AT & T. Thanks AT & T....your service is awesome. Oh Please!!!!

[Mr-Gadget]

I concur with your statement 100% john-tn. I just can't believe that Apple was not prepared for this. I guess I will try tomorrow, no use to try today. At least I have one use for my iPhone today, it's a paper weight.

[john-tn]

iTunes successfully downloaded and installed 2.0..., but the phone will not activate with iTunes store.

Tech support says server crashed because it was overloaded. All the iPhone will do is tell you to connect to iTunes or Emergency Calls....that is all. No apps, not music, not phone, nothing. I can see nothing or use nothing on your iPhone!

Tech support said to try later. So the "Brick" description is 100% on target. The iPhone is useless for anything until they get their mess together and it will activate my iPhone.

[fuckiphone]

filthy stupid corporate greedy motherf...ing apple inc - killed my iphone this morning during upgrade. thanks to ****** steve jobs - couldn't ******* know his servers capacity?!!!!!

[digid]

Just finished my update at 9:00AM CDT and all went well with an 8 Gig Iphone 2G

How come when Apple does something like this, all the Mac Faithful don't fry them w/ the same intensity that they do to EVERY OTHER non Mac brand???? Methinks that they are truly crazy.

[Sabroson]

That is because we understand that the 2.0 software is being downloaded like crazy... contrary to "EVERY OTHER non Mac brand" which crashes with little traffic.

[Zaunto]

That is a good question. This sounds more like what we can expect from Microsoft. Apple didn't anticipate high demand and high server usage??

[tbdave88]

Because most mac fanboys are liberal. flip... flop.

[appleboyatl]

Because regardless of what Apple does...it still does it better than anyone else. Logic would dictate when people are lined up outside stores in 22 countries, that there will be slow connections. The damn phone is not going to go away in 24 hours. Relax a little.

[Ramon366]

The sky is falling - the sky is falling; Lawdy-Lawd-Lawd!!

[templetonrl]

I am getting the same error message. I can not make or receive calls and show no service on the phone. Itunes does not even pick up that the phone is connected to the USB port for updating. I removed the sim card from the Iphone and put it in a old Cingular Razr and now I have cell hone service. Now I can wait for Itunes to get well without suffering much pain since I have service.

[jrs_66]

I'm seeing the exact issue as john-tn... so much for being a 'good soldier' and paying for my AT&T contract! My phone is bricked... all in the name apple's 'security'... you suck apple!

[desco003]

brick is the best word to describe my dead iphone...its just sitting there and all I can do is just stare at it. I did the software 2.0 update which went smoothly...but when it tried to connect to iTunes... thats when it all stopped. I can only make emergency calls yadda yadda.

So I called ATT and they said iTunes is down. Fantasic....now its just a waiting game until the rush slows down....

[augsburgerster]

I downloaded 2.0 yesterday at noon and have been running apps from the iTunes store without a problem since then. What's the problem today?

[taplu71]

I tried to install 2.0 this morning...downloaded itunes 7.7 amd tried to update my iphone to 2.0, initially it looked like the 2.0 download and install went well. at one point after couple of minutes i started seeing messages like ...restoring to factory default.....then my iphone rebooted and i am now at this screen which is what i had when i bought the phone initially ,All the iPhone will do is tell you to connect to iTunes or Emergency Calls....did not have time to check with techsupport...i hope it wont be a mess to restore this thing back.

[topink]

I got told a month ago when this update happens it was supose to fry iphone's that are unlocked. But my ******* iphone is not unlocked so i dont get *** is happening. I've tried to get in contact with them they've cut all cost off from the call center.

[jbowski18]

Same problem here. I was going to go buy the new 3G...Thank god I waited.....looks like the blackberry is coming my way

[ulive_ulearn25]

I'm glad that I used CNET's blog yesterday and already downloaded 2.0! I'm happy to say that my upgrade was successful on the first attempt and I have numerous applications downloaded. I hope you guys get your phones to work soon!

[ballmerisanape]

If you have an iPhone.. you don't need iTunes to upgrade... there is a link to the software update. Just use google to find it.

iPod Touch.. on the other hand.. we are still waiting for the traffic to die down.

[why do i need a name?]

The phone is a "temporary" brick, until the iTunes servers will respond. It's not dead, don't try to restore again, you're wasting your time.

When you upgrade the software (or restore it) you erase the activation in the phone. iTunes has to connect to the iTunes store to verify that the phone is activated and to re-load the activation tokens to the phone. So, when the servers are back, the phone will be back.

yes, it sucks that this isn't working since my phone is a paperweight as well right now. I hope that the servers will get back on line soon.