Fixes coming for iPhone 3G

Fixes are coming for the iPhone 3G.

(Credit: Apple)

Though iPod news dominated Tuesday's Apple's "Let's Rock" event in San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs did spill a bit of iPhone news. Jobs said that coming this Friday, Apple will release the anticipated 2.1 software update. What will it bring? Well...Jobs didn't really say, except that is a "big update" that would fix "lots of bugs."

The pesky bugs should be no surprise to current iPhone 3G owners as they've been widely reported since the handset launched two months ago. Specifically, the fix should bring fewer dropped calls, battery life improvements, no crashes with applications and faster backups.

If the software update does what Jobs promises, there's no question that it will be welcomed warmly. The ongoing issues have proved to be a thorn in the side of many iPhone 3G owners, but Apple was relatively slow in acknowledging the problems. On August 18, it released the 2.0.2 software update, which was supposed to bring "improved communication with 3G networks," a company spokeswoman said. Then, two days later, rumors circulated that the crashing applications problem would be fixed in a September software update.

So, this does appear to be the moment we've been waiting for. When the update is out, we'll download it to our iPhone as soon as we can and tell you how it works. I'm hopeful the issues will be solved, but I'm also wondering how a software update can address bad 3G coverage from AT&T. What's more, I'd be happier if the 2.1 update also added missing features to the iPhone like cut and paste, multimedia messaging ,and voice dialing, to name a few. I guess we'll have to continue waiting.

What do you want from the iPhone 2.1 software update? Let us know below.

[baltar990]

iPhone is quickly becoming the fourth major computing platform.

www.ifrisbeegolf.com

[HINOBEL]

You must work for Apple or the advertising department! As a phone it stinks! No volume, drops calls, no voice dialing, battery that goes dead when you need it. How can this be a leader in phones? Ever use a Blackberry? It works when you need it.

[HINOBEL]

I had the 2g iphone for $600, gave it away 2 weeks ago to get the fabulous 3G, which i returned in 8 days as I had to stop the car on the highway and go back to my blackberry as nobody would listen to me on my new IPHONE!!!! I got it from a very good source that there is a problem with the chip and he said don't be surprised if they have 1,000,000 recall. Why can't Apple just be honest and tell us what is going on? I have used Nokia for 20 years, and my 2G was on call-forward for the whole time i had it as
I only used it to show pictures of my granddaughter!. In California with hands free, why doesn't the 3G have voice dialing? It seems they are more interested in it being an IPOD rather than a phone.

[joez712]

I think you nailed it with the lack of cut and paste, voice dialing, and most important to some, the multimedia messaging . I switched from Verizon so that I could take advantage of the UI Apple has to offer. Unfortunately, it appears Apple chose the wrong network. I've used many phones on several networks. Hands down, iphone has superior UI; however you cannot compete with Verizon's network. During my short time with AT&T, I had countless missed calls, with iphone 3G and also with Motorola V9. Callers told me they called me several times; however even with full bars, both phones didn't even show a missed call on several occasions. My area shows full saturation of 3G; however when I launch safari, it drops to Edge and slows down.

With a network change, the addition of cut and paste, and multi media messaging, I'll be sold on the iphone. until then, it's reliable Verizon for me.

Ps... Apple needs to look at making their text messaging a bit more discrete.

[jrwooden]

I'd like to see sync'ing of Outlook ToDo list & Notes!!!

[dreisbac]

You know, I'm stunned with how good this product is. Of course I moved from Win Mobile which I suffered with for quite some time (Version 4, then the unusable 5, then the barely usable 6...). And I know iPhone has flaws and warts ... but despite the limitations and hiccups I think this device is awsome! I'm a 55 year old techno guy - having worked on some of the original microprocessors in the 70's. And I've never felt as strongly about a product since I saw the original 'Lisa' long ago (and I'm a "PC" guy at home and work!). It is amazing - just amazing. I've owned it for 5-6 weeks now, and am amazed every day at what I can do with it, and how easy yet powerful it is. It keeps a permanent smile on my face...

[garymchait]

I'm surprised that people haven't put the blame on AT&T Wireless even before the 3G. The problems now with the 3G are the same problems I've had in receiving cellular calls from older iPhones - Noisy connections that often are cut off. I had AT&T about 11 years ago and went back to Verizon Wireless because of the exact same reasons.

I'm really surprised that with a product like iPhone,, Apple's only Partner is & AT&T. I'd love to buy an iPhone but won't deal with AT&T.

[unjoe]

I would like to see blue tooth compatibility with an portable, external keyboard; ability to create and edit Word documents; a better 3G connection, a battery that doesn't have to be charged two times a day; applications that don't disappear two seconds after opening them and a phone service that actually works most of the time. I have been on the verge of returning the phone for two weeks now, but I'll wait until Friday's update to decide.

[shamisattar]

i'm using iphone 3g in toronto with rogers and it's working more than fine.... it's jailbroken too. i use the 3g internet heavily. even if there is any problem, it is so minor that i didn't notice it.

[arnoldsantos]

How about business setting appropriate call and text alert sounds?

[mikemc101]

I just switched from the Blackberry, and there are a few things it does better than the iPhone:

a) ring tone/vibrate combinations (how many, how loud, what combo) assigned to various incoming items - email (priority, to, cc), sms, etc - they have tones for incoming calls, but only on/off for mail

b) mail handling - please let me combine the email messages from multiple accounts into one queue, and let me filter - having to click through account, inbox, etc, then back to acounts, then inbox...a bit cumbersome

c) event queue (with times) - BB lets me have all incoming/outgoing calls, sms, emails display in a combined queue - very handy when you don't remember whether that last message saying your son needs bail money came via email, text, tweet, or visual voicemail...

As for the iPhone as a device in and of itself, I like your list.
a) don't crash when an app gets unhappy
b) cut and paste - huge
c) let me rotate my email into landscape mode!!
c) backups - stop taking forever (and support "snapshots" ala time machine)

[zschwab]

I've had the iPhone 3G for approximately 3 weeks now. My typing has improved, though I still find it to be a nuisance sometimes. Hopefully this will get better as time goes on.

My biggest issues with the phone that I would like to see fixed:
1) No reminder rings (no reminder every so often that you have a missed call, voicemail, text message, etc.)
2) Ring tones and vibrate settings are pretty terrible. How is there not a separate vibrate setting? I want it to ring during the day, vibrate in classes/meetings, and be silent at night without having to change my settings every day.
3) No cut and paste
4) No text message forwarding
5) No multimedia messaging
6) No voice dialing
7) No video recording
8) Keyboard should be able to go into landscape mode in any application
9) Battery life is terrible. We'll see how much this update improves it, but even with 3G turned off all day, my phone barely lasts one day.

It's a great mobile device but extremely far from a perfect phone. If it wasn't for the great web browsing and applications, I would have returned it immediately. I'm just hoping that Apple can turn it from a mobile web-browsing device with a crappy phone into a great phone that's also a great mobile web-browsing device. We shall see.

[annewieder]

I switched from Verizon network to get the iPhone 3G. Love the phone, hate the network. Same old problem, dropped calls in the same places, which is why I dumped ATT years ago! Sure would like to see MobileMe improved, and category colors integrate with Outlook calendars. That was one of the selling features for me, as I use one, color coded calendar for everything at a glance. Not so with MobileMe to iPhone! I agree with above users about keyboard rotation in any application, as well as cut and paste. Great phone, wrong carrier.

[unjoe]

It's not AT&T. I had another phone on the AT&T network and it worked great until I replaced with with the 3G iPhone, which doesn't work great. I'm using it in the same places, in my home and my office and the reception is noticeably worse, like three to four bars worse. I also stood next to someone with the earlier model iPhone, the phones were inches apart and he got five bars while I had two. It is the 3G phone and I suspect it is this different chip they have in it as opposed to the chip I had in the phone I was previously using. It's not AT&T, not in New York City anyway.

[cutandpasteplease]

cut and paste
CUT & PASTE

oh did I mention

Cut
and
Paste

PLEASE!

[brighenderson]

LOUDER TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS! I miss important text messages everyday.

[hytam]

3G coverage here in Singapore is great with Singtel, the only carrier till Nov/Dec 2008 when 2 other carriers will be joining the race. Battery life is a bummer having to charge twice a day if I use the downloaded apps at length. Not being able to cut and paste, text forwarding and, send MMS just makes it a iPod with an ability to make calls; not much different than my iPod Touch, but costs more!

[mrluckyg]

Yoo Apple plz plz plz....
improve ur text messaging plz.. we all begging u. ok
plz plz plz
Cut n Paste.
message forwading.

[BLipman72]

You guys missed the boat on this one . It is out NOW. After you upgrade itunes to 8.0 it comes up. I have an itouch so the 3g issue does not affect my device but i am curious to see if this corrects the issue. I applaud apple for at least trying to fix the issue, If this doesn't I think the finger does have to be pointed toward ATT. I use a Tilt which actually has 4G and I can't tell you how many times i see it change fromt he H (4G)to the E (Edge)to the G (3G). More recently my phone has been losing its signal going no service. I have had the phone for 10 months and its antenna is going? Sounds like a network issue to me as I am in the Heart of NYC with full 3G coverage.(literally blocks from the main apple store on 59th and 5th)

Also, I can't get a new phone till April of next year on upgrade any they have the nerve to try to charge me full price. I am walking to a new carrier for sure if they refuse to do anything for me. When I got the tilt last November they bended over backwards for me to get a new phone. I had about 8 months to go then till an upgrade then and they said because i was such a good customer that they would work it out. I was impressed then of the quality of service then, and hopefully they make the right call when i go into the store later, but if they don't 175 dollars is a small price to pay to get out. Its called customer service for a reason. If they choose to ignore a customer that has been loyal and with them for 8 years then its their loss.

[MoRic123]

LOVE my iPhone.

Biggest pet peeve is something that can't be fixed - GSM Buzz - Drives me nuts while in the car or office (speakers freak-out all the time, and I'm not going to put it into Airplane mode - I bought a phone, want to use it as such).

Yes, please fix the current bugs, but also keep working on the GPS... need that to be better.

[villatour]

I'm using the iPhone in Toronto and have had no reception problems whatsoever. Rogers did something right for a change.
Things I'd like to see on my iPhone:
1. Auto switching from edge (voice calls) to 3G (browsing). My much older nokia did that.
2. Better battery life.
3. Landscape typing for all applications.
4. Copy and paste.
5. Video recording.

[garment69]

My wants are pretty simple;

1) Ability to see if new EMAIL messages have arrived from the lock screen
2) Change the email counter from "Unread" to "New". I dont care how many unread messages I have, I want to know if a new message came in since I last checked.
3) This may be shocking to everyone, but CUT AND PASTE
4) More customizing options for new messages. Someone made reference to how blackberry does it; great point. Vibrate once for work emails, twice for new text messages. WHAT A CONCEPT
5) VOICE DIALING