Has the iPhone 2.1 software update delivered?

The 2.1 software update brings needed changes to the Apple iPhone 3G.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

When Apple released the iPhone 2.1 software update last Friday, the company promised it would fix a lot of the irritating issues that have plagued iPhone 3G users since the device hit stores two months ago. Among the promises were longer battery life, fewer dropped calls, quicker backups, and no more crashes of third-party apps.

It's an impressive list, and one that every iPhone 3G owner has been waiting for. But beyond the hype, has the software update kept its promises? Is the iPhone 3G really an improved device? Well, after a few days of tinkering, anecdotal evidence by CNET editors and readers suggests that it has. Here's what we found.

Dropped calls
I never experienced a great number of dropped calls on our iPhone 3G review model, so I deferred to a couple of colleagues for their opinion. CNET editors Dong Ngo and Nicole Lee not only reported fewer dropped calls on their iPhones, but also an improved signal in more areas. What's more, calls were more stable and connection failures were fewer.

Faster backups
Nicole and Dong also agreed that backup times are now much quicker. Nicole said her backups dropped from about 10 minutes to just 2 minutes. A CNET reader had an even better experience. His backup times dropped form three hours to just a few minutes. I noticed a big change in this area as well.

Battery life
I haven't noticed much of a change here yet, but other respondents have seen improvement. As Dong said, his iPhone nearly died during an eastbound transcontinental flight before installing 2.1. But after 2.1, his iPhone was only half dead on his return westbound flight, which lasted an hour longer.

Apps
I had quite a few app crashes before 2.1, and haven't seen any after installation.

Faster loading of contacts
Though I never timed it before, this appears to be much faster. And others agree.

3G signal
Though some people hoped the update would boost 3G reception and increase download time, that's not the case. Actually, 2.1 was supposed to bring "improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display." While this does appear to be happening--I noticed a jump of a couple of bars pretty quickly--I wonder what that really means to the user. As Dong said, "(the) 3G signal is better (as in more bars), but the speed is not much better."

What have you noticed from the 2.1 software update? Have the changes made your iPhone better?

[mdx81]

Overall things are working better but i do notice that my text messages load slower and safari has crashed on me a few times.

[eunosroadster]

I have noticed an increase in battery life on my 2G iPhone in iPod mode. my guestimate would be a 30% increase.

[ryanlee75]

No and here is why: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1708956&tstart=15

2.1 has effectively killed e-mail fetching and push on the iphone 3G for many many people.. Apple is now aware, but why has it taken so long for everyone to notice this bug? lol.. what about beta testing before release?

[clackers2000]

I agree with ryanlee75. For some of us 2.1 has MADE EVERYTHING a lot worse. The only "remedy" at the moment is to disable email fetching, push and location services. I am concerned that with CNET reporting such positive news, this may mean that Apple might not do anything about this for a while. CNET conduct a survey will you and look at some of the forum responses before reporting!

[lostatsea]

No improvement in iPhone Safari bugs.. still crashes back to home page on a regular basis. The resurfing takes all the fun out of surfing the web!

[dawger]

I agree, Safari crashes constantly.

[mycbrad]

My iPhone is the only phone I've ever seen where pushing "end call" doesn't end the call. I can sit there for 45 seconds pushing the button and nothing happens. It depresses on the screen, but stays connected.

[olatte]

Before 2.1 the SMS was incredibly slow. There was such a keyboard lag that it would take 3 times longer for text to appear on my screen, than it did to actually type. After 2.1 all keyboard lag has disappeared. I can text again! Hallelujah!!!

[mbenedict]

@mycbrad: got hit by that "end call" bug today... left a voicemail, hit "end call", except call didn't ended and I guess I ended up leaving a "really long" voicemail. :-)

[Isomorphic]

The only problems I've had were app crashing and battery.
Since installing I've had absolutely no crashes and my battery has gone from lasting about 7 hours on standby to not degrading at all in 7 hours on standby.
However as has been noted I now have to fetch my own E-Mail, which can be annoying but I suppose it increases battery life.

[neilwill80]

The main difference I've noticed is the increased polling noises when the iPhone is connected to my stereo using a car adapter. There's noise every 10 seconds now.

[rranger1]

I haven't hooked mine up to the car stereo since the 2.1 update, but the polling used to drive me crazy. Have you tried pulling the phone as far away from the stereo as you can - into the center console. That made a huge difference for me.

[shinelikeitdoes]

its nice that when you update an app it doesnt move it to the last available slot automatically anymore.
it appears there during the install, but then leaves the app wherever you had put it. it was REALLY annoying having to keep rearranging every time you updated.

My 3G behaved nicely before the update and it's still working well. Before the update I had very few dropped calls and no problems with email (in fact, I use Izzymail for Hotmail and Office Live and will always receive new mail through the 3G before I receive it in Outlook on my desktop PC). Safari has always been very stable (I can't remember the last time it crashed) and web use is one of the very best things about the 3G.

After the update, battery life seems to be much better. 3G coverage has always been good for me in Seattle and continues to be the case after the update. Coverage at home (which was extremely spotty with my previous carrier, Verizon) has improved, too.

Incidentally, before 2.1 I couldn't listen to visual voice mail through my Bluetooth headset (I'd have to use speakerphone). Now I can. Don't know if this was supposed to be part of 2.1's fixes, but it seems to have done the trick.

All in all, I was very happy with my 3G before the updates. 2.1, while not a huge improvement for my 3G, has been painless and yielded incremental improvements. I haven't missed my Treo 700w one iota.

[nader.zaidan]

Helpful, thanks.

[bjlong80]

OMG! Such BS about the 3G signal! I live in an area that is supposed to be SATURATED with a 3G signal and I have not had any improvements with it, in fact the 3G signal seems WORSE!
Also, the fetching of emails now only works sometimes, and if you to go fetch it yourself you're greeted with a perpetual "Connecting" message, then you have to go through the inconvenience of rebooting your iPhone AGAIN. Stop covering for Apple and report the truth!

[andrewrm]

Being in an area that is "saturated" with 3G can also mean the network is saturated by users that can slow down the network considerably.

[gookymofo]

backup your phone. then restore it. this usually helps because it wipes out all info and restores the phone to a clean state (network settings are all cleared out and any caches that might've been corrupted are gone). if that doesn't work, then take it back to Apple and they'll give you a new one. it could also be the innards are faulty.

[ericmatz]

I'm not buying the "accuracy" bit about 3G. I don't see how I can go from 2 bars of Edge to full 3G signal by moving my phone 1 foot to the right. Sounds like lipstick on the pig, if you ask me.

[mjadamci]

no one asked you.

[Lerianis]

Actually, that is possible. If you are right on the EDGE of the area where 3G service ends or is occluded and move a foot or two over, you can get a full 3G signal while having little or no signal when you move over a foot or two in the opposite direction. I have that problem where I live. All down my road, my parent's cells get 5 bars..... until they reach our house, where the signal almost totally VANISHES into thin air.

[Cornell09]

Overall the update has been pretty good. I've seen improved battery life overall and my text message typing doesn't lag. I havent experienced a dropped call since the update as well which is a good sign. However the 3g is still somewhat spotty. I now get full 5 bars in my house all the time and its usually good in my area but I've noticed that it drops dead to no service in random spots around town where it used to have 2-3 bars of 3g. Instead of going straight to edge it gave me no service which shows that probably would've ended up as a dropped call if I had been on the phone.

Overall though its a pretty good update I'd say. I converted from Verizon where I had absolutely not a single problem with service so I'm still on my toes. The phone is pretty dank though..

[Cornell09]

WAIT...Just listened to my visual voicemail for the first time since the update. THE SOUND IS HORRENDOUS! much much worse than before the update, very tiny and weird sounding. Is anyone else having the same problem???

[rranger1]

Funny you should say this, I've noticed voicemail to be the one area where there's a definite deficit. I think it's much quieter than it used to be. I actually have to put on headphones or speaker to hear it clearly.

[myles taylor]

You know, 3G signal isn't just a hardware problem. Why hasn't anyone said anything about AT&T? Apple at least is acknowledging and working on the problems. bjlong80, when looking at these issues, you have to look at the majority and the majority have noticed improvements. ericmatz, I work with wireless equipment (not cell, but other types of wireless) and yes, moving 1 foot can dramatically change your signal. I know it's hard to believe, but there are so many more variables in location than you realize.

[sting7k]

I'm experiencing all the same stuff. Backups now take about 2 minutes instead of an hour. Calls almost always connect the first try, unless in low signal area. I only had 2 drop so far after the update. Apps used to take 10+ minutes to actually install/upate, now it takes about 10 seconds. I never had any contacts lag so I can't comment, seems the same to me, which was fine. I did get keyboard lag many times while texting, that is gone now. Battery life seems the same, but it's fine for me. 3G reception I never really had problems with before, I always got the same reception as my friend's phones so don't really notice any difference.

[cardfan1212]

2.1 fixed syncing and backup times. I've had a few apps crash since then but not nearly as bad. Safari still crashes a lot..least once a day or more.

However, at home in my edge only area, i've dropped so many calls lately, its unreal. Never had this problem before. It goes from full bars, to no service, to some bars at the drop of a hat. It's really irritating.

I'm giving it time because of all the dmg Ike did and perhaps a cell tower blew down or something.

[yves_k]

Regular fetching of gmail seems to be broken. It works for a while when the phone is rebooted but then, at some point, stops working until the phone is rebooted again. When regular fetching (e.g., every 30 minutes) is not working, battery life is (of course) much better.

[tristan_mason_dotmac]

Am in New Zealand and had to wait until it was the 11th in the US. Blast! I've found the update has made the phone far more stable and usable. All of the standard gripes have gone bar the 3G issue. I live in an area with poor coverage and the phone still drops calls and signal when moving between networks. It's so painful I often turn 3G off until I need it. Battery life is now useful as opposed to appalling! Now we need some more functionality with iLife... To Do's would be nice