Comments on: Apple releases iPhone firmware update, 3G fix?

The newest edition of the iPhone OS, 2.0.2, contains "bug fixes" according to Apple but might be the magic tonic for iPhone 3G owners afflicted with reception problems.

[CBSTV]

I installed the 2.0.2 firmware update on my iPod Touch. In the first few minutes of using the device, I've noticed that applications launch faster and web pages seem to loader quicker in Safari.

[elkjam]

Still backing up my iPhone which takes forever! I think I need some background music ... maybe a drum roll would be appropriate. Will let you know my results ...

[stcade]

The update seems to have eliminated the hanging that generally accompanies doing anything with contacts...

[sbosolutions]

Since the update I've held a better 3G signal than before. The signal strength is between -95 to -103 (1 to 2 bars) but staying on 3G. Previously I was very lucky to see any 3G.

I think ATT's network is just pretty crummy in Orange County, CA. I have problems with my Blackberry Pearl keeping a signal at work or home.

[jag0]

Ok then it isn't just me then...b/c my 3G connection in Costa Mesa is terrible. I hope this update makes it a little more tolerable.

[samcadby]

2.0.2 seems to include a major version modem firmware update (01.48.02 to 02.08.01). Using the service mode on the iPhone (*3001#12335#* call) reports the signal strength where I am now as being -101db before the upgrade and -103db after, this without any change in handset position (so I presume it's using the same UMTS cell for both before and after measurements. This signal metric might be RSSI or RSCP but regardless provides a good comparative measure. Consequently it appears nothing has been done to improve actual sensitivity in this particular scenario. Whether other aspects of the modem have been improved such as cell handoff, fallback to EDGE, or data rates at low signal strength remain to be seen.

[PCfan14]

I am Currently downloading it right now.
I will let u kno when it is finished installing.

[a1016neo1]

This is what I noticed so far

* More 3G bars (5 bars rather than 3 or 2) (It seems so far... For me anyways )
* Snappier transitions
* No More keyboard or contacts lag! (2.0.1 didn't fix it)
* Haven't had a crash (yet)
* No dropped calls (yet)
* Faster GPS lock-in (Around 15 secs when I am outside, wheres yesterday it took around 40 secs)

Looks like a solid update! Good Job Apple!

[DoughboyNJ]

Don't forget - 30% of arthritis patients respond to sugar pills and have reductions in pain!!
They might have added a new font and yet people will swear their product is like brand new.

[aka_tripleB]

That would be funny if they reprogrammed the phones to show more bars than phone has a signal for.

[bigmc6000]

Doughboy - that might be true but that only accounts for the "snappier" comment. All the other claims are fact based so it's rather hard to compare. Also - are you claiming that the iPhone feels better about itself because it got an upgrade?...

[RompStar_420]

Hmmm, sounding more like it is being fixed, I have a crackberry, which has served me well, but I want the iPhone, way cooler!!!! I will keep my Berry as backup.

[xtianchristian]

No difference in 3G signal with this update...hope to see it soon!!!

[aristotle_dude]

Guys, there are no 3G GSM Blackberry phones on the market yet. The current ones are Edge/GPRS only so you would be using the Edge network the whole time.

I hope that AT&T and the other providers around the world own up to their side of the equation and deal with the bandwidth and signal strength issues.

[Technoping]

Everything seems so much snappier after installing this firmware upgrade. 3G signal is even stronger than it was before, Safari hasn't crashed, and I haven't had a dropped call. The best thing is that there's no more keyboard lag...

It's an amazing fix!

[mutantxgene]

One thing that I've noticed is that my back ups are much faster. I never had the 1-2hr backs ups overs have stated. Mine was around 8-10 mins. My last one was like 2min tops.

[PCfan14]

My Update has just finished and here are the major things that i have noticed.
- Network speed overall is faster. Edge or 3G. ( i have no 3G towers where i live )
- Everything seems faster ( loading things )
- Contacts no longer freeze up
- GPS location tracking through Google maps is faster
- Mail loads faster ( how quick it checks the mail)
- No app crashes ( yet )

It looks like Update version 2.02 has proved worhty. Keep it up Apple!!

[shokg]

The sky seems more blue.
The birds sing louder.
The women are more beautiful.
...oh, and the keyboard loads a little faster...

[scryer99]

No difference that I can see ... still the same lousy 3G reception and iffy signals here in near-north-side Chicago. With Wrigley Field 4 blocks away, signal strength is not the issue and the 2G network works fine. Be nice if Apple actually was forthcoming about a fix. I've been a fan in the past but this is definitely souring me on their products.

[elkjam]

Ok, it took me about 2 hours to install (about 40 mins was due to a restart of iTunes by me and our friend Task Manager due to backuo taking forever).

DATA TESTS
(did most of the tests in the Worst area of my place with lowest bars 2 to 3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tests started out with a hiccup, then was good, then ran into some more hiccups:
- After install, I went to settings, and switched from Edge to 3G mode, but got the No Service message and couldn't get service no matter where I stood. Ended up switching to Airplane mode and back again, then I got 3G
- Moved around in my place and did not once switch to Edge, which has NEVER happened before in my place - good sign - overall stronger signal strength
- 3G acquisition seemed to be more aggressive as places where I went had 2 bars then shot to 5 bars when I tried to pull data
- Always get 5 to 4 bars near my window with 3G
- I connected to this page on cnet.com and it loaded pretty quickly
- I connected to Weather nd refreshed fast
- I connected to Stocks and refreshed fairly quickly (8 stocks to refresh)
- This is what impressed me the MOST: I connected to mlb.com At Bat to watch videos of my Mets lose to the Pirates today and the videos loaded quicker than ever and buffered nicely (though I did not like the highlights themselves :) )
- I connected to Jott and uploaded a voicenote and it uploaded fairly quickly (10 second message)
- Sent 3 long SMS text messages to myself and they were the quickest I've seen to date as it did not pause before the end of the Sending progress bar. I recieved the message quickly as well

Now the hiccups ...

- I went to send eMails and I wrote a quick message and hit send with 2 bars and I was waitng and waiting for about a minute. It went to the "Sending" progress bar the fastest I ever saw BUT stayed there. As I moved to the window and got 5 bars, it FINALLY got sent quickly. I repeated the test (since mail is important) and got the same exact behavior (delay, walk, send). This was the BIGGEST disappointment, though mail connection to refresh was quicker.
- I went to Safari and tried to reload the cnet page, still at the 5 bar window and all of a sudden it gave me the error message that Safari could not connect, reloaded couple times again, same message. I reloaded again, and FINALLY I got the 3G logo back, but then Safari crashed and I was back to the home screen :(

PHONE TESTS
---------------------
I have not done any phone tests yet, so this is not a full review by any means. I will post my phone tests later ...

Tom Krazit, thanks for doing all the hard work to investigate this. May I suggest you create a 1 to 5 grading system GUI for the different categories that users use the iPhone for? Like eMail, internet, weather, mlb.com At Bat, SMS, Phone, etc. That way we can get a better feel for what users are experiencing, though I can see how this may be misleading to some extent.

So far happier, but the next couple days will tell the full story ...

[elkjam]

Some more DATA TESTS using testmyiphone.com ...

Download
With 2 bars 3G = 918 kbps or 4.59 times faster than Edge
With 4 bars 3G = 950 kbps or 4.75 times faster than Edge

Upload
With 2/3 bars 3G = 29 kbps or 0.64 times faster than Edge (Slower than Edge)
With 4 bars 3G = 82 kbps or 1.82 times faster than Edge

Still a bit more sensitive/erratic than I would like with the signal even standing in same place

[Galaxy5]

God, I hope you're not a software tester.

[elkjam]

Nope not a software tester, though Apple should probably pay us for all the time we have wasted on a product that should have worked in the first place!!!

[elkjam]

I had previously posted a long test about Data performance in my place. Well, I have traveled around with it a bit and found some disturbing behavior.

It seems in many places I will get 5 bars for a 3G PERFECT SIGNAL *BUT* Safari, mlb.com At Bat, etc WILL NOT CONNECT! Is this update lying about signal strength?!?! I never had a phone where signal strength showed as perfect and I did not get a quick connection! Is this still a possible hardware issue?!

I have 2 days to return this thing and that is why I am testing the heck out of it ...

[bjlong80]

Nope..sorry, no difference what-so-ever! I live in a supposedly 3G Rich area in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I just downloaded the new update and no change with the 3G service, still get "No Service" to 1 bar.

[joeyng]

I bought the phone 3 weeks ago, I only have the 3G on the first day since it show poor reception and the battery life only last 4 - 5 hours, so I have been using the iphone with 3G off since then.
I just downloaded the 2.0.2, for sure it did not help the 3G, I am have 5 bars without the 3 G and if I turn the 3G on, is only have one bar or no service!
It's sucks!

[joeyng]

I bought the phone 3 weeks ago, I only have the 3G on the first day since it show poor reception and the battery life only last 4 - 5 hours, so I have been using the iphone with 3G off since then.
I just downloaded the 2.0.2, for sure it did not help the 3G, I am have 5 bars without the 3 G and if I turn the 3G on, is only have one bar or no service!
It's sucks!

[BeatleMegaFan]

I saw thus article after reading the comments on the previous one, so I'll repost my comment here too.

I own an iPod Touch, and the 2.0 software has been buggy and relatively slower than firmware 1.1.x. Here are some details about the WiFi connection:

After the 2.0 upgrade, my iPod began registering one (1) bar of WiFi connectivity in my home when the router was just in the other room. After one of my PCs died, I moved the router into my primary office room (I kept the networking gear in the middle of the house in order to provide adequate coverage to all wireless devices) at a different end of the house. Now my iPod usually sits in here when I am not using it, and even though it is sitting RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ROUTER, the WiFi connection register only ONE (1!) bar. The iPod was running 2.0.1.

I just now updated to 2.0.2 and no longer does the iPod register a consistent one bar connection. As soon as I turn WiFi on, it immediately goes to 3 full bars. Very good indeed. Download and browsing speeds are normal, and I think that the iPod is running a little more efficiently now. Good job Apple. My point is, if the 2.0 software limited wireless connections on the iPod, the 3G and EDGE problems may be in fact software issues as well. So far, I haven't heard if the update has fixed coverage problems for iPhone users, but I hope it does; I plan on switching to AT&T soon. For existing iPhone users: my advice is to wait it out. There will be a fix if the update today does not solve the problems.

-BMF