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.

[CHADSWORLD]

i updated my iphone this morning with the new software Working great so far. My emails download faster, the contact list is improved. Way to go apple!

[inachu]

I am so confused about each patch Apple releases!
This patch is the best one so far but Here is what I do not understand:

This patch made the volume louder.
The one before this one made it not as loud.
And the one before that one the sounds was loud again.
Apple stop messing with my sound loudness settings!

[xanpyzz]

I installed this upgrade yesterday. Everything on my phone runs much faster and smoother. Email syncing is quick and smooth - also an improvement on my 3G.

[candrwhite]

Yay! No more crashes, or Dropped calls! Way to go Apple!

Are you serious? Congradulating Apple for fixing things which should have worked out of the box?

It seems Apple is becoming more Microsoft than Microsoft.

[mtlatl]

I installed the new firmware and for about the first few hours the phone seemed to be working fine and I was able to access my e-mail accounts. However, this morning was a different story. I cannot access e-mail and when I try I get the white screen of death. Any idea if Apple is actually working on a fix? Otherwise - why market the iPhone as able to access MicroSoft Exchnage servers - it's not true. They can't.

[rdwalton]

Note to candrwhite: Just like any other software vendor, Apple puts out crap just as much. The only difference is that they don't announce it to the world and the writers on Cnet, PCMag and the other sites don't hold them to a high standard because they make pretty little devices that shine and glare.

[ianim8]

the whole set-up to backup and restore took well over 14hours :P
for awhile I was in "cant restore" loop hell.
what a pain :P

[Beeks1]

Downloaded the new software for 3g last nite, Monday 18 Aug, D R A M A T I C increase in B A T T E R Y LIFE AND YES, 3G is actually working! Some apps i downloaded from Itunes are either slow to start or just keep trying to find the server...will re download those today and see what happens...

Hello from V I R G I N I A B E A C H, VA.

[Zagfan1414]

I just finished the download and set the phone on 3G. It went to no service and about a minute later switched over to Edge with full service. I live in the southeastern Denver suburbs and 3G is almost non existent in this area. It still took a long time for the phone to switch over so I don't see any improvement so far.

[digiguy23]

I am still waiting for FLASH so I can view websites that need it. And if people don't want it, they can turn it off in the preference.

[aristotle_dude]

When are you Americans going start assigning some of the blame for this on AT&T? Others have said that AT&T help desk staff have a different 3G coverage map from what they are providing to consumers. They are lying to you.

Start complaining to AT&T to get a fire under their ***** to actually do something about their towers and coverage.

Not every place in the US has problems with iPhone coverage and the majority of iPhone 3G owners outside of the US have great coverage.

[cn31672]

Here in Reading, PA, I have had no 3g issues. The 2.0.2 update doesn't seem to have done anything to help my reception, but I generally get 3-4 bars of 3g in my hours. This service is on par with what I got from Verizon.

I'm starting to think that some people think Apple is going to release an update that will magically create 3g coverage where there is none. People are claiming no 3g coverage, then apply the update, and are amazed they are not getting 3g. Did you think a software update was going to create a cell tower????

While I agree that some of the things that are wrong with the iPhone need to be corrected, overall I am very happy with the phone. I feel that I got exactly what I paid for, and hope that some updates will correct some of the issues that I have.

I'm getting tired of reading forum posts from people who go out and buy iPhones and then post how there is no MMS functionality and they can't tether it to their PC's. Ummm... news flash, people. These things are documented facts about how the phone works. Please stop buying them and then bashing what it can't do.

Do yourself a huge favor, research all the phones that are available by your carrier, determine which phone will best suit your needs, then buy that phone. Stop buying a phone that you think is "cool" and then think you are becoming "more cool" because you are posting ***** sessions on forum boards.

I am certain that there are some legitimate problems out there, but those poor people can't get their voices heard because every time they post problems that they are having, some moron posts that his iPhone can't cut and paste and that they better fix that too....

Ugh... you people drive me nuts!!!!!!!

[bjlong80]

Ok, so I downloaded the update yesterday and no 3G reception issues have improved and to top it all off, not only can I not get onto the 3G network, now the EDGE network is not coming through to my phone. Essentially I have a smartphone that only sends/receives texts and phone calls. *grumble* Anyone else experiencing the same issue or am I alone in this?

[fdunn3]

You can't fix a hardware problem with firmware or software. It sounds like they got the kernel to respond to I/O requests faster but the 3G problem is going to remin until they do a redesign with QUALITY components.

[rcossebo]

AMEN! Apple USED to have quality as the keystone of their products, it appears that they've lost it on both the hardware AND the software (iPhone and mobileME). Sad to see a giant brought to its knees. I wonder how much it's going to cost to retro all the iPhones that are out there having problems?

[jur1965]

I just finished updating to 2.02. The update went flawless unlike 2.01 with the constant errors while upgrading. I will say, this recent update has done NOTHING to fix the dismal reception with 3G. My wife has a Pantech DUO with AT&T. In my house she has 5 full bars of 3G signal, I have 1 to 2 bars. Her phone sounds crystal clear, mine sounds staticy and choppy. I think a product recall is in order here. IF this was apples fix to address this bug amongst others it did not work. Software cannot always remedy a problem expecially if it is a hardware based issue. I mean first an foremost this is a PHONE, then a gadget. If the reception is subpar to other 3G phones on the same network then Apple is missing the mark. If this continues they will be alienating their current consumer base and driving off future customers. APPLE DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACE THESE FAULTY UNITS!

[Lance Jones]

Upgraded to 2.0.2 and there is no difference in the 3G signa or Reception with 3G on.

[Vegaman_Dan]

From MacWorld and Apple's official word on the update:

"Apple spokeswoman Jennifer Bowcock said iPhone software 2.0.2 provides ?improved communication with 3G networks,? according to the Associated Press.

Bowcock declined further comment on what improvements users could expect once the update was installed."

<http://www.macworld.com/article/135102/2008/08/iphonewoes.html>

So they almost acknowledged there was a problem, but not really. This update is an improvement, not a fix. The full AP article indicates that the update has nothing to do with 3rd party app stability, crashes, or anything other than changing the 3G phone part... and based on the comments here from people that installed it, that seems to be problematic in the results.

Apple's iPhone is a work in progress. In a year or two more of public beta testing, it may be ready for the market (I kid, but you know it's true).

[hooterboy31]

I downloaded this update and all I can say is you`ve got to be kidding. This is the worst cellphone reception I have ever had. No bars in any places. I can`t even make a call from the main floor of my house. I want to sue somebody but I don`t know if I should sue Apple or AT&T. This update is a joke.

[KCFalcon59]

Just received my iPhone yesterday. Great reception all around. After reading the comments here and many articles, I am afraid to apply the update. Decisions Decisions!

[mtlatl]

I found this on the Apple site and it seems to work for me so far:

Hey everyone, I have a temporary workaround for the crashing Mail.app problem:

After trying every conceivable variation of running any syncing Exchange eMail on the iPhone, I am now convinced the issue is deep in the ActiveSync code for email only. Sorry jpt11, but 3-day sync makes no difference, as the "3 days" affects only the number of emails in the Inbox folder. So regardless what you set it for, it will also still download the entire deep folder structure if you got one.

To boil things down, the Exchange Mail sync with ActiveSync does NOT work for anyone with a large mailbox, and a deep folder and subfolder structure. Once Mail.app crashes, no amount of removing the Exchange profile, rebooting, etc. will make things right. Mail.app will not work right and will continue to freeze and crash. v2.0.2 will NOT fix this!

As part of my tests I discovered that the following configuration, though a compromise and not ideal, does seem stable:

Step 1:
Setup Exchange, but select ONLY Contacts and Calendar, DO NOT allow ActiveSync to Sync Mail!

Step 2:
Setup Mail Sync through IMAP, to the SAME Exchange server in step 1!

This hybrid compbination of IMAP for Mail and ActiveSync for Contacts and Calendar seems to finally keep Mail.app from crashing. It seems the large number of folders does not bother IMAP one bit. When it comes to mail, IMAP and ActiveSync work the same, with the only exception that with IMAP you have to wait 15 minutes for the FETCH.

I have had this mixed Exchange/IMAP setup for a few days now, and for now, Mail.app still works and has not crashed once!!!! (knock on wood)

This is by no means a real fix, just a temporary workaround to allow those of us with large Exchange mailboxes, and who payed our hard earned money on a device that should work as advertised, to actually use it until Apple finally listens to our cries for help.

Hope this gives some of you some sanity and Apple more clues where to look and what to fix.

Steve.