Comments on: Has the iPhone 2.1 software update delivered?

The iPhone 2.1 software update promised to change the iPhone 3G for the better? CNET finds out if it succeeded.

[jmelalo]

I had a few calls drop before 2.1 and I've noticed that happening less. It seems to me that whereas before Safari was really stable, it crashes more often now. My battery is about the same...at around 7 or 8 PM I get the 20% remaining warning.

[canpostie]

Everything has improved on my iphone 3g, web pages load faster, I had no dropped calles issues to begin with, but the call clarity seems to be even better than it was before. Battery life has improved, I made 3 calls lasting around 20 Mins, left it on standby for about 15 hours and it still had about 75% of the power left. Emails were not pushing after 2.1, but after reinstalling my email program and retyping in the password, that problem seems to be solved also. Before the update, I was considering switching to a BB, but now, I think I will hand onto my iphone.

[benjohns12]

The 2.1 Software update has dramatically increased my iPhone's performance. Although I have not noticed any app crashes prior to the update, I did have a problem with my 3G signal, which seemed to be remedied. I also noticed that I had text messages that were not delivered, and messages were not pushed to me right away. This made me very angry, but I feel that the update helped.

I was starting to regret my purchase until this software update.

[lenjay1942]

I now have All the bars nearly All of the time, Wi-fi & emails work, v/mail working, 9+ out of 10, seems good 4 me...
After the update, AT&T offered me a new sim card, I accepted, All seems good, fingers crossed.........L

[workiscool]

I've seen a dramatic increase in battery life, as have a few of my coworkers. Before 2.1 a full charge wouldn't last all day, have to charge about 3pm and that's with wifi off in the office and on the road, checkingemail a few times throughout the day.

Now I'm getting a solid 2 to 2.5 days with wifi on all day. I don't make a ton of calls, but am on email/web alot. Impressed.

Never had an issue with dropped calls, but seeing more 3G bars lately. Of course that could be a display thing...lets hope not

[oludir]

Everyone seems to forget you cannot email more than one picture. That is a huge inconvenience.

[iphoneguy22]

Definetly better battery life, I listened to music, browsed web pages, and searched stocks, and used camera for about an hour and it wasnt even off full yet.. SMS keyboard lag is imroved but not perfect. Faster loading of contact, more bars in more places of 3G, camera seems bettter, #G network feels the same or slower.

[kmp091]

3G was surprisingly non-existent in the past. Now it's very strong.

And yes, back-up times have dramatically decreased for me, and everything feels snappier IMO.

[jorge.avila.m]

Battery life: Improved

Backup Times: From ridiculous to some how decent. For a device that you might connect to your computer at least once per day it should be lot faster, OR at least Apple should give you the option to disable it (you can cancel it, but you can disable it)

Apps Crashing: Still (same rate, this is more visible when you have lot of apps)

Contacts lookup speed: Even that the Contacts load faster, it still is very slow, specially when sending emails, I can actually type all the name of the contact and it still has the first letter-locked... (bad)

In my personal opinion, there is still work to do... and Apple should not charge for these fixes, these are not new functionallity.

Regards,

Jorge Avila

[Naphtali14]

The major thing I've noticed is that the keyboard doesn't lag anymore when I go straight into sms. I applaud apple and their excellent firmware updates. *claps*

[retinatexas]

Before 2.1 and after upload of the 2 level software my "old" iPhone had very limited battery life as compared with the 1 series of software and my battery life meter read "red" all the time. Apple Genius recommended buying a new 3G. Biggest problem for me was poor bluetooth connection to the car (took ten minutes or more IF it connected) with no download of address book to car (BMW). I also use MobileMe. After 2.1 the battery lasts much longer (at least all day) and read correctly, bluetooth is again very quick and my address book is back both on the phone with almost instant MobileMe connection (I've been sitting in front of the computer with the iPhone to watch the speed). Big upgrade for me. Note: for those with problems after updating, hard boot your iPhone--Hold down the sleep-wake switch and the home button simultaneously and shut it completely down. Then restart and all your problems may disappear (mine did anyway)! That little hint came from my daughter-in-law who had many of the problems as I and in many of these notes.

[DanNJ]

I've had the phone about 5 weeks and hadn't loaded any songs till a couple days ago so I don't know if back up time is much different... but it did seem pretty fast. But I still see it change from 3G to E and back in the same place and most significantly there have been several instances where it read "No Service" which I had NEVER seen before the update. (And at the time my wife's Nokia had 4 or 5 bars.) Onec I had to power off and on to get any signal.

[goos_fraba]

I have noticed an improvement on my battery's performance since the 2.1 upgrade. However, I'm not sure if that's a result of the e-mail fetch not working consistently.

I am sure of this because I've sent "test" e-mails to my iPhone 3G from an alternate e-mail account and it only picked it up 2 hours after (even though my fetch is set to 15 minute intervals).

[goos_fraba]

One more thing... it should be standard to have voice dialing software/feature when you get a phone!!! Apple should seriously consider adding this.

[DCMinded]

I have experienced some app crashes but only with 2 apps:

1) IM+ All-in-One Messenger: Sometimes crashes after you've been in the app for a couple of minutes, although the app is sorta crappy the only reason I have it is because the AIM app only supports 1 SN and I have 2.

2) Safari: Sometimes crashes but it might be due to the data load from trying to navigate to 2 heavy content pages at once.

If anyone else has these issues let me know or if you have 2 AIM SNs and try to use both of them from your iPhone.

Thanks!

[katti_fm]

I'm having issues with 3G with my email and safari searching.
I'm constantly getting a 'cant connect to the network' or ' no service'
Email is slower then a snail!

[eihle]

I have had an iPhone since they were first released last year. I always had exceptionally good signal strength and connections. I did not buy the 3G. Ever since the 3G model came out, my phone drops calls. Missed calls do not register either in my voicemail or in my missed call list. My Motorola h721 bluetooth no longer works with voicemail, so I bought another Jawbone which constantly disconnects. I am on the phone most of the day (I use it for work). I have used AT"&T then Cingular and back to AT&T and had no problems with connections until now. I have to reboot my iPhone several times per day. The update took days to load. (It wiped out everything twice and both times I spent hours getting iTunes to allow it to restore everything.) Is this Apple's way to manipolate people into buying the updated phone?

[mdarmocida]

Faster contact searches but apps still crash just as bad as before. Other that the fast contact search and Genius play lists, I've seen no difference in 2.1 and 2.0

[rob21i]

I have two 3g Iphones and now both phones do not search for emails and the battery life is shorter. I honestly don't think this can be fixed with a software up date. When is this phone going to be recalled??

[Effelle]

I want to report some feedback about the Iphone 2.1 upgrade. While backing up is much faster, I still experience crashed apps, and sometimes I am kicked out of a website. I think the battery life has decreased, rather than increased, even after following Apple's recommendations on preserving battery life. This morning I had a fully charged Iphone and after checking my emails and doing a little surfing (less than 15 minutes overall) the meter was already starting to show decreased life. My newest find, though, is that after I sync my phone on Itunes, my Audible book resets to the beginning of the book, something it didn't do before the 2.1 upgrade. I tried to find an address to report this to Apple, no luck.