iPhone 3G and firmware 2.0: the day after
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 12th 2008 3:52PM
posted Jul 12th 2008 3:52PM
- The masses of humanity continue to collect. Massive stock shortages don't seem to be an issue (yet), but patience is not a virtue we hold dear to our hearts, so we really can't blame these people.
- Some buyers are reporting a yellow tint to their screens -- probably not enough to notice without another unit side-by-side for comparison, but real nonetheless. Of course, the first iPhone suffered from the occasional crappy backlight, bum touchscreen, or negative black, so we wouldn't be surprised if a few lame displays made it out of the factory floor for this model as well; we're following up with Apple on this and we should have more for you later today.
- We took the iPhone 3G on a decent drive around New York, and found its tracking to be impeccable. In a situation where we might have veered off the path following Google Maps directions, the blue blip kept us right on track. Despite what you've read (we're looking at you, Mr. Pogue), we see no technical reason that the aGPS can't provide turn-by-turn directions, provided there's software to take advantage of it.
- There are some complaints floating around about 3G reception, but it's been just fine on our review units around the world so far. How's it treating you out in [your location here]?
- iphone-dev has a video up of BootNeuter going about its business on a first-gen iPhone that's been upgraded to firmware 2.0, and the process is looking as slick and painless as ever. Unlockers who haven't shelled out for the 3G, commence your salivating.
- MobileMe seems like it's up for the moment, but don't breathe too hard lest you bring the whole thing down again.
Update: We just spoke with Bob Borchers, senior director of product marketing for the iPhone, and he had some very interesting info regarding the "yellow screen" phenomenon we've been hearing about. According to Bob (and Apple), the screen's color temperature has been purposely altered on the new iPhone to produce warmer, more natural tones, sharper images, and deeper blacks. The company says that 1st gen iPhone screens appeared colder and less defined, and they made some adjustments for the new models. In our opinion, what he says is right on -- the screens do look better on the iPhone 3G versus the older variety. What do you guys think?
What about the activation fiasco that RCR Wireless News, CNN and CNET all covered yesterday?
3g reception sucks in my area. Greensboro NC.
Here's my experience with the new software:
* Installing the software upgrade failed on me five times, leaving me with a brick for about 4 hours. When I switched to iTunes on the Mac instead of on Windows it finally upgraded just fine.
* Synchronizing with MS Exchange isn't consistent. I have to force it to sync manually most of the time; so far only one email has shown up on its own. My other phones (WM) sync in real-time as they are supposed to from the same Exchange 2007 server.
* MS Exchange synchronization doesn't automatically sync folders other than Inbox; they have to be checked manually individually. (This appears to be by design.)
* MS Exchange synchronization doesn't support HTML messages. Server search also isn't supported. (Also by design.)
* As the result of the three previous issues, the MS Exchange sync feature is more or less worthless to me right now. IMAP was more reliable and more feature-rich.
* My contacts and calendar entries are all showing up at least twice each, some as many as 6-8 times.
* Scrolling through long lists is now choppy instead of being smooth with 1.1.4.
* There aren't many good apps in the App Store just yet. Most of them were obviously written quickly or written by inexperienced designers. I know this will change, but for now most (but certainly not all) of the apps there are useless.
I couldnt upgrade on thursday until I went to itunes 7.7 on winXP, took me about 2 hours so I feel your pain there, can't comment on the MS exchange because I dont use it, but thought I'd comment about the itunes 7.7 thing since literally no one on thursday was saying it needed to be upgraded to make the change.
Come on guys what about the colossal failure that is Iphone 3G day one? 6 million handsets not able to activate, and let's not count the ones who were only upgrading firmware on Gen 1 handsets. There should be nothing else spoken about until someone lets Apple have it for this crap. Quit giving them a pass.......
MY iPHONE SUCKS!!! RETURNING IT TOMORROW...GETTING AN INSTINCT. I JUST CANT TAKE AT&T LACK OF COVERAGE!
That's not a problem with the iPhone, that's a problem with AT&T's network. At least focus your unending rage at the right cause.
I think overall AT&T coverage is really good. Right now we are sitting deep in the middle of nowhere Texas where the nearest big town is 60 miles away, and lo and behold we have full bars here. Out of Sprint, Verizon, only AT&T has service. We know since we've been the go to people for our family with other carriers. I'm impressed.
I have and iphone and love it! However, Engadget is so full of crap when it comes to the iphone! God forbid the phone can do no wrong! Specifically in a previous article earlier today or yesterday you said " we are using wi-fi because we can't get 3G where we are even though we are clearly within the footprint. Then to say in this article "all of our test units around the world have worked just fine" lmao... You guys should just call this site Iphonegadget.com! Again, I own the iphone and love it, but come on will you guys please remember where you came from and what got you here!! I know myself and a ton of people don't cherish your site or visit as often as we once did. Is this phone really worth your reputation??? 3G btw is working great in Atlanta btw..lol...
I upgraded my 1.1.4 jailbroken firmware to the "leaked" 2.0 the day before it was supposed to come out. Loaded without problems and kept all my files, contacts, photos, settings, etc. (without the jailbroken apps, obviously). I then loaded some of the new apps from the appstore without a problem, although going on a clickfest loading one after another did result in an occasional "couldn't load this app" message that was successfully loaded on the next sync. Then, when the "correct" 2.0 came out, loaded it, again without a hitch, and it even reloaded my previously loaded apps with no problem whatsoever. I am on WinXP and never had an issue with the new firmware. I certainly don't think the iphone can do no wrong. No MMS and no copy/paste is beyond ridiculous. No video capture? Come on! This is just stupid. But, with the new appstore, it really does feel like the iphone has "grown up" and it will become even more invaluable than ever. I have used nearly every CDMA smartphone in existance, always wondering "what else is out there." Since getting the iphone, I never bother looking anywhere else. It IS a magnificent device. Far from perfect, but far closer than ANYTHING else out there.
Bill
Whoop-de-hell, servers at a major electronics manufacturer somehow got overwhelmed launching a high-demand product? The sky is falling, OMG!
Seriously, people whining about this must have no life. I got my iPhone 3G and was out of the store (including line) in 2 hours with it activated, because I waited and went after the morning crowds died down around 2PM. The Waaaahmbulance has been working overtime. As far as temp-bricked first generation phones, there's something to complain about there, for sure. Apple really should have spaced out the launch and 2.0 upgrade better. I always wondered why they didn't release the 2.0 firmware a week in advance, to help build up the hype machine and keep the server load down.
But damn, people. You whine a lot.
I agree with you regarding the spacing out of the Iphone launch and 2.0 upgrade. If they have spaced them even a couple of days, things would have been easier and faster for everyone during the Iphone launch.
Glad you picked up on Pogue's comment that the iPhone couldn't provide turn by turn directions because there was not room for a large antenna. A GPS antenna is tiny. Thats why even smaller phones have the capability. A surprising comment from someone that's supposed by smart about technology.
Here was my experience in Boulder, CO.
- Stood in line for about 2.5 hours (got in line at 3:30pm).
- Got the 3rd-to-last black 16GB that day (Friday)
- During the sales/activation process the woman helping me (who was great) got an error on her wireless checkout unit that said she had to call AT&T
- Long story short I & the apple rep spent another 2 hours trying to get the 16GB black phone up and running. The AT&T store is right across the street from the Apple store so it went like this after the error: she called AT&T, we walked over to the AT&T store, we went back to the Apple store, we went back to the AT&T store, we went back to the Apple store.
- The problem was that my account got activated on AT&T but the phone itself was in some kind of digital limbo in Apple's system so she couldn't finalize the transaction, nor could void it or start over or ANYTHING. Apparently this happened to several people that day (in addition to all the other problems reported in the news).
- By the time all that was over there were no more 16GB black phones left, so in the end she gave me an 8GB black phone and said to just come and exchange it when the get more 16GB phones in (which they didn't have today (Saturday)).
As for that 16GB phone that we tried to activate - it ended up in a big tub in the Apple store's back room with all the other phones that couldn't be activated. They all had to be shipped back to some central corporate location to be dealt with. I assume this is all because AT&T is really trying to prevent as many unlocked phones from getting out there as possible. To me, that seems like a lovely exercise in futility which will waste a lot of their money and not make much of a dent in the unlocked phone trade.
All in all, I chalk most of the hassle I had up to the price I pay for going out on day 1. However, I am appalled at how both Apple & AT&T corporate gave their people in the field no ability to solve problems "on the ground." Once that error happened (in THEIR system), the phone useless - to me, to Apple and to AT&T. Why would you implement a corporate strategy that renders inventory useless, when in fact it is perfectly fine? Maybe because you're Apple and AT&T and you just care about your bottom line more than you care about your customers and field employees. Sad but true.
Once I had the activated 8GB phone, all has been well. It's my first iPhone (first Apple product, for that matter). There are certainly some glaring omissions from the software, but at least those can be remedied by updates and 3rd party apps.
A note on Exchange. I got the 450 minute personal plan (not enterprise/corporate plan). In exploring the phone I ran into the server setup area and for the heck of it I just put my company's Exchange info. in. Low and behold, there appeared my contacts and calendars, right over the air. All my folders synced without me having to do anything. My calendar looked great (no duplicates). Syncing seems to be keeping up just dandy, but we'll see how it keeps up during the work week. Now, I'm no techie but I *think* our Exchange server is outside of our firewall, so perhaps that's why I am able to do this on a personal plan. But, at this point, I sure ain't complaining.
One last comment, re: the app store - for the love of all that it is good and wholesome, if you haven't bought and tried the app, don't write a freakin' review. Go browse for yourself and see how many "Didn't buy it 'cause it looks dumb" reviews you find. I'll tell you what the true killer app is for the interet, it's called a "tool filter" and it keeps all the tools from posting their idiotic ramblings anywhere.
upgraded to 2.0 on old iphone...took 7 hrs to download! installed no problem. Apps install quickly...very happy....suggest everyone considering 3g phone first go to att site and check coverage map....mot areas don't have 3g coverage yet, so if buy 3g phone, will still be on edge network...apple hasn't mentioned that much
Anyone else notice some lag on their 2.0 firmware (Edge model)? I did the unofficial upgrade the day before then upgraded to the standard 2.0 yesterday.
Example: When I got to my contacts, I have to wait at least a couple of seconds before I can scroll. If I try to scroll as soon as the screen comes up, it hangs for a couple of seconds before it responds.
I have the exact same issue. Seems worse when you use the new "contacts" icon instead of getting into it from the phone icon. Mine used to be smooth as silk and immediate. I detest OS lag on a device. I really hope they fix that or I see an ebay sale in my future!
I think people who are complaining about the delays are forgetting that this time not only were there iPhones being activated in the States, but also all over the world. In my opinion, the fact that the activation started going more smoothly later the same day is phenomenal. You can't expect possibly millions of phones to be sold and activated without servers somewhere complaining.
I got my original iPhone on the second day it was sold last year and had to wait over two days for it to activate. I think AT&T was largely the one not prepared that time. However, this time, the fact that stores and networks simultaneously all over the world were trying to activate phones definitely was a challenge for all the software involved.
I think people should be a bit more forgiving and try to keep these facts in mind. Plus, just wait about a week and then go get one, you don't have to stand in line at all if you're just patient, give it all time to die down and then stroll into a store and have it all go smoothly. If you want to have a product the day it comes out, you've got to be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong, especially with so much volume involved.
I have the exact same lag with my phone.
I went to the AT&T store (no line). Got on the waiting list. Two weeks later I picked up my 16G 3G. I did not wait in a line, and everthing went smoothly.
The phone works pretty much as advertised. Where I am, AT&T is the preferred carrier, so I'm a happy camper on that score. The phone has been problem free for me, but then I've only had it a bit less than a week.
I found no problems with having 3G operating on only one bar - I have not had any dropped calls. I think it's a perception issue of the bars and what they represent. We are so used to thinking that less bars means bad coverage. When it seems as if 3G can operate better on weaker signals.
The key would be to have a way for the iPhone software to better shift between Edge and 3G when in good range (like in cities)
OR
Have a better visual UI representation of the 3G strength. If there was a modulation for the quality of the 3G call that could boost the bar ratio, it might give users better confidence.
Here is Apple's comments: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1976