Wow..Just..WOW!….It appears Apple is taking cues from MS. Looks like the new iPhone OS 2.2 is laced with some serious problems. Bugs users apparently face are so significant that the list reads like a Rap-Sheet for a Con, which doesn’t seem far from the truth with this long list of complaints. This is just criminal! The problems involve not only third party apps, but standard iPhone functions as well straight from Apple! Some of which are internet connectivity issues, difficulty deleting emails, and more. Here’s a more detailed run-down:
3rd Party Apps: Some apps are now just broken. Kaput. SNAFU’d. FUBAR’d. They just do not work properly anymore since good ol’ 2.2. This is due to API changes and other “brilliant” mods. Many of these include apps that use the CoreAudio. So now the developers of these apps must update and reconfigure them to work. In some cases an uninstall/reinstall will fix the issue but honestly? Who wants that headache?
Connecting to the Web: Connection to the web is apparently stymied over cellular networks after 2.2. This can possibly be resolved by switching from 3G to Edge (Or to appropriate GPRS network carriers outside AT&T). So looks like slightly slower DL times over 3G, is now *poof*. Way to go Apple, great way to crush one of your own main selling points.
SIM Card Non-Detection or PIN Lock: Could you imagine this? Some users after “upgrading” are getting error messages stating that the SIM Card is not inserted. Pretty cool considering most iPhone users don’t even know how to access the SIM Card at all. (For those of you who don’t know while reading this here’s a hint: Paperclip) Or that a PIN lock is in place when none exists.
One work-around solution for the SIM issue is to REMOVE the SIM Card then connect the iPhone to ones system and then restore it. iTunes than MAY successfully restore the software successfully, to then which, you can reinstall the SIM and attempt a sync. Oi Vey!
If you get a PIN message? Try this here. Apple support. And good luck!
Kilometers in Google Maps, no Miles: Now if you’re a European reader, this means nothing to you. But us Americans? We just don’t do the Metric system unless it is for measuring illegal substances. This problem can be over come by going into settings and choosing “USA”. But then this leaves new issues for people outside the US.
Problems with Deleting Emails: Some users have reported an inability to delete emails out of certain accounts after upgrading. Some have reported being able to fix this by messing with the settings in how the iPhone handles IMAP and POP trash.
App Store Lagged: To end this lovely list of horrible “improvements”, the App Store is now bogged down to a crawl. Now this may be a server side issue that Apple will obviously have to correct but really…Man ALIVE!
To sum things up here, 2.2 is not on my wish list and I do not see me doing a jailbreak anytime soon nor an upgrade to 2.2. I buy products to make me happy and ease my daily life. Not create more problems. I am needless to say disappointed in Apple for releasing such shoddy work, considering the amount of time they spent this time around developing this release. I recently wrote an article questioning Apples state of mind in rejecting updates of apps which not only exist in similar form from other companies, but also in an earlier version from the same developer. Now that question has gone from a jibe to a certainty in my mind. Apple does not need Thorazine..A Frontal Lobotomy will fix them right up..
It seems that the issues of 2.2 are being reported en masse by iPhone users everywhere. After updating their precious devices users are suffering various and inconvenient shortfalls in the utility of their iPhones. Among the worst of these widespread malfunctions are:
- Disappearing Apps, both Apple and Thrid Party.
- Loss of WiFi connectivity.
- Loss of 3G and or Edge signal strength.
- And worst of all…..
- Inability to sync with iTunes.
If you are experiencing issues with 2.2, a downgrade back to 2.1 might be your answer. But be forewarned…..The procedure might not work and this may force you to have to once again restore to 2.2 losing your data. So attempt at your own risk.
The reports from hundreds of users claim how various and random apps just disappear after the upgrade. This also includes 3rd party apps. Some phones were Jailbroken, some were not. This could be the first look at Apple’s attempt at stopping us “hackers” from customizing and personalizing the devices in which we paid for.
Here are some reports of complaints (courtesy of iPhone Atlas Readers):
“When I upgraded, all my phone’s non-original apps disappear, except for google! When I tried to re-download and then resync them onto my iphone, only some of them would appear. After talking to support, we tried starting my computer (she said this was happening to some people) and then syncing. This added a couple more, but about 10 were still sitting in my iTunes and refusing to sync.”
“After the os 2.2 update. Safari suddenly disappeared. Syncing etc didn’t work or resolve the issue. I had to do a restore to get things back to normal.”
“After upgrading to 2.2 the iPhone camera app disappeared, and every program that uses the camera stopped working also. Restoring the phone brought it back but then the next Sync made it go away again. Very annoying. How much QA did they do before they released this upgrade? I can understand third party apps breaking but not the base applications.”
“I also have had a problem with a missing application. My camera application has disappeared and I tried restoring it, and it appeared for about five minutes, let me take one picture, then was suddenly gone again.”
Possible Fix: Set up iPhone as new: Try setting the phone up as a new device and then enjoy the inconvenience of RE-DLing any missing apps. Perform a restore in iTunes, then choose “Setup as new Phone”.
WiFi Non-Connectivity: What is the spread of Apple Joy without the love of no internet connectivity? This is the most widely reported issue complained about after the missing app problem. So if you suffer both of these? You’re in for a world of fun, because a lot of apps are above 10Mb and so you NEED WiFi to do the DL.
In some cases, “forgetting” the currently configured network and then reconfiguring it can resolve the issue. Other fixes include:
- Switch the router to WPA2
- Remove all spaces from the WPA pass phrase
- Remove all security from the router until a stable connection is attained then reconfigure the security.
Can’t Sync with iTunes: More and more users are reporting an inability to sync with iTunes. Several possible fixes are as follows:
- Reinstall iTunes 7.6.1 (Mac/Windows) Simply download the package run the installer and restart.
- Check the USB port Make sure that your iPhone is connected to a normally powered USB 2.0 port. If you’re using a hub, try connecting the iPhone directly to the computer or vice versa. Also try switching ports.
- Turn off auto-lock On your iPhone, tap Settings > General > Auto-Lock and set it to “Never” then re-attempt syncing.
- Restore the iPhone Click the Restore button under the Summary tab. Restoring the phone will erase contacts, calendars, photos and other data on the phone (including any third-party applications), but will restore automatically backed-up information including text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, etc. Some users have reported that restoring the iPhone, but not restoring custom settings data from the computer-stored backup alleviates this issue. Note that you’ll lose text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, etc with this method, though you can restore them anytime by simply doing another restore and choosing to push the backup to the phone.
- Play the isolation game Leave your iPhone connected (or plug it in if it is not already connected). Deselect all sync options. This requires going to the Info, Ringtones, Music, Photos, Podcasts and Video tabs and unchecking every box. Sync your iPhone. Note that this may result in deletion of some data from the iPhone. Re-attempt a sync with all of your normal options. If it fails, try checking only one or two sync options and repeat the process until you find the problematic sync data.
