Steve Jobs admits iPhone 3G bugs, and why you shouldn't be bothered updating to iPhone v2.0.2 at all

Lately, Steve Jobs has done things that we never expected before from him. Starting from his 'undirect' apology about MobileMe mess, then he admitted there's indeed a "kill-switch lever" in iPhone 2.0, and now he answered about iPhone 3G's bugs.

That last exceptional action of Mr. Jobs was from his response to an AppleInsider reader, who's been asking Mr. Jobs about iPhone 3G's reception issue.

"This is a known iPhone bug that is being fixed in the next software update in September," reads the one-line message from the Apple co-founder.

The short line answers many questions, one: it's not a secret anymore that iPhone 3G/iPhone 2.0 indeed has issues, second: the firmware v2.0.2 update is not the cure and Apple is still working for a cure, third: we'll have to wait till next month for it, four: Mr. Jobs admits something... OMG! ;-)

So for you who love to get the updates whenever they come out, you might want to consider updating your iPhone. Because more and more users are reporting there is no improvement at all after upgrading into v2.0.2, only very few believe there's a slightly better reception. Besides, if you do the upgrade that means you'll need to re-install all your apps back, or jailbreaks your iPhone again.

The worst of all, there's a chance you'll get additional mess like one member of Apple's forums who has been told by a support agent that his iTunes account was apparently "split into two separate accounts," confusing the iPhone when it attempts to load an app.

iPhone Atlas also has reported that iPhone OS 2.0.2 is causing a serious issue, in which some third-party applications crash or do not launch, for many users. This problem is generally accompanied by another in which music and other media are erased from the iPhone. The simplest fix to try: erase one application, then re-download it. Now, you don't threw away your purchase slips haven't you?

But if you have put so much faith into Apple's stocks, I suppose getting the latest update is the only 'brief' redemption you can find for now. My advice is to wait and see for users input & comments about the updates, before diving into an unknown mess again.

Sources are from:

• Steve Jobs vows iPhone app crash fix for September (AppleInsider)
• Apple posts iPhone 2.0.2 update; users say 3G problems remain (Computerworld)
• iPhone OS 2.0.2: Fix for Apps Crashing, Not Launching and Missing Music (iPhone Atlas)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Comments

[Jaon]

So... We're down to reporting problems reported forums as "news"...? The 2.0.2 update is fine. A tiny minority of people have problems (Rather than "many") Its just yet more sensationalism from blogs...

[Jon]

apparently you'd better stick with palm news, because you can not apparently report accurately about iPhone news.

the split account was BEFORE the 2.0.2 update, a "large" number of users which apparently means "2" users according to you, did not see a better connection, while only about 200 to 500 saw better connections from 2.0.2. which ofcourse apparently is "very few" according to you... and that's 200 to 500 out of the 2000 that are having problems, out of 3 million iphone 3G's that are not.

and if you download an application, and have to re-download that application, the app store will know that it is already purchased, and let you do it again, so your comment about "keeping your purchase slips" is also all wet?

[loquitur]

You may want to correct this story --
the Appleinsider quote does not
apply to the 3G reception/network handoff issue, but the iPhone app
crashing bug, a very different issue.

[dev]

Ouch! My eyes ! You ought to change the background pattern, It looks rubbish

[danieleran]

When will my Palm Treo get an update?

Oh, that's right, not this month, not in September, and not ever.

I'm supposed to go buy a WiMo Treo. I bought an iPhone instead, and ended up with way more ability to do things I couldn't do on the Treo (like browse the real web, play back real video, sync data reliably) and missing a few things I could only do on the Treo (like take worthless grainy videos with inaudible sound, and copy paste data around using the stylus and menus).

Needless to say, I'm not considering a move back to Palm hardware.

[Constable Odo]

I'm not much concerned about the article since Apple is still working on iPhone fixes, but the comments background is really putting a hurtin' on my eyes. Please change it. Black type with a gray and black striped background is a terrible idea.

[Pecos Bill]

2.02 works the same here as 2.01 though it seems to hunt between networks more. A select few are having big problems, but it's a problem that needs to be fixed via SIM card (or provisioning).

[Kenneth Studivant]

I think you previous posters are complete idiots, steve jobs could sell you people a rock in a box for $300.00 and you would defend the color of the rock for him, there is clearly a problem with the 3g in the iphone 3g, if your not having a problem then im happy for you, but many others are!