Apple admits to LTE connection issues with Apple Watch Series 3 review units, says fix com...
Apple has acknowledged early problems with cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch Series 3, indicating it will try to patch them in a "future software release."
Without a nearby iPhone, the Series 3 may attempt to connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks instead of LTE, according to The Verge, which experienced the problem even after being sent a second review unit by Apple. Similar complaints were made by the Wall Street Journal, which reported problems with three units, used by two people in different U.S. states on two separate carriers.
"We have discovered that when Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular," an Apple spokesperson told The Verge. "We are investigating a fix for a future software release."
The first shipments of the Series 3 should already be on their way to stores and online customers in time for the product's Sept. 22 launch -- meaning that many more people may encounter the bug before Apple can issue a watchOS update. The problem may not be universal however, as several other reviews have made no specific complaints.
LTE has been the main selling point of the Series 3, despite Wi-Fi-only models being available. The technology allows the Watch to operate more independently of an iPhone, for instance making calls, sending texts, and using Siri and Apple Maps.
The situation could also create fallout for the four major U.S. cellular carriers, each of which are charging $10 per month for Watch-specific data plans.
Without a nearby iPhone, the Series 3 may attempt to connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks instead of LTE, according to The Verge, which experienced the problem even after being sent a second review unit by Apple. Similar complaints were made by the Wall Street Journal, which reported problems with three units, used by two people in different U.S. states on two separate carriers.
"We have discovered that when Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular," an Apple spokesperson told The Verge. "We are investigating a fix for a future software release."
The first shipments of the Series 3 should already be on their way to stores and online customers in time for the product's Sept. 22 launch -- meaning that many more people may encounter the bug before Apple can issue a watchOS update. The problem may not be universal however, as several other reviews have made no specific complaints.
LTE has been the main selling point of the Series 3, despite Wi-Fi-only models being available. The technology allows the Watch to operate more independently of an iPhone, for instance making calls, sending texts, and using Siri and Apple Maps.
The situation could also create fallout for the four major U.S. cellular carriers, each of which are charging $10 per month for Watch-specific data plans.
Comments
Asinine bologna. Apple’s software is better than ever and I’ve been using it for almost forty years now.
b) its a two minute fix for a dev
c) they have $200B in cash because they have an efficient production process that has a robust rather than ridiculous levels of testing.
My buddy that was the PM for a major Army system told me about the differences between US testing and German engineering and testing on the 120mm gun that's on the M1 and the Leopard (the excellent Rheinmetall 120mm) . It's been 20 years since that chat but the general gist is that we engineer for a few 9s worth of quality, build them, test them and throw away the barrels that don't meet spec. The germans build for far more 9s to have fewer rejects and test to a higher spec. Ours cost less, we build more and they shoot the same after you use them a bit.
d) are you off your meds again?
Believe me.....I was there.....The people that would complain the most, and point out all the flaws and shortcomings and disappoints, and "Apple's slipping" jibber-jabber.....
Guess who you see on launch day or launch weekend unboxing their new phone at their setup table....
Yep...
That being said.....yes, I wish QA could somehow assure more quality...but people can't help but feel addicted to "upgrading".
I do not do streaming, and don't plan to start any time soon. That, combined with the ridiculous 2GB local storage for music (if some early reports are to be believed, but Apple is vague on this) is a deal-killer for me. Not worth the upgrade. I was hoping for 10-20GB of local music storage, but in the absence of access to iPhone's music, 2GB is pretty pathetic.
I'll wait and see how it all pans out, and order in a couple of months if/when things have improved, notably Apple has restored the ability to access music directly from the phone.
... Did you buy the media nonsense that Apple is replacing everything with Apple Music -- and you have to buy a subscription to play music now?
(Same goes for the 2Gb limit on storage. Where did you hear that?)
Update: Oh! You were speaking of the Series 3 GPS. I was thinking of the LTE version where storage was increased. But still: 2GB for songs is a lot of songs. But, I just checked and my Gen 0 "4.6 Gb available" (but it doesn't say available for what).