Apple launches iPhone 2.0.2 update

[AppleInsider]

In a quick turnaround from 2.0.1, Apple on Monday evening released version 2.0.2 firmware for iPhone and iPod touch.

The 248.7MB update is available only through iTunes and comes just two weeks after version 2.0.1.

In traditional Apple form, no specific issues are identified in the current release notes, which only indicate "bug fixes" for the mobile operating system.

Past claims by alleged insiders and users have suggested that the update may fix connectivity problems causing dropped calls and unintended switches from 3G to the 2G EDGE network. AppleInsider will update if this or other new features are confirmed with the release.

Notes on the release follow:

No new settings appear to have been included.
Some users report faster browsing, though this may be due to cleared cache.
Typing lag may be reduced.
Apps don't require updates; NetShare still works.
Transition from music list to Coverflow has changed.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[rnaoncfixd]

Is it okay for me to buy an iPhone now without worrying about it dropping signal or having problems with MobileMe?

248.7 mb better fix something.

[Dr. X]

Also, This update is available for iPod Touch as well. Just click the Update button on the summary tab after connecting your iPod to your computer.

[adamw]

Snappy!

[DimMok]

why so big?.....patch people...PATCH!

[ktappe]

Originally Posted by rnaoncfixd

248.7 mb better fix something.

It appears that all "updates" for the iPhone are a complete set of the OS, not just patches. I don't think Apple has yet devised a way to patch the iPhone the way you can MacOS X--at this stage they have little choice but to give you the whole build every time. So this release might only be a few bytes here & a few bytes there, but that still means a 250Mb download.

[DimMok]

You know.....

Couldnt Apple just send out the updater through the air. I have to always hook up and download....the remedial updates.
Going through the backup is a PITA....and takes forever.

I really am second guessing Apple on these moves.

[NickBorowitz]

Does anyone notice any differences? I didn't notice any in the last one as I still have the address book lag. Maybe this one will help with the battery life too?

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by DimMok

why so big?.....patch people...PATCH!

You have to be kidding.

[wizard69]

Since this is for both the iPhone and Touch I don't think it addresses the 3G issues. In any event have to work tonight so I'm not to sure how much time I will have to play with it. My hope is that it addresses the Syncing issues and stabilizes both Mail and Calendar.

Crashes in Mail have been really frustrating! Like wise Calendar has its own issues and no easy way to recover from a screw up with syncing.

Heres to hoping stuff actually got fixed.


Dave

[heyriddle]

I am downloading it now and my Safari is already faster. So weird?!?

[Stuart Kirby]

There are two super annoying things about iPhone 3G. It's generally a bit unstable (not just foreign apps, but Safari crashes fairly often and even the iPod can cause it to struggle) and the damned, God forsaken text entry delay. I *hate* that. Writing a text and it's always about 5 seconds behind each key stroke... these things must be fixed.

[BuffyzDead]

It was not just a software update. I saw it state "Upgrading iPhone Firmware".

So let me see......

UPDATE:
OK...had 4 bars of 3G before...Have 4 bars of 3G after. No change there.
I did have to re-setup my two email accounts:
MobileMe
and
Yahoo.

Sense no difference at all, otherwise.
My iPhone always worked fine so at least it does not seem like that changed......

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by DimMok

why so big?.....patch people...PATCH!

Two theories:

1) The OS is in some packaged, possibly encrypted form that can't be easily patched. Easier to replace.

2) Any glitches with an existing system are easier to fix by replacing the whole bit.

Most Mac software updates come as entire downloads, too.

[DimMok]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

Two theories:

1) The OS is in some packaged, possibly encrypted form that can't be easily patched. Easier to replace.

2) Any glitches with an existing system are easier to fix by replacing the whole bit.

Most Mac software updates come as entire downloads, too.

Is it recommended to go through "backup" part when you first hook up the iPhone everytime?

What happens if you skip it?

[mikedor]

Originally Posted by heyriddle

I am downloading it now and my Safari is already faster. So weird?!?

I haven't even started the download, and my Safari is snappier

[Mark W]

I am getting full 3G bars - maybe coincidence though... will upload screenshot

[bigmc6000]

Originally Posted by Stuart Kirby

There are two super annoying things about iPhone 3G. It's generally a bit unstable (not just foreign apps, but Safari crashes fairly often and even the iPod can cause it to struggle) and the damned, God forsaken text entry delay. I *hate* that. Writing a text and it's always about 5 seconds behind each key stroke... these things must be fixed.

I've got a quick question for ya - do you only get the delay when you're downloading/installing an app? I've had it happen a number of times but every single time it's because the phone is chugging away at downloading/installing an app. Now I'm not excusing the delay but at the same time it happens so rarely I just deal with and keep on typing...

[bigmc6000]

Originally Posted by Mark W

I am getting full 3G bars - maybe coincidence though... will upload screenshot

MMS?!?!?!? Is that an O2 thing or some App I don't know about?? Does it actually work like MMS is supposed to? (sorry if this has been addressed, I haven't seen any mention of MMS anywhere)

[onceuponamac]

Originally Posted by bigmc6000

I've got a quick question for ya - do you only get the delay when you're downloading/installing an app? I've had it happen a number of times but every single time it's because the phone is chugging away at downloading/installing an app. Now I'm not excusing the delay but at the same time it happens so rarely I just deal with and keep on typing...

I get the delay frequently - regardless of whether I'm downloading an app or anything else for that matter.

[johnbpr]

Originally Posted by Stuart Kirby

There are two super annoying things about iPhone 3G. It's generally a bit unstable (not just foreign apps, but Safari crashes fairly often and even the iPod can cause it to struggle) and the damned, God forsaken text entry delay. I *hate* that. Writing a text and it's always about 5 seconds behind each key stroke... these things must be fixed.

seriously, it's disgusting. why the hell does the ipod just crash /freeze up intermittently?

why is the text entry so behind? shits me so much

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by Mark W

I am getting full 3G bars - maybe coincidence though... will upload screenshot

*points to signal bars*



Coincidence? Maybe - maybe not...

[afreemanmd]

Well, my address book seems to be much snappier!

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by bigmc6000

MMS?!?!?!? Is that an O2 thing or some App I don't know about?? Does it actually work like MMS is supposed to? (sorry if this has been addressed, I haven't seen any mention of MMS anywhere)

Exclusive in the UK

If you're in the UK - visit o2mms.net from your iPhone.

It allows you to view messages great - as far as sending goes, it works great too - but you have to purchase credits in blocks of 10 (each credit costs 37p - which is about $0.70) - MMS isn't included in the contract and since the developer isn't actually affiliated with Apple or O2 - it can't just be added to your bill either.

[DiscoNomad]

Some of you guys are such whiners.... Chill out... Still a great piece of engineering. Keep up the great work Apple.

[mutant]

Originally Posted by Mark W

*points to signal bars*



Coincidence? Maybe - maybe not...

What were getting before the update?

[onceuponamac]

Originally Posted by DiscoNomad

Some of you guys are such whiners.... Chill out... Still a great piece of engineering. Keep up the great work Apple.

the iphone is a great piece of engineering - it is however, also quite buggy. Apple has conditioned it's customers to expect products that are well tested and ready for use... the 2.0 software release is a disappointment from this standpoint - hopefully, Apple will catch up to it's old self and release products that are beyond an advanced beta stage when released...

just one opinion.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by DimMok

You know.....

Couldnt Apple just send out the updater through the air. I have to always hook up and download....the remedial updates.
Going through the backup is a PITA....and takes forever.

I really am second guessing Apple on these moves.

Deliver 250MB to each device over the air? Are you kidding? It wouldn't be as fast as most broadband downloading using 3G, EDGE would be worse.

[bitemymac]

not sure what was fixed. Seems to work as it did with 2.0.1. Can't say anything has improved.... I guess, it did not break things.... so far so good.

[rygriffin333]

Still getting the patented "Safari cannot load the page because the page is not responding" error on 3G. Every. Time. Zero. Throughput.

Brilliant.

(And I am in Manhattan. So please spare me the "do you have coverage?" question)

[Leithal]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Deliver 250MB to each device over the air? Are you kidding? It wouldn't be as fast as most broadband downloading using 3G, EDGE would be worse.

Not sure I agree.

First, I have a Sierra Aircard for my MBP, and I downloaded the iPhone SDK (1GB) with that. It is essentially a dedicated CDMA EVDO Rev A cell phone.

Second, the iPhone would be one helluva lot faster than dial up. Not that I remember how slow that is, having dropped dial up in '95 or '96 for ISDN.

BTW, 250MB is only a 3 or 4 minute download for me! Gotta love cable!

[Robin Huber]

Is anyone else having trouble installing? I've downloaded okay six times, but when it tries to install on the phone I get a disk error message. Is this only for the 3G iPhone? I have the old iPhone. You'd think iTunes wouldn't allow the download if that were the case.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by DimMok

Couldnt Apple just send out the updater through the air. I have to always hook up and download....the remedial updates.
Going through the backup is a PITA....and takes forever.
I really am second guessing Apple on these moves.

Originally Posted by Abster2core

You have to be kidding.

I too wish they're updates were actual patches but Apple has been moving away from that since releasing Leopard. Maybe earlier, but that is when I first noticed it.

Originally Posted by DimMok

Is it recommended to go through "backup" part when you first hook up the iPhone everytime?
What happens if you skip it?

You won't get a backup of your system saved to your HDD incase you have an issue with v2.0.2 and need to restore, but there is no problem with skipping it if you wnat.

Originally Posted by rygriffin333

Still getting the patented "Safari cannot load the page because the page is not responding" error on 3G. Every. Time. Zero. Throughput.
Fucking brilliant.
(And I am in Manhattan. So please spare me the "do you have coverage?" question)

I'd say it's just too soon to expect a blanket fix to the 3G issue. They may have tweaked some things but I doubt that the issue is properly ironed out at Apple.

[jwdawso]

Originally Posted by Robin Huber

Is anyone else having trouble installing? I've downloaded okay six times, but when it tries to install on the phone I get a disk error message. Is this only for the 3G iPhone? I have the old iPhone. You'd think iTunes wouldn't allow the download if that were the case.

I have the "old" iPhone also, and did not have a problem. The update process went normally.

Good luck!

[Leithal]

Originally Posted by Robin Huber

Is anyone else having trouble installing? I've downloaded okay six times, but when it tries to install on the phone I get a disk error message. Is this only for the 3G iPhone? I have the old iPhone. You'd think iTunes wouldn't allow the download if that were the case.

Seems fine here. Just re-backing up after the upgrade.

Worked first try.

[8CoreWhore]

I'll skip this placebo (and what ever NEW bugs it introduces).

[bigaust]

In the past, I've had to uncheck and recheck the MobileMe Sync settings.

For a while, I wasn't getting any calendars and I almost missed some things.

I hope that our friends at Apple will make this a priority. Credibility is everything. I'm not saying that the iPhone isn't an engineering feat. It rocks! But is it so much to ask/expect full functionality with certain key and rather boasted features? I think not.

Yay for 2.0.2

[morluk]

I am very disappointed with iphone for the following resasons

1. there is no copy and paste (unbelievable)
2. there is no any kind of search (another unbelievable)
3. if you are not subscribed call display even the caller in your contacts it doesn't show you the caller
4. there is no any desktop application to update calender and/or contacts, you have to have MS products (what a shame)

[solipsism]

I hope someone besides me is doing some cell testing before updating their iPhone. It would be nice to know if there are any changes to the radio's power.

Originally Posted by Leithal

Not sure I agree.

First, I have a Sierra Aircard for my MBP, and I downloaded the iPhone SDK (1GB) with that. It is essentially a dedicated CDMA EVDO Rev A cell phone.

Second, the iPhone would be one helluva lot faster than dial up. Not that I remember how slow that is, having dropped dial up in '95 or '96 for ISDN.

BTW, 250MB is only a 3 or 4 minute download for me! Gotta love cable!

1) That is an Aircard connected to a proper machine and not a phone so you can get better performance out of your DL speeds.

2) EDGE is a lot faster than Dialup, but we are talking about a 1/4 GB here.

3) The carriers don't have millions of iPhones saturating their networks with iPhone updates. The max on AT&T for OTA App Store downloads and updates is 10MB.

4) There are some logistics issues with the iPhone taking the updates OTA but it wouldn't be too difficult if Apple actually delivered patches.

[mutant]

Originally Posted by rygriffin333

Still getting the patented "Safari cannot load the page because the page is not responding" error on 3G. Every. Time. Zero. Throughput.

Fucking brilliant.

(And I am in Manhattan. So please spare me the "do you have coverage?" question)

What part of the city? I'm on 50th and Broadway on the 17th floor. Always got full 3G. I would take a cab home to Jersey City and even would get full reception through the Holland Tunnel. Well almost full reception, about halfway through there's a curve in the road and my bars would go down but still kept 3G.

In my house in JC, my 3G would be about 1-3 bars. Hopefully it will be better.