Dear Steve,
My name is Scott Kleinberg and I’m the editor of iPTIB, a popular iPhone blog with readers in 55 countries. I won’t get into the usual stuff that I say when I write you … I’ll get right to the point. There’s a thread on the Apple discussion boards that’s about 200 replies deep about a very serious problem that’s been occurring with all iphones — 3G and first gen — since the 2.0 software was released where the phone doesn’t finish rebooting and gets stuck at the Apple logo.The ONLY way to fix this problem is to put the phone into recovery mode and hope that a viable backup exists that allows for a restore. I’m working with someone right now who has been through multiple trips into recovery mode, and all he’s done is sync. There’s no jailbreaking … nothing sinister here. For some people, they’ve been forced to reboot for whatever reason and were greeted with this increasingly major problem.
I have gone through the steps with at least 100 people on how to successfully put the iPhone into recovery mode. Many of those people have reported success, only to be writing me again or posting to this thread over at Apple support telling me that they are back in the same situation and are at a loss for words. Steve, it might be application related. We just can’t tell. But the overall theme in the thread is that all of these people write and write and seek some sort of help and get no reply whatsoever from Apple.
I have never owned ANY Apple product even though I have been repairing them for years (I have my reasons). Yesterday, I broke down and bought an iPod Touch officially aligning me with the Axis of Steevil. The first time I plugged it in to my computer, it FORCED me to buy a firmware update for $10.00! No grace period, just screw you, pay Steve. I like the device and so far no problems. For now, I’m holding my breath.
I like Apple products a lot and do most of my coding on a MacBook Pro (including .NET dev). I’ve written code for Mac OS 2-7 and OS X 10.x.
The iPhone is pretty and some claim it’s a game changer. I wouldn’t buy one until they get their QC under control for devices. My daughter went through 7 iPods under warranty, often lasting only several days. As one second level Apple support tech told me: “I can’t guarantee the device you receive will work.”
They have the effing NDA on the development kit. The Apple store is a great venue, and completely whacked from a developer’s point of view. They release $1000 moronic apps while legitimate developers can’t release updates to real products.
MobileMe, delays in OS 10.5, bugs in 10.5, and delays in their supply chain are all painfully obvious.
Apple is stretched too thin. They are literally victims of their own success. Some people think their lack of responsiveness on problems is arrogance, I see it as not enough hours in their day.
I’ll stick with my Nokia for a while.
I looks like the rot that is taking down Microsoft has a toe hold at Apple. The secret to fight this rot is to get your head out of your ass boys.
” The first time I plugged it in to my computer, it FORCED me to buy a firmware update for $10.00!”
$10 for a firmware update? Why isn’t it free? I have never heard of such a thing.
I was just looking at an Ipod touch, but I think I will stick with my old IRIVER H10. Hell it still works great, and I don’t think watching a movie on that small screen is that great anyway.
#4. I have never been charged for a firmware update from any manufacturer before this. After all, it’s a bugfix FFS. At least a 90 day grace period would be in order.
Don’t worry, Steve is working hard on a solution to this problem: a bigger, more powerful reality distortion field.
Of course instead of complaining iphone/touch owners could just apply the 2.0.1 update.
Every time Apple’s earnings drop, they should demand another $10 or $20 from existing users. They’ll pay. It can be like the BBC tax on a ll televisions.
I have never heard of being charged for a firmware upgrade either! That’s crazy. Or maybe it was an Apple Hater tax.
Bad timing with buying an iPod Touch; new models are probably coming out next month. Maybe you can bring it back.
4, 5
As for the firmware charge, its some bullshit regarding Sarbanes-oxley compliance. Basically, Apple says anytime they add major features they have to charge for it, by law. Yeah, I know… it’s bullshit, but what you gonna do about it?
…in related new, the iPhone is apparently a flop in Sweden due to connectivity issues and due to a feature set that doesn’t stack up to the competition.
#13 Sweden has the weirdest spectrum coverage for wireless. It’s Nokia or nothing there.
Shows just how shoddily produced their software is. First the mobile me $99 that’s being scrapped because, well, it SUCKS and now this.
Where are the fanboys now?
Apple Services still emulating the Apple ONE-FINGERED MOUSE !!! What do you expect when you emerge from the REALITY DISTORTION FIELD !!! Apple ? Just say NO !!!
#15 “Where are the fanboys now?” Yo! Well, I can’t afford an iPhone otherwise I would definitely buy one for the double thrill of being both exclusive and outraged.
The charge for the firmware upgrade is all thanx to Sarbanes-Oxley, and people who like creative accounting.
As for the Apple products, they are too expensive, and quite often of poor quality. White finnishes turn brown, and crack, MacPro machines leaking coolant, batteries that bulge and ruin laptops. MobileMe. iPods that scratch too easily.
Aside from the hardware with dubious quality, there are also all of those lovely Apple branded apps that all look different, woodgrain finish, coloured max/min/close buttons, er brushed metal with monochrome buttons. iPhoto decides to “lose” 3300 pictures.
Why do people buy Apple products again? Is it just so they can lineup outside the Apple store for a day and a half, so they can buy a phone that costs too much, and then cracks, then refuses to boot?
No, its just the freaking commercials that brainwash those of weaker mind-sets to believe that Apple products are superior – when, in reality, they are not better, they just cost more.
SKL
Apple is a cult and has a few awesome products for consumers.
Ipod – awesome
macbook – awesome for consumer, sucks for business (ok for dev work)
Iphone – currently sucks — its a crack berry replacement and has a long way to go.
Desktops — OK (windows / Linux = way better)
Servers — totally sucks, that is why they just trashed the X-Server Raid.
I’ve had an 1st Gen iPhone for over a year and never has it made me pay for a firmware update.
I have noticed that since the 2.0 patch came out things like the contacts lag when starting though.
I’ve studied Sarbanes-Oxley (sox) in a securities regulation, and I don’t know how a charge for a firmware could require a fee to comply.
I read that $10 thing and wondered if that was about adding the ‘new functionality’ and allowing it to play with all the apps. To me that was an upgrade, not just a firmware update.
I’ve heard that Nikon has an upgrade for the D3 that is $500 bucks for them to double the buffer. From what I understand that is a firmware update.
Charging for bug fixes = evil
Charging for increased functionality = within reason
There are no SOX reasons to require a firmware upgrade. If someone thinks it will help their organization’s SOX compliance then they truly are living inside a reality distortion field.
Look at the worship of Apple from the haters. Continue! I command you!
#22. Understand this, I took the iPod touch out of the package, and hooked it up to my computer, I held my nose and downloaded an update to iTunes which I obviously hate. I transferred my mp3’s to the device and asked iTunes to get the album cover art. At that point it FORCED me to register the product with the iTunes Store if I wanted to get the album covers, get the Apps (which I do not care about) and firmware updates (which we all know are bug fixes). I couldn’t register without putting in a credit card.
My only complaint is that the Apple didn’t give me a grace period for the firmware update. Why?
This smacks of deceptive business practice, period.
#25 I think you’ve identified an unfair business practice. That’s the sort of thing class action lawsuits are about.
Personally, I can’t believe any company in it’s right mind would charge for a firmware update. That’s just nuts.
I’ve dealt with Sarbanse Oxley for something like 3 to 4 years now. I don’t see any way SOX would require a company to charge for a firmware upgrade.
That bullshit is pure GREED.
#14
No, Nokia is by no means unchallenged at the top. They’re facing stiff competition from Sony-Ericsson and Samsung around here, with Blackberry coming on strong in the enterprise market as in many other places.
As for spectrum coverage, it’s not particularly wierd. Near-100% GSM coverage; wide-spread WCDMA coverage (the EU standard); all major cities have HSDPA. Edge exists but is obsolete. The only slight oddity are a couple of carriers who offer no non-3G service (not that it’s needed since 3G is ubiquitous).
ATT 3G coverage is crap anyways.
Verizon got EVDO up here in middle of no where!!
iPhone 3g is waste of money for me. I have Phone that let me tether for free, I always have a laptop that small and boot fast. Its also got a actual map software with GPS too!
Only STUPID SUCKERS pays for DATA Plan!
#28 Q1 2008 Smartphone sales worldwide.
HUH? mine has been perfect from day one..
and It’s loaded with apps…
Some of them have been flaky (and free) but the iPhone has been perfect.
so, I’m sorry about yours..
but one bad apple doesn’t make them all bad
I bought a touch a month ago to replace my old 30 gig ipod. shortly thereafter i had to pay the $10 fee for 2.0 firmware. the device itself has worked great, but there are shortcomings. you can watch the battery drain away with wifi on, it takes a couple of actions to skip a song in shuffle instead of one. and i made the mistake of buying some albums on my desktop machine while my ipod touch is synched to my laptop itunes. you would think they would transfer automaticaly, but no. you would also think itunes “help” would help, but again no. there may be a simple way to get the albums transfered but i could not find it. i did get them over, but if the way i did it is how it is meant to be done, then apple is utterly lost.
None of the problems bothering Apple owners and their products concern me in the least. I don’t own them.
It is up to the fanboys and girls to decide if the product is worth the pain.
On the other hand when I find out I spent a lot of money for a bad experience I can be less than jolly.