Posted on 08/25/2008 10:51:21 AM PDT by ken21
The software development kit that Apple Inc. distributed to programmers bound them to not discuss the process of creating programs for the iPhone. Companies typically waive such legal restrictions once the product in question launches, but Apple didn't. And it won't say why.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I got a new 3G iPhone two weeks ago. It is an amazing computer but a pretty lousy phone. Have been all over the Apple and other support sites and some people blame the device and some people blame the networks around the world. I think it is a bit of both.
I have 3G disabled and it seems to work better but data is slow.
I got a new 3G iPhone two weeks ago. It is an amazing computer but a pretty lousy phone. Have been all over the Apple and other support sites and some people blame the device and some people blame the networks around the world. I think it is a bit of both.
I have 3G disabled and it seems to work better but data is slow.
I’m thinking it is a bit both - technically. Part of it is the switching capabilties in the firmware and part is the network, but Apple made a decision to go AT&A so it is APPLE’s problem as far as I am concerned and that’s that.
Plus, with all due respect, in your fever to defend apple you did not read my post. I am not complaining about 3G data speeds. The fact is in 3G mode it is a terrible phone p-h-o-n-e — missed and dropped calls. Apple in SF told me they all disable 3G!!! I sat at the genius bar for about an hour then came back for a second hour when they gave me a new phone and they must have disabled 3G for a couple of dozen people. One person after another walked up and they just disabled 3G time after time. The problem is likely to be switching bugs in the phone’s firmware.
If I buy a CD or legally download a mp3, I should be able to use it how I please. When it comes to making a "copy" that should also be my right. I back up data, period! When it comes to my music, I like to keep all the files on my computer, and have it networked to all the other computers in my house. This way my wife can listen to my music from any computer I own. But, if my wife buys a mp3, and puts in the archive, I can not listen to it without using her iTunes. This fundamentally bugs the heck out of me.
No fever here. Just adding to the facts.
In some areas, the iPhone 3Gs are working excellently with the 3G signal... and in others abysmally. And that is world wide. For example, one responder from Elk Grove, CA, about 30 miles north of where I live, found excellent reception both as a phone and data rates of over 1600 bps. However, several respondents from other areas reported data rates below 200 bps on 3G and said that EDGE was faster. That seems to point to the network as the primary problem.
Another independent company that makes cell phone signal testers found that the iPhone was receiving and sending within proper parameters.
I stuck with my first generation iPhone.
On the other hand, Apple reports that only about 2% - 3% of iPhone 3Gs are having connection problems. They are looking at a batch of chips that may be bad.
I appreciate your pings but sometimes you are just stubborn. The phone has trouble switching. Geez!!
You tend to talk down to people. You should try to READ and not think you are the smartest person on the planet. JUST ONCE.
I agree with you on the DRM-laden tracks (not the non-DRM tracks Apple offers), but the fault lies with the recording industry. Apple had to fight pretty hard with the labels to offer DRM as lenient as it is. Only the market power of iPod/iTunes kept it that way, and opened the door for the non-DRM music.
You tend to talk down to people. You should try to READ and not think you are the smartest person on the planet. JUST ONCE.
Sunny, I am sorry if you feel I am talking down to you. I don't intend to.
My first response to you was intended merely to provide you with additional objective information about the part of your comment that "some people think it's the network." Wired Magazine, after collecting reports from areas all over the world, came to the conclusion it was the networks. It was neither a defense of Apple nor an attack on your opinion.
In my second response, I again did not attack your opinion, but merely expanded on the information. Perhaps I should have clarified that the reports indicated that where the DATA connection was slow, the phone portion had problems. I also mentioned a third party, independent test, that showed the iPhone's were sending and receiving within normal parameters. Again that is not talking down to you. It is merely providing additional information that you and others might appreciate having.
In the interests of providing more information, I submit the following:
One article I read on the issue stated that when 3G is turned on and a 3G signal is available, the PHONE portion uses the 3G signal for voice as well as data. I don't know how true that is, but the author seemed to be knowledgeable about how it worked, and no one challenged his assertion in the comments. The iPhone is supposed to default to the highest available DATA speed for data. If there is no 3G signal available it is supposed to switch down to EDGE. What happens to the voice signal on the 3G when the 3G signal drops, I have no idea.
Many people are reporting excellent reception, connectivity, and switching between 3G and EDGE with no voice or dropped call problems. Others, like you are experiencing severe problems. That is a fact.
What is missing in these data is the information that might develop from the opportunity to take an iPhone that is working excellently in one area (such as the Elk Grove, CA, area), and taking it to, say the area where you are having problems, and seeing if the working phone develops the same problems. Or taking your iPhone to Elk Grove and seeing if the problems go away. That could be informative of where the issue lies.
Apple says the occurrence of problems appears to be in 2-3% of the iPhones. Given the number that were sold, that represents between 60,000 and 90,000 people who got one of the bad batch (if that is the cause of the problem). That is a very high failure rate in a product that is anticipated to be selling 45 million in the next year. That is a severe problem that needs fixing. It also means there are 60-90,000 people who, like you, are justifiably upset and will post their complaints to boards like FreeRepublic. I would be, too.
As I mentioned in the last paragraph of my response Apple IS looking at some suspect chips that may have come from a BAD batch that may be causing the problems... and the problems caused by flakey chips may be exacerbated by the fluctuating signal that may be found in cities with large buildings blocking, obscuring, and bouncing signals.
Is the problem in chips in the phone? Is the problem systemic to the software or hardware in the phone? Is the problem in the Network? Or is it a combination of both/all that causes a minority of phones to not operate correctly? I don't know.
I do know that Apple is trying to find the cause and correct it. I think they should exchange problem phones and look at bad chips after solving the problem for their customers.
Right now, I suggest you insist that Apple replace your iPhone. The odds of you getting another one in the set of problem phones is small.
Again, my apologies for possibly offending you.
Your mileage may vary. . . and probably does.
;^)>
Did the new phone Apple gave you work any better?
You can back up iTunes DRM-protected AAC files as many times as you like. You have to use an authorized device to play it back.
When it comes to my music, I like to keep all the files on my computer, and have it networked to all the other computers in my house. This way my wife can listen to my music from any computer I own. But, if my wife buys a mp3, and puts in the archive, I can not listen to it without using her iTunes.
You can share music from one instance of iTunes on a network and play it on any other instance of iTunes (I think both machines have to be in the same network zone), or you can load files into iTunes from a shared volume. You just have to go into iTunes and authorize the computer -- they allow five computers at a time per account.
You can also burn an audio CD from iTunes and re-rip the songs as DRM-free MP3s, though of course that involves extra effort and some loss of quality.
This fundamentally bugs the heck out of me.
If you're opposed to DRM on principle, then i can't really argue with that. But if, like me, you're resigned to it in some form, Apple's isn't too onerous.
You can back up iTunes DRM-protected AAC files as many times as you like. You have to use an authorized device to play it back.
When it comes to my music, I like to keep all the files on my computer, and have it networked to all the other computers in my house. This way my wife can listen to my music from any computer I own. But, if my wife buys a mp3, and puts in the archive, I can not listen to it without using her iTunes.
You can share music from one instance of iTunes on a network and play it on any other instance of iTunes (I think both machines have to be in the same network zone), or you can load files into iTunes from a shared volume. You just have to go into iTunes and authorize the computer -- they allow five computers at a time per account.
You can also burn an audio CD from iTunes and re-rip the songs as DRM-free MP3s, though of course that involves extra effort and some loss of quality.
This fundamentally bugs the heck out of me.
If you're opposed to DRM on principle, then i can't really argue with that. But if, like me, you're resigned to it in some form, Apple's isn't too onerous.
Yeah, I know, and I wasn’t trying to give you a hard time. Just found it funny, that’s all. :)
I believe that I agree with you for the most part. I should not have to buy a new copy of a movie or music because i scratched my dvd or cd. We should be able to make easy copies of legally purchased cd’s or dvd’s for backup purposes.
I have nothing but MP3s on my iPod, made from my CD collection.
OK, I bought a couple of movies from the iTunes store, just to see what they are like.
Very cool!
So it’s not as horrible as some claim.
Imagine that...
(and how are the movies?)
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