September 8, 2008 12:00 AM PDT
Another fix for iPhone OS 2.0.x app crashes
We've extensively covered an issue in which in which some third-party applications crash or do not launch for many iPhone OS 2.0.x users. Previous reports indicated that the issue can be eliminated by reducing the number of applications installed on the iPhone. We also noted a separate fix that involves downgrading to an earlier version of iTunes and another more involved fix.
Further investigation reveals that the issue may be solved by simply deleting all applications from the iPhone (via a restore process, if desired), then re-downloading all applications through the iTunes store on a desktop computer instead of though the AppStore on the iPhone itself.
If you've had success with this fix, please let us know.
In fact, it may affect less than 1-percent of iPhone 2.0.x users.
If it was a bigger issue, don't you think the iPhone's competitors would notice it? Don't you think this problem would get even larger press such that the major news outlets and MacWorlds of this world would notice it and make a huge deal of it? After all, any negative news about Apple generates BIG PRESS.
BUT NO. There is HARDLY ANY press about this issue. The reporters and major pundits are happily using their iPhone 3Gs without crashes.
Because this issue affects only a very small percentage of users, I believe this issue actually indicates that the affected iPhone has a HARDWARE DEFECT.
For example, the Flash memory may be defective. The disk directory - which contains metadata about the files including whether or not the application is authorized to run - may be stored in a corrupt area of Flash memory. Flash memory is not perfect. It can become defective or worn out over time, not holding the data despite indicating that it has. Just ask any professional photographer why he or she makes sure to cover an event with more than one Flash card in case one becomes corrupted.
I was drive nuts by this applications-not running bug.
Realizing it may be due to a hardware defect, I simply took it to my local Apple Store. I talked with the head Genius. He confessed that his own iPhone had the same problem. He replaced his but it still had the problem. He thoughts it was a software problem. He was waiting for Apple's 2.1 firmware update.
I told him my rationale that it was a hardware problem and I wanted mine replaced. He gave me absolutely no hassle. He was very nice - as were the other employees at the Apple Store, who wanted to be helpful. The procedure took less than 15 minutes.
Now, I am very happy to say that I have a fully working iPhone 3G.
It just works!
This is as it should be with an Apple product.
I am absolutely convinced this is *not* a hardware defect, see: http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?messageID=7846648 and the continuation here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=793137
This is a related issue where many people have experienced instability problems with many apps. Replacing the iPhone has helped very few people, some have gone through several iPhones. The reason why so few are experiencing the problem is that most people have not installed 50+ applications on their iPhone.
A quote from the second thread:
"The watchdog timer is killing Springboard when it is told to reenumerate icons after a new program is installed. THe watchdog is 2 minutes. They never thought it would take longer than that, but as more and more people put lots of stuff on the phones, it is taking longer to reenumerate the Springboard causing it more likely to see this problem."
Bottom line: Apple never figured people would install so many apps on their phone, and certainly never tested. Installing many applications is causing iPhone to blow up.
For me, downgrade to iTunes 7.7 and only download/update/install apps through iTunes helped to resolve the issue. Otherwise I am on iPhone OS 2.0.2.
I finally got to the point where even a restore (as new phone) wouldn't even work. I even tried restoring from multiple macs.
The problem was finally fixed when I started downloading the apps through iTunes and then synched them to the phone. I was like it need to re-establish the DRM.
I'm sure it will probably break again because it's happened at least half a dozen times.
- by i_POS September 11, 2008 10:02 AM PDT
- Suddenly last weekend all 3rd party apps on my iPhone 3G stopped working. they would fail to load on startup, only showing the first image before dieing. I tried some of the 'remedies' recommended elsewhere (delete, reinstall some apps, etc), though stopped short of deleting all and reinstalling all. I solved the problem, however, by reducing the number of pages on my desktop from 6 to 4 by putting as many apps as possible on each page. Now all my apps work again. (I am not able to reproduce the error of them not working by expanding to 6 pages again, regrettably.) This is obviously *not* a hardware defect, this is a crappy OS (although perhaps HW is to blame for the phone dropping calls every 10 minutes--probably not.) I have little hope that Jobs & co will make the firmware more stable--they're too busy inventing new colors for the touch.
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(10 Comments)Oh linux, where is thy phone?