iOS 4 iPhone 3G lawsuit shows where real story was during antennagate

The iPhone lawsuit we predicted back in August has arrived. Even as geek pundits were attempting to make something out of nothing by hyping the iPhone 4′s imaginary antenna issue (we told you that one would go away), an actual controversy was erupting in that iTunes instructed iPhone 3G users to install iOS 4 but didn’t warn them that it ran like, well, poop. Lags of ten to twenty second would frequently arise when tapping on the screen, apps would crash on launch more often than not, and the iPhone 3G became virtually a brick at the same time Apple was conveniently urging iPhone 3G users to buy an iPhone 4 instead. Worse, Apple didn’t provide an official method of uninstalling iOS 4, forcing iPhone 3G users to face the prospect of waiting for iOS 4.1 to arrive (which partially fixed the problems) or just go ahead and buy an iPhone 4. And since you can’t intentionally do something like that to consumers, the class action lawsuit against Apple has arrived.

It’s never been clear whether the iPhone 3G /iOS 4 debacle was a result of evilness or massive incompetence. In hindsight, we’re not sure which one is scarier if you’re an Apple customer. Even assuming mere negligence, the fact that iPhone 3G users were instructed by iTunes to install iOS 4 with no warning as to its extremely poor performance means that Apple is culpable of something in a legal sense. If bad software were automatically a crime then Bill Gates would already be in jail, but in this case we’re talking about a scenario in which Apple was directly responsible for the near-bricking of millions of iPhone 3G units. The only question mark at trial should be not whether Apple is guilty, but whether Apple is guilty of intentionally sabotaging its own products or merely doing so negligently.

As with most class action lawsuits, don’t expect Apple to start handing out free iPhone 4 units to those iPhone users who got screwed; settlements typically involve a couple dollars making their way back to each victim at best. Meanwhile, the “antennagate” nonsense, which we called as being a bunch of horse pucky from literally day one, has completely faded from view as the general public began to figure out that despite the geek hype and geek headlines, there never was an antenna issue in the first place.

We call it wrong plenty of times, so we’re not trying to cast stones here against those who made a huge deal out of the antenna non-issue (because it was a fun story for them) while completely ignoring the iPhone 3G – iOS 4 controversy (because, as power users who upgraded to an iPhone 4 on day one, it didn’t directly affect them). But it’s worth pointing out that just because one issue is dominating the headlines and another isn’t being widely reported on at all, you can’t assume much of anything about either story. As always, such “issues” must be evaluated on their own merits, and not based on how many copycat, agenda-driven headlines they receive. Just something to keep in mind the next time an iPhone related “issue” or “gate” arises.

iOS4 iPhone 3G slowness fix: turn off Spotlight search

There’s no politically correct way to say this: the new iOS4 operating system runs like crap on the discontinued iPhone 3G model, even though it runs just spiffy on newer iPhone models. Most iPhone 3G users have spent the past month cursing Apple for serving up iOS 4 as a recommended update through iTunes, without warning them that the new OS would turn their iPhone 3G into a pumpkin, with everything from incredibly slow execution times for certain taps on the screen (longer than it’s taken for you to read this far into this article), to physically uncomfortable overheating, to a newly super-short battery life. But a few clever iPhone 3G users have been hard at work attempting to find a workaround, as uninstalling iOS4 from an iPhone 3G is anything but easy. One such solution, says TFTS, is to turn of Spotlight indexing on your iPhone 3G.

The downside is obvious: if your phone stops indexing itself, search results are no longer going to be valid. But for those who rarely search for anything on their iPhone anyway, or those who are so desperate to get their newly ailing iPhone 3G back in working order that they’re willing to sacrifice functionality, it’s at least an option. The controls for doing so are buried within the Settings app, under the “General” subheading and then “Home Button” and then “Spotlight Search” and you’ll see about a dozen different types of iPhone content (apps, mail, music, etc) that are being indexed. Turn them all off if you don’t care about search at all, or perhaps try leaving on only the ones you absolutely can’t live without.

Apple has recently acknowledged the problem, so hopefully the iOS 4.0.2 update will bring some official relief (iOS 4.0.1 was only a quasi-fix). But in the mean time, turning off Spotlight indexing might get you halfway home.

It’s important to point out that this problem only relates to the iPhone 3G model (introduced mid 2008, back-shelved mid 2009, discontinued entirely mid 2010), and does not apply to the newer iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4; by nearly all accounts, iOS 4 runs just fine on iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

iOS4 on iPhone 3G slowness comes to a head; you heard it here in June

Apple’s new iOS4 mobile operating system runs atrociously on the discontinued iPhone 3G model, something we first warned readers about a full thirty-one days ago. With the iPhone 4 antenna nonsense finally dying down in the headlines, it appears the “iOS4 runs poorly on an iPhone 3G” storyline is set to become the primary iPhone related headline from tech pundits for the foreseeable future. The iPhone 3G story has finally been picked up on this week publications including the Wall Street Journal, and the story is the same as what Beatweek first reported back in June: while iOS4 runs fantastically on the iPhone 4 and even the iPhone 3GS, those who install it on the iPhone 3G (introduced mid 2008, bargain-binned in mid 2009, discontinued in 2010) have found varying degrees of what can most easily be described as suckage: while a handful of aspects of the interface are sped up on the iPhone 3G, it’s more than erased by random extended delays in which tapping on the screen can occasionally take up to ten seconds or more for the command to execute. This can range from launching an app to pausing your music to answering a phone call, all of which are things that you’d probably rather not wait several seconds to have happen.

These problems, which we simultaneously discovered in house and were notified of by our readers and Twitter followers who have an iPhone 3G, resulted in our recommendation that iPhone 3G users not install iOS 4 unless they really, really want a unified email inbox or folders; those who want iOS 4 that badly are better off simply upgrading to an iPhone 4. The subsequent release of iOS 4.0.1 made the iPhone 3G problems only about half as severe, but has still left iPhone 3G users fuming – not so much because the the new OS doesn’t run well on their discontinued device, but because iOS 4 was served up to iPhone 3G users as an automatic, prompted update in iTunes, with no warning of how potentially unsuitable it was for their device. The problem is even more compounded by the lack of a simple method of downgrading an iPhone 3G back to the previous OS 3 software. As if the slow speed weren’t bad enough, iOS 4 can also cause an iPhone 3G to run noticeably hot to the touch and to chew through battery life several times faster than should be the case.

Tooting ones own horn too often, even when having been proven right, is unbecoming. But it’s worth pointing out that Beatweek readers with an iPhone 3G were made aware of this problem within a few days of the iOS 4 launch, and saved from unwittingly installing software on their device that would render it less usable.

iOS4 still not recommendable for iPhone 3G, despite 4.0.1 improvements

iOS4 still runs unacceptably slow on an iPhone 3G, based on our tests, even with the 4.0.1 update installed. To be clear, this only refers to the iPhone 3G model which was introduced in 2008, replaced in 2009 by the iPhone 3GS, and discontinued altogether earlier this year. Beatweek’s initially in-house tests showed that the initial iOS 4 slightly sped up the iPhone 3G in a few places but made the device inconsistently and unacceptably slow in many more aspects of usage, with the hardware sometimes getting overwhelmed that tapping on a screen item would occasionally result in a delay of five seconds or more the command was executed. Beatweek readers who still use an iPhone 3G have reported the same results. With the new 4.0.1 update, we’ve found that the lags are less frequent and don’t last as long, but even with the noticeable improvement, the iPhone 3G still ran much faster, more smoothly, and more consistently with the previous OS 3.x.x installed – which we still recommend sticking with on your iPhone 3G. However, those users who have already installed iOS 4.0.0 on their iPhone 3G would do well to go ahead and upgrade to 4.0.1, as they will see improvement.

Again, to be as clear as possible, this recommendation only applies to the discontinued “iPhone 3G” model. iOS4 runs just fine on the new iPhone 4 (which comes with iOS 4 pre-installed), as well as the iPhone 3GS. Here’s our hands-on iOS4 full review.

iPhone 3G slow speed sees improvement with iOS 4.01

iOS 4 has left many iPhone 3G users wondering what went wrong, as Apple’s new mobile operating system installs on the discontinued iPhone 3G with no problem but has turned out to make the device run noticeably slower in some instances – and according to some users, unacceptably so. The good news is that today’s new iOS 4.0.1 update appears to alleviate the speed issues to some extent based on our brief unscientific testing. While we still don’t recommend iOS 4 (any version of it) on an iPhone 3G, those who have already installed iOS 4 on their 3G would do well to install this update as it appears to at least partially resolve the issues.

Two things to note:

1. The “slowness” of iOS 4 on an iPhone 3G has been described in widely ranging detail by Beatweek readers, with adjectives ranging from “slightly” to “bricked” so you mileage may vary.

2. The slowness issue only applies to the discontinued iPhone 3G originally introduced in 2008; the newer iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS models have no problem running iOS 4.

Update: upon further testing, we’ve found that while 4.0.1 is an improvement on an iPhone 3G, it’s still unacceptably slow.

Slow iOS4 runs faster on iPhone 3G with no Safari web pages open

iOS4 runs spiffy on Apple’s new iPhone 4 and just fine on the older iPhone 3GS, but users of the now two-generations old iPhone 3G have found that the new iOS4 operating system runs noticeably slowly on their device – and unacceptably slowly, according to many of those users. One solution, with immediately noticeable results on our test iPhone 3G unit: don’t leave any web pages open in mobile Safari when you exit the app. It’s not possible to have no browser windows open in Safari on your iPhone, but creating a new blank Safari, then closing all other windows before exiting the app appears to do the trick. Leaving already-loaded web pages open in Safari when exiting the app apparently ties up RAM even with the app not running; using the above method to “clear out” Safari before exiting the app results in other apps loading more quickly and behaving more consistently. It’s a pain for those who prefer to leave Safari web pages open for later use, but iPhone 3G users will likely find it to be less of a pain than putting up with their suddenly glacially slow device. The other, more drastic alternative would be to remove iOS 4 from your iPhone 3G entirely and instead install the older OS 3 operating system – which is easier said than done.

Thanks to Beatweek reader Andrew’s Technology for the suggestion.

iOS 4: iPhone 3G users angry over slowdowns, lack of advance warning

iOS 4 runs sparklingly on an iPhone 4 and just fine on an iPhone 3GS, according to our in-house tests and various third party findings. However, the story is different for those who have installed Apple’s new mobile operating system on their discontinued iPhone 3G, which has several iPhone 3G users upset over not only the lags and slowdowns they’ve experienced thus far on their iOS4-enabled iPhone 3G, but also the lack of any warning from Apple about what they were in for before they installed it. Some Beatweek readers are even suggesting something more sinister:

“I would say that for the average user the itunes prompt that says “new software available, want to upload doesn’t give you any warnings that this could include many cons that may outweigh the benefits. I’m a bit more aware and went in with my eyes open as I’m going to replace the phone soon so could manage to live with a few problems, but even so was surprised at the mystery lags I’ve encountered that have made this a worse phone on balance, despite bring features I love.” – Adebrophy

“I do like seeing both emails on the same page, that is cool. But not sure it was worth the 2.5 hours it took to install it and not to mention I still have to put all my songs back on. I think Apple should have said “do this if you want” – Milesbradford

“As for iOS4 on 3G hardware. Mine is such a backwards step that I feel it should have come with a warning before the install.” – Greg

“Yeah my iphone was already getting more and more sluggish and this was the knife in the coffin. It takes for ever just to load my sms app. Everything seems to be slower.” – Ggioe

“It’s almost unusable. I’m hoping fixed in 4.0.1. Thinking of downgrading back to 3.” – Mark Peden

“I installed iOS4 on my iPhone 3G and now I am debating if I should try to restore back to the older OS. The problem is that my iPhone 3G seems sluggish now. Some apps that opened very quickly before just sit there unresponsive.”

Beatweek’s own hands-on experiences in running iOS 4 on an iPhone 3G are right here.

Top iPhone and iPod cases: Beatweek 75

The ten highest rated iPhone 3G and 3GS cases, along with the two highest rated iPod nano 5G cases:

Vaja iVolution • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $60-$280:: Good leather doesn’t come cheap, which explains why most leather cases aren’t very good. But we’ve tested leather iPhone cases from around the world, and while Vaja’s Argentinean leather products are the most expensive, they’re also a cut above anything you’ll find anywhere else. In addition to paying dearly, you’ll wait 20 to 30 days for your case to arrive.

RadTech ARC • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $15: This two-piece hard plastic design gives your iPhone a two-tone look in a choice of colors and assembles and removes easily. Perhaps the best aspect of this case is its thin and light design, adding very little bulk to the device while keeping it protected. Some other companies sell highly similar cases to this one, but this is by far the best priced of the bunch.

Marware SportShell Convertible • iPhone 3G+3GS armband case • $44: It’s an armband. It’s a hard plastic case. It’s a belt clip case. It’s an iPhone stand. Actually, it’s any of the above, depending on how you assemble it, and it does all of the above well. Only buy this if you plan to use it in two or more of its capacities – but in that scenario it becomes a great multi-function value.

Speck Candy Shell • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $35: This one-piece rubber case is all about fun, from its whimsical name to its brash pairing of colors. It’s not the thinnest of cases, but it does a great job of providing impact protection all around. The five new color combination have been toned down a bit from the original choices, but they’re still fun. Also available for second-gen iPod touch, but only in four color choices.

OtterBox Commuter TL • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $39: Dual layer cases consisting of an impact-resistant outer hard plastic shell and a shock-absorbent soft rubber interior are some of the most protective cases on the market and, when done right, can be among the most stylish as well – and the Commuter TL is the best we’ve ever seen it done. The choice of seven colors is a bonus.

OtterBox Armor & Defender • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $49: These are the iPhone and iPod cases that OtterBox is more traditionally known for. The Armor is water resistant, allowing you to take your device swimming in shallow water. And the Defender is element resistant, allowing you to go trolling through the mud with device in hand. There’s still no real competition for the Armor and Defender, but there doesn’t need to be.

Griffin Chilewich • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $39: This is an essentially perfect two piece slide-on case made of unique material which has the feel of large-stitched fabric. The best part is that the nature of the material itself covers up the dividing seam across the back.

Contour HardSkin Inked • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $34: This front-back snap together plastic case benefits from being lightweight as well as easier to attach and remove than most similarly designed cases – and the unique styling options don’t hurt either. Also available for five dollars less without the patterns etched onto the rear surface of the case.

Incipio Dotties • iPhone 3G+3GS case • $34: It’s one of the stranger case ideas we’ve ever encountered, but also one of the more imaginative ones: put fifteen holes in the rear of the case and provide enough different colored dots such that each user can create a pattern of colors that’s almost certain not to be repeated. You know what? The whole thing works – mainly because it’s a good case to begin with.

Trexta snap-on covers • iPhone 3G+3GS shield • $29: Snap-on shields are usually more of a generic commodity type product, and often come from the bargain bin. But Trexta’s shields bring three dimensional decorations to the table ranging from wood-leather combinations to racing stripes and more. Still doesn’t provide as much protection as a real case, but a great guilty pleasure nonetheless.

Griffin iClear Shade • iPod nano 5G case • $24: The case is a two-piece snap on plastic shell that is easy to apply. While all snap-on cases may take a bit to align every corner properly, with this case it was easy to do so. The case leaves the top and bottom of the nano completely free for headphones and dock connectors and easy lock access, so it makes life a little easier to take off when necessary.

Griffin Outfit • iPod nano 5G case • $24: This two piece rubber case is one of the most comfortable cases on the market, easy to install, leaves proper access to all ports and controls, and allows your iPod nano to retain its own pretty color visible through the translucent material.

View all seventy-five winning accessories for iPad, iPhone, and iPod (including cases, earbuds, car products, stereos, batteries and more) in Beatweek Magazine’s 75th issue which you can read digitally for free right here.

View all seventy-five winning accessories for iPad, iPhone, and iPod (including cases, earbuds, car products, stereos, batteries and more) in Beatweek Magazine’s 75th issue which you can read digitally for free right here.

iPhone 4G imminent? iPhone 3G reportedly no longer shipping

Apple has stopped shipping the iPhone 3G model to AT&T Stores, according to a report. The move, if indeed accurate, suggests that the iPhone 4G will not only be introduced in early June, but will also begin shipping shortly thereafter. The report points to the $99 iPhone 3G model specifically, and not the $199 or $299 iPhone 3GS model, which suggests that the 3GS could remain in place as the new $99 model. While we won’t know anything until Apple makes an official announcement, the report suggests that the iPhone 4G will be in the hands of consumers soon rather than later.

iPhone 4GS? Save it for next year

As best I can tell, none of us on staff have made that particular typo anywhere on Beatweek.com, so I have no idea why the search engines have seen fit to begin sending people our way who were looking for something called an iPhone 4GS. Still, I can understand how some confused users who aren’t familiar with the how or the why behind iPhone naming conventions could mistakenly think that it might be the name of the next model: there was an iPhone 3G, then an iPhone 3GS, so why not an iPhone 4GS next? Well, that requires some explaining.

The iPhone 3G was actually the second generation iPhone model; its name derived from its adoption of the “3G” cellular data network. With the third generation iPhone, Apple was stuck in something of a bind as far as names and ended up with “iPhone 3GS” as a way of signifying that it was still a 3G device, still the same physical design, and yet featured various hardware upgrades (as Apple put it, the “S” stood for “speed”). Now with the next iPhone set to presumably roll out in June 2010, the nomenclature actually is in question, as “iPhone 4G” would signify the fact that it will be the fourth generation iPhone, but would also incorrectly imply that the device will use the 4G network, which doesn’t exist yet (despite Sprint’s claims to the contrary). But while we don’t yet know whether the next iPhone will be called “iPhone 4G” as Apple hasn’t yet officially even admitted that a new iPhone is coming, it’s reasonably safe to assume that the next model won’t be called iPhone 4GS. However, it is possible that the company could find suit to use such a name in 2011 when it rolls out the next iPhone after that.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I primarily created this page because if web searchers are going to land on this site after searching for “iPhone 4GS” then I’d rather they land on this page, where they can get an explanation as to what the iPhone’s various model names really mean, as opposed to some other random page on the site. As for the rest of you, perhaps you found it enlightening as well. At the very least you might get a kick out of the fact that so many people are out there hunting around for information on the new iPhone 4GS.