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Apple Error Leaves iPhone Developers In the Lurch
canadacow writes "iPhone developers enrolled and active in the iPhone OS 2.0 beta program got a nasty surprise today when Apple inadvertently 'expired' the recently released version. While for a beta program this typically would not be an issue, Apple has yet to release a new deployment of the iPhone OS. So developers like myself who use their iPhone for both actual phone and iPod use are bricked. Of note, this particular expired build is just 11 days old."
Is anyone else getting tired of the sensationalist misuse of the term "bricked" around here?
Unless it's nigh unrecoverable, your hardware isn't bricked.
If there's anything more important than my ego around here, I want it caught and shot immediately.
The device functions enough that you can restore the original firmware, you know, the firmware that is stable and fully supported and not recommended for development use only.
Here's an even better idea. Let's complain about developers who use beta software for their primary mobile phone!
Developers: We can use your help.
I don't get it - My "friend's" iphone expired at midnight but guess what, there was an email from the Apple beta program in my "friend's" email telling my "friend" to update their iPhone. Update, start using the phone again.
This is just a sensationalist article using the Dvorak Method (TM) to get more hits.
I think you missed the part where these are people choosing to explicitly install beta development software on their mobile phone. If want to be sure your phone will work, either don't install early beta software on it, or buy a second phone.
Developers: We can use your help.
Jesus. Drama Queen much? A piece of beta software exploded. It will be fixed in days if not hours. It's probably fixed by the time you posted your whiny rant. So dry your tears, Princess, and turn down the hyperbole a little.
Fiat Homos et Pereat Theos
Developers: We can use your help.
Wah wah wah! Apple released this fancy new phone but there's no SDK and nobody can develop apps for it, this sucks, Apple sucks, everyone sucks!
*Apple releases beta SDK*
Wah wah wah! Apple released an inital version of an SDK for their fancy new phone and it isn't perfect and doesn't do everything we ever wanted, this sucks, Apple sucks!
All some people do is complain. Even when someone listens to what you're asking for, and tries to meet your needs. Even when they're just starting out and testing the waters in an area that is very complex. Apple released what they had because obnoxious people wouldn't shut up about how much Apple sucked for not releasing anything.
It'll get better. Half-finished software is the price the world pays for being whiny and impatient.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
What is it with the overuse of the term 'bricked' lately? These phones are NOT bricked. They are not usable as phones right now, but they can be easily fixed by restoring older firmware, or installing newer firmware. There's even a way to keep using the current firmware without the PSOD.
So, ignoring the fact that you can only 'brick' a device once (after which point is is worthless anyway), anyone who installs as-yet-unreleased beta firmware on their phone should be fully aware that something unpleasant could well happen. If this were foolproof, Apple would have shipped out the new firmware to *everyone*.
To mix some metaphors, if you want to play with the big boys, you're going to get burned.