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iOS 5 Update Available

tekgoblin writes "Apple has released the iOS 5 update. To update to iOS 5 just open iTunes with your iDevice connected to your computer and press update. I recommend doing a manual backup of your iDevice and make sure all your apps are transferred."

473 comments

  1. umm... by Mockylock · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Already years ahead of everything else"? I'm guessing that's why they're adding features that catch up to Android and even some from WP7. But, hey.. if you're a fan, it doesn't mean you need to know about other devices around you, as long as it's shiny and made by Apple, it will suffice.. and if it doesn't, they'll make sure that you think it does.

    --
    "Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
    1. Re:umm... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Doesn't the hate and bashing ever get tiring?

    2. Re:umm... by mlts · · Score: 2

      I'd say the hype depends on the feature in use. The ability for apps to use iCloud for data storage (key:value pairs as well as documents) is nice to have.

      As for backups to the cloud, on Android, you have comparable -- just use Titanium Backup and Dropbox. To boot, Titanium Backup encrypts all backups to boot, so if the DB account gets compromised, your app's data is secure.

      Realistically, blowing away all hype, iOS 5 gives you:

      Scroll down from the task bar, and you get some decent widget-like functionality. Not as in depth as Android, but at least it is there for stuff at a glance.

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks. Same with downloading movies.

      The ability to have pictures uploaded to the cloud immediately is useful. I'm sure there are Android apps which give this, but don't know any offhand.

      The one thing I wish iCloud could offer -- ability to save and archive off app data, is missing. Say I want to uninstall a game but keep the saved game, I have to resort to jailbreaking, and then using PkgBackup or AppBackup to pull the data to a safe place. With Android, any backup utility (I prefer Titanium Backup, but I'm sure others are able to do it) will allow you to save off the latest Angry Birds scores and uninstall the app if you need the space.

      iOS 5's main feature is iCloud. Time will tell how useful it is. I do hope for a tethered JB, so I can have it do iCloud backups without needing a Wi-Fi connection though.

    3. Re:umm... by mlts · · Score: 1

      Correction: Untethered JB. The tethered JB is out (for the iPhone 4, and supposedly the 4S's turn is coming), but not many Cydia apps work with iOS's 5 structure as of now, so it can't hurt to just give it time until iBlacklist, BiteSMS, etc. get updated.

    4. Re:umm... by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1, Informative

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks.

      Perhaps you are unfamiliar with SugarSync?
      In fact I would choose SugarSync over iCloud even on an Apple product simply because I can sync/stream to just about any device with a browser although there are native clients for Android, BlackBerry, and iOS devices. They have a free 5GB plan and their $4.99/mo. plan gives you 30GB. I had been using DropBox until I discovered SugarSync.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    5. Re:umm... by Thantik · · Score: 5, Informative

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks

      Actually, Google has Google Music which does basically the same thing. You just select the files/playlists, etc for "offline use" and it caches them to your device. Or you can just stream it while on the go. Google Music has been available for...uh, 6ish months now.

      Also, Google+ auto uploads any taken pictures to your G+ account, set to private, so you can share them at-whim. So, Android has that feature too...again, has for months.

    6. Re:umm... by Tsingi · · Score: 0

      iOS 5's main feature is iCloud. Time will tell how useful it is. I do hope for a tethered JB, so I can have it do iCloud backups without needing a Wi-Fi connection though.

      I'm pretty sure that I read that Apple was using Windows Azure for iCloud.

      That just gives me the cold shivers.

    7. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should phrase it the "first to have this feature (in a usable manner)"

      Android is cool and all, if you're a developer and can run a command line to make stuff work the way it should have out of the box.

      Example: Certificate management on Android is a pathetic joke, works different per carrier and mostly doesn't work at all for the core applications the carriers ship (especially the e-mail clients).

      Joke.

      This worked on iOS 2.0 and WP7 1.x

    8. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've tried google music and it sucks. I've been using it on a Motorola Droid 3 and it's just plain terrible compared to iTunes. Big hopes for the MusicMatch service, because in my opinion, Google Music is a miserable fail.

    9. Re:umm... by narcc · · Score: 0

      Spiffy. I will definitely check it out, it sounds great.

    10. Re:umm... by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 1

      It's not just them. There are still people out there who say Windows crashes all the time and runs everything with root access.

    11. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've carried an iPhone and a couple Android devices. Haven't had an opportunity to use WP7 yet. But in my opinion, Android sucks big ones. It's clunky and like a store bought computer, it's full of crappy software that I have no desire for, including several apps for which there is no uninstall option, like Blockbuster.

      The iPhone is much more polished and elegant, and works far better.

      So go ahead, bash away to your hearts content, but my iPhone kicks the ass of any Android platform I've seen to this point.

    12. Re:umm... by DJRumpy · · Score: 1

      Correct me if I'm wrong but dropbox is not a backup solution, but rather a data backup solution. It doesn't backup the OS, app settings, icon locations, etc. It can't be used to restore your device. Not sure about Titanium as I've never used it.

      Also, the iCloud sync is not only for music but also for data/documents which are then synced to any device you own connected to that cloud account. Contacts, mail, pictures, music, documents, etc. They are synced immediately and it works well. I love that I can create contact on my PC and it's immediately visible on my phone.

      Regarding your app data question, that would be something to be addressed by the game developer. I have a few apps that include a backup utility. I wouldn't expect the OS to handle that, but rather the app to have an export function.

    13. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't worry, you're not alone in wondering how Apple's hardware and software could possibly be years ahead of every other company's; Apple's competitors are all wondering the same thing while Apple is obliterating them. :)

      Seriously, though, do you really think that Apple don't have the resources to add every possible feature that any user could possibly want to iOS? They obviously have both the funds and talent to do just that. However, guess what? Not only does the average person not use more than the most basic features of their gadgets, but they're actually confused and scared by an overabundance of confusing options.

      The reason for Apple's products being so successful is that they provide a seamless, exceptionally user-friendly experience — one that no other mobile telephone manufacturer has been able to duplicate. A very important part of Apple achieving this is first finding the correct balance between the number of features and user-friendliness, then implementing the chosen feature set to a degree of quality that simply doesn't exist in other mobile operating systems. From that perspective, I think it's more than fair to say that Apple's mobile technology is years ahead of everything else. Yes, there are occasionally obvious features missing from Apple's software (one great example is being unable to customise the sound played when a message is received) that there's simply no excuse for, but those cases are certainly exceptions.

      Are you still not convinced? Ask yourself this: Is using Android a seamless, extremely user-friendly experience, like using an iPhone is?

    14. Re:umm... by mlts · · Score: 1

      Titanium Backup backs the Android apps first to the SD card. Then it will copy them to DB.

      If you want to completely and utterly back up your device to DB, you can use nandroid with an app that background syncs to DB. This way, you have the complete image (OS, apps, settings) ready to go at a moment's notice, but it isn't encrypted, so that might be an issue for some.

      On the iPhone, some game apps are sane enough to store their data files in Documents so they can be copied off via iTunes. However, most don't.

    15. Re:umm... by rthille · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wish you damn whippersnappers would stop using WP7 for Windows Phone 7... I keep having to wonder what the hell Word Perfect has to do with a discussion on cell phones...

      --
      Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
    16. Re:umm... by DJRumpy · · Score: 1

      You can also save the data directly from iTunes. On the apps tab it will list any apps that store data on the phone. Just click the data file and the 'Save As' button should become available. I'm betting the app developers need to code their apps for that however as I only see one of my apps that stores data there, which also happens to be one that lets me export from the app itself.

    17. Re:umm... by tesdalld · · Score: 1

      Google Goggles lets you take a picture and upload it somewhere i believe. Could be (probably am) wrong. http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#text

    18. Re:umm... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      The ability to have pictures uploaded to the cloud immediately is useful. I'm sure there are Android apps which give this, but don't know any offhand.

      Google+, for one. Have you heard of that one? It's new, but seems popular for something so new and still in beta.

    19. Re:umm... by Stele · · Score: 1

      The ability to have pictures uploaded to the cloud immediately is useful. I'm sure there are Android apps which give this, but don't know any offhand.

      The Google+ client for Android integrates with the camera and does this automatically.

    20. Re:umm... by bonch · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Yes, it's simply because it's shiny and made by Apple that people prefer it to Android. It's not the fact that it's easy to use, doesn't drain battery life, has apps people want, and isn't riddled with malware.

    21. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks

      Actually, Google has Google Music which does basically the same thing. You just select the files/playlists, etc for "offline use" and it caches them to your device. Or you can just stream it while on the go. Google Music has been available for...uh, 6ish months now.

      So long as you live in the US and managed to sign up for the beta.

    22. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks

      Actually, Google has Google Music which does basically the same thing. You just select the files/playlists, etc for "offline use" and it caches them to your device. Or you can just stream it while on the go. Google Music has been available for...uh, 6ish months now.

      Also, Google+ auto uploads any taken pictures to your G+ account, set to private, so you can share them at-whim. So, Android has that feature too...again, has for months.

      I think you misunderstand what iTunes Match is doing. Unlike Google Music, iTunes Match does not upload anything. Instead, it checks a database of music files already on the server and allows you to download from that database. The effect is that you can start with inferior quality ripped MP3s (e.g. low bitrate) in your iTunes library and end up downloading much higher quality AAC file (256 kbps).

      That's a pretty big difference between iTunes Match and the services provided by Google and Amazon, which serve essentially as glorified online storage.

    23. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure that I read that Apple was using Windows Azure for iCloud.

      That just gives me the cold shivers.

      Then try this: an XBox 360 won't read NTFS-formatted discs, but works just fine with an HFS+ one.

    24. Re:umm... by AC-x · · Score: 1

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks. Same with downloading movies.

      How about Spotify? It doesn't automatically scan your mp3 collection, but you have access to their whole library and all the playlists you create on the desktop application are shared with your mobile.

    25. Re:umm... by teslafreak · · Score: 1

      There isn't a single Apple product that could be considered "seamless", there isn't any large piece of software worthy of that title. I've had app crashes on my iPad and on my Nexus One (and on every computer I have ever used for a decent amount of time). Apple's hardware isn't years ahead of anyone either. Their computers use largely the same hardware everyone else is using. They make good products, if the features are what you are after, but thats all.

    26. Re:umm... by EXrider · · Score: 1

      one great example is being unable to customize the sound played when a message is received) that there's simply no excuse for, but those cases are certainly exceptions.

      Which they've finally added as a "feature" in iOS 5!

      --
      grep -iw skynet /etc/services
    27. Re:umm... by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      According to the latest market-share statistics, most people prefer Android.

    28. Re:umm... by Ctrl+V · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the link. I was just checking over their service - sounds great until on their feature comparison page, I see the NO for linux support. Anyone know what the deal is with that? Just no native client? Have to use a few creative workarounds to work on linux?

    29. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a difference, the OP is speaking truth, and fact.

    30. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. My grandmother is constantly complaining about how her Android phone makes certificate management overly difficult.

    31. Re:umm... by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 2

      "Official Android player for Music Beta by Google."
      "Available in the U.S. by invitation only and free for a limited time.
      Request an invitation at music.google.com."

      So it's out there but that doesn't seem like a "full" release to me.

      --
      If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
    32. Re:umm... by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 1

      You're referring to this report from way back in june. Neither Apple nor MS has confirmed it and iCloud was barely in beta at the time so it's hardly a solid fact. Maybe we'll get some more solid information on how it works now it has actually been released.

      --
      If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
    33. Re:umm... by debiankicksass · · Score: 1

      Obviously around here it doesn't. Especially if it makes windows look stupid. Just my 2 cents.

    34. Re:umm... by Orffen · · Score: 1

      No, according to those stats, more people bought Android than iPhone. Personal preference wasn't measured.

    35. Re:umm... by afabbro · · Score: 1

      Many more iOS apps integrate with Dropbox rather than SugarSync. Not debating which one is a better product, but if you want to save files, edit files, etc. from the cloud on your iOS device, DB is a better choice.

      --
      Advice: on VPS providers
    36. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, Apple deserves every last bit of it. Now run along, sheeple.

    37. Re:umm... by ChatHuant · · Score: 1

      I wish you damn whippersnappers would stop using WP7 for Windows Phone 7... I keep having to wonder what the hell Word Perfect has to do with a discussion on cell phones...

      It's easy to understand which is which once you realize that Word Perfect ends at WP5.1. Just like "The Matrix" ended after the first movie, and "Star Wars" after the first three. La, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la...

    38. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iCloud for music is excellent. Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks

      Actually, Google has Google Music which does basically the same thing. You just select the files/playlists, etc for "offline use" and it caches them to your device. Or you can just stream it while on the go. Google Music has been available for...uh, 6ish months now.

      Also, Google+ auto uploads any taken pictures to your G+ account, set to private, so you can share them at-whim. So, Android has that feature too...again, has for months.

      Google sucks.

    39. Re:umm... by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      Well there's no native client so you can't set up automated syncing to your account but you can access the files via your browser of choice. So you could manually upload your music collection from your PC and install the client on your mobile device of choice as long as it runs Android, BB, or iOS and tell your mobile device to sync with those files. You never connect the two devices to transfer files again.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    40. Re:umm... by swb · · Score: 1

      For larger storage sizes, SugarSync is cheaper than drop box and has some deeper sync options, IMHO.

      I went with SugarSync for 100GB for a lot less than DropBox had.

      I've noticed a couple of apps with DropBox support and without SugarSync support, but mostly it's both, and EverNote and a few others.

      It was never about features or quality, had DropBox been cheaper I probably would have used that instead.

    41. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google Music will also let you stream to any Android device for free, rather than the 24.99 fee.

    42. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In our defense, it's still better than calling it "Windows 7", which some people do. I keep having to wonder what the hell a desktop OS has to do with a discussion on cell phones...

    43. Re:umm... by smash · · Score: 1

      That still won't give you itunes match, which is a big attraction of icloud. Fuck uploading a few tens of gb of MP3s.

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    44. Re:umm... by smash · · Score: 1

      The big win is not having to spend weeks uploading your mp3 library.

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    45. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm in the beta and very, very unimpressed. It doesn't have any sort of match feature and relies heavily upon Flash of all things.

    46. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish you damn whippersnappers would stop using WP7 for Windows Phone 7... I'm too retarded to be able to comprehend the fact that things can have multiple meanings i mean wtf is an 'apple iphone'? a phone made from apples?

      FTFY

    47. Re:umm... by dudpixel · · Score: 0

      Doesn't the hate and bashing ever get tiring?

      no. :P

      --
      This seemed like a reasonable sig at the time.
    48. Re:umm... by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Consider that, at least here in the US, the iPhone is available on the two leading mobile carriers (AT&T and Verizon) who have about 60% of the US market. The iPhone is selling more than any individual Android phone but not as much as Android phones as a whole.

      So what you're saying is that these customers on AT&T and Verizon are being forced to buy Android phones even though they don't want to?

    49. Re:umm... by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      I don't even know what iTunes match is so it's definitely not a factor in my decision. And the fact that I can listen to my AAC/M4A files (MP3's are so twentieth century) on my iPod touch, corporate BlackBerry Torch, and personal MyTouch 4G without really thinking about it makes SugarSync very attractive. That said I only discovered it a few days ago and haven't had time to give it a proper shakedown. I merely corrected the notion that there were no cloud based streaming options for Android.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    50. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree, WP has always stood for Word Perfect... Along with ATM meaning Adobe Type Manaager

    51. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't see this as bashing. I have an iPhone and an Android phone, so I guess I am a confused fanboi, but it is a bit hipocritical (sp?) of Apple to be suing the hell out of everyone over things like rounded corners while they copy stuff from the other OSs. I don't think that kind of copying is bad, mind you, but just admit that all of the good ideas don't happen all in one place, and people should be free to come up with their own implementations of good ideas.

    52. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish Steve Jobs had been around to witness the millions that eagerly anticipated his legacy .. I wouldn't call my self a fanboy .. but I do have his line up of spectacular devices alongside all the other latest greatest from the others, and theres still a greatness in witnessing the way they (apple) put together the technology and in paraphrased word belonging to the visionary himself .. gave it a soul .. RIP Jobs, you did change the world for the better, and many are mac users because of you. Think different was as much about you as it was about honouring the greats .. so heres to the crazy ones, ... because you changed things .. and moved us forward ..

    53. Re:umm... by Peganthyrus · · Score: 1

      I've got Google Music and I quit trying to use it after I got a ton of errors uploading music from my computer. It's a nice idea but it didn't actually work for me in practice.

      --
      egypt urnash minimal art.
    54. Re:umm... by PNutts · · Score: 1

      The one thing I wish iCloud could offer -- ability to save and archive off app data, is missing. Say I want to uninstall a game but keep the saved game, I have to resort to jailbreaking, and then using PkgBackup or AppBackup to pull the data to a safe place. With Android, any backup utility (I prefer Titanium Backup, but I'm sure others are able to do it) will allow you to save off the latest Angry Birds scores and uninstall the app if you need the space.

      Pulling a game's data from an iPhone (and copying it to a different iDevice) does not require jailbreaking.

    55. Re:umm... by narcc · · Score: 1

      WP5.1? Insanity. PFSWrite put it to shame until WP6 came out and took the world by storm.

      As for WP7, you're spot on. I still have a boxed copy of that steaming pile on the shelf above my desk at work.

    56. Re:umm... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Especially with the service that scans your MP3 stash and allows you to download AAC files on the go. This functionality is something Android lacks. Same with downloading movies.

      Google supports could music and you can download movies for Android from various sources. Plus you have Flash so all video sites work, not just the ones that specifically support iOS.

      he ability to have pictures uploaded to the cloud immediately is useful. I'm sure there are Android apps which give this, but don't know any offhand.

      It's built in, photos automatically sync with your Google Picasa account in both directions.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    57. Re:umm... by bemymonkey · · Score: 1

      Does it also work for songs which weren't bought from iTunes? I.e. ripped from CDs or bought from other stores?

    58. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awwww, did Steve Jobs drink your milkshake from beyond the grave? Poor baby.

    59. Re:umm... by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      Apple phones have one price; Expensive. Either you pay £500 for the phone and no contract, or you pay £35 per month for 2 years and £100 for the phone.

      Android phones span numerous hardware platforms, and have a huge price gradient. Android devices can be bought by more people because it's available for less.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    60. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The ability to have pictures uploaded to the cloud immediately is useful. I'm sure there are Android apps which give this, but don't know any offhand.

      There are plenty of FTP-synching programmes but Ubuntu One Files offered to handle that when all I was expecting was access to what I already had stored on Ubuntu One.

    61. Re:umm... by tehcyder · · Score: 0

      Doesn't the hate and bashing ever get tiring?

      Not while there are drooling fanboys spoiling an otherwise sensible tech site. And nobody complains about Microsoft-bashing, although it should be perfectly clear by now that Apple are far more proprietary and locked-in than Microsoft ever managed.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    62. Re:umm... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's not the fact that it's easy to use

      So is Android.

      doesn't drain battery life

      Depends on the phone, drivers, what apps you run etc. iOS has an unfair advantage in that it can't run most apps in the background, unlike Android, meaning the user has no choice about trading off battery life and the convenience of always-on background apps.

      has apps people want

      So does Android, and unlike iOS you are free to get them from anywhere you like, e.g. the Amazon App Store. There are apps for iOS that people want but Apple decided to ban, and due to limitations like not being able to run in the background there are apps people want but iOS can't deliver.

      and isn't riddled with malware.

      Neither is Android. Just like Apple Google has removed some dodgy apps from the Market. The vast, vast majority are fine. Okay, if you are a moron you can install random stuff you download from disreputable web sites, but that is the price of freedom.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    63. Re:umm... by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1

      Does it also work for songs which weren't bought from iTunes?

      Yes. So you can some old shitty napster version of a song and it will get you the officially released version.

    64. Re:umm... by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      doesn't drain battery life

      If I were an Apple fan, I really wouldn't go on about the iPhone's battery life too much. iPad, fair enough, but not the iPhone, it really isn't it's strong point, plus at least with Android phones you can carry a spare.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    65. Re:umm... by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      It won't have all the features of an Android. They've opted out of adding pain in the ass bugs that linger around for multiple versions and they felt they just couldn't compete with Android seamlessly allows the security to by passed. Maybe we can have that in iOS 6.

    66. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's Word Perfect? :-p

    67. Re:umm... by intheshelter · · Score: 0

      Yeah, much like Android caught up with Apple when they released a mobile touch UI. I guess a grasp of irony is not the average Fandroid's strong suit?

    68. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't that say more about you, than it does them?

      Every time I hear P to V, I'm not thinking Physical to Virtual. I'm thinking Penis to Vagina, so I guess it goes without saying that says more about me, than them too.

    69. Re:umm... by bickle · · Score: 1

      Thank you for writing an excellent summary of the update.

    70. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What kind of stupid pedantic bullshit is that? Android provided value to them that others didn't. Value could be in price, features, or about 100 other things. Whats wrong with apple fanboys these days...

    71. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Neither is Android. Just like Apple Google has removed some dodgy apps from the Market.

      A: LOLZ We can get our apps from multiple places.

      B: Yeah, but a lot of those markets are shady, have no quality checks and distribute malware.

      A: Well you should just google's marketplace because they remove malware when found.

      B: umm.. Dude.. are you retarded?

    72. Re:umm... by Joe+Jay+Bee · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I got an iPhone just yesterday. It's nice enough but the battery life SUCKS.

      BlackBerry may have issues (oh hell has it got issues) but the battery life wasn't one of them.

    73. Re:umm... by lexman098 · · Score: 1

      accidentally... etc

    74. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In my job, I train and support non-technicals in using smart devices including Windows Mobile 6 (Yes, that far out of date), Blackberry, Android and iPhone. The only platform which works reliably, is easy enough for even the dumbest reporter to use and has professional grade audio and video recording and editing apps and generally just works, no matter what you throw at it, is...

      Drum roll, please....

      iPhone. Even crappy old 3G and 3GS iPhones can record, edit and package media on-the-spot in the field better than any other platform. The 4G does it with ease and grace, never crashing. Blackberry is a slow, bumbling turd, as is Windows mobile 6. Android is easy to use, but has none of the media recording/editing apps that come close to professional mission critical standard. (Mostly just skins for the same mp3 player code :-/ )

      iPhone isn't any more advanced than the others, nor is it any less so. It isn't perfect, either. Just the same, iPhone is the only one worth the money because it just works, does what people want it to do and stays out of the way. Most importantly, you don't need to be an engineer to understand it's features or settings, the way they work is self evident.

      Oh, sorry, I forgot, this is the Apple Hating Forum. I'll shut up then.

    75. Re:umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So being a spittle frothing ass sucking basher is your solution?

      And where are the drooling fanboys, shit rag? All I see is a sea of bashing and a few defenders.

      You are just another filthy geek scumbag living in a demented fantasy world.

  2. Re:iDevice by BatGnat · · Score: 0

    they took his word!!!!

  3. I'm confused... by isaachulvey · · Score: 0

    So... would doing a manual backup be an iSuggest or an iRecommend?

    --
    Isaac
    1. Re:I'm confused... by Pope · · Score: 1

      That's an RDD. A Ron Donald Do!

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    2. Re:I'm confused... by Wovel · · Score: 1

      It appears to be iRequired. Also a bit iAnnoying.

  4. jailbreak yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Any word on a jailbreak for 5 yet?

  5. Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by johnthorensen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is there a technical reason that Apple can't provide over-the-air updates for their devices?

    1. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      You need iOS 5 for this lol

    2. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is there a technical reason that Apple can't provide over-the-air updates for their devices?

      OTA is supported in IOS5, not in IOS4

    3. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by jrmcferren · · Score: 2

      Yes there is, the files are fucking huge!

      --
      sudo mod me up
    4. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by isaachulvey · · Score: 1

      I enjoyed that on Apple's site they mention how once you have iOS 5 you won't need a computer to update your device... yet to update your device to iOS 5, you need a computer.

      --
      Isaac
    5. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by ArrowBay · · Score: 2

      No; they just didn't include it in iOS 4 or earlier versions.

      However, they have included wireless updating in iOS 5. So once you upgrade to v5 via cabled connection, you'll be able to get future updates over the air.

      --
      Domains, shared and dedicated hosting, SSL certs, and more: ArrowBay.net
    6. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because iOS 4 doesn't have OTA updates. Don't you Slashdot people know how to read?

    7. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not the OTA updates. They are ~100 MB in size, sometimes larger, sometimes smaller. A bit difficult to OTA update from a system without support it to a system that does.

    8. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Merely because iOS 4 didn't support it. iOS 5 does, so it won't be an issue ever again (which to me as a developer is the greatest christmas present ever!)

    9. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by irishPete · · Score: 1

      This update reportedly does that.

      --
      disk? hmmm... I know I saw it somewhere...
    10. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Ever hear of wifi?

    11. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not really that odd...you've always needed a computer to update the iOS version, mainly because the updates can be several hundred megabytes. Because the updates are so big, I am guessing that you can only do this via a wi-fi connection (I don't see any wireless phone company allowing such large updates to saturate their network).

      And anybody who buys a new iPhone 4S presumably already has iOS 5 preloaded, and then would have no need for a computer to perform any updates.

    12. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by grub · · Score: 2

      iOS 5 features delta updates. You don't download the whole OS anymore.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    13. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's part of what this update fixes.

    14. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by fishnuts · · Score: 1

      Why did Apple take so long to do this, after Android has been doing it for years?

    15. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right on!

    16. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Wovel · · Score: 1

      After iOS5 is installed updates will be incremental and over-the-air, so the answer to your question is no, not tomorrow.

    17. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      Remember that an update isn't an app download, it's a download of a brand new OS and reflashing your device. This isn't trivial and if it fails it has a good chance of bricking your device. To get the device to handle it properly is harder than having an external app download the update and update the device.

      Also, old (iOS4 and previous) updates were a full system image. So you had to download a huge file and find space for it on the device. I think iOS is able to download partial components and update individual components, which makes the storage issue smaller. I think making the OS componentized helps with the overall update. You can have a core component always run (maybe with a backup copy if it itself needs an update) and everything else can get downloaded and updated.

      So, Apple solved these issues, possibly with some help from the "update Lion from the App Store" team.

    18. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Wovel · · Score: 2

      Why did you enjoy that. There is nothing about it that is funny or unclear...

    19. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course everyone with an iPhone already has a computer out of necessity, while new phones will ship with it already installed. So although an amusing concept, not a problem in reality.

    20. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Android has been doing a lot of things for years that I'm happy to report that Apple hasn't. One of the best days of my smartphone owning life was when I dumped that disgrace of a phone OS. I got sick of odd things happening to my phone that wouldn't happen to others or would happen to some of the same model but not all. Some of the stuff couldn't be fixed for love or money. Some of the apps didn't work on some hardware but their app store didn't know well enough how to flag what hardware for what apps. Even the devs didn't seem to know what hardware their apps would or would not work on. We became live beta testers for apps we paid for. When MS or Apple does this there is no end to the howl from the open source crowd but when you're using an open source product we're told it's part of being one of the happy family.... Fan-friggin-tastic.

    21. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by fishnuts · · Score: 3, Interesting

      When Android became decent: When more than 5 major players in the mobile communications market realized they have a strong, extensible, customizable platform to build a phone on (Samsung, Motorola, LJ, HTC, Sony-Ericsson, etc)
      When Android became stable: From personal experience, I've only had to hard-reset my phone twice in the last year. The OS has a few minor inconsistencies, but they're specific to my model and Sprint-customized release of the OS, thus caused by something other than just "being Android"

      When Android became something people desire on their phones: Years ago when people realized they could buy a very capable smart phone with features Apple doesn't offer, and not be locked into one carrier or one manufacturer.

      Crappy screens: You must have only experienced a small screen on an old phone. At least half the Android phones sold now have resolution and screen size equivalent or better than iPhone's, and some even offer 3D (Which I've played with, and is quite cool)

      Netflix must have taken "years" because, like many other vendors, Netflix may have had an exclusivity agreement with Apple for a while, or they're just a slow adopter of technology that's outside of their primary distribution path (Personal computers). I don't remember having any problem using Netflix from within my web browser, anyway, so it's not like the system was completely unreachable from Android users.

      5% of the games available for iOS? This is quite subjective. iOS may have 20 times as many games on the iTunes store, but there are still only 50 or so games that dominate both markets, the other 10,000 games get buried in the noise and never take off, so your point is moot.

      Most Androids have talk times of 2 hours? [Citation Needed] I've experienced talk time over 3.5 hours on my Samsung, because I was close to a cell tower and had GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi disabled. Conversely, I've known people who've complained that their iPhones had short call times, due to either old batteries that they've been unable to replace, or due to being far from the cell tower. "Most Androids" is subjective and depends on the experiences you've exposed yourself to.

      The back button on the Android has completely random behaviour because you must have been using an app that randomly changed its function. In my experience, and the experience of most Android users, the back button does what it needs to do. At worst, it serves exactly three functions: 1) Previous screen within an app, 2) previous page in the web browser, or 3) previous page in a settings dialog. If that's too many functions for you to handle in one button, I'm sorry.

      Any changes in behavior caused by the vendor is something you should bring up with the vendor. I happen to enjoy having the choice of what vendor to buy from or what OS version to use. Last I heard, if something in iOS didn't do what you liked or what you expected, you have absolutely no choice to change it or choose another OS vendor. Sorry that you're so bitter about this.

    22. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [citation needed]

    23. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      After you get IOS5 downloaded...

    24. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by immaterial · · Score: 1

      Backups. Apple wasn't about to do an OTA update scheme when there was no way for users to back up and restore their data OTA also. Now with iCloud, that's covered.

    25. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by ArcherB · · Score: 2

      When Android actually becomes decent and stable, perhaps we will say the same thing about it?

      It is excellent and stable.

      Perhaps when Android becomes somethign people desire to have on their phones, we will same the same thing about it.

      Seeing as it is outselling IOS, I would say that it is something people want on their phones. Certainly more want Android than IOS.

      Why do the Android phones all have such crappy screens?

      What do you mean? My Evo3D has an awesome screen. Not only is bigger than any iPhone/iTouch screen you can buy, but it also does glasses free 3D.

      Why did it take years to get Netflix on Android after it was on iPhone?

      Ask Netflix. Why can't I get FREE navigation, like GoogleMaps on an iPhone? Why must I pay for something that Google will give me for free, if Apple would allow me to have it.
      Why must I have Apple's permission to run an application?

      Why does Android only have about 5% of the games available that iOS does?

      I can play Angry Birds, Need for Speed and tons and tons of other games. Oh, and Spiderman... in 3d!

      Why do most Android phones have a talk time of 2 hours?

      Because dual core 1.5 Ghz processors take some power. However, my Evo3D outlasts my buddies iPhone4. Or are you talking about the android phones released 2 years ago?

      Why does the back button on Android have a completely random behavior?

      I could say the same thing about Apples back button... except it doesn't have one. Are Apple users too stupid to use more than one button? Apple seems to think so. We saw the same behavior with mice for years on Macs.

      Why does that behavior change depending n who you buy your damn phone from?

      It's called options. I have them. I am smart enough to compare and find the one with the features that most meet my needs. You know, like the ability to play Flash.

      Any other questions I can answer for you?

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    26. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Relayman · · Score: 2

      Since you only get one or two updates with the typical Android phone, it's kind of moot, isn't it? My wife's HTC Eris not only only got two updates since purchase, her applications are now crashing one by one. First Lexulous, then Yahoo!, then Twitter...

      How many Android phones are shipping today with an out-of-date version of Android?

      Her Eris isn't even two years old. That's why she's getting an iPhone 4S this Friday.

      --
      If I used a sig over again, would anyone notice?
    27. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know. When Android actually becomes decent and stable, perhaps we will say the same thing about it? Perhaps when Android becomes somethign people desire to have on their phones, we will same the same thing about it. Why do the Android phones all have such crappy screens? Why did it take years to get Netflix on Android after it was on iPhone? Why does Android only have about 5% of the games available that iOS does? Why do most Android phones have a talk time of 2 hours? Why does the back button on Android have a completely random behavior? Why does that behavior change depending n who you buy your damn phone from?

      You are a stupid and ignorant little man. As for crappy screens, Super AMOLED kicks the shit out of your crappy old LCD display. As for the 2 hour talk time comment, well that just solidifies the true purpose of your post - to troll. If your intention was not to troll, then you are a stupid and ignorant little man.

    28. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      When Android became stable: From personal experience, I've only had to hard-reset my phone twice in the last year. The OS has a few minor inconsistencies, but they're specific to my model and Sprint-customized release of the OS, thus caused by something other than just "being Android"

      I have a new HTC Sensation. I'm on the second phone, as the first died (MB failure, no other details). It gets "slow" and I have to reboot it. The reboot *never* turns on correctly. It hangs at the boot screen, and I have to sacrifice a goat to get it to the homescreen.

      At worst, it serves exactly three functions: 1) Previous screen within an app, 2) previous page in the web browser, or 3) previous page in a settings dialog. If that's too many functions for you to handle in one button, I'm sorry.

      No, it can have seemingly random functionality based on the coding of the ap. "previous screen in the ap" or "previous ap before this one" are both functions of the back button. And, depending on the ap and the screen that was up when you opened it, it'll have different functions depending on how you got where you are. So you have to remember where you've been to be able to predict the effect of the button. If you set it down for a while, or aren't paying attention, then the action of the back button very much is random, and can't be determined by the screen you are looking at. But then, as I said, I'm on a Sensation, which isn't "pure" Android, but a Sense shell on top. So my experience may not be representative (but then it might be, so here I am sharing).

    29. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      The fix is to spend $1000+ a year on hardware upgrades. I'm on 2.3 with a new-ish phone and there's nothing that won't work for me. But then, I have front and back cameras, the newest phone OS, two LED lights for flash, and probably ties for highest Android phone resolution. When there are features out there which my phone doesn't have, then I'll have more aps I can't use. The "fix" is to buy a new phone. But that's expensive, it's cheaper to buy a new iPhone every time one comes out than do the same with Android every time an ap won't load.

    30. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Bucky24 · · Score: 1

      As I recall, Netflix themselves said that the reason they couldn't do an app for Android was because of differences in platform security. In other words, they couldn't guarantee to the movie studios that the streaming video wouldn't be hijacked or pirated in some way.

      --
      All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
    31. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by smash · · Score: 1

      lol. people want IOS, but they lso want cheap. Android looks a bit like IOS, and is cheap so they get it. IOS's retention/re-purchase rate of 80-90% vs androids retention rate of far less (don't have the survey on me, but the stats were somewhere down in the 60% range or less) indicates that no, people do not generally want "android", once they've been exposed to it.

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    32. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by sethmeisterg · · Score: 1

      ROTFLMAO.

    33. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

      Just out of curiosity, how did you think this update was going to happen?

    34. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      The Sensation looks remarkably like the DesireHD with a higher DPI screen and extra 200Mhz clockspeed. As such, you may find a custom ROM more stable and responsive than a bloated carrier ROM.

      Having said that, Sense is a very nice UI and I never had any issues with it. I just prefer ADW and like the ability to trim the permissions of certain apps (game with read phone identity? DENIED). There really is very little going against rooting an Android phone. You should be able to find all the information you need here

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    35. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      Any data on whether those folk who aren't upgrading their Android phone are happy with the device they have and don't feel the need to upgrade to the latest and shinyest just for props? Didn't think so.

      Anecdotally, I will be keeping my DesireHD for a good few years. I don't need to upgrade, so I guess you can stick me in the 60% who don't upgrade to another Android handset. Because mine is awesome.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    36. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      Don't chuck the Eris out. Hit XDA-Developers and root it, put a custom ROM on it (CyanogenMod 7.1 gives you the latest Froyo build and is great on my DesireHD) and see how it performs. If it's crap, put it on eBay. If it's not, you just got a free phone upgrade. Yes, it's not a vendor approved upgrade path, but it's out of warranty anyway. Might as well give it a go.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    37. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great! Now I'll just update to iOS5, then I'll be able to perform an OTA update of my iPhone to iOS5! Wait...

    38. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by RogerWilco · · Score: 1

      Yup. It's nice to see that iOS 5 support will include my aging iPhone 3GS. The HTC Hero my colleague got around the same time has already not been supported for a while.

      I've found that already with Apple desktop/laptop hardware, because it's so easy and cheap to upgrade OSX, the machines stay relevant a long time. My 4 year old Macbook Pro is still doing fine, with OSX 10.6 instead of the 10.4 it came with. The pricy but high end hardware specs when new also help of course.

      --
      RogerWilco the Adventurous Janitor
    39. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      Good luck finding a carrier that will allow you to download nearly 1 gig of data without making you pay through the nose.

    40. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by isaachulvey · · Score: 1

      I guess I assumed a mobile OS that claims to be "years ahead of anything else" would be able to do OTA updates. And apparently I was wrong.

      --
      Isaac
    41. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by smash · · Score: 1

      No, this study was purely on purchases, and many of those who previously purchased android jumped ship. It only took new phone purchases into account, and previous platform - those who were not buying phones (i.e., staying with their existing android handset) were not part of the study.

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    42. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by smash · · Score: 1

      in fact - here, have a link to it.

      study

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    43. Re:Is there a technical reason for no OTA updates? by smash · · Score: 1

      or rather, here

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
  6. Re:iDevice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They stole my word! Sweet

    So it was your fault? Thanks a lot.

  7. As usual, not the first for the basics by Quila · · Score: 1, Troll

    But as usual, the first to make the whole concept work together so well even the average brain-dead consumer has no problem using it to its potential.

    Look at Time Machine. We've had differential backups for years, "shadow copy" in Windows even. But Time Machine just rolls it all up to work perfectly with no learning curve.

    1. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Mike+Buddha · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But Time Machine just rolls it all up to work perfectly with no learning curve.

      ...except when it doesn't work, ditches your backup volume, and requires a complete new backup. Please stop pretending that Apple technology is more than it is.

      --
      by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
    2. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 0

      Quiet, infidel! You're questioning the core philosophy of Unix!

      --
      Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
    3. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Quila · · Score: 2

      I've never had a problem in years of using Time Machine.

      Apple took some basic technologies: inodes in the file system, the Spotlight search and indexing system (to keep track of what's been updated), and put a brain-dead easy to user interface on it. Now you can browse through your backups as if you were browing through your file system. Even better, it enables one-click restore of everything (including user accounts and applications) when reinstalling the OS.

      Does it break occasionally? I guess it might. Nothing in computers is 100% perfect. But it was revolutionary as far as getting users to do backups without even having to understand a thing about backups.

    4. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by 3dr · · Score: 1

      I had that happen once, but I edited the dot files that TM uses (located in the root of your backup volume) and was able to get TM to continue on that disk. No history was lost.

      It might have a shiny button on top, but underneath it all are still ASCII text files, steeped in the panicked cold sweat of a million UNIX hackers looking for a quick fix.

    5. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by nightfell · · Score: 1

      But Time Machine just rolls it all up to work perfectly with no learning curve.

      ...except when it doesn't work, ditches your backup volume, and requires a complete new backup. Please stop pretending that Apple technology is more than it is.

      What? In this case, a backup system that works simply and reliably? Even in the case you described (which sounds contrived, and I've certainly never heard of it, but I have heard of it needing to verify the current backup compared to the current computer files), where if there's some sort of error, it takes care of the error for you?

    6. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      It might have a shiny button on top, but underneath it all are still ASCII text files, steeped in the panicked cold sweat of a million UNIX hackers looking for a quick fix.

      Which is the power and the failing of things like Time Machine. When it fails for a computer illiterate person, it can fail hard (just look at the Apple support forums). Often the fix is pretty simple, edit a preference file, rebuild an index. Of course, if my mom understood 'edit a preference file' she wouldn't need Time Machine, she could just use rsync.

      What I'm annoyed with is that Apple really hasn't gone the extra distance to make the thing *really* bullet proof. The system should be able to restore itself to some useful state without dropping into terminal or resetting the drive.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    7. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Threni · · Score: 1

      > But as usual, the first to make the whole concept work together so well even the average brain-dead
      > consumer has no problem using it to its potential.

      But they're losing to Android anyway now, so more people obviously find Android easier to use than iPhones. It's possible, of course, that they don't find them easier to use, but then there must be another reason why they prefer Android.

      Anyway, how hard is it to run apps, make phone calls, email etc? Not very hard, lets be honest, on any platform.

    8. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I counter your single data point with my single data point.

      Time Machine ate my baby!

    9. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      I've never had a problem in years of using Time Machine.

      I have. Three times it failed and trashed all the backups. Twice on a remote disk, and once on a non-apple USB drive.

      My wife uses an Apple branded USB drive, and has never had a problem with Time Machine.

    10. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by mikestew · · Score: 1

      Even in the case you described (which sounds contrived, and I've certainly never heard of it,

      Just because you've never heard of it doesn't make it contrived. I've seen it on three machines in the house that backup to a compatible NAS. "Time Machine has verified the backup, and for reliability must start a new backup. Backup later/Start a new backup?"

      Hey, Apple, deleting my backup history doesn't fall under the umbrella of "reliability".

    11. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by funfail · · Score: 1

      Although I am an Android user, I think that it is unfair to compare market shares of Android and iPhone. Android phones come in too many varieties and too many price ranges, whereas iPhone is a premium product. It is normal that an $80 Android phone sells much more than iPhone.

    12. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by jo_ham · · Score: 2

      Apple don't make a branded USB drive.

      I think you were attempting to make a sly point that it only works with Apple stuff, but the only external hard drives Apple sells are the Time Capsules, which are not USB hard drives (and by all accounts, are *not* the devices to use if you want reliable backups due to overheating issues since they are passively cooled).

      FWIW I have about 10 or so Macs under my care (my own, and family and friends' machines) with an assortment of Time Machine solutions: my own via FireWire, and then assorted USB drives and network volumes, some on an Airport Extreme, some on non-Apple SANs, and have never had a problem.

      I've had to fully restore from backup on two separate occasions (on two different machines). Once for a drive failure in my 2006 iMac. I dropped a new HD in there and installed OS X and Time Machine picked ip up right away and had me back to pre-crash desktop with two or three clicks, and once due to a drive upgrade in a Macbook Pro, this time over USB (using a WD branded drive).

      Maybe you just had bad luck?

      Disclaimer: like any computer system, it is not perfect and will be subject to issues from time to time. On the whole it has been extremely good in my experience, but YMMV. Void where prohibited.

    13. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by kanguro · · Score: 0

      First! An android user that is not an android fanboi. This is a new species in slashdot!!!

    14. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Jeremi · · Score: 1

      What I'm annoyed with is that Apple really hasn't gone the extra distance to make the thing *really* bullet proof. The system should be able to restore itself to some useful state without dropping into terminal or resetting the drive.

      Heh, be careful what you wish for. Usually when software tries to rectify a situation it doesn't fully understand, it ends up trashing things beyond any hope of recovery. Often it is better for the software to simply give up and wait for help from a trained operator (read: Genius Bar guy), than try real hard and outsmart itself.

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    15. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Ohio+Calvinist · · Score: 1

      I would agree that it isn't very useful for discussing the popularity of the product, because Android is in more (separate) consumer sectors, as you suggested.

      For developers, the discussion might be more meaningful, as total number of installations represents a finite (hopefully expanding) consumer base. Granted, certain applications will probably never on all Android devices because of hardware limitations. However, general purpose low requirement software might see the growing low-end market as attractive.

      There would need to be more information though, such as the purchasing habits of device owners at each product class and ecosystem. An android phone loaded with FOSS doesn't represent a potential customer to a marketplace/app-store vendor very well, regardless of capacity or installed base.

      --
      Forgive my spelling from time to time. I'm often posting during short breaks.
    16. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All that proves is that Time Machine isn't moron proof.

    17. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by CheerfulMacFanboy · · Score: 1

      Even in the case you described (which sounds contrived, and I've certainly never heard of it,

      Just because you've never heard of it doesn't make it contrived. I've seen it on three machines in the house that backup to a compatible NAS.

      When I read words like these from one guy, there's a larger than 80% chance it's PEBKAC.

      --
      Fandroids hate facts.
    18. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2

      But as usual, the first to make the whole concept work together so well even the average brain-dead consumer has no problem using it to its potential.

      Ironically, one major feature - the overhaul of notifications, in form of the new slide-down-from-status-bar drawer - seems to be taken essentially verbatim from Android, with no obvious changes for better or worse.

    19. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by mikestew · · Score: 1

      So what you're saying is that Time Machine does not "just roll it all up to work perfectly with no learning curve". Thanks for the clarification, I had always heard that Time Machine is the brain-dead solution that simply cannot be screwed up. I guess it's rsync FTW, then.

    20. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by smash · · Score: 2

      I had trouble with time machine. It ended up being a faulty drive that i was backing up to (i.e., time machine would crap out when my backups reached 550gb of a 750gb drive).

      But that isn't really time machine's fault.

      --
      I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
    21. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've never had a problem in years of using Time Machine.

      And i've never had a virus in years of using Windows, what's your point?

    22. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by andrewa · · Score: 1

      The MacBook Air comes with an Apple branded USB restore drive.

      --
      :(){ :|:& };:
    23. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by andrewa · · Score: 1

      Well... it's a USB Flash drive, so it's not something you'd be using for Time Machine backups... Sigh, that'll teach me to read the entire thread...

      --
      :(){ :|:& };:
    24. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by torako · · Score: 1

      The only supported ways to use Time Machine over the network are using a Time Capsule or using a Mac running Mac OS X Server as the backup target. All NAS that offer a Time Machine function do that using unsupported software (I think usually a version of netatalk that runs on Linux).

      If you're using a NAS that is not a Time Capsule (I have a QNAP for example that offers a Time Machine target function) and run into problems it is quite likely a problem with your unsupported NAS's implementation of AFP.

    25. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by intheshelter · · Score: 0

      Yes, much like anything that stops working as it should. Cars. Computers. Space shuttles. Vacuum cleaners.

      Please stop pretending you know what you're talking about. . .

    26. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by CheerfulMacFanboy · · Score: 1

      So what you're saying is that Time Machine does not "just roll it all up to work perfectly with no learning curve". Thanks for the clarification, I had always heard that Time Machine is the brain-dead solution that simply cannot be screwed up. I guess it's rsync FTW, then.

      Thanks for putting words into my mouth, but what I actually implied was that you were stupid enough to fix something by hand that didn't need fixing. Repeatedly. Sorry for not insulting you obviously enough for you to understand.

      --
      Fandroids hate facts.
    27. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by mikestew · · Score: 1

      what I actually implied was that you were stupid enough to fix something by hand that didn't need fixing. Repeatedly.

      Fix what by hand? You mean clicking the "start a new backup" button, as prompted by Apple? Or have you last track of where you're at in the thread, and who you're replying to? I'm trying to be charitable here by assuming you're just confused.

    28. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by mikestew · · Score: 1

      Never mind, I just looked at your post history. Gave the benefit of the doubt to troll, damn it. Well done.

    29. Re:As usual, not the first for the basics by PipsqueakOnAP133 · · Score: 1

      It's grouped differently (by app versus) and allows you to clear notifications from each group. (webOS)

      The changes to the notification system also adds banners that show up when the notification comes in, like webOS does it.

      Each of the most recently received notifications also appears on your lock screen. This persists until the next unlock, so you only see the notifications that happened since you last used your phone.

      Essentially, what they did was take the Apple Push Notification backend, add the banners from webOS, add the drop down gesture from Android, utilize the grouping from webOS. Which is no surprise because Apple hired Rich Dellinger from Palm when HP acquired Palm.

      I find it hilarious that Android fans say Apple copied Android's notifications wholesale, because the only thing that Apple copied from Android was the drop down gesture. Everything else is webOS-ish because the UI designer designed webOS' too.

      (I got an iPhone4, Nexus S, and HP Touchpad on my desk.)

  8. hardware requirements by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/12/8122077-ios-5-should-you-upgrade

    >>iPhone 3GS, an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4S (which will ship with the new operating system), a third-generation iPod Touch, a fourth-generation iPod Touch, an iPad or iPad 2. This means that folks with older iPod Touch devices, the original iPhone, or the iPhone 3G are officially out of luck.

    1. Re:hardware requirements by harperska · · Score: 3, Insightful

      iOS 4 runs so craptastically on my 3G that it probably shouldn't have been available for that phone in the first place. There was absolutely no surprise whatsoever that it is only available on the 3GS and better.

    2. Re:hardware requirements by Americano · · Score: 1

      iPhone 3GS will be free (with contract) when the iPhone 4S releases, at least in the US. If you're cost-conscious, and have an original iPhone or iPhone 3G, you can upgrade your device (and then the iOS version) for the cost of renewing your contract with your current carrier. OR, you can consider upgrading to an iPhone 4 for $99 or $199, or go right to the latest & greatest and get yourself an iPhone 4S for $199-399.

      Considering you can upgrade to a better, free phone if you're on an outdated phone, I don't see much cause for concern - you can backup your original/3G, restore your data to the 3GS/4/4S that you purchase, and be off and running with iOS 5 in pretty short order.

    3. Re:hardware requirements by kurzweilfreak · · Score: 1
      What do you mean I can't run Win7 on my Commodore 64?!

      Big fucking deal. With new hardware coming out every year, do you really expect your device to be upgradeable to the latest and greatest software for life? Get real.

      --

      kurzweil_freak

      5th Kyu Genbukan Ninpo/KJJR student

      Be the darkness that allows the light to shine.

  9. Some of these updates are stupid.. by iONiUM · · Score: 2

    While reading the iOS5 features page (http://www.apple.com/ios/features.html), I went down to the "Mail" section and saw:

    "Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts. Create indents in the text of your message."

    Is that really something they should be advertising? Pretty advanced stuff..

    1. Re:Some of these updates are stupid.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I don't have that ability on my Android phone using the Gmail client. Might not be new to anyone using a desktop mail application, but for a phone application, it's new.

    2. Re:Some of these updates are stupid.. by Amouth · · Score: 1

      but for a phone application, it's new.

      i have a 5+ year old windows mobile phone that could do it.. i don't count that as "new" by any means.

      --
      '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
    3. Re:Some of these updates are stupid.. by ExtremeSupreme · · Score: 1

      I have a Windows Mobile device too... I'm still waiting for Apple or Google or Microsoft or SOMEBODY to be feature-complete with what Windows Mobile offered six years ago (2005). Until they can get the basics right, I'm sticking to my craptastic dumbphone and (unfortunately named) iPaq PDA.

    4. Re:Some of these updates are stupid.. by neowolf · · Score: 1

      So was "cut-and-paste"! :)

    5. Re:Some of these updates are stupid.. by jrumney · · Score: 1

      It's advanced now that iOS has it. Before it was a useless feature that no one wanted, forced on you by those Android developers who just don't get what makes a good product.

  10. Re:Neat. by Hope+Thelps · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cue antidisestablishmenterianist Apple apologists in 3...2...

    I believe they prefer to be called iPologists.

    --
    To summarise the summary of the summary: people are a problem. ~ h2g2
  11. Check back at slashdot for all you update needs. by cfulton · · Score: 0
    Be ready for your windows update Tuesday of next week.
    A new update for you T-Mobile Android users will be out tomorrow
    There is a rumor that Ubuntu will have an update ready on Thursday

    Really is this news? Come on man.

    --
    No sigs in BETA. Beta SUCKS.
  12. Re:iDevice by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 4, Funny

    Day terk hiz werb!

  13. Re:iDevice by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    You should've said...

    Thanks iLot.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  14. This is advertising by chrism238 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Slashdot should demand 30% from Apple for these advertorials.

    1. Re:This is advertising by knappe+duivel · · Score: 1

      Slashdot should demand 30% from Apple for these advertorials.

      30% of what?

    2. Re:This is advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why? /. gets about 23%; why rock the boat?

    3. Re:This is advertising by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      We could have gold-plated Cray XT6 servers within the month! No more Guru Meditation!

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    4. Re:This is advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot used to have interesting comments after a major software release of a product that millions of people use.

      We'd discuss the new things we could do, the issues we ran into, the engineering that was involved.

      Not anymore, now the trolls get all of the karma for some reason.

      Bunch of curmudgeons, and up-voted trolling these days.

    5. Re:This is advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All of that internet money. Yeah, just give us some of that internet money.

    6. Re:This is advertising by Now15 · · Score: 2

      30% of... ten million theoretical dollars!

      --

      Computers are useless: they can only give you answers. -- Pablo Picasso
    7. Re:This is advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a major OS release. Windows gets them. Android gets them. The Linux kernel occasionally gets them.

    8. Re:This is advertising by pmcgrane · · Score: 1

      All the whinging about Android Already Did It seems to counterbalance that.

    9. Re:This is advertising by Mouldy · · Score: 1

      This isn't advertising, it's reporting the news.

      Should /. not report on new Windows releases? Should it not report on major Linux distro releases? A tech news site not reporting on new tech releases would be a pretty crap site.

  15. Summary? by fuzzlost · · Score: 1

    Couldn't the submitter at least have posted some of the features new to the release? For those too lazy (or who don't care enough) to RTFA (or is it a press release?): -Integrated Twitter -Over-the-air updating (So the device doesn't need to be connected to a computer running iTunes) -Sync with iTunes via Wifi -iPad multitasking gestures -Rich editor for composing emails

    1. Re:Summary? by Americano · · Score: 1

      If you're truly interested, there's this list. It includes:
      iCloud support.
      Twitter integration.
      OTA updates.
      Wi-fi syncing.
      Siri (iphone 4s only)
      New notification interface & functionality.
      Time/location-based reminders
      MUCH better camera (init & picture-taking speed as well as image quality)
      built in iMessage - essentially, 'free' iOS-to-iOS SMS/MMS messaging that won't count towards your phone plan's message limit.

      There's really quite a bit of new stuff, it's worth reviewing the list if you're actually interested in seeing what's changed.

    2. Re:Summary? by narcc · · Score: 1

      Looks like most (all?) of the items there were either already available on iOS or already on other platforms.

      A few examples:

        iCloud is yet-another-competing-service. I just found out about one called SugarSync today that looks like it does all that iCloud does.

      Notifications have been a massive problem with iOS for years. iOS 5 appears to make them competitive with Android, though they're still behind RIM.

      OTA updates - again, catching up to Android and Blackberry

      iMessage - We'll need to see more details to see if it's feature-competitive with BBM. I doubt it'll be half as secure.

      I could go on.

    3. Re:Summary? by Americano · · Score: 1

      feature-competitive with BBM

      No, Apple's alternative is light-years ahead of BBM. You see, it's actually online and operational.

      Yes, that's a cheap shot. But let's recap, shall we?
      GGP asks, "What are the new features of iOS 5?"
      I respond, "Here's a list Apple published, and a quick synopsis - read the full list if you want a comprehensive review."
      You then jump in with, "Android and Blackberry already do all of those things better - I'm sure of it. I haven't used iOS 5, and I don't really know how any of these features work, or how the alternatives I just heard about today work, but it's Apple, so I'm going to assume that they all suck, are insecure, and all of this is just Apple struggling to keep up with competitors."

      How is any of your babble in any way relevant to the question at hand? Namely: "What new features are in iOS 5?" Go grind your axe elsewhere.

    4. Re:Summary? by narcc · · Score: 1

      You missed the part where I said that many of those features are "already available on iOS"

      The rest? Well, it was unnecessary to point out that iOS was just playing catch-up with this release. You got me there.

    5. Re:Summary? by PNutts · · Score: 1

      You missed the part where I said that many of those features are "already available on iOS"

      No, that's where I stopped reading because it isn't true.

  16. Car analogy by bigredradio · · Score: 1

    You sir have restored my faith in /.

  17. Icons get re-organized by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I know someone who just installed the update. All of his icon positions were re-done by this update. Folders that he created are gone, etc.

    1. Re:Icons get re-organized by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it does that. I got around it by taking screenshots of where everything was before I did the update.

    2. Re:Icons get re-organized by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let me guess, you like the Windows Classic Start Menu, too. And every Windows computer you get on, the first thing you do is revert to the Classic Start Menu.

  18. Re:Seems wrong somehow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Except ... not at all.

  19. Re:Check back at slashdot for all you update needs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes. When Microsoft releases Windows 8 it will be here too. And when Android releases their next food-named version it will also be news.

  20. updating it now, I think by rjejr · · Score: 1

    After a slowing DL - from 4 to 6 to 17 to 18 minutes - I finally received an error message telling me my install didn't work. After a quick Apple.com check I went back into iTunes and hit the install button again. It didn't DL anything this time, so I don't know if it installed 4.35 again or 5. It's restoring my iPod apps now. Been taking a while actually. I hope it isn't trying to install every app on the PC cause it ain't gonna fit on my 8gig iPod Touch, not by a longshot. This is my first Apple update after only owning my iPod for 2 months so I'm about as newbie at this as anyone is going to get. Glad I didn't wait though for the new iPod Touch announcement last week - ooooh, white. (I already paid a straight $199 at Amazon.) Wishing everybody else good luck w/ their updates.

    1. Re:updating it now, I think by mlts · · Score: 1

      In a case like that, it can't hurt to just DFU update the darn thing. I always do that when updating between versions, even though it takes time restoring and copying back apps. This way, the device is erased completely and there is no cruft from the previous iteration of the OS.

    2. Re:updating it now, I think by rjejr · · Score: 1

      woo hoo, success!! Now if I can just figure out how to get my camera icon on my locked screen b/c nothing I do will get it there. Small potatoes though.

    3. Re:updating it now, I think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Double tap the home button when on the locked screen.

    4. Re:updating it now, I think by NekSnappa · · Score: 1

      Double click the Home button

      --
      I want to shoot the messenger!
    5. Re:updating it now, I think by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      Not really all that intuitive to be honest, there's no hint what to do, and I had no idea until someone looked it up on Youtube for me.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  21. lets rephrase it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Apple has released the iOS 5 update. To update to iOS 5 just open iTunes with your iDevice connected to your iComputer and press update. I recommend doing a manual iBackup of your iDevice and make sure all your iApps are transferred."

  22. Good luck by Ambiguous+Coward · · Score: 1

    Good luck actually getting it or transitioning to iCloud or anything. Their servers seem to be swamped and unresponsive.

    I suggest waiting a day or two just so you have a smoother upgrade process.

    --
    Their may be a grammatical error, misspeling, or evn a typo in this post.
    1. Re:Good luck by Wovel · · Score: 1

      It took me a total of 21 minutes to download the update for my iPhone, iPad and the 10.7.2 update for OSX. I am on a really crappy hotel system. iCloud servers are working great to. If the download are slow you should make sure you are not using google's 8.8.8.8 for DNS, this has been known to screw up whatever CDN Apple is using.

    2. Re:Good luck by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Clicked check for updates at 10:01 a.m. PDT on my iPad 2 and Apple TV 2. Both updated quickly and flawlessly.

      --
      Good-bye
    3. Re:Good luck by Ambiguous+Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm definitely not doing any funny dns business, and I test at 28Mbps according to speediest.net. I'm running a fully-updated 10.7 and iTunes is up to date as well. And yet still, the update fails reliably. I dunno, could just be me, but when I tried to setup iCloud I kept getting timeouts from the appleid.apple.com servers.

      --
      Their may be a grammatical error, misspeling, or evn a typo in this post.
    4. Re:Good luck by neowolf · · Score: 1

      I had to re-try my install about a dozen times on my iPad before it finally happened. Actually- I'm being optimistic right now, since it is only about half-way loaded...

    5. Re:Good luck by Ambiguous+Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it downloaded just fine, but it chokes during the pre-install backup phase. My phone is pretty full (iPhone 4, 32GB model, about 30GB full) so that part takes a while. I've gone through all the support steps to no avail. Bleh.

      This week on "techsupportslashdot"

      --
      Their may be a grammatical error, misspeling, or evn a typo in this post.
  23. Re:Mandatory by Duradin · · Score: 2

    Someone needs to lay off of the haterade.

  24. Re:Seems wrong somehow by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    Depends on how many racing forum readers have that Mercedes SUV. Selling over 20 million iPhones a quarter, I would suspect that many here would be affected. I would also think that the next release of Android 3.X would also get news.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  25. Re:iDevice by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2, Funny

    Der turkin iz weeeeerbs! >_<

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  26. is OTA really a good thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    so are OTA updates a way to kill off jailbreaking for good.

    once an exploit is out in the open, congrats you've been upgraded to 5.1 while you were sleeping enjoy.

    1. Re:is OTA really a good thing by harperska · · Score: 2

      Because OTA updates in the Android world have completely killed off rooting, right?

    2. Re:is OTA really a good thing by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      It's a feature that you a) have to turn on and b) have to specifically ask to check for updates and install them.

      So basically exactly like before except you don't have to plug your device into a computer to do it. Paranoid much?

    3. Re:is OTA really a good thing by dudpixel · · Score: 1

      Because OTA updates in the Android world have completely killed off rooting, right?

      In some cases yes, but people often find new ways around it.

      The difference in the Android world is that most manufacturers aren't as dead against rooting as Apple is against jailbreaking.

      Motorola was, but I wonder if that will change now.

      So in answer to your question, yes OTA updates COULD severely weaken the ability to root your phone, but most manufacturers seem to have steered away from that.
      I'm not talking about security holes either - leaving those open would be just stupid.

      --
      This seemed like a reasonable sig at the time.
    4. Re:is OTA really a good thing by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      The difference is that Android updates aren't mandatory; You can choose not to install the OTA updates and you lose no existing functionality. If you don't install iOS updates, you can't sync with iTunes at least. Automatically sync'ing your iTunes library is one of the big selling points of iDevices, isn't it?

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    5. Re:is OTA really a good thing by Duradin · · Score: 1

      You should have seen all the hacks I needed to do to get my second generation Touch to synch, there were literally none!

    6. Re:is OTA really a good thing by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      I take it your Touch has the latest firmware available for the platform?

      QED.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    7. Re:is OTA really a good thing by Duradin · · Score: 1

      Moving the goal posts, nice.

      "If you don't install iOS updates, you can't sync with iTunes at least."

      It can't have the latest iOS updates yet it still syncs.

    8. Re:is OTA really a good thing by dudpixel · · Score: 1

      My wife has an iphone but I refuse to do much with it.

      Are you telling me that the iphone does not work as a usb mass storage device?

      I like that when I plug in my android phone, I can just browse the files from any OS without needing extra software. That's all I want really. Even though most manufacturers provide software to sync etc, I'd rather know what's going on - and that means doing it all manually.

      I organise my photos into directories and same with my music - so this works great with my existing workflow.

      I really hate it when applications such as iTunes come along and want to change the directory structure I've meticulously set up.

      --
      This seemed like a reasonable sig at the time.
  27. That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That didn't take too long to fail. Click on "Update," and it tells me I have to update iTunes. OK, fine, go do that. Computer reboots.

    Take 2. Click on update, it downloads the nearly 700MB iTunes update, and makes a backup.

    And then crashes, opening an Apple KB article that tells me I have to update iTunes in order to install the update. Er... I already did that?

    I'll just uninstall iTunes and ... oh, wait, you can't do that on Mac OS X. You have to follow some magic instructions that involve deleting kernel extensions and rebooting three times. I'll have to look that up and ... oh, hey, Apple's support site now 503s.

    Awesome.

    Oh, hey, it hard-crashed my phone. I'll just pop out the battery to reboot it, and ... oh, crap. That's right, the Apple official way to restart a crashed iDevice is to let the battery drain. I'd link to the article, but their support site is down.

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    1. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by quietwalker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Savor your walled garden, secure in the knowledge that because you're not trusted enough to meddle with it, nothing can go wrong. This is, after all, what users want.

    2. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Thank you for updating your Apple products. Please rate your upgrade experience:

      1. Insanely Great!
      2. Magical
      3. Innovative
      4. Religious Ecstasy

    3. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You get what you deserve when you try to update on release day. I always wait for the next release. This is the beta test, regardless of the developer previews they've released earlier. If you are brave, try it now. Otherwise wait until the beta testers are done and the most egregious bugs are worked out and the servers aren't getting hammered.

      This has been true for decades with software updates. What is so special about Apple that makes people want to be lab rats. I really don't understand, especially people who should know better by now.

    4. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple needs to get another Reality Distortion Field, stat!

    5. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by thetzar · · Score: 1

      Somehow, I doubt all of this happened in the last two hours. Especially as crunched as Apple's update servers are right now.

    6. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Informative

      I started downloading before the Slashdot story was posted. It was kind of fun to watch the "time remaining" thing slow to a crawl. The last 15 seconds took a good minute.

      Also, small update: turns out the phone hadn't crashed, it was just frozen displaying the lock screen with a time 6 minutes in the past. It eventually rebooted on its own. So at least I still have a phone.

      Another interesting factoid: you can't just drag iTunes into the trash to delete it. Mac OS X won't let you. Instead you have to open the Applications folder, select it, and press Command-Delete. (I'm doing the complete reinstall off memory, let's see how well this goes!)

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    7. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, I've *never* heard of a "crashed" iOS device needing a battery drain to force-power-off. Hold down the power button. Keep holding. See that? Just like any other modern device - a hard power-off that works. (blows in hand, twiddles fingers) Magic!

      Your credibility is about zero right now.

    8. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by fishnuts · · Score: 1

      Why the hell would iToonz require a system reboot?

      What the hell is it tying itself into? Kernel drivers? OS integration?

      I don't remember having to reboot at all after installing or updating any of the following: Microsoft Security Essentials, KLite Codec Pack, Wireshark, Photoshop, VNC, all of which integrate with the OS in some way. What the hell is iTunes doing to my computer?

    9. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by ElmoGonzo · · Score: 1

      Wow. I'd never have thought that it needed Steve Jobs to work.

    10. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That didn't take too long to fail. Click on "Update," and it tells me I have to update iTunes. OK, fine, go do that. Computer reboots.

      Installing/updating iTunes doesn't require a reboot. That part was entirely optional on your part. I expect you installed some other updates along with iTunes that requested that you reboot in order to finish the installation.

      Take 2. Click on update, it downloads the nearly 700MB iTunes update, and makes a backup.

      And then crashes, opening an Apple KB article that tells me I have to update iTunes in order to install the update. Er... I already did that?

      I'll just uninstall iTunes and ... oh, wait, you can't do that on Mac OS X. You have to follow some magic instructions that involve deleting kernel extensions and rebooting three times. I'll have to look that up and ... oh, hey, Apple's support site now 503s.

      Awesome.

      Oh, hey, it hard-crashed my phone. I'll just pop out the battery to reboot it, and ... oh, crap. That's right, the Apple official way to restart a crashed iDevice is to let the battery drain. I'd link to the article, but their support site is down.

      iTunes did bork on me after running the iTunes update. To fix this, go to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

      Download the latest iTunes and re-install it. It should fix any problems you were having with iTunes. At least, it fixed it for me.

    11. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most Apple applications require a reboot, just like most MS applications on Windows. Fuck knows why. Even Adobe Acrobat needed a reboot in Vista. Very bizarre when you'e used to nix.

    12. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by maccodemonkey · · Score: 5, Informative

      "That's right, the Apple official way to restart a crashed iDevice is to let the battery drain. I'd link to the article, but their support site is down."

      Or you could use the official method of holding down both the home and lock button until it restarts. It'll even restart a crashed device.

    13. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't require a reboot and drags to the trash just fine, OP==drama queen

    14. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by maccodemonkey · · Score: 1

      "Why the hell would iToonz require a system reboot?"

      It doesn't. As a developer, I'd remember if I had to restart for my weekly iTunes beta upgrade.

      Making the OP possible troll bait.

    15. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Wovel · · Score: 2

      Just install iTunes does not require a reboot. If you installed the 10.7.2 update at the same time , that requires a reboot. I updated iTunes alone last night and no reboot was required.

    16. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hit home button plus the power button for 10 seconds and the device resets. Doh!

    17. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 0

      Installing/updating iTunes doesn't require a reboot. That part was entirely optional on your part. I expect you installed some other updates along with iTunes that requested that you reboot in order to finish the installation.

      Oh, probably, I accidentally hit enter when Software Update popped up so I have no clue what the hell it installed. (There was a Safari update, at least, but that also shouldn't require a reboot.) So who knows why it required a reboot, but it did.

      iTunes did bork on me after running the iTunes update. To fix this, go to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

      Download the latest iTunes and re-install it. It should fix any problems you were having with iTunes. At least, it fixed it for me.

      The problem is that under Mac OS X, you have to delete a couple of kernel extensions to "really" reinstall iTunes. And the support site is down, so I have no idea what those are. But the end step is rerunning the iTunes installer, so we'll see if it works this time.

      ...Nope. Exact same (useless) error message telling me to update iTunes.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    18. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't. Genius above didn't bother checking what he was updating.

    19. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by tunapez · · Score: 0

      I'd mod you up, but the abbreviated lifecycle of my mod points does not coincide.
       
      I hate this mod system...when I have mod points I have 15 for a day. When I have time+inclination to use them they are gone.
      Jumping through hoops on command must be what the users want, too.

      --
      Imagination drew in bold strokes, instantly serving hopes and fears, while knowledge advanced by slow increments...
    20. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Its possible that the switch contacts were fouled. Far more likely then your postulation that it is infallible. For the record, my i5 sandy Bridge PC locks up from time to time and even a 5 second button press wont reset it. I have to hit the switch on the PSU. I think you should just stop talking now, your credibility is less then zero.

      --
      Good-bye
    21. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by schlechtums · · Score: 1

      I have to restart my machine every time I update iTunes as well. It's possible your specific system doesn't require the restart, but mine does, and apparently the OP's does as well. It's very puzzling why this has to happen, and highly annoying.

    22. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Networking.

    23. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please don't bring fact and logic in to an Apple bashing thread on ./!!!

    24. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could have installed iTunes yesterday and saved yourself some headache.

    25. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by whit3 · · Score: 1

      The IOS update process seems too long and data-transfer-intensive, of course, but the worst feature is the intermediate steps that (if they hiccup) will recover JUST FINE.
      Except, the hiccup puts up an error message, and it looks
      like nothing is happening, so folk (even who should know
      better) do things like disconnecting the phone, or
      following up the 'it all has to be reinstalled from scratch'
      instructions. The best thing to do with an updating IOS
      device, is to walk away. For a day. And not read
      the messages on the screen, or try to interfere.

    26. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by BatGnat · · Score: 1

      I think the apple servers just got slashdotted.

    27. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're an idiot. The iTunes update is ~60MB, the iOS5 update is the one that is~650MB.

    28. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      It does update some kexts I believe. I've never once rebooted after updating iTunes. Don't know why it asks you to.

    29. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by rthille · · Score: 1

      On my Mac right now (running 10.6.8), Software Update is saying I have 3 updates. Safari 5.1.1, iTunes 10.5, and Security Update 2011-006 1.0. Of the three iTunes is the only one which does _NOT_ require a reboot.

      --
      Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
    30. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Andrewkov · · Score: 1

      USB driver updates?

    31. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by tgd · · Score: 1

      At least you've been able to do something with it.

      Apple's shoddy drivers on 64-bit Win7 on systems with Intel's HM57 chipset mean I haven't been able to sync, backup or upgrade my phone since I bought this laptop -- nine months ago.

      Fortunately for some, their hardware manufacturers released patched BIOSes to address Apple's driver problems, but Dell hasn't seen fit to, so I'm SOL with any device that relies on iTunes to sync, backup or upgrade (including my old iPods).

    32. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Or if everything fails, put the phone in DFU mode and restore your device to factory default:

      . Start iTunes on your PC/Mac. Make sure volumes up!

      2. Make sure the iDevice is ON and PLUGGED in.

      3. Hold the top buttons and home buttons for about 10 seconds

      4. Then let go of the top button and keep holding the home button.

      5. If you hear sounds from your computer, like beeps, that is COMPLETELY NORMAL.

      6. iTunes should say it has detected an "iPod" or "iPhone" in Recovery Mode. Normal!

      7. If the screen shows "Connect to iTunes" that is NOT DFU mode. The screen should be black, and the device should be displayed in iTunes.

      8. Restore.

    33. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you hold down the lock button?

    34. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Archon-X · · Score: 1

      Actually, the vast majority of users do want a walled system.

      The jailbreakers and guys who want to SSH into their phone aren't the majority.

      Don't take my word for it. Look at the share price of Apple, or, the pre-order stats of the 4S - it should be fairly self-explanatory.

    35. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Ltap · · Score: 1

      I would (as an optimist) rather say that they have been convinced that a walled garden is good for them -- after all, ideas like "want" become fishy when you factor in propaganda (national or corporate). It also makes it harder to justify things like "the users want this" when you yourself have manipulated users into wanting it in the first place.

      --
      Yet Another Tech Blog
      (but so much more, including game and movie reviews)
      http://yanteb.peasantoid.org
    36. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i've had my iPhone 3G crash before and I didn't need to let the battery drain. I did a hard reset google it to find it.

      Also you can uninstall itunes just delete it from applications. please stop saying lies about apple products when you have no clue what you are talking about

    37. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by marcroelofs · · Score: 1

      WTF 700MB?? What the hell is in that software an what is it doing? Can anyone xplain why a download of iTunes is 50 times bigger (!) than a mere browser that could basically do the same thing?

    38. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by zzzz7777 · · Score: 1

      "Take 2. Click on update, it downloads the nearly 700MB iTunes update, and makes a backup."

      I think you are referring to the iOS itself, which is 774.4 MB. iTunes is more like 100 MB.

    39. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by jo_ham · · Score: 1

      The official way to restart a crashed iDevice is to hold the home and lock buttons down.

    40. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have still problems updating the phone look into your host file and comment out the cydia server, that is the cause of the update itunes error

    41. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Thundersnatch · · Score: 1

      WTF? Safari updates on OSX require a reboot? Even MSFT has finally figured out how to do (some) IE updates without reboots on Win7 and 2008r2.

      Actually, now that I think about it, every recent Ubuntu 10.04 Server update has also given me the **system restart requried** banner, even when there wasn't a kernel update.

      I guess those re-bootless updates on **NIX were always a myth.

    42. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by jo_ham · · Score: 1

      With your finger. You could also ask someone else to hold it down I guess, if it was too difficult.

    43. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He is correct there is a bug when installing the update with a firewall or little snitch enabled. It crashes the device and puts it in recovery mode. You have to reboot the device then click restore with your firewall disabled to restore it and complete the process. It's a rather annoying bug, specially since it leaves your device in an unusable state which requires a hard reset and restore.

    44. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ssh. Dont expect people here to know about hardware watchdogs.

    45. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 1

      they have been convinced that a walled garden is good for them

      Wrong... Most people don't care. In fact most people would need you to explain what a walled garden is, and why it is a bad thing. Then they still would not care.

      --
      If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
    46. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was failing with a cryptic "3200" error because iTunes couldn't verify the download with an overloaded apple server. The solution? Wait a bit and try again. Definitely something for them to fix in the future - plain English error codes would be a start. :)

    47. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by westyvw · · Score: 1

      Maybe, but it isnt always the case. Last upgrade I did with my iPhone 4 caused it to die. No DFU, nothing. I hate iTunes, and have a mild distaste for Apple in general, but I do have to give them credit. I brought the phone in, they couldnt get it to boot or go into DFU either, so they exchanged phones, and I was out in and out in 10 minutes. No hassle, no discussion, just "yep its dead, here is a new one".

    48. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's actually to hold both buttons down for 10 seconds, but hey, don't let your fanboyism let you see the truth.

    49. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While I'm sure you think you're either funny or ironic or insightful, you're only the latter. This _is_ what most of the 10's of millions of users want. And it may be a walled garden, the garden seems to be about a million acres large and most of how I use the device I'm right in the middle of the garden, so the walls simply aren't on my horizon.

      But whatever. Why do people get so bent out of shape that some of us like Apple products? Most of us don't care if you prefer Android. Use what works best for you, and quit telling me how wrong I am for the choices I make based on my own personal needs.

    50. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, you mean hold down both the home and lock buttons until the battery drains, right?

    51. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Cimexus · · Score: 1

      It's not that big - he's referring to iOS 5, not iTunes. iTunes is only around 70-80 MB on Windows / 100 MB on Mac. That includes hardware drivers for iPod, iPad and iPhone, as well as the media player itself, so the file size is perfectly reasonable. I have printer drivers three times the size of that.

    52. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by pmcgrane · · Score: 1

      Apple PR never said it, but Steve Jobs is known for saying customers don't know what they want or need. And yet somehow if you know what you want there are other things to buy! Things very similar to Apple products . . .

    53. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by PNutts · · Score: 1

      Oh, hey, it hard-crashed my phone. I'll just pop out the battery to reboot it, and ... oh, crap. That's right, the Apple official way to restart a crashed iDevice is to let the battery drain.

      Not true. I understand your confusion if you're used to a platform that requires disassembly to recover from a problem. I don't know where people come up with this stuff and it's modded up. So sad for a purported technical site. I love religion as much as Flanders but this is just embarassing.

    54. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by PNutts · · Score: 1

      they have been convinced that a walled garden is good for them

      Wrong... Most people don't care. In fact most people would need you to explain what a walled garden is, and why it is a bad thing. Then they still would not care.

      That's the problem with the myth of a walled garden. You are trying to bully someone who is satisfied with their choices into believing they made the wrong one. Everyone has their own version of why a WG bad and 99.9% of them aren't applicable to the current victim of their righteousness. If you believed all the reasons people complain about walled gardens then the only thing you would buy is a Heath Kit and a soldering iron. If I wanted to do anything outside the wall, I wouldn't have climbed in in the first place.

    55. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      5. Golden Shower from a Unicorn

    56. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. Yes this is exactly what *most* users want.
      Whether it's what you or I want, is irrelevant.
      There are other products available if we choose otherwise.

    57. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually that didn't work for me yesterday. My halfway updated phone was bricked until I repeat attempted the iTunes "restore" about 20 times.

    58. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by FranktehReaver · · Score: 1

      I tried that before on my IPhone 3GS and it didn't work. Brought it in and the looked at me like I was a typical idiot user and was like "check this out you push this and th..... umm... uhhh.... We can get you a replacement from the back a second..." To be a jerk I was like should we try pulling the battery?

    59. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you for updating your Apple products. Please rate your upgrade experience:

      That's absurd. Apple doesn't care what you think.

      Seriously, they almost never do any sort of customer research. And half the time they ignore that because they're convinced they know better anyway.

    60. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

      I am. (Was?) Posting while angry and having an increasingly worsening cold appears to be a bad idea.

      But the update did finally succeed - some 8 hours after I first tried to install it.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    61. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by kurzweilfreak · · Score: 1

      I just finished updating iTunes on Vista Home Premium to install iOS5, and when it was done, it prompted me to reboot my computer before doing anything else. FWIW.

      --

      kurzweil_freak

      5th Kyu Genbukan Ninpo/KJJR student

      Be the darkness that allows the light to shine.

    62. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must have a really borked OS installation, I just dragged fine the iTunes from /Applications to the trashcan after typing my adming password.

    63. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

      Did you do it from Finder or the Applications stack in the Dock? If you try it from a stack, it just silently fails without prompting you for a password.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    64. Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Woohoo! Anecdotal evidence is awesome! For the record, my update took about 15 minutes.

  28. Re:iDevice by somersault · · Score: 1

    Would iT help iF iSaid iSorry?

    --
    which is totally what she said
  29. Re:iDevice by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 1

    Deeer terrrrr irrrr werrrrrrrrrr!

  30. I did mine a year and a half back. by phonewebcam · · Score: 0

    Android 2.2 as I recall. Give this another 12 months and it'll be closer to what Android users have today - without the hypnotized zombies unwilling to admit their prisoner status, natch.

    1. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by tepples · · Score: 4, Informative

      I don't see iOS becoming too much closer to Android for one big reason: Google offers adb install for free, while Apple charges $99 per year for the privilege.

    2. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by BitZtream · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Really, in a year my iPhone will be all laggy, slow and unintuitive as an Android phone? Guess I'll have to switch to something better by then.

      You can talk like Android is bad ass, but anyone who's used both knows your just being a fanboy. Its one thing to prefer one over the other, but when you go off and do things like this everyone knows your nothing more than a mouthy fanboy and you get blown off by everyone except other rabid fanboys.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    3. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Morky · · Score: 1

      However, I would need to install iOS 5 on an iPhone 3G to really be able to perfectly reproduce the lag and latency that Android users have today.

    4. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What exactly do you have today?

      Better notifications? Yup, until today.

      However:
      What about iMessage?
      And Siri (if you say Google Voice stuff you are dreaming)?
      And how about the battery life of an iPhone? I thought my iPhone went through battery until I saw how fast Android sucked battery.
      And the iPhone UI is still way smoother than all but the fastest Android phones.

    5. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know my iPhone 3Gs is all laggy after about 2 years, mostly because of iOS4. I supposed, if you've got an iPhone 4, when iOS6 comes out in a year, then yours will probably be all laggy too. But who am I fooling. You'll be buying a new iOS device every year so it's won't be a problem. But you're not a rabid fanboy, of course.

    6. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Can I ask you a question? Why do you get worked up and insulting about what phones other people choose to use? I don't know if it's partly due to the Internet, but I'm getting so damn tired of everybody being so polarized about EVERYTHING. Politics...phone choice...etc. I'm not naive, I know that people have always (and will always) care -- violently! -- about dumb crap, but come on. Is it really worth it in the case of phones??

    7. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually people don't realise you can turn an Android handset into an iPhone quite easily. You need some superglue, some black cardboard squares, a tin can and a full wallet. Here's what you do:

      1. Throw the contents of your wallet down the pan.
      2. Superglue down the memory card slot.
      3. Superglue down the battery cover.
      4. Randomly place the handset in the tin can during calls for the full iPhone antenna user experience.
      5. Place the cardboard squares appropriately on the screen every time you visit a flash website for the full Apple flash user experience.

      For the real hardcore fanbois you also need to perfect your forced smile every time someone asks if you were disappointed getting some half assed update crawling along at 3G in the same tired old tincy wincy screen rather than your promised iPhone5. You have to get that shrug of the shoulders as if it doesn't matter just right when people point out all the Android kit that's out now, with loads more between now and its eventual release, and how much you're looking forwards to waiting all the way until next summer, at which point Samsung (and many others) 2Ghz quad core LTE models will be 6 months old and we're into Android 5 or later territory, and it will be clear the iPad is going exactly the same way as the iPhone when faced with the Android army.

    8. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by multipartmixed · · Score: 0

      AH!

      So that's why Android has so many more good applications!

      I was always wondering what the secret was.

      --

      Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
    9. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Scowler · · Score: 1

      Congrats, you've just unwittingly proven the parent's case.

    10. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by marcroelofs · · Score: 1

      You would also have to install several daemons to disable in Android eg. true multitasking, disallow widgets on the desktop and gridlock the icons in a 4x4 square. I mean the difference is hardly in the hardware, same (Samsung) components and all built in the some far-east factory. The OS however....

    11. Re:I did mine a year and a half back. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is it really worth it in the case of phones??

      Especially when literally millions of other people have exactly the same phone, and most probably don't care either way. It's interesting to see people get so worked up defending the ipad and wonder why i - because i also have one - don't jump into the argument, the fact is i use one and if someone is going to form an opinion of me based purely on that i couldn't care less about it, im not about to waste my time defending my choice of computing device. No-one who has an iDevice is special, their tablets are cheap and their phones are dirt cheap on contract so there is no reason to have a superiority complex about it, people that don't have them likely just don't want them yet there are some people (whether they are FOSS, Google, Apple or Microsoft product users) who are so defined by their devices that they will not relent until they can get some kind of acknowledgement that they made the right choice by finding a way in which their device is better than someone elses.

  31. Re:Seems wrong somehow by jellomizer · · Score: 1

    Or like any other Major Operating System Update release.
    Heck I remember Slashodot use to post every freaking Linux Kernel update. At least this is just a major version update.

    It is not like the mercedes SUV's entertainment/nav system. Because of the number of people who use these devices. Not just a select few.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  32. do they count as part of data pack? roaming? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    do they count as part of data pack? roaming? It's would suck to have to pay $19.96/MB for a auto update.

    1. Re:do they count as part of data pack? roaming? by tepples · · Score: 1

      Who in the industrialized world pays $19.96 per MB to download updates over Wi-Fi?

    2. Re:do they count as part of data pack? roaming? by macromorgan · · Score: 1

      Who in the industrialized world pays $19.96 per MB to download updates over Wi-Fi?

      Shh... don't give AT&T any ideas!

    3. Re:do they count as part of data pack? roaming? by praxis · · Score: 1

      Who in the industrialized world pays $19.96 per MB to download updates over Wi-Fi?

      No one, but incidentally that is the data roaming rate from AT&T in Hungary.

    4. Re:do they count as part of data pack? roaming? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe the previous poster was asking about updates over 3G or 4G on an iPhone or iPad. Technically, such updates should be possible, but between low cellular data speeds and high cellular data prices (maybe not $20/MB), there's plenty of incentive to update at a WiFi hotspot instead.

  33. Any news on mobile device management enhancements? by Lieutenant_Dan · · Score: 1

    Anyone got a link to what iOS 5 offers from a mDM perspective? Glanced at the page and didn't find much. Google returns a few blog posts on the beta and talks about S/MIME support in e-mail.

    --
    Wearing pants should always be optional.
  34. Re:Mandatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You must be new here, you stupid fucking troll.

  35. Re:Mandatory by StuartHankins · · Score: 1

    Go back to sleep, Grandpa. (Sorry guys, ever since he's stopped taking his laxatives regularly he's been cranky...)

  36. And pray by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And pray you don't get another Apple BSOD.

    If you do, you're on your own. Apple has a long and proud history of denying any problems are possible with their products.

  37. Re:Neat. by harperska · · Score: 1

    As an antidisestablishmenterianist Apple iPologist, I actually agree with you. On one hand, I think the features in iOS5 are pretty impressive. While it is unavailable for the 3G I currently have, and will be pre-installed on the 4S that I will soon have, the news is moot to me. But even if I had a 4, there is plenty of general media and tech blog coverage, let alone the PR coming straight from Apple itself that you'd have to be living under a rock to not know about iOS5 already. Especially if you are the type to read slashdot.

  38. Not so simple... by rthille · · Score: 1

    Not so simple as said in the summary, it requires first updating iTunes to 10.5

    --
    Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
  39. Re:iDevice by elguap0 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, Siri's speech-to-text is horrible!!

  40. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  41. Re:iDevice by Hotweed+Music · · Score: 0

    Delusions of Grandeur! Sweet

  42. Re:Neat. by atrain728 · · Score: 2

    What kind of technology website keeps people up-to-date on technology!? Inconceivable!

  43. iOS5 & mobileme by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does anyone know if I can update my iPhone4 to iOS5 and keep using MobileMe?

    I have an old 3G that needs to continue syncing so I can't just update to iCloud.

    1. Re:iOS5 & mobileme by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      Yes, you can. Until June.

  44. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  45. An Update? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does this seriously warrant a /. post?

  46. Re:Any news on mobile device management enhancemen by NatasRevol · · Score: 1
    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  47. Not only that... by joh · · Score: 1

    Yesterday it was iTunes 10.5, the first 4Ss are delivered and Siri hits the servers back home, now iOS 5 is delivered to millions of iPhones, iPod touches and iPads, OS X 10.7.2 (with iCloud support) is going out right now (all 800 MB of it), an iPhoto update for iCloud, iCloud itself is going online which means the first real traffic for their brandnew datacenters...

    If you can joke and sneer about that right now you have never been part of a big critical software rollout. If they can pull through this they certainly did more right than wrong. Very different than RIM who seem to be melting away right now.

  48. Jailbreak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will hold out for the untethered jailbreak - right now it's tethered only.

  49. Titanium Backup requires root. by s.o.terica · · Score: 1

    Seriously, how do Android fans accept the cognitive dissonance that allows them to complain about anything on the iPhone that requires jailbreaking while ignoring that just to backup an Android phone requires rooting? Which is not only often far more complicated than jailbreaking, but is almost never the same process between any two Android phones, risks voiding your warranty, and loses you certain capabilities like being able to watch movies from the Android Market?

    1. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by scot4875 · · Score: 2

      Seriously, how do Android fans accept the cognitive dissonance that allows them to complain about anything on the iPhone that requires jailbreaking while ignoring that just to backup an Android phone requires rooting?

      Agreed, it should be a standard feature out-of-the-box on every smartphone sold. However, if you sync your phone with your Google account, it really does do a pretty respectable job of backing most everything up.

      And fortunately, that's not the only reason I choose Android over iOS, so I don't have to live with some sort of cognitive dissonance label. There are pros and cons to both environments, and I feel that Android is a better overall solution and less harmful to customers' rights in the long run.

      --Jeremy

      --
      Jesus was a liberal
    2. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by funfail · · Score: 1

      Jailbreaking doesn't void your (iPhone's) warranty?

    3. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

      There are plenty of other backup apps that don't require root. The rest of what you posted falls apart on its own.

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    4. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      Under Magnusson-Moss, wouldn't they have to prove the jailbreaking caused the phone to break?

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
    5. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Well, if you read up on it...

      Yes. Apple would have to prove that jailbreaking the device caused the specific problem. For example, if your battery won't hold a charge after 9 months of use, it could be that the apps you were using ate the battery so fast that you had to charge it 3 times a day. If the screen is broken, it might be harder for Apple to prove this.

      Of course, Apple can say, "We're not going to fix it because you jailbroke your phone. Go ahead and sue us." If you do, I'm sure they'll claim your phone as evidence and devote months and years to figuring out what happened with your phone (leaving you phone-less). So if you go to court and win (and figure that this will probably be small-claims court), Apple will certainly fix your now obsolete phone for free.

    6. Re:Titanium Backup requires root. by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      I'd have to say though, I don't think they'd risk it going to court where a precedent could be set saying they are responsible even if a jailbroken phone breaks - they'd rather just fix the odd one here and there and still have that sabre to rattle at the weak-willed, surely?

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  50. Device compatibility by jbarr · · Score: 1

    iOS5 is compatible only with these models:

      iPhone 3GS
      iPhone 4
      iPhone 4S
      iPod touch 3rd generation
      iPod touch 4th generation
      iPad
      iPad 2

    --
    My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
    1. Re:Device compatibility by HalAtWork · · Score: 1

      ...and I guess that doesn't include the iPod Touch 3rd Generation 8GB model?

  51. Re:Check back at slashdot for all you update needs by JHromadka · · Score: 1

    Be ready for your windows update Tuesday of next week. A new update for you T-Mobile Android users will be out tomorrow There is a rumor that Ubuntu will have an update ready on Thursday > Really? I hope it's Gingerbread for my T-Mobile Vibrant.

    --
    "The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved." -- John Ashcroft
  52. Apple discussions is also down, and failed update by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I get it to download, and extract the update. Btw, itunes 10.5 is required, so perhaps that's what it means. But in my case, it downloads and extracts the update. It then backs up my idevice (occurs with both ipad and iphone, running different versions of ios). It then tries to restore. It can't do that because an "internal error occurred." This is not a helpful error message. It links me here for "more information": http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275. It looks useful, but so far no luck. Still haven't resolved it. At least one person on the forums is also experiencing it with my same OS version. (10.6.8) but Apple Discussions is being updated so I can't do a "me too" post. I didn't want to update my apps first, because I don't want all the updates, since some of them remove functionality. (Nook app, Kindle app), but I may have to. iOS 5 allows you to skip certain updates. That said, Apple's support is great. I'll go into the genius bar.

  53. Re:Neat. by Tsingi · · Score: 0

    Cue antidisestablishmenterianist Apple apologists in 3...2...

    I believe they prefer to be called iPologists.

    OK. That's funny.

  54. And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by edremy · · Score: 1
    So I want to update my iPad2. iTunes says no: I have to get the new version of iTunes (as well as a security patch) Fine: run software update, get all the various updates including iTunes 10.5, install.

    Go back to iTunes and try to update the iPad2. No: it says I have to have the latest version of iTunes. Check the version and indeed I'm running an old version. No idea why it downloaded 65MB of iTunes before, but fine, hit software update again. "Your software is up to date". Um, no, it's clearly not. Sigh.

    Digging a bit, it appears that I now have two versions of iTunes on my system, but the iPad is really attached to the 10.2 version and will launch that one instead of 10.5. Fine, kill 10.2, launch 10.5, hit the update button

    "There are purchased items on the iPad that have not been transferred..." Ok, sync the iPad to the new version of iTunes, hit update again. "There are purchased items..." Screw it, update anyway. Cross your fingers now

    I know, I know, I'm sure the Apple folks will come out of the woodwork to point out all the stupid things I've done here, but I have to laugh at "It just works".

    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
    1. Re:And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      Not sure why you had multiple iTunes going, but I have seen that "transfer purchases" thing happen before also - you sync, and it still thinks things remain to be transferred. That is pretty annoying.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    2. Re:And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by edremy · · Score: 3, Insightful
      And to add insult to injury, the update failed. "The iPad XXX could not be restored. An internal error occured."

      Thanks Apple. It just works- until it doesn't, and then you're fucked because there's no obvious way to fix anything since it's all locked away in the shiny box.

      --
      "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
    3. Re:And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by westyvw · · Score: 1

      I hate Itunes so damn much. It always wants to update this or that, and remove software music or both. It is a serious pain in the ass. I have a music manager, it is 100 times better, and actually is intuitive, and doesnt advertise crap to me. This is why I never use the ipod part of my phone and keep it away from itunes unless i absolutely have to.

    4. Re:And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by PNutts · · Score: 1

      I know, I know, I'm sure the Apple folks will come out of the woodwork to point out all the stupid things I've done here, but I have to laugh at "It just works".

      Not an Apple person, but a technical person would point out that you didn't keep your systems up-to-date. And how you got two versions of iTunes installed is I'm sure a fascinating story. And sorry that you were told there were purchases on your iPad at risk and that iTunes recommended to sync before starting an update. The bastards.

    5. Re:And ease of use has tanked since Steve died... by Psyborgue · · Score: 1

      Is it a 16xx Error? Try putting it into DFU and restoring with another computer, use another USB port, or rebooting.

  55. Wrong Comparisons by Anubis350 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What, you think there won't be an article when Android ICS comes out? That's the equivalent....

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
  56. Usually only if you update other things too by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

    Usually only if you do all the *other* updates along with iTunes. I know when I went to update iTunes ~15mins ago so I could update my phone to 5 it prompted me for the update. When Software Update came up it told me "you must restart your computer after the updates are installed". I clicked "Show Details" and unchecked the various other updates it wanted to do, including an HP printer update, a Lion recovery update, and the OSX Server update (which was what needed the reboot). Viola, iTunes updated without rebooting!

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
  57. Sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about some useful comments getting modded UP instead of just trolls?
    Dont know why i bother coming here anymore. The whole moderation / meta moderation system needs to be reset.
    Haven't bothered logging in since I haven't got to moderate in years. Apparently they didn't like me modding down useless bashing comments.

  58. Unable to Update by my_breath_smells · · Score: 1

    Might not be your specific issue but if you've installed any of the jailbreak tools, your hosts file might have been modified so that the update won't validate against Apple's server.

    Fixing your hosts file is left as an exercise for the reader – obviously if you play the jailbreak game you're savvy enough to repair the hosts file.

  59. Important tip to preserve email passwords by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    In iTunes make sure to select "encrypt backups" before your backup, that way a restore will also restore encrypted items like your email passwords.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Important tip to preserve email passwords by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the tip. I was not aware of that.

      --
      If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
  60. Problem ... Resolved. Ish. by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

    Well, at least now I know what's going on:

    Apple's iOS 5 upgrade servers are slammed, causing 3200 or "internal error" update issues

    Here's the problem with that - if you look at the screenshot in the article, that's the only information you're given. The "3200 error" only appears briefly when you press "More Information" and only in the URL of the link it sends you to.

    Thankfully the servers are swamped enough that it took long enough to redirect (finally) for me to notice the error number and be able to search for it. Once it redirects, it sends you to a support article telling you that you need to reinstall iTunes (and make sure no other USB devices are installed, and that your computer is up to date, and that if you've done all that, you're screwed).

    The problem was made worse by the support site 503ing briefly, because that meant that instead of the error showing up at all it instantly redirected you to a "site is unavailable" URL. (And, yes, it redirected, so the original URL was gone.)

    About the only thing interesting in the Console (which is the log utility for Mac OS X - it's the equivalent of Gnome's "Log Viewer") is the error message "No connection wrapper thingy." Which is mildly amusing.

    Oh, hey, it hard-crashed my phone.

    OK, so it hadn't, it was just in the middle of rebooting (or something) - which left the screen frozen with a clock several minutes out of date for some reason. And I've yet to get it to repeat that, so, whatever. And it's nice to know how to restart an iPhone, now that Apple's support site is back up and it's possible to look it up again.

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  61. Because they wanted strong backup in place first by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Doing a system update without making sure the system can easily be backed up first is a major risk, Apple tries to put put users in normal situations that may result in data loss.

    Now that anyone can back up to iCloud for free they feel OK about updating the system on the fly. If anything goes wrong, you just restore.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  62. Re:iDevice by bryan1945 · · Score: 1

    Did it eat Martha?

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
  63. iPhone update dangerously close to iBrick by jpiratefish · · Score: 1

    On my iPhone4, I'm seeing a major slowdown under IOS 5 - the new "home screen" has major lag as well - there are times I press the home key and my phone's home screen doesn't come back. I'll give this a while to settle in, but I'm not getting that "good upgrade feel" that I've had in the past..

  64. Update process by Superken7 · · Score: 5, Informative

    1. Connect iPad to macbook
    2. iTunes detects iOS 5 is available, I hit update button
    3. WARNING! Unsynced items, I am going to delete all your precious apps, do you want to continue? Mind you, I won't offer an option in the dialog that says: "backup my stuff and then continue".
    4. I click sync and the system detects that this is a new macbook: "Looks like this is a new, unauthorized device! If you proceed, all your iPad contents will be NUKED! haha!"
    5. Cancel and look around for a while trying to find a way of doing the obvious thing.
    6. Find the "transfer my stuff" option that warns that only authorized content will be transfered. Duh-huh.. OK.
    7. Need to authorize my device, only 3 left. Geee... well, OK..
    8. Everything but 4 items get transferred. Not pretty, but good enough.
    9. Try to update now: warning about unsynced items persists. Scary, but I go on since step 7. doesn't improve even after trying several times in different ways.
    10. ..Long update process, its 700MB after all... BANG! Your device coul not be restored, internal error occurred.
    11. iPad library must be deleted because it can only be synced with one device at a time. .. bla bla bla all the iPad contents will be replaced by this macbook's library contents. VERY SCARY, but there is no other way as far as I see. Well... OK.
    12. Update again...wait...wait...wait... yes, I want to use iCloud, yes I want to use localization, re-enter my apple ID, yes, yes yes a couple more times...
    13. .. and all my stuff is __GONE__ !
    14. Go to iTunes, explicitly tell it to sync applications, hit sync..
    15. Only a few apps have been restored
    16. Back to iTunes, manually check all applications that you want to have restored (why are most of them unchecked and not synced by default!?)
    17. Sync..
    18. ..wait..wait..wait...wait.... FINALLY. DONE.

    Conclusion: ARE YOU F****** KIDDING ME?

    NOT pretty, VERY SCARY.
    But in the end it worked (miraculously).
    Seriously, why on earth would someone design a syncing process that makes it SO EASY to lose all your stuff? Why not a single step?

    Let's hope that OTA updates take this nightmarish process away. We'll see.

    1. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this your first time updating an iOS device? It really isn't that hard...

    2. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously, why on earth would someone design a syncing process that makes it SO EASY to lose all your stuff? Why not a single step?

      Let's hope that OTA updates take this nightmarish process away. We'll see.

      Your first mistake is assuming that it is "your" stuff. Don't forget, you're just leasing it with no warranty.

    3. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you (considering where you're posting) are at least *relatively* tech-savvy!

      Imagine the number of users who are just going to ignore the messages and end up deleting all of their apps/files.

      Apple: "We're sorry that your information was lost, but your were warned on multiple screens that updating your phone's OS without backing up your data would result in the loss of the data."

      User: "But why would you release an update, that by design, DELETES ALL OF MY INFORMATION? Wouldn't it make more sense to have my information backed-up by default, with an OPTION to delete all of my files?"

    4. Re:Update process by Superken7 · · Score: 1

      How can you say that with a straight face after I had to list so many confusing steps to do so? Hard != confusing, scary, hideous, unfriendly

      Hell, Apple could just provide you with command line git for the update process and users would have a better experience!

    5. Re:Update process by tgd · · Score: 2

      You screwed up on step 1:

      1) Upgrade your six month old Apple device, its out of date.

    6. Re:Update process by tipo159 · · Score: 1

      My update on my iPhone 4 fails.

      It downloaded the 774M file, backed up the phone, extracted the software, phoned home to verify, then BANG, internal error, unable to restore. Tried this several times.

      On this most recent attempt, it was able to phone home to verify and started to restore, then it had to phone home again for some reason, then BANG again. However, on that attempt, it bricked my phone. I was able to put it in recovery mode, reconnect it to iTunes and do a restore. Got to the end of the restore and, I think, tried to phone to verify and, you guessed it, BANG.

      Now the update server isn't even responding and my phone is still a brick. Oh, well.

    7. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a single step:
      rm -fr /*

      Oh, you meant a single step to sync/update?
      That will be in IOs6, which will be greatly insane.

    8. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you did the upgrade on the computer where you sync up your iPad normally, none of this would have happened. If you actually read the warning given in step 3 of your list you would have known that

      Don't blame Apple for a PEBKAC problem.

    9. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You might want to check that you have your back ups encrypted. If you don't it will not back up and sync everything for security reasons.

    10. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My whole group of friends just SMSed each other about the update, and we all started separately updating an hour ago, and the same thing happened to all of us. 5 bricked phones.

      So I guess we have to wait until the update server becomes responsive again. I've retried about 10 times and each time the same thing - Internal error / error 3004 / update server unavailable. Now that would have been fine if it happened before it started wiping the phone, but nope, iOS does a second (third/fourth?) re-authentication and obviously the server is up and down enough to get going, but not to complete the process. It also needs to access the update server to restore the phone to the previous backup. Major fail.

      Time to go to work here in Australia, so looks like we'll all be spending the day without phones. Opportunity to relax and not worry about being interrupted? Maybe...

    11. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But... but... but... it's supposed to Just Work.

    12. Re:Update process by Superken7 · · Score: 1

      Excuse me, but I would trying to use an inexistent computer would be a bit troublesome. That requirement you speak of is the first thing of a very long list of things of ridiculous things Apple puts you through which they should have fixed YEARS ago. It is not only displeasing, but untrustworthy.

        Either way, that is no excuse for such a lame syncing process. Everything of iTunes, from the "1 computer only, and if your computer is replaced then there is HELL" to 1000 steps for doing a simple thing, to "I know it doesn't make sense, but we are restoring your INEXISTENT copy of applications to your iDevice, therefore wiping it!" is total nonsense.

      To sum up: bad experience. (Note how this conclusion funny considering what Apple likes to think about themselves)

    13. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL I HEARD ANDROID IS BETTER

    14. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had a similar experience peppered of errors 3014 and 3004 [not sure about the numbers though]... Now that God is dead, perhaps Apple is getting back to its tradition of mediocrity.

    15. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I always though it was odd that a device that is designed for the so called "post-PC era" requires a PC to even set the damn thing up out of the box, let alone updates (which other mobile OSs have had for a long time and no bloat-ware syncing tools)

    16. Re:Update process by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

      Just so you know, they are doing away with the syncing requirement in this version, so it's a problem that's being fixed as we speak.

    17. Re:Update process by marcroelofs · · Score: 1

      Ok, again, someone please explain what is in those 774MB? I thought Android was big, with Cyanogen measuring about 80MB.

    18. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So would you describe your experience as "Magical" OR "It just works"?

    19. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course it worked, it (mostly) always does. quit whining. It's why we like Apple.

    20. Re:Update process by myrt · · Score: 1

      Let me get this correct. There's a huge update changing all sorts of stuff to the way things are done. You have to download lots of crap to multiple devices and you are bitching because it all works? I don't get the problem.

    21. Re:Update process by Cimexus · · Score: 2

      While I agree that that royally sucks and the process could be improved ... I don't think that's the average experience. For me and my wife (with 4 iOS devices between us) it was:

      1. Plug in device. iTunes immediately does a sync and backup automatically (like normal when you plug the phone in)
      3. Hit 'Update'
      4. Wait as it downloads 700 MB (for the first device only - otherwise it's cached on the HDD)
      5. Select 'restore from [previous backup file]
      6. Done. Everything is as it was before.

      Sounds like your machine wasn't properly synced with the device, which gets you into a world of hurt with iTunes even if you AREN'T trying to do an iOS update at the same time. :(

      iTunes works very well ... but ONLY if you stick to Apple's "1 device paired and synced to 1 computer" paradigm. Soon as you start dealing with multiple machines/iTunes libraries or manual file management it gets messy very quickly. Which I agree is a massive shortcoming of the whole iOS ecosystem, but it's not worth fighting it IMO ... just play along with Apple's game and everything works flawlessly. (Or, buy an Android if you hate the concept of single-machine syncing and prefer to manually manage files, which is a perfectly legitimate and understandable choice).

    22. Re:Update process by Mattsson · · Score: 1

      The "sync" system in Itunes has always been one of my biggest issues with having an Iphone.
      Since I really loathe Itunes, I rarely use it and thus usually have never synced the phone with my current computer.
      Once in a while I do connect it to make backups, transfer photos, update the OS or add some new music to the device, though I usually listen to internet-radio due to Itunes being a requirement to add music.
      I usually don't activate any synchronisation due to the exact issue you had.

      I never want to replace the data in the phone with the data on the computer, since the phone always have more current data that the computer.
      Apple always want me to replace the data on the phone with the data on the computer.

      Yesterday, I did the same dance in order to activate sync for the first time without loosing any data, though, since this is a requirement to update to IOS5 without loosing data. *sigh*
      Nerve wrecking is describing it mildly. =/

      The persons who did the software design choices in the development of Itunes should be prohibited from working with any kind of software design ever again.

      --
      /.Mattsson - My native language is not English, so please don't whine over linguistic errors. (That's lame anyway...)
    23. Re:Update process by PNutts · · Score: 0

      Seriously, why on earth would someone design a syncing process that makes it SO EASY to lose all your stuff? Why not a single step?

      Let's hope that OTA updates take this nightmarish process away. We'll see.

      You have no idea what you're doing and you blame the technology?

    24. Re:Update process by PNutts · · Score: 1

      Finally someone who "get's it". Their OS was current. iTunes was current. Their iDevices were paired and synced. This is the experience for the majority. It's not a failure to be warned that you have untransferred purchases or you need the current version of iTunes.

    25. Re:Update process by rolfwind · · Score: 1

      I like Apple products a lot when I'm doing the norm on them, but when I connect them to another device or to Itunes on my computer, things just get counterintuitive. Adding music is not how I expected (this was a few years back, now I just buy it directly on the phone to avoid it). I also learned that syncing it on a foreign (up to then) computer can also cause it to lose all it's stuff.

      I'm guess I like the PC's treat-everything-as-a-file-system philosophy although many non-computer people can't quite grasp it. I have the opposite problem, can't quite grasp when they aren't treated as a straight thru filesystem.

    26. Re:Update process by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      Jesus, that looks like a nightmare! Call me a troll if you wish, but I'm posting my anecdotal experience upgrading CyanogenMod 7.0.3 to 7.1.0 two days ago for comparison

      1. Ensure phone is charged. 50% should do.
      2. Fire up ROM manager and update ClockworkMod from 3.x to 5.x. No app or phone restart necessary
      3. Hit the Download ROM option and browse to CyanogenMod
      4. Select CyanogenMod 7.1.0 Stable and press Download
      5. When prompted, reboot to recovery mode and watch the text on the screen. Or don't, you won't understand it anyway.
      6. Return in 20 minutes (for me it was around 5 minutes) to see your phone waiting for your PIN / unlock code and all of your data and apps still there. Check to make sure the update actually happened as nothing looks any different, and you're pretty sure it should have exploded or something

      We can only hope that iOS 5's OTA update feature works as well.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    27. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Completely fucking agreed.

      Somebody wrote that dialog. "We are about to delete all your iPhone content. This is fine, right?"

      Somebody actually wrote that and, didn't immediately think, "wait a minute, doesn't this suck. surely we can do better..."

      The only reason I'm going through this is because I'm begging it will be the last time that I have to interact with iTunes. It's the scariest piece of software on my machine.

    28. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry - but mine went smoothly.
      No problems, just a couple of syncs and everything was back to normal.
      YMMV.

    29. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      My experience was:
      1. Connect iPad to iMac
      2. Click Update

      Done. It took a while. It's a huge update. But everything was smooth.

    30. Re:Update process by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1

      That's one of the things that's going away with this update. They've even got an app for configuring their wireless router, so it's now possible for someone to not ever own a traditional computer and still fully use these devices.

    31. Re:Update process by sharkey · · Score: 1

      You were probably holding it wrong.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    32. Re:Update process by LordKronos · · Score: 1

      13. .. and all my stuff is __GONE__ !
      14. Go to iTunes, explicitly tell it to sync applications, hit sync..
      15. Only a few apps have been restored
      16. Back to iTunes, manually check all applications that you want to have restored (why are most of them unchecked and not synced by default!?)
      17. Sync..
      18. ..wait..wait..wait...wait.... FINALLY. DONE.

      Did you actually get everything back....settings, data, and all? I've had issues with itunes sync and restore features before, but I wasn't so lucky. I don't recall what I was doing at the time (upgrading ios, or just trying to add some music or something) but I too got a dialog telling me essentially it was going to wipe everything, with buttons to confirm or cancel. I choose cancel, and it begins deleting apps from my device. I quickly disconnect to abort. Try the process over. Get the same dialog. Read carefully, and again make sure I choose cancel. It starts deleting again. I abort and try again. This time, just out of curiosity, I choose confirm to see what it will do. It again starts deleting. WTF...no matter whether I say confirm or cancel, it deletes anyway?

      OK...so I figure I'm hosed at this point. I check my backups, and indeed there is a backup from earlier that day, so I go ahead and let it wipe (hoping maybe it will wipe it and then reload it or something). Nope, it just wipes it. Fine. Restore my trusty backup and all is well....wait, no it's not....that backup dated for today restored my device to the state it was in 6 MONTHS AGO? WTF apple? Everything worked fine after that, and I was able to copy my apps back over, but any data I had created in the last 6 months was gone.

    33. Re:Update process by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      Wow, that was painfully complicated!

      I guess Apple really DID copy Android. /end sarcasm/

      Seriously though, did you find out why you had such trouble? My pad and both phones updated easily.

      Yikes.

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    34. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, that almost exactly describes my experience updating my 4th gen iPod touch (my first Apple product) from iTunes on Windows. I guess I can be thankful it wasn't like previous iOS updates, some of which failed completely and required iTunes to restore the device in DFU mode before retrying. I totally agree about the process being too complex and scary feeling for a purportedly user-friendly product. Totally agree about all those "Well... OK" moments... very unsettling.

    35. Re:Update process by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      Heya, did you do an update from a non-synch computer? I heard that can cause huge headaches. Of course, you already went through it, so I guess this doesn't matter...

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    36. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, let me get this straight. You updated your iDevice on a computer that you had never used this iDevice with, didn't have the apps and content on it, you hadn't backed up or sync'd this device to that particular computer, AND YOU ARE SURPISED IT DIDN'T RELOAD ALL YOUR DATA?

      Apple makes products for the non tech savvy, that's for sure, but apparently there's just no hope for those that know just enough to be dangerous.

    37. Re:Update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      your an imbecile. you shouldn't be allowed to drive, let alone operate an apple product.

      i clicked "download and update" at 3pm. took a shower. came back, it was done in less than 20 minuets

      seriously dude stay indoors

  65. Can I Get A Burqa With Steve Ballmer's Profile On? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Man, do we have to have this same thread every time Apple releases something new??!! "Fanboys, fanboys, fanboys!!" "Oooohhh - my OS is better than your OS!!" You know what - if you don't like it, don't buy it. If you do like it, buy it. Most of us get tired of the douchery acting like it's the Middle East and you have to be for one side or the other. Eat your bacon and shut the ____ up!!

  66. At least recent buyers are getting updates by Quila · · Score: 2

    I have an Android phone that was an official software upgrade orphan less than six months after it was introduced. IOS 5 supports hardware a couple years old.

    1. Re:At least recent buyers are getting updates by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      When you go through and look at the last "official" date for selling a device, and the software release after that supports it, your 6 months sounds about right. Last I looked (And it was before the 4S announcement) the 3GS was still being sold new from Apple direct (and lots of official retailers). As one of the last of the 3G purchasers, I got about 6 months until I was no longer supported. No security updates, nothing. Once Apple moves on, the old phone is orphaned. iOS 5 doesn't support anything that's a "couple years old." iOS 5 supports *only* devices currently being sold new directly from Apple, and nothing "old" at all.

    2. Re:At least recent buyers are getting updates by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      Funny how I can't find the 1st gen iPad or 3rd gen iPod Touch on the Apple Store site but they are listed as supported by iOS5. I guess that must be because they don't sell them any more. They haven't sold the 3rd gen iPod Touch for over a year.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
  67. No, it doesn't get tiring by Oh+Gawwd+Peak+Oil · · Score: 2

    No! I hate teh Apple and by arrogantly pouring scorn on teh Apple and its products, I try to convince myself and others that I am superior. This helps to suppress my deep feelings of inadequacy.

    So the hate and bashing is necessary! It never gets tiring.

  68. PEBCAK or Troll by edalytical · · Score: 1

    iTunes does not require a reboot! iTunes is an 87.9 MB download from software update. You can restart your phone by "pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears."

    --
    Win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP Guitar from the Deftones: http://def-tag.com/?r=0008781
    1. Re:PEBCAK or Troll by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

      iTunes does not require a reboot! iTunes is an 87.9 MB download from software update.

      All I can tell you is that whether or not iTunes requires a reboot, I was forced to reboot when Software Update updated it. This is on a Mac, remember, so maybe it's different under Windows, but I definitely had to reboot to install the update. I don't care if it's "not supposed to," did.

      You can restart your phone by "pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears."

      That's nice. It's nice to know the way to recover your phone after the iOS update fails and crashes the fucking thing! (Which, so far, I've only gotten to happen once. Which is good, I guess?)

      Face it, the bottom line is that the iTunes/iPhone update process completely and totally sucks. Apparently the problem I'm running into is that Apple's DRM servers are down, so I can't authenticate the update. (Why do I have to do that again? Didn't it authenticate the signatures when it downloaded the fucking thing? Do I have to delete the update and redownload the entire 650MB or however large the update turns out to be?! Who knows! Apple's support site just tells me to reinstall iTunes, disconnect USB devices, uninstall antivirus, and reboot! If that doesn't work, tough!)

      And I'm not the only one that it's happened to in the comments to this story. The Apple update process is just completely horrible. If the update servers are down, tell me the fucking update servers are down and don't tell me I corrupted my iTunes installation!

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    2. Re:PEBCAK or Troll by edalytical · · Score: 1

      You probably confusing the Mac OS X 10.7.2 update with iTunes, yes that requires a reboot, but then you should have run software update again to get iTunes. It sounded more like you updated to 10.7.2 and then went on some kind of deleting rampage removing iTunes and kernel extensions, etc. Basically YOU fucked your system. And you wonder why your iPhone froze?!?

      --
      Win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP Guitar from the Deftones: http://def-tag.com/?r=0008781
    3. Re:PEBCAK or Troll by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

      I'm still using Mac OS X 10.6, so no 10.7 update for me.

      It sounded more like you updated to 10.7.2 and then went on some kind of deleting rampage removing iTunes and kernel extensions, etc.

      Nah, I found the support article in the Google cache. So it's only one kernel extension you have to delete, and fewer reboots than I remember because I was thinking of this issue which I ran into once before which does require three reboots.

      But at least I've learned not to trust Apple error messages when they tell you to reinstall iTunes instead of just admitting that it's their DRM servers that're preventing you from installing the update.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    4. Re:PEBCAK or Troll by PNutts · · Score: 1

      And I'm not the only one that it's happened to in the comments to this story. The Apple update process is just completely horrible. If the update servers are down, tell me the fucking update servers are down and don't tell me I corrupted my iTunes installation!

      So angry. Time for a deep breath and let go. We got it: You don't know what you did and it's not your fault. If you didn't think there would be problems when a billion people all tried to download a 700 MB file and update on the same day then your judgement is poor. Guess what? If you go to a restaurant at 6 PM it's busy. And faulting their support site? If a car takes out a pole and you lose cable, their support site is still going to tell you to make sure the converter box is plugged in and turned on. Seriously though, if you can't manage the platform you've chosen then it's time to switch.

    5. Re:PEBCAK or Troll by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

      You'd think successfully downloading the 700MB update would be the last time you have to contact the update servers.

      Nope.

      You have to hit them twice more to verify that the file you already downloaded is, in fact, really signed by Apple, and has not, in fact, been replaced with a jailbroken version in the minute it takes for the updater to finally finish processing the stupid thing.

      Yeah, I'd say being angry at having downloaded the update and then having iTunes literally refuse to install it (because it can't get through to Apple - twice) and then forwarding me to a support article that says "your iTunes install is corrupt, better reinstall!" warrants a bit of anger.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  69. I'm still on 4.2.1 :) by Cito · · Score: 1

    I jailbroke my iPod with greenpoison the untethered jailbreak with customizable boot logos when 4.2.1 came out and decided not to update since. if they have a untethered jailbreak for 5.0 I may upgrade. but I have a iPod 3rd generation 32 gig model and there's no real new feature I'd want in 5.0 its more bloat for ipods anyhow

  70. Article: Apple’s iOS 5 upgrade servers are s by fluor2 · · Score: 1

    "The long and short of it is that the demand for iOS 5 is off the charts right now, so being patient is your best option. There’s nothing you can do on your end so have a cup of coffee and wait out the rush."

    http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/10/12/apples-ios-5-upgrade-servers-are-slammed-causing-3200-or-internal-error-update-issues/

  71. According to Ars review... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good luck in deleting that embarrassing picture from the Cloud :*)

  72. UID 1000000, of course by Scowler · · Score: 0

    Notice that most of that hate/bashing comes from Slashdot users with very large UIDs. Not a coincidence.

  73. Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Moridineas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Are you trolling? I don't think anything at all you've said in your posts is right?

    1) A brand new full iTunes download is 103mb, not 700 as you claimed.

    2) I've never ever had to do anything remotely like you claim about removing kernel extensions and rebooting 3 times with iTunes, and in the past month I have bounced forwards and backwards between several beta versions. (b8 -> b9 -> b7 -> 10.5 all worked flawlessly). Just download a new version of iTunes and the installer will upgrade it anyway.

    3) I just dragged iTunes to the trash. OSX asked for my password. I entered it. It deleted.

    4) If you're not comfortable with GUI instructions and are at all competent with a bash/csh commandline, just fire up terminal and using su or sudo delete to your heart's contact. kextstat / kextunload / kextload can be used to view, load, and unload kernel extensions, but I've only ever had to use those commands when I was developing one. sudo rm -fr /Applications/iTunes.app/ etc

    5) Absolutely false what you claimed about Apple expecting a crashed iPhone to just drain off the battery.

    I'm afraid I've only fed into your ego honey pot, but whatever...

    1. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Informative

      1) A brand new full iTunes download is 103mb, not 700 as you claimed.

      Oh crap, you're right, that was supposed to read "the iOS update," which is 700MB. I have no clue how large the iTunes update was because I didn't bother watching that download.

      2) I've never ever had to do anything remotely like you claim about removing kernel extensions and rebooting 3 times with iTunes

      You only need to do that if you need to reinstall iTunes. Which is what the support article for "our update authentication servers are down" tells you to do for some braindead reason.

      3) I just dragged iTunes to the trash. OSX asked for my password. I entered it. It deleted.

      Only works in Finder. I was trying to do it from the Applications stack in the Dock, because you can do that with apps you've installed yourself. Doing it that way just silently fails.

      5) Absolutely false what you claimed about Apple expecting a crashed iPhone to just drain off the battery.

      It used to be in there somewhere, for what to do if a hard reset doesn't work. Which, now that the support site is up again, turns out to be holding both the Wake/Sleep button and the Home button for 10 seconds. That's intuitive.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    2. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Oh crap, you're right, that was supposed to read "the iOS update," which is 700MB. I

      Fair enough... the iOS download IS a big download. For a real clusterf*ck -- Apple makes anybody who buys Xcode off the App Store download the whole thing. 4gb. When 4.0.1 came out a week or so after release, everybody had to download 4gb AGAIN. How dumb.

      Only works in Finder. I was trying to do it from the Applications stack in the Dock, because you can do that with apps you've installed yourself. Doing it that way just silently fails.

      Interesting. I think that's just due to the permissions on the iTunes app (which you should be able to change--not sure if they "stick"). I don't use stacks so I've never encountered this.

    3. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by jittles · · Score: 2

      Are you trolling?

      No, he's not. You two aren't looking at the same thing

      I don't think anything at all you've said in your posts is right?

      1) A brand new full iTunes download is 103mb, not 700 as you claimed.

      Oh really? because iTunes was a 78MB download for me. But then there was an additional (almost) 1GB of data for a Lion stability update and a Lion recovery update. So, he's probably counting the entire set of updates

      I just dragged iTunes to the trash. OSX asked for my password. I entered it. It deleted.

      Lion seems to be very resistive to deleting things. I've had difficulty deleting apps on Lion on more than one occassion

      4) If you're not comfortable with GUI instructions and are at all competent with a bash/csh commandline, just fire up terminal and using su or sudo delete to your heart's contact. kextstat / kextunload / kextload can be used to view, load, and unload kernel extensions, but I've only ever had to use those commands when I was developing one. sudo rm -fr /Applications/iTunes.app/ etc

      MAC OS just works, right? So why does he need to use the CLI?

      5) Absolutely false what you claimed about Apple expecting a crashed iPhone to just drain off the battery.

      I'm afraid I've only fed into your ego honey pot, but whatever...

      That is true, except when it isn't. I've had my iPhone 3G not respond to the double button press. I didn't have to wait for the battery to drain, but it did take 5-10 minutes for the watchdog to kick in.

    4. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by jittles · · Score: 1

      Ok so it looks like he was referring to the iOS update. But there are an additional set of updates that seemed to push today or just recently.

    5. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Oh really? because iTunes was a 78MB download for me. But then there was an additional (almost) 1GB of data for a Lion stability update and a Lion recovery update. So, he's probably counting the entire set of updates

      That's swell, except the statement that iTunes is a 700mb download is still false. He clarified that he meant the iOS firmware download--makes perfect sense.

      Lion seems to be very resistive to deleting things. I've had difficulty deleting apps on Lion on more than one occassion

      He clarified he was trying to delete a limited permissions app from a stack. I haven't tried, but it seems that's all the issue was.

      MAC OS just works, right? So why does he need to use the CLI?

      If you read what I wrote (the same thing you quoted) I said "If you're not comfortable with GUI instructions." I personally have a terminal window open almost constantly on my laptop.

      That is true, except when it isn't. I've had my iPhone 3G not respond to the double button press. I didn't have to wait for the battery to drain, but it did take 5-10 minutes for the watchdog to kick in.

      The DFU mode instructions not working (which I personally have not experienced, but do believe you have) in no way means that "the Apple official way" is to just let the battery drain.

      Come on, I don't think my post was unreasonable? I explained my points, kept things limited in scope, didn't swear or insult etc. Is it the reference to hoping the OP wasn't a troll that made you annoyed with my post?

    6. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Kalriath · · Score: 2

      The last time I tried deleting iTunes, OS X (Lion) told me it was a system component and I wasn't allowed to. Off to Terminal to "sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app/" I went.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
    7. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by jittles · · Score: 2

      I wasn't annoyed with your post. I just wanted to voice my opinion that he wasn't trying to troll. And I caught his correction about the iOS download being the 700MB. I just assumed that he was counting the entire update because he didn't pay attention (and we all know what happens when you assume).

      As for the DFU mode problem, that was with a buggy iOS release. I want to say it was 3.0.1 or something along those lines. That update also happened to turn my iPhone into an egg cooker. For some reason one of the radios (I think 3G) would get stuck on and the phone would become physically hot to the touch through a bulky Agent 18 case. It wasn't so hot that I would drop it, but it was uncomfortable. When that would happen it would occasionally cause hangs. The next release fixed that particular problem.

    8. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by PNutts · · Score: 1

      It used to be in there somewhere, for what to do if a hard reset doesn't work. Which, now that the support site is up again, turns out to be holding both the Wake/Sleep button and the Home button for 10 seconds. That's intuitive.

      There's only two buttons. Were you expecting Morse Code? I used to manage mobile devices. Our cheat sheet on how to reboot had a line for each device. If you still aren't clear: Hold one button down to turn it off. Hold both buttons down to force a restart.

    9. Re:Troll? Re:That didn't take too long to fail by Malc · · Score: 1

      2) I've never ever had to do anything remotely like you claim about removing kernel extensions and rebooting 3 times with iTunes, and in the past month I have bounced forwards and backwards between several beta versions. (b8 -> b9 -> b7 -> 10.5 all worked flawlessly). Just download a new version of iTunes and the installer will upgrade it anyway.

      Bzzzzt. This doesn't always work. I spent an age recently trying to help a friend get iTunes to see his iPhone. It would see it after installing iTunes, but after rebooting, it wouldn't detect it. A bit annoying having to install iTunes every time the computer has been restarted. There's some document buried deeply on Apple's web site, which includes instructions to delete kernel texts (e.g. /System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext)

  74. Yes, for some time by SuperKendall · · Score: 1
    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  75. Re:iDevice by somersault · · Score: 1

    Well, I only saw other people using it this year. I ran some Google searches and there is an example of someone using it in 2001 though. Whatever, have to take the first post moments as they come.

    --
    which is totally what she said
  76. Re:UID 1000000, of course by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Notice that most of that hate/bashing comes from Slashdot users with very large UIDs. Not a coincidence.

    Sadly, so does a lot of the stupid.

    I've longed for a filter which basically tunes out the 7 digit IDs ... because the higher the number, the worse the signal to noise ratio.

    Assholes, idiots, and trolls seem to come with those numbers. It's really making Slashdot suck.

  77. iCloud does back up app data by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    The one thing I wish iCloud could offer -- ability to save and archive off app data, is missing.

    Are you sure? From everything I have read iCloud lets you backup data for any app (the synchronization only happens with apps that specifically are built to work with iCloud, but just backing up data is easy).

    Also as part of the activation process there is a "recover from iCloud backup" right by the option to recover the device from an iTunes backup.

    If you go into Settings->iCloud->StorageAndBackup on the device you have the option to enable backup.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  78. Re:Neat. by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

    No, I'll never discover it. Apple abandons old products, so my iPhone 3G will not allow me to "discover" anything like that.

  79. Re:Article: Apple’s iOS 5 upgrade servers ar by _xeno_ · · Score: 1

    It's worse than that article makes it sound, because it contacts the upgrade servers multiple times. So far, the furthest I've gotten is:

    "Extracting software..."
    "Verifying with iPhone update with Apple..."
    "Restoring update..."
    "Verifying with iPhone update with Apple..."

    And then it bombs. Both bolded lines are a chance for it to fail, after which you get to do the entire thing (minus the download) over again from the start. Which includes a backup which takes forever.

    You'd think downloading the update would be enough to install, but - NOPE! Gotta get that DRM in there too. Otherwise, people might run custom software on Apple's phone.

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  80. Re:Neat. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So upgrade to an absolutely-free-with-contract iPhone 3GS, get iOS5, and discover it.

    Seems pretty straightforward to me.

  81. Re:Seems wrong somehow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Selling over 20 million iPhones a quarter, I would suspect that many here would be affected.

    We're affected by today's precipitation forecast as well, but it doesn't mean slashdot should turn into the frikkin weather channel.

  82. New ad campaign by MarkGriz · · Score: 1

    iOS5
    There's no step 19!

    --
    Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
  83. Re:UID 1000000, of course by Uberbah · · Score: 2

    Actually, the site was pretty much the same 10 years ago.

  84. this update is great!! by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

    Awesome update; everything is running much snappier! And I haven't even installed it yet!!
    Great job Apple!

  85. Re:Neat. by AK+Marc · · Score: 2, Informative

    "free with contract" is what, $2400 for a phone?

  86. Re:Poor Persecuted Apple Fanboys by jo_ham · · Score: 1, Funny

    That must really chafe your neckbeard. That Apple was the one to sweep in, in the wake of Microsoft's steady decline. That they have been the ones to really bring open source to the mainstream with a mixture of OSS and closed source code rather than this finally being the "year of Linux on the desktop".

    They went and did what Linux was trying to do all along, and like a hipster standing at the side of the stage trying desperately not to look like you like anything mainstream, or proclaiming to anyone who you can grab onto to as they pass to get to the bar "I liked this before it was cool!" you're struggling to define yourself by what other people like.

    Your mom says your Eggo is ready. ;p

  87. Re:Neat. by EXrider · · Score: 1

    No, I'll never discover it. Apple abandons old products, so my iPhone 3G will not allow me to "discover" anything like that.

    WAAAHHH... the vendor won't support my 3 year old smartphone with the latest OS upgrades anymore!

    Try getting OS upgrades for some Android and BlackBerry phones that are only 2 years old, even IF the vendor has released one, there's a good chance the carrier won't. At least they're still supporting the 3GS which is now two generations behind.

    --
    grep -iw skynet /etc/services
  88. Take a deep breath, Slashdot. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    iOS 5 Update Available story tagged "malware". Wow.
    I know Apple-Hate is the new Micro$oft-bashing, but this site has really descended into epic fits of circle-jerk.

    Bye-bye slashdot. I'll be reading about real tech stuff on HackerNews from here on in.

    (posted anon `cuz I'm late to the story so it will be buried amongst "Get (n) More Comments" that no-one ever sees. Why even bother).

  89. Not automatic by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    One of the reason Apple users actually update software unlike many windows users, is because updates are optional and only done when you say it's OK to proceed.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  90. Re:Neat. by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

    3GS is current generation. They are selling them new, direct from Apple today.

  91. Re:Neat. by IAmGarethAdams · · Score: 1

    That must suck if your contract doesn't give you any inclusive calls, texts or data, and all of the money you pay actually goes as subsidy for the handset

  92. Re:Seems wrong somehow by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    A weather forecast may at most affect a small area compared to vast size of the Earth. I would surmise that a good percentage of slashdotters have an iPhone so your analogy is not apt.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  93. Re:UID 1000000, of course by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 1

    I don't remember anyone paying attention to Apple 10 years ago. If anything it was dismissed out of hand. Only since Apple became a mainstream success has the vitriol flowed so freely. It hints at deep-seated geek insecurities in my opinion. There's a lot of lip service to computing for the masses but only if it means converting those masses to the "geek way", anything but that is met with extreme hostility.

    --
    If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
  94. Re:iDevice by blind+monkey+3 · · Score: 1

    You aren't using it properly you siri iriot!

    --
    BM3
  95. slashdot worthy by Synerg1y · · Score: 1

    quick everybody go grab it, whether you have an "iDevice" or not.

    I'll just link to...
    http://www.stemkoski.com/simple-iphone-emulator-for-windows/

    and pretend anyone cares.

  96. Re:iDevice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I made my own iCloud when iFarted.

  97. Re:Neat. by EXrider · · Score: 1

    If I were you, I would just jailbreak your 3G. Most of the iOS 5 features have already been around for jailbroken iOS devices forever anyways.

    --
    grep -iw skynet /etc/services
  98. Re:Neat. by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

    I must pay them that regardless of the other terms. So the cost is that which I agree to pay, $2400 or so.

  99. Re:Poor Persecuted Apple Fanboys by CheerfulMacFanboy · · Score: 1

    You mean like copy-n-paste that doesn't just lets you copy from editable text fields? First to publish useless implementation wins?

    --
    Fandroids hate facts.
  100. Re:Update process = Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Alright, there are boat loads of fail in this post, so I am going to try to be nice and help you out.

    >1. Connect iPad to macbook
    >2. iTunes detects iOS 5 is available, I hit update button

    1. You should have synced your iPad to the original computer it was setup on through iTunes first or back up that iTunes library that the iPad was activated on, then try to sync the iPad.

    >3. WARNING! Unsynced items, I am going to delete all your precious apps, do you want to continue? Mind you, I won't offer an option in the dialog that says: "backup my stuff and then continue".

    2. See my first step.

    >4. I click sync and the system detects that this is a new macbook: "Looks like this is a new, unauthorized device! If you proceed, all your iPad contents will be NUKED! haha!"

    3. New MacBook huh? Well, it probably does not have your old iTunes library on it (you know, the one you synced your iPad to when you first brought the iPad home). This tells me you probably didn't even authorize the new mac book to your current iTunes account. Which, in case you missed it, you could have gone into iTunes on the new mac book, authorized it to your iTunes account, selected Store, then selected Check For Available Downloads. But I guess that is not very intuitive.

    >5. Cancel and look around for a while trying to find a way of doing the obvious thing.

    4. Could have been avoided if you made sure the iTunes library you synced the iPad with was the same one you had on your mac book.

    >7. Need to authorize my device, only 3 left. Geee... well, OK..

    5. Yup, see my point number 3.

    >8. Everything but 4 items get transferred. Not pretty, but good enough.
    >9. Try to update now: warning about unsynced items persists. Scary, but I go on since step 7. doesn't improve even after trying several times in different ways.

    6. Again, this could have been avoided.

    >10. ..Long update process, its 700MB after all... BANG! Your device coul not be restored, internal error occurred.

    7. You are trying to update both iTunes and you iPad. Should have just updated iTunes first, then have done step 3 and then the iPad.

    >11. iPad library must be deleted because it can only be synced with one device at a time. .. bla bla bla all the iPad contents will be replaced by this macbook's library contents. VERY SCARY, but there is no other way as far as I see. Well... OK.

    8. Did I mention that it sounds like you had two different iTunes libraries at this time? Oh, well let me re-iterate; YOU HAD TWO DIFFERENT ITUNES LIBRARIES ON TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS!!!!

    >12. Update again...wait...wait...wait... yes, I want to use iCloud, yes I want to use localization, re-enter my apple ID, yes, yes yes a couple more times...
    >13. .. and all my stuff is __GONE__ !

    9. Cool story bro. Now what did I say about trying to sync an iPad to two different iTunes libraries?

    >14. Go to iTunes, explicitly tell it to sync applications, hit sync..
    >15. Only a few apps have been restored

    10. I am guessing those are the ones that where recent enough it checked the servers for and found them under your iTunes account. I guess you should check for updated items more often than just on your iPad. You know that place where things should be stored away from the mobile device so you are not screwed if your mobile device is stolen/damaged. You know, that mythical place called the iTunes library on your laptop/PC.

    >16. Back to iTunes, manually check all applications that you want to have restored (why are most of them unchecked and not synced by default!?)
    >17. Sync..

    11. I don't know, maybe due to the smaller hard drives the mobile devices, apple actually wanted you to use your device rather than have it cluttered up with meaningless crap so they decided you where smart enough to figure out want you wanted on the device and that you would take care of that. You know; i

  101. Re:Neat. by jo_ham · · Score: 1

    Yes, but you said 3G, not 3GS.

    The 3GS supports iOS5 just fine - it's running beautifully on mine with no sluggishness (like the iOS4 debacle).

  102. Re:Update process = Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So your whole post correcting his way of doing things can be summed up thus:

    "It just works! You're just doing it wrong." Interesting.

  103. Re:Update process = Troll by adolf · · Score: 2

    8. Did I mention that it sounds like you had two different iTunes libraries at this time? Oh, well let me re-iterate; YOU HAD TWO DIFFERENT ITUNES LIBRARIES ON TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS!!!!

    Is this an appropriate time to point out that I can easily make an independent back up my entire Android device on any computer able to read a micro SD card, in just a few minutes? Without worrying about having "TWO DIFFERENT ITUNES LIBRARIES ON TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS!!!!"

    Or is this a more appropriate time to point out that I can easily upgrade my Android device without using a separate computer at all? Or that I can just sync the thing with Dropbox no matter I'm at?

    All of this iTunes nonsense seems to be very silly, when the device in question has multiple GHz-ish cores, hundreds of megabytes of RAM, tens of gigabytes of storage, and multiple Internet connections. Why can't it just handle the upgrade by itself, like every other computer I've ever owned?

    Even my router does better than that, with a mere fraction of the speed and capacity of a modern iDevice. (And before anyone tries to form an argument to justify this behavior, please realize that at their heart, they're all just little *nix boxes, and are capable of all the standard *nix tricks. And all of them are faster/better than my first Linux box was (which also didn't need any outside help to get things done)).

  104. That was 6 months from release by Quila · · Score: 1

    As in 6 months from the time the phone hit the market, Anrdoid 2.2 came out and was never supported on the phone.

    iOS 5 is supported on the 3GS, which was released over two years ago.

    1. Re:That was 6 months from release by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      3GS is still sold new from Apple. The last update to the 3G was less than 6 months after they stopped selling them.

  105. You must be wrong! by syousef · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's Apple. It just works. Right?

    Sarcasm above of course. I hate people telling me how great Apple products are when all I've ever had with them is trouble. Thankfully the only 2 things I've bought for myself (and wife) in the last decade or so are iPods and I regret that purchase. Unfortunately on occassion at a different job I had to do things on a Mac. Only upside was dealing with a hard disk failure on an eBook taught me to stay the hell away from CrApple.

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    1. Re:You must be wrong! by tipo159 · · Score: 1

      I switched to Mac OS X for my "desktop" use about about 3.5 years go. My experience since switching has been remarkably trouble-free, particularly compared to when I used Windows for the same stuff. I still have to run Windows (through a VM) for some apps and even my limited use of Windows is more prone to problems than my regular use of Mac OS.

      In my day job, I am a Unix kernel developer (RIP Dennis Ritchie) and the Unix-iness of Mac OS X makes it easier to do the programming part of my job on the same system that also natively supports most of the apps needed for the business processes at work.

      Incidentally, Apple seems to have resolved its update server issue because my update is now working.

  106. Derp. by VJmes · · Score: 1

    Here's an idea: I'll join the long long queue of Apple fans who are eagerly trying to update OSX and iOS at the same time.

    I'll then go onto /. and complain about the update process being crap and slow while Apple's software update servers are still being crippled by demand. Of course I could just wait the few extra hours when there's less demand and have a far quicker and smoother iOS/OSX upgrade process, though that'd just be using common sense.

  107. Very smooth upgrade by sethmeisterg · · Score: 1

    On an iPhone 4 with a ton of apps. After getting over the server overload (retrying a bunch of times), the upgrade proceeded very smoothly. All my apps and folders were perfectly restored. The new OS looks great!

  108. The link to backup? by index0 · · Score: 1

    This text: "doing a manual backup of your iDevice" above links to a web page that has nothing to do with backing up any iDevice.

  109. Old News by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

    I've been running ios 12.1 for years - this "5" junk has to be way out of date.

    cisco-2950-24>show version
    Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
    IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(22)EA2, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
    Copyright (c) 1986-2004 by cisco Systems, Inc.

  110. It broke Safari on my ipad by gearloos · · Score: 1

    Ive been using it now for a few hours on my ipad and the one thing that stands out is any fairly large webpage causes Safari to crash now. Have not bothered to analyze any further... Why bother. I have other tos I guess.. Hope they bother to fix it someday.

    --
    "Computers are a lot like Air Conditioners" "They both work great until you start opening Windows"
  111. Re:iDevice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah im sure you 'invented' that word, you were the first to ever call apple's devices 'iDevices'...retard.

  112. IOS. A old name from Cisco. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IOS version 12 came out many years ago. You all use IOS everyday.

  113. The iPhone could not be restored! Internal Error! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First of all, it took 5 HOURS to download the software. I had to leave it downloading overnight. When I woke up this morning I saw this message:

    "The iPhone '***' could not be restored. An internal error occurred."

    How disappointing. I am attempting to install the iOS 5 software again now. Let's hope it works this time.

    =(

  114. A week is a long time in tech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Last week - Apple fan boys telling us Steve Jobs was a genius - this week they are telling us iOS 5 is a useless piece of crap

  115. Re:Neat. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The 3G is a different, year-older phone than the 3GS.

  116. Re:iDevice by dintech · · Score: 1

    Stupid Mongorians!

  117. Re:iDevice by sharkey · · Score: 1

    You guys need to go have a gay orgy until they give it back.

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  118. Think about the difference by Quila · · Score: 1

    When you buy late in a product's lifecycle, expect the support to not last as long. The the last iPhone 3G update was 2 1/2 years after release, and it was three years until it couldn't handle the latest OS. Even the last buyers had a year until they were behind on the current OS.

    I bought the Android phone two months after its release. Some months later it got an update to a version of Android that was released at the same time I bought the phone. It never received an update to the Android version released six months after the phone. It was behind when it hit the market, and it stayed behind.

    Official Android support sucks in comparison to Apple.

    1. Re:Think about the difference by Politburo · · Score: 1

      There is no "official android support" for end-users. Your issues are with your carrier.

    2. Re:Think about the difference by Quila · · Score: 1

      Your issues are with your carrier.

      Carrier and manufacturer. Neither officially supported Android 2.2.

  119. Re:Update process = Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    3. New MacBook huh? Well, it probably does not have your old iTunes library on it (you know, the one you synced your iPad to when you first brought the iPad home). This tells me you probably didn't even authorize the new mac book to your current iTunes account. Which, in case you missed it, you could have gone into iTunes on the new mac book, authorized it to your iTunes account, selected Store, then selected Check For Available Downloads. But I guess that is not very intuitive.

    I don't know what the process is like right now, but when I last had this problem a few years ago (after upgrading to a new computer), it was not intuitive at all. It didn't tell me my itunes account wasn't authorized on this computer, or anything remotely that clear. Instead it told me my ipod had unauthorized content and that it would be wiped if I continued. It didn't suggest anything at all about my account, so I was thinking more along the lines of some other content that was put on the device through other means, like the WiFi discover or Files apps.

  120. My iOS5 update process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Went mostly without a hitch. I had to update iTunes beforehand. Once I did that I hit upgrade in iTunes for the iPhone, and it said that there were items on the iPhone that hadn't been updated. Cancel out, hit Sync, hit update again and done.

    The only issue I had was that the servers were insanely slow, so the ~250MB iTunes update took about 3 hours to download.

  121. Promotes free apps by tepples · · Score: 1

    At least it's part of the reason so many more Android apps are $0.00, because app developers don't feel they have to recover the recurring cost of the development environment so quickly. It's a $200 cost (a prepaid dumbphone and a one-time $25 Market registration fee) instead of $1,250.

  122. Re:UID 1000000, of course by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    Oh sure. Remember Taco's "No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame." on the release of the first iPod.

  123. woooosh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, that made no sense. So, why are you such a homophobe?