Apple’s iPhone Problems
So, today was the big launch of the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 2.0 software. They also released iTunes 7.7 a few days ago and launched their MobileMe (formerly .mac) service just yesterday. So I woke up this morning excited to install the 2.0 software and start downloading the new apps from the iTunes App Store (also launched today).
The result: a bricked iPhone telling me to connect to iTunes to activate. Only their activation servers are all out of commission. So I’m stuck without a phone now and no resolution in sight. At first I thought it might be resolved quickly and it’s probably just the rush of everyone buying the new iPhone, etc. But it’s been going on for 4 hours now and I’m about to leave to be gone overnight without a phone! GRR! How could they not have been prepared for this?!?
So, it’s a little comforting to know that I’m now the only one. Everyone else trying to do it is having the same problem, including people who just bought the iPhone. I suspect it could have something to do with the fact that they tried to make it mandatory to activate your phone IN STORE. STUPID. It was so wonderful and easy when I went in and bought the phone and went home to do it all myself. Took 5 minutes. In the end though, AT&T and Apple stores have started selling the phones and telling people they can take it home and activate it. I imagine the whole thing about you HAVE to do it in store was so AT&T can try to upsell you on things. Ridiculous.
So I’m a bit frustrated, not that I can’t get my new software, but that I have no phone and no way to fix it. And there’s no way for Apple or AT&T to fix it either. We just have to wait for their servers to come back up… just so it can “check in” and start the restore process.
UPDATE: So I went and mowed the lawn, started packing and was about ready to leave when I came back to my computer and noticed it was restoring the phone. So it eventually got through just in time.
Not sure if this would work since you’ve already tried it… but just in case:
For anybody having problems, here’s a type from GIZMODO:
Have you tried to activate your iPhone to no avail? Are you holding a $299 brick in your hand? Here’s what you do. When activating your iPhone (or just upgrading to 2.0 software), if you get an error message on your phone, DO NOT UNPLUG IT. That will restart the entire process.
Instead, just wait. Leave your phone be and don’t close iTunes.
We’ve successfully activated five different iPhone 3Gs with error screens just by letting them sit plugged in for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Hopefully that might work for you, too.
Good to hear about the update…
I’ll just pretend that I helped