Apple's iOS 4 appears to cause extensive problems
Apple iOS 4 released to widespread criticism
/v3-uk/news/1968876/apple-ios-released-widespread-criticism
22 Jun 2010, Dave Neal , V3
The release of Apple's iOS 4 operating system has met with a chorus of disapproval from iPhone users.
IOS 4 is available for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and post-2009 iPod touch devices, and adds multi-tasking for the iPhone 4 and 3GS models, plus a claimed 100 new features.
These include a unified email inbox, the new use of folders, which Apple said will make organising applications easier, iBooks, which lets users synchronise e-books across Apple media, and support for Bluetooth keyboards.
However, Twitter users have been quick to criticise the upgrade. One said: "Not happy! Just installed ios4 and it's made my iPhone sooo sluggish and slow it's unbelievable!!"
Another said: "Takes ages to do anything!", while one complained: " Experiencing the horribly slow backup problem with iOS4, been nearly an hour so far."
Apple does include a caveat on its download pages warning that not all new features are compatible with all devices, but it appears that the problems stretch much further than just multi-tasking.
"iOS4 took guts of 3 hours to update iPhone 3G. Waste of time too. Most features for 3GS only. Folders are nice but phone very slow at times," said another Twitter post.
The general theme of the criticism is that the operating system is slow, which flies in the face of Apple's statement that the addition of multi-tasking should let users "run favourite third-party apps and switch between them instantly without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily".
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
os 4 update
Took me about 2 hours to update to ios4 and now my 3G is really slow and sluggish. Not impressed
Posted by nomadsoul55, 23 Jun 2010
worked well for me
updated my 3GS in the earlier hours, all went smoothly except for a rather long back up.
I guess the slowing down must be on older models as I've noticed a distinct increase in operating speed.
Overall quite happy so far and looking forward to playing with more of the new features later.
Posted by pete, 22 Jun 2010
It looks like the 3GS can manage it, but not the 3G
If you look back through all of the comments on here, have a look at what version of the iphone people say they have.
Some people don't mention what phone they are using, but looking at the people that do:
No-one (at the time of writing) with a 3GS has got anything but praise for the update.
Anyone saying that they've experienced problems with slow-down (and mentions what phone they have) has a 3G.
It appears they shouldn't have extended the update to the 3G.
For what it's worth - I have a 3GS, updated to version 4.0 two nights ago, no problems at all. Very smooth.
Only thing I will say, I am a stickler for tidiness.
Every so often when I think about it, I double-click the home button (bringing up multi-tasking) and close any apps running in the background...this may help 3G users?
Posted by Adam, 23 Jun 2010
3GS Zinging Along Nicely
Took about 30 minutes to install the new OS (and do a backup). Works fast and well so far. It's a good upgrade with lots of interesting elements - and no technical hiccups.
Posted by Paul F, 23 Jun 2010
no problems here
I have had zero problems with the iOS 4 update on my iphone 3GS, it works smooth and seems snappier. LOVE LOVE LOVE the update.
Posted by Tom Clark, 22 Jun 2010
IOS4 It Works!
I have had no issues with updating to the ios4 it was quick and painless, I work for a major mobile network in the UK and knew I was going to be in the office when os4 was released so we took a laptop in to the office to await the update. The update took about 25mins to perform and went without a hitch, we managed to update 11 3GS handsets within a 3 hour period with no problems and no users were reporting any issues with performance on the phone.
Posted by Mark Lee, 22 Jun 2010
Wait a little while
I have to say that i've refrained from updating my Iphone 3gs from the moment that it was released. When the previous os was released I remember experiencing some problems which were only addressed by Apple 4 or 5 months later by creating a patched update to fix some of the bugs. After all, we are all of Apples testing guinea pigs for their new software, so I would urge anyone with an Iphone to not update to the new Ios 4 for as long as possible or until they at least address some of the problems that have occurred so far during the update process.
Posted by Sam Ray, 22 Jun 2010
not me
i have had no issues whatsoever. it took 30mins to completely upgrade, and in fact i thought mine ran a lot smoother and faster than it sis before. enjoying the new features and nothing to complain about here.
Posted by coaster, 22 Jun 2010
Fast on the 3GS
It's faster than 3.1.3 on the 3Gs, then again, the 3G has a much slower processor and GPU.
Posted by Phil, 22 Jun 2010
Installation gremlins all itunes and its fine on my 3G
I had a nightmare installing the new itunes 9.2, which failed to update at the same time as the ios4 update as it was supposed to and this was a world of pain as it locked me out of my phone until it fnially succeeded in downloading itunes. A mac lowpoint for me and I was really ready to find any fault with ios4 itself and wondering seriously if I should go for Android when replacing the 3G (yep - those plucky outsiders Google - that'll stick it to the evil megacorp Apple...).
That said, I love the email threads, iBook reader, and folders and also the way of ordering photos.
Most important, the speed is just the same, if not better than when I updated to the OS released with the 3GS, which did really slow my phone down. On balance it seems a good update that is making my phone better.
The lesson is never ever again to upgrade something on day of release - will wait in future for all the day one bugs to be squished! And that's another good reason not to buy an iPhone 4 straight away.
Posted by adieB, 24 Jun 2010
If anything
the iOS4 update has made my 3G go faster. It was getting really clunky over the last few weeks and the reboot seems to have cleared out some cobwebs. The new features seem decent enough, nothing life changing but I'll hopefully have an iPhone 4 by the end of the week so that should be better.
Posted by paul, 22 Jun 2010
iOS4 turns Touch into an expensive paperweight
Tried to load iO/S 4 and had error message at the end saying a problem had occured and the backed up iO/S would be re-installed.This went through to the end and once again the same error message appeared and I was left with a Touch that will not turn on and isn't recognised by the PC when plugged in excepy as an 'unknown device'.As I said an expensive paperweight!
Posted by Phil Barlow, 22 Jun 2010
Seems to work well on 3GS but not on 3G
The 128 MB Ram seems to be way too less for iOS 4. My iPhone jerks and stutters and limps its way in and out of any app.
Even basic things like camera, notes etc start up very very slowly.
I have heard that the iOS 4 is great on 3GS. quite obvious with double the RAM. May be Apple should not have released iOS 4 for iPhone 3G. Anyway its a stopped version.
Posted by Abhishek, 23 Jun 2010
New OS - old phone ...Duh!
What do you expect, putting a new OS on older equipment. just like computers the software works best on the latest equipment, put it on older equipment and expect it to be faster and problem free- duh!
Posted by Trev, 23 Jun 2010
Everything fine with me..
I upgraded my 3G last night, once it finished downloading it took 45 minutes to upgrade.
I did take one precaution which may have made this process faster - I removed all music, videos and photos before allowing the upgrade.
Speed seems fine to me as well, might even be slightly faster for all I know.
Posted by Gareth Hughes, 23 Jun 2010
Apple done a Microsoft
So now you have Vista for the IPhone
Posted by Damian de 2E0SFX, 23 Jun 2010
iOS 4 has ruined my phone
Just upgraded (probably the wrong word) my 3G to iOS4. It's ruined the phone. It's painfully slow and has made very little difference to it's usability. Also, all my photographs are now in much lower resolution and very "fuzzy"
I've also got a 3GS, not too sure whether I'll bother changing to iOS4 with that one.
Does anyone know if I can revert to the old operating system??
Posted by Kenny Simpson, 23 Jun 2010
Apple iOS 4 Criticism
I downloaded iOS4 to my 3GS. I must say that I have found the new operating system a huge improvement on the previous and I haven't experienced any drop in performance or battery life. You are now able to manage the apps in a far more effecient way and switiching between apps is much faster and easier.
Posted by Peter, 23 Jun 2010
Utter tosh
I have to be honest here, I have been running IOS 4 since early beta on my 3gs and can report no such problems at all. If anything, my phone is faster and slicker than before and has breathed new life into it.
I think this is just a case of apple bashing yet again.
Posted by James Millar, 23 Jun 2010
Much though I dislike Apple
3 Twitter Posts is hardly 'widespread criticism'. And the reason I dislike Apple is that the average user is the kind who 'LOVE LOVE LOVE' the update. WTF is that all about?
Posted by Mark, 23 Jun 2010
IOS 4.0 - the reason not to buy an iPhone 4!
I upgraded my iPhone 3Gs last night, it was extremely quick, painless and without error. My iPhone now runs faster, has more functionality and is like a new phone :-)
However it's put me off getting an iPhone 4 as I just can't see the reason to now!
Posted by Jay, 23 Jun 2010
iOS4 for 3G sucks....
It has turned my 3G into a useless paperweights. Slow as hell and buggy. My financial app won't even display the decimal point which makes it completely useless... what a bunch of crap is Apple putting out there... it seems things are getting worse with Apple not better... anyone know how I can make my iPhone 3G revert back to version 3??? Thanks.
Posted by Larry, 23 Jun 2010
IPhone Picture Fuzziness
If you find that existing pictures in your photo libraries are fuzzy after the iOS4 upgrade, re-sync the photos when your phone is plugged into iTunes. (choose the photos tab, tick the options required and click sync)
Solves the problem as the pictures need to be re-optimised for the new OS.
Posted by 3 Square, 23 Jun 2010
Great for me too!
The update took less than 30 mins to complete, including the re-sync.
3GS is just as fast as previously and no battery problem.
3G users should be aware that even OS3 is a bit sluggish on a 3G model. You can't seriously expect a new OS to run super fast on what is now an old phone!
More Apple bashing indeed, for every "I've had an issue" (because I have an old phone, I didn't backup first or I haven't bothered to find an answer to my problem first) I've seen double the posts saying what a great experience iOS 4 is!
Posted by ConkerCrusher, 23 Jun 2010
Move on Up
Upgraded (using an old G4 iBook) iPhone 3GS 16GB without any isues on the 21st. Synched before the upgrade and left it to run and I'm now a happy iPhone user. The phone appears to be working quicker and most apps are working fine although most don't support multitasking yet (despite developers getting the iOS 4 SDK a while back). Only one app is actually causing any issues and it's not one I use regularly, will wait for it to be upgraded.
Personlay I would advise upgrading if you have a 3GS, not sure about if it's worth it on a 3G as you don't get the same functionality.
P.S. The reports appear to be with issues downloading and installing iOS4 not with using it. Most of these downloads will probably have been at peak download times ??
Posted by FreakOutITGeek, 24 Jun 2010
Its ok but not great
After 4 hours to install itunes9, back up iphone and then upload IOS4, im a bit disappointed to be honest. yes the camera is improved and being able to put apps into folders is a godsend.
but everytime I sync to itunes now, it deletes my phones network info (from settings) and so it cant connect to internet. also about half my apps no longer work. its still a pain to call anyone, messaging and ringtones havent been improved and apart from changing home background theres still a distinct lack of customisability.
so when is IOS5 out?
Posted by Al, 24 Jun 2010
Agree X2
SLOW SLOW SLOW
This is the vista upgrade. Hopefull they fix it, or let us roll back.
I guess its not everyone but enough people notice how slow opening and even txting has become. On 3g and some 3gs. It could be that 3g cant run it well, but then they should of left 3g off the upgrade canidates list.
Posted by Steve, 24 Jun 2010
No performance hit but iOS still behind in some respects...
Where is the improved notifications?
Where is customisable ringtones/alerts (without paying extra?)
And, one odd thing how come no push scheduling? I don't want e-mails at 4 AM, but I don't want to turn push off just in case I forget and miss a message in the morning. Worth noting I use my phone for business so e-mail is essential.
I could go on... but iOS needs some improvement to be a world-class business device.
Also worth noting that Nokia has all of the above features, as does Android.
Apple have a lot of work to do.
Posted by G25, 25 Jun 2010
no probs here....
I upgraded no problems at all and am flying. Don't know what all the fuss is about!!
Posted by Mark, 28 Jun 2010
Not Happy
After downloading IOS 4 my phone switches itself off after 10 minutes or so while on a call.
Posted by Eddie Burke, 28 Jun 2010
Iphone 3G is so slow and crashes all the time.
Reading the comments on this list I can only assume that you are all employees of Apple or you had access to a completely different download of IOS 4. Our company has so many Iphones that are now running slow that its effecting our business. Apple you need to fix this situation, your update has broken perfectly good phones.
Posted by Shark in the Pool, 16 Jul 2010