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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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How does Apple screw up your iPhone?

By | January 20, 2011, 8:52am PST

How does Apple screw up your iPhone? With screws, of course! But as the good folks at iFixit point out, these are no ordinary screws.

Early iPhone 4 handsets shipped with Phillips #00 screws holding the case together (these are the screws near the connector dock), which while being tiny, were easy to undo. But iPhone 4 handsets in other countries, as well as newer handsets in the US are fitted with different screws.

No, it’s no ordinary screw. It’s a nasty, hard-to-remove tamper-resistant screws called a “Pentalobe.”

These new screws are NOT TORX screws, are NOT TORX security screws, and are NOT TORX PLUS screws.

To make matters worse, if you take an old iPhone 4 into to Apple for repair, the old Phillips #00 will be replaced with these Pentalobe screws, making DIY repairs tricky. These screws are so tiny that they’re easily chewed up if tackled with the wrong tools.

But iFixit has a solution - the iPhone 4 liberation kit. This kit comes with everything you need - a Pentalobe driver, 2 replacement PHILLIPS screws, and a regular #00 Phillips screwdriver - to swap out these nasty screws with ordinary screws. Priced at $9.95 it’s not going to break the bank.

Apple also uses the Pentalobe screws inside the MacBook Pro and on the shell of the new MacBook Air (these are bigger than the tiny ones used on the iPhone though).

Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw your iPhone from iFixit on Vimeo.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Screw, Apple Inc., Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
offshore_software_company@... Updated - 22nd Nov
@dheady@...

My situation is quite unique - in terms of accessibility to power - and I would need to change battery of my phone because an app on my iPhone is a key business tool for me.

offshore_software_company@quartiz.com

www.quartiz.com
View in thread
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Great title
oncall 20th Jan 2011
I think that's the best title for click-baiting I've ever seen. Nice happy
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
MG537 20th Jan 2011
@oncall
Who cares! I just like the word "Pentalobe".
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
bspurloc 20th Jan 2011
$9.95 for 2 screw drivers and 2 screws isn't bankk breaking but it certainly is highway robbery. and if u have the driver to take out Pentalobe, why would u need screws and the other. so not only highway robbery but palin stupidness
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I'm tempted to buy one
oncall 20th Jan 2011
@bspurloc

Just to poke fun at my (I have every tool on the planet) neighbor. "Hey I'll bet you don't have one of these" mwuhahahah!
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Gis Bun 20th Jan 2011
@bspurloc : Well, you need "normal" screws to fit in the product. True - all you really needed is the Pentalobe screwdriver and not the Phillips.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
BL PUMPK9 20th Jan 2011
@bspurloc
You said palin stupidness... TeeHee.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
DiLambert 20th Jan 2011
@bspurloc

Ten Bucks for a pair of screwdrivers and some screws? Maybe you guys never go to the hardware store for quality "electronics" screwdrivers. This is a good deal!

From another source: Apple charges $29 for the pentalobe screwdriver to get the bottom case off, which is also needed to remove the battery from the 15" & 17" MBPros. They charge $32 for the tri-lobe screwdriver that's necessary to remove the battery in all 11" & 13" MacBooks.

"To buy a pentalobe [screwdriver] from a reputable dealer you basically have to provide proof from the OEM that you're authorized to use one,"

Makes you feel all soft and fuzzy about how much Apple loves us and is against the big brother corporations. Nice propaganda campaign they run.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
dwiloch03@... 20th Jan 2011
@bspurloc Why are you so cheap and stupid?
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
geolemon 21st Jan 2011
@bspurloc You CAN buy just the driver. I don't believe through iFixIt... I was told it costs less than $3, which is very reasonable for a low-volume, precision, specialty driver.

But I'd probably buy the $10 kit... the two screws aren't something you walk into Home Depot for, and I'd burn a lot more gas and/or shipping funds on screws that might or might not be what I need, if my goal was "phillips or bust".

Of course, with the pentalobe driver, you really don't need the phillips screws anyway, if you want the cheap option only. Options are good.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
lelandhendrix@... 21st Jan 2011
@bspurloc You need the screws and the standard Phillips driver because THE DRIVER iFIXIT IS SELLING DOES NOT FIT THE PENTALOPE SCREWS! Sorry for the caps. That's my rant.

While the driver somewhat works, enough to remove the pentalope screws, it will damage them in the process.

So they are selling you a screwdriver to ruin the fancy screws, and Phillips screws and screwdriver to replace the ones they just got you to ruin.

All for the low, low price of $9.95, they provide you with the means both ruin and then replace. How nice of them!

Lol

I have Phillips in mine already, but if I needed I would get a proper driver, and do believe anyone who wants/needs to should be able to open their phone. But this little rant of ifixit is silly.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
mturso 21st Jan 2011
@bspurloc
Who is the stupid one. You replace the odd balls with standard for easy access down the road. Ten bucks for a custom made near impossible tool is not out of the way at all. Please stop voting.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
vonshavingcream 21st Jan 2011
@bspurloc if you listen to her she says that the driver is NOT a pentalobe driver it is a 5 prong phillips driver that removes the screws but renders them useless afterward, which is why you need the replacement screws.
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A pro uses the right tool for the job;
becabill 26th Jan 2011
@bspurloc ...and tools are expensive. These are about as economical as you'll find anywhere. Try buying one at Graybar.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Habiloso 20th Jan 2011
@oncall
Yes, it is a very clever headline. Well-done Adrian.
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why not just sell the new screwdriver alone
Ron Bergundy 20th Jan 2011
and leave the new screws in the case until the day you need to open it?

this sounds like the manufacturer is screwing the consumer becasue we're paying for a phillips head screwdriver and screws we'll never need!
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
pmcgrath@... 20th Jan 2011
@Ron Bergundy

After watching the video, it appears that the driver included is ?5 sided? but may not be an exact pentalobe match. (probably to avoid the Apple lawyers) So there is a better than average chance that the driver will destroy the screws as you take them out. Hence the need for the extra screws and driver.

Hey you don't have to buy the kit, you can always do it your self.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
bspurloc 20th Jan 2011
exactly and paying $9.95 for $2 items total
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
geolemon 21st Jan 2011
@Ron Bergundy You can buy the screwdriver only... maybe not from iFixIt... but it's under $3. I forgot the source. I'm sure it's a quick google result away.
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That's Apple for ya.
Cylon Centurion 20th Jan 2011
They're one big proprietary machine.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Gis Bun 20th Jan 2011
@Cylon Centurion 0005 : Yup. People complained about Microsoft's software. Of late, this, iTunes, OS X, ...
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
bobiroc 21st Jan 2011
@Cylon Centurion 0005

In My Opinion they are the kings of vendor lock in. They do everything they can to make it so once you buy Apple you have to stay with Apple when it comes to accessories, service, and future purchases.

My cousin-in-law had the warranty voided on her iPhone 3GS because she used a non-apple charger to charge her phone in the car. Brought it in because it was hard locked and would not boot and they blamed the charger. A charger that stated it was officially licensed and approved by Apple by the way. Made her pay $120 for a phone she just paid $200 4 months prior for. Of course it was her fault for bringing in the non-apple sync cable that came with her auto charger I suppose.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
neilpost Updated - 23rd Jan 2011
@bobiroc
@lelandhendrix@...
Fortunately, Consumer Law is a bit stronger in the UK.

- In the first 6 months, the manufacturer has to prove the item, for example an iPhone or iPod, but could be anything, was not faulty at the time of purchase or had an inherent fault from manufacture - which is nigh on impossible.
- Furthermore, in the UK, if you pay on a credit card and the cost is over ?100, around $140, the card company has equal and joint responsibility for the sale with the retailer under contract of sale it was bought by (a simple trade at a till or over the internet is all that is needed, contract of sale is just legal mumbo-jumbo).

far less ability for the retailer, Apple in this case, to screw you over.

As an example, I got a complete refund on a Nintendo DS, which Ninendo erefused to fix as was user damage. My card company sided with me, as Nintendo were unable to prove the unit was not inherently faulty from manufacture/purchase and Tesco Mastercard refunded me in full.

Section 75 of UK Consumer Credit Act - A wonderful thing !! Suggest the USA get one
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
non-biased 26th Jan 2011
@bobiroc While I would agree that Apple is not the most open company I wouldn't agree that they lock you in as much as many would claim. I have an iPhone but I am not required to buy anything else from Apple to use that phone.

In regard to your cousin-in-law, how do you know that it was not the fault of the charger? I know of a couple of people (one with an iPhone and another with a different brand) that had phone failures due to faulty car chargers. Also, regardless of the seller of the charger stating it was officially licensed, it might not actually have been. Even if it was, Apple is not responsible for replacing the phone that was damaged but the charger, that would fall on the charger manufacturer.

In regards to the screws, big freakin deal. iFixIt going on a rant about the screws is simply a marketing tool to sell their product. While I do have a very minor issue with then changing them from phillips to these special screws if you go in for repair how many people that go in for a repair are going to later want to open up the phone? If they weren't going to do it the first time the probably aren't going to do it later either. Most would probably be shocked at the number of products they use that have special or security screws in them but since this is Apple all of the sudden it's an issue. Of course the title was link baiting to the extreme but I have come to expect that on ZD.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
lelandhendrix@... 21st Jan 2011
@Cylon Centurion 0005

Other companies do this, too. What's worse is when car companies do it.

But other manufacturers do the same, to keep people from playing around inside their devices. If I owned a company and provided warranties to people, I would like to make it so any common fool could screw something upmthat I would be legally liable to fix.

For me, I'd deny liability if I could tell they'd tampered with my device. And changing out the screws would certainly tip me off that someone was up to something.
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Can I change battery with this tool kit?
offshore_software_company@... Updated - 22nd Nov
Can I change the batter myself if I get this. Or more importantly, can I use extra batteries for my long trips where I could change them myself.

Thank you,

offshore_software_company@quartiz.com
www.quartiz.com
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
nickdangerthirdi@... 20th Jan 2011
@shawn.dohmen@... well heck no, that would be like actually helping you user base, you are supposed to buy a new iphone because the battery in the iphone wont last 2 years, why do you think that apple and ATT started letting people upgrade after 18mos?
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Pete "athynz" Athens 20th Jan 2011
@nickdangerthirdi@... I'm calling bullsh1t here. Give up something verifiable that the batteries die before the two year mark or shut it. I own an iPhone 3G that is over 2 years old with the battery still going strong.

But go ahead and spread your FUD anyhow troll boy.
  • Flagged
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
bobiroc 21st Jan 2011
@nickdangerthirdi@...

Apple does some pretty stupid stuff like making it so that the things they make are proprietary in nature and closed tighter than bank vault but the batteries used in the iPhone and iPod touches and even in their MacBooks are of very high quality. My wife has my old iPhone 3G which is over 2 years old and it still holds a charge like it was brand new. No reason to come here and spread lies and FUD that you know are not even remotely true. And before you call me a fanboy or something similar I think many here will attest to the fact that I am not a big Fan of Apple in the many things they do.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
lelandhendrix@... 21st Jan 2011
@nickdangerthirdi@... My 3-year-old 3G still charges fine.

At least with the iPhone 4, though, replacing the battery is much easier than with previous models. Just don't do it yourself until you're out of warranty. By then, there may be higher capacity replacements available, as well.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Regulator1956 21st Jan 2011
@bobiroc Your wife's 3G may hold a great charge, but it's not physically possible that it's as good new.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
bobiroc 21st Jan 2011
@Regulator1956

"Your wife's 3G may hold a great charge, but it's not physically possible that it's as good new."

I know there is some loss of battery life due to age but I think you knew what I meant but I will clarify if you wish. I meant that there is no major noticeable loss of battery life during normal device usage and the battery still performs optimally factoring normal wear and tear due to age. Many other cell phones cannot say the same as you notice the battery is shot within that first year or so. Maybe that why people are making such a big deal about having to replace the battery because of their past experiences with cell phones.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
non-biased 26th Jan 2011
@nickdangerthirdi@... As others have stated my 2 1/2 year old 3G battery was performing great when I replace the phone a couple of weeks ago. My original second generation iPhone is still being used by a friends son as an iPod. While the battery isn't like new it's performance is impressive for a phone that is pushing 4 years old.

As far as your upgrade FUD, I have been with AT&T since '96 and have always been eligible to upgrade after 12 months.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
dheady@... 21st Jan 2011
@shawn.dohmen@... In no iPhone does Apple use batter, unless you're referring to the still secret iWaffle. As for keeping people out of the iPhone this is neither new nor exclusively an Apple tactic to keep want to be tech geniuses from screwing with a device they have no business screwing. As for 'extra batteries' for long trips. Not sure where on the planet you're going that won't have ample access to a charging outlet. The iPhone lasts days on standby as well. I can play games on mine the better part of a day and still not need 'extra batteries'.
As for changing the battery yourself, I did just that on my 3G using a kit and new battery from iFixit (great site and business model) and it wasn't a casual thing I would do more than once. I changed the battery as I was getting a new iPhone 4 and wanted to legacy the old one to my Grand Daughter. It hadn't died, but I knew she would be putting it through its paces, playing games constantly.
Finally, nice to see all of the geeks rising from their parent's basement to comment on how evil a company that looks at its products in a proprietary fashion. Free market capitalism, how evil! If you don't like it, buy any number of similar products. Oh my, guess what, almost all of them make it tough for you to get into the guts of the device. Why? Because there's nothing for you to 'fix' or fiddle with in there! The iPhone isn't a erector set or amateur radio kit, it's a consumer electronics device aimed at your Momma, not you. Forgive me Shawn, that wasn't directed specifically at you.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
SlithyTove 21st Jan 2011
@dheady@...

As for keeping people out of the iPhone this is neither new nor exclusively an Apple tactic to keep want to be tech geniuses from screwing with a device they have no business screwing.

God forbid we do what we want to do with the things we buy without having to ask the corporation for permission. Allowing corporations to control what we do and how we do it with our own lives and the things we own is pretty much always a bad idea.

As for 'extra batteries' for long trips. Not sure where on the planet you're going that won't have ample access to a charging outlet.

Translation: I'm too dimwitted to understand other people have different lives with different requirements. All people should behave exactly as I do, ie, exactly as the corporations tell me I should behave.

Finally, nice to see all of the geeks rising from their parent's basement to comment on how evil a company that looks at its products in a proprietary fashion.

This is part of why America is losing it's R&D edge. Anyone interested in science or technology or curious about how things work is automatically a dweeb "living in their parent's basement". You, sir, FAIL!

"Free market capitalism, how evil!"

Without any checks, free market capitalism can be VERY evil indeed. If you paid any attention to history (or looked around you) you might know that. Every successful country on the planet practices some form of restrained capitalism based on the lessons learned from watching un-restrained capitalism.

If you don't like it, buy any number of similar products.

We do when they are available. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who don't notice these things because of perfectly legitimate lack of interest, or plain stupidity. So you have to be vocal about this kind of thing. (Thanks Adrian!)

The iPhone isn't a erector set or amateur radio kit, it's a consumer electronics device aimed at your Momma, not you.

Just because you are too incurious to understand anything more complicated than an amateur radio kit doesn't mean the rest of the world is or should be. It also doesn't change the fact that we can and should be able to do what we wish with with products we own.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
offshore_software_company@... Updated - 22nd Nov
@dheady@... Thank you, I checked out iFixit and going to get a kit to try it on my own!

offshore_software_company@quartiz.com

www.quartiz.com
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
offshore_software_company@... Updated - 22nd Nov
@dheady@...

My situation is quite unique - in terms of accessibility to power - and I would need to change battery of my phone because an app on my iPhone is a key business tool for me.

offshore_software_company@quartiz.com

www.quartiz.com
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
lelandhendrix@... 21st Jan 2011
@shawn.dohmen@... There are lots of cool cases for the iPhone that have batteries BUILT-IN to the case. They can double battery life. That sounds like a good idea for you.

You can just use the phone as usual, and keep the battery-case charged up and ready to use when needed. Just as good as an extra battery, or double-life battery if you want to keep it in that case all the time.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
offshore_software_company@... Updated - 22nd Nov
@lelandhendrix@...

Do you have any brand recommendation for nice iPhone cases?

offshore_software_company@quartiz.com

www.quartiz.com
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
non-biased 26th Jan 2011
@shawn.dohmen@... And why would you go on a long trip without some sort of charger? I would far rather take a charger with me than carry around an extra battery. Of course there are also options available for external battery power which cost the same as a quality replacement battery if you insist. Personally I thought your question was more about taking a shot at Apple but I decided to play along with reason.
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kd5auq 20th Jan 2011
NT
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Apple Rules
Hasam1991 20th Jan 2011
God anything is better than my Android phone stuck on 2.1... never coming back to Android..
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
dshcpa 20th Jan 2011
@Hasam1991

Easy to root, easy to upgrade. Probably easier than getting the iphone screws out.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
snoop0x7b Updated - 20th Jan 2011
@Hasam1991 2.1 sucks? Really? ... Yeah whatever dude. Not every phone can run 2.2, and even if yours can, it's up to the OEM and the carrier, not google to do the upgrade. When you buy phones you can't expect that you'll get every single upgrade every time. You can't upgrade a first gen iPhone or an iPhone 3G to iOS 4, and if you upgrade a 3Gs to iOS 4 it will blow donkey balls. Good luck finding a vendor that will give you better upgrades though...
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3GS to 4.0....Priceless
htotten 20th Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b

Don't know what you did, but i update mine the first time IOS4.0 came out. Absolutely love it. Don't need the new camera so the upgrade was much better than buying an iPhone 4.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
SvZurich 20th Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b

Head over to the XDA Developers Forum and look up your phone. They are the masters of breathing new life into older hardware. They'll show ya how to root and update your phone, and even offer custom roms to tweak it.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
john1p47 20th Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b Sorry but you need to do a little research. My iPhone 3G is running iOS 4.2.1.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
Pete "athynz" Athens 20th Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b That's funny, I upgraded my iPhone 3G to iOS 4 - and it's running iOS 4.2.1 right now. Get your facts straight dude.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
lelandhendrix@... 21st Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b IPhones are MUCH better about software upgrades and updates than Android, with the exception being the Nexus phone whose updates come straight from Google.

For instance, Samsung is deliberately holding back updates for their Galaxy phones just to force you to buy a new model to get version 2.2. Just google it. It's all over the tech news.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
snoop0x7b 25th Jan 2011
@snoop0x7b Sorry, I was wrong about the iPhone 3g upgrade to iOS4. However, upgraded devices definitely run appreciably slower with iOS4.
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RE: How does Apple screw up your iPhone?
nickdangerthirdi@... 20th Jan 2011
@Hasam1991 Hey I have a Iphone you can have, I was gonna use it to throw at steve jobs if he ever came to town, but if I can find someone to take it off my hands that would be great too, The battery wont hold a charge, and it dies if you try opening the facebook app, not to mention its on ATT, you MIGHT be able to look up something on wiki and actually read the article before it dies though... ill be getting a android phone just as soon as my contract is up... ohh BTW the battery wont last as long as your contract....

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