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How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4

By | July 28, 2010, 1:22pm PDT

Summary: Upgrading your iPhone 3G to iOS4 makes it almost unusable. Here’s the way a friend got Apple to swap hers for one running 3.1.3.

A couple of days ago I highlighted the fact that Apple should advise against upgrading your iPhone 3G to iOS4. I also mentioned that a friend of mine had tried just about everything to rectify her situation.

Well, it seems that she had one more play in her playbook. She’s now the proud owner of an iPhone 3G running OS 3.1.3. Here’s how she did it:

  • Apple Store: during the visit she was told that there was nothing that Apple could do
  • Apple Store–with an appointment with a Genius: the Genius couldn’t do anything for her because she hadn’t backed up her pictures yet
  • Called Apple Care–she had the AppleCare warranty. She told the person on the phone that she was frustrated and going to leave AT&T and her iPhone behind. She demanded that Apple replace her phone.

The Apple Care person made her an appointment at the Apple Store and put this in the notes:

“Do not troubleshoot–replace with iPhone 3G running OS3″

Well, this final visit to the Apple Store did the trick. Apple first tried to reinstall 3.1.3 and when they couldn’t succeed, pulled an iPhone 3G out of a drawer. According to my friend, even though Apple isn’t selling the 3G anymore, they have a stash of new ones sitting in a drawer behind the counter. Instead of coming in a shiny Apple box, it came in a dark gray plastic case, with a serial number on the outside.

So, there you have it. A couple of visits to the Apple Store and a call to Apple Care and her new iPhone 3G is not on iOS4.

One more thing: her phone was a month out of warranty but she believes that because she had paid for the Apple Care that they were a bit more understanding.

If you try some of the steps above and succeed, share your story below.

UPDATE: Another friend went into the Apple Store earlier this evening (6pm EST) and made an appointment to see a Genius. After complaining about the iPhone 3G being unusable after the upgrade, and after some back and forth, the Genius went into the back room and came out with a new iPhone 3G for him. The Genius also mentioned that Apple was working on a “fix”, so stay tuned.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Apple Inc., Apple iPhone 3G, 3G, Smart Phones, Cellular Phones, Wireless And Mobility, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Joel Evans

With more than a decade of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space.

Disclosure

Joel Evans

Joel is a serial entrepreneur with his most recent business, CronkSoftware (cronksoftware.com), focusing on consulting and building games and applications for mobile devices. Joel has consulted for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile division and advises other companies on how to incorporate mobile into their existing brands and products. Joel purchases many of his devices and others are sent for review on a 30-day loaner basis and then returned to the supplier. If any devices are provided as “keeper” Joel will clearly disclose this in his reviews.

Biography

Joel Evans

With more than a decade of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands, technologies and services into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently serving as the Managing Director of Cronk Software, Inc., a company he founded to offer full-service, end-to-end mobile strategy, design and development services.

Joel is the former founder and "Chief Geek" of Geek.com, a website praised by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and others as one of world's best sources of information for technology professionals and enthusiasts.

Joel also serves as a technology expert for a number of well-known publications and regularly advises corporations, analysts, journalists and bloggers on what the future of technology will bring. He brings decades of relationships with leading game publishers, online communities and publishers, along with both hardware and software product management and delivery expertise. Joel can be found online as "JoelGeek" and you can follow him on Twitter @JoelGeek.

Talkback Most Recent of 15 Talkback(s)

  • Why not just downgrade???
    You do know you can just downgrade the firmware in DFU mode, right? You didn't need a new iPhone.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    cory2107
    28th Jul 2010
  • Did you read the part where that failed?
    @cory2107
    ZDNet Gravatar
    People
    28th Jul 2010
  • RE: Why not just downgrade???
    @cory2107 You don't have to need one. Just get a bright and shiny new one with lower mileage!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    fifidonkor@...
    29th Jul 2010
  • What iOS4 problems?
    I've been using iOS4 on my 3Gs since it first came available. I haven't noticed any slowdowns or problems.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jaypeg
    28th Jul 2010
  • yeah, but we're talking about the iPhone 3G, not the 3GS.
    @jaypeg
    ZDNet Gravatar
    LouisXIV
    28th Jul 2010
  • Hard reboot seemed to fix mine
    It's slower but usable.

    But my new Droid X Smokes it! happy
    ZDNet Gravatar
    itguy08
    28th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    @itguy08 Well yeah I guess so - it's a 2 year old device running a month old OS vs a new device running a new OS...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Pete "athynz" Athens
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    Just to save face jobs & apple need to commit Hari Kari, they don't care any more. I realize this is about the iPhone 3G and IOS4, however I have had 2 iPhone 4 that sucked, returned both and dropped AT&T moved to Verizon and got a Droid X. I am so Happy Apple and their ithingy was crap because the Droid X is AWESOMELY BIG and BLAZING FAST but the big bonus is NO AT&T.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    javajolt
    28th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    I upgrade my iphone 3gs to ios 4 according the article in ifunia iphone column, iOS 4 Upgrade Guide, "Install iOS 4 on Your iPhone-A guide helps you upgrade your iPhone or iPod Touch to Apple's new iOS 4".
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Robert Warren
    28th Jul 2010
  • ?this changes everything?
    Apples reliance on customer loyalty seems to bet getting further abused, early up takers of there technology are once again receiving the brunt of the issues and just like Apples over censorship (now also in the bookstore) reported in the last few days this will create another setback that I?m sure the company could have done with not coming to light at the moment in time.

    However for them to neglect the full testing of iOS4 on the 3g , means inturn there neglecting the need of current customers it seems there so focused on ?this changes everything? that they forget what everything is or was and that should be providing full support to current consumers of there products.

    It is another setback once again for Apple it will be interesting to see what's next in the news regarding iPhone/iPad issues (antenna, manufacturing and service charges) and their steps to refund cases won?t make up for the iPhone 4's lack of function over form.

    But Apple have created such a loyal following that people may just put up with what issues there are for the sake of owning the latest Apple product.
    Personally, I'd be happier with an older iPhone - at least then the issues are all ironed out.

    However, it's also interesting to see how much excitement new technologies can bring. New technology and innovation is important for new business, illustrated by entrepreneurship grants and new business competitions like http://www.ukesnc.com.

    Guess it's not all bad!
    ?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    galile0
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    I wonder what they would do for a person who has a 2 year old iPhone 3G and who did not get the AppleCare... I may have to go stock iOS4 and take mine in to find out... And also to see if there is any truth to the "digital watermarks" rumors that Apple has supposedly put into the iOS to detect jailbreaks even when the device is restored with the stock OS.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Pete "athynz" Athens
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    I upgraded to 4.0 and generally turned my phone into a paperweight, it was sluggish and would crash trying to run games and such. I starting checking out the blogs and postings and discovered an app called Free Memory. I installed and ran it and it cleared up memory available so I could run my apps. I upgraded to 4.01 and my phone is working fine now. PS...this has been quite a hassle for me, not sure if I will be buying an iPhone again. I prefer hassle-free cell phone usage!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ozzyandus
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    Great to see the issues with iOS4 on the 3G getting some news time!

    Now we need the same on the 3GS.....
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rhonin
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    I had the same experience as @itguy08 -- it was slow immediately after the upgrade but a reboot seemed to oil the gears. It hangs now and then with more sophisticated apps, but it did this before the upgrade. The hardware is just getting too old to run the specs of the newer apps built for 3GS and 4G. However, the battery life of my phone, if anything, is better now, and I wouldn't trade threaded email for anything. Wish my iPad already had that feature (thumbs twiddling)....
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jrandal7
    29th Jul 2010
  • RE: How to get Apple to swap out your 3G iPhone running iOS4
    PS: And all I have to do is remember the daily horror show that was my life while using the Samsung f'd-up Jack and Windows Mobile, or how disappointed I was when I upgraded from WM 5.x to 6.0 only to discover that it did not one thing more or better than it had before the upgrade despite Microsoft's glowing claims, and my heart is warmed to Apple once again -- though I agree they should be careful if they're not to become a mini version of the ogre that Microsoft already is. Too many issues are falling through the cracks in the rush to compete for and maintain market share in the face of competition. Slow and steady, however, wins the race.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jrandal7
    29th Jul 2010

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