Tech
Firmware 2.1 arrives for iPhone (updated 2x)
Apple has started pushing out the iPhone 2.1 firmware via iTunes.
![jason-d-ogrady.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/6fa2620d5ec52b0e82d5cf31ef1e9f4f95dff145/2014/07/22/59e04b7a-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a/jason-d-ogrady.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
Apple has started pushing out the iPhone 2.1 firmware via iTunes. The 237.8MB update is available by connecting your iPhone to iTunes and clicking on the update button. Luckily I spent last night backing up my iPhone.
![Firmware 2.1 arrives for iPhone](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/2014/10/04/1fc10981-4b97-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57/picture-1-15.png)
- decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
- significantly improved battery life for most users
- dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
- improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
- faster installation of 3rd party applications
- fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes if you have lots of 3rd party applications
- improved performance in text messaging
- faster loading and searching of contacts
- improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
- repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming messages
More after the jump...
I used an old trick from my Mac OS classic days and resisted the urge to re-install all of my applications back on my freshly-restored iPhone. Instead I opted to spoon-feed apps back a little at a time, only installing a handful for now. Making the first round cut are (in alphabetical order):
- AccuFuel (my Prius is getting 47MPG, yes!)
- Pro Football Live (Eagles Monday night)
- SplashID (for account numbers, etc.)
- Starmap (still haven't used it much yet, though)
- Texas Hold'em (although I barely play it)
- Tides (secret app I'm beta testing)
- Twinkle (somewhat buggy Twitter client)
Update 2: In case you're wondering firmware 2.1 re-SIM-locks iPhone 2G. Have you installed Firmware 2.1 yet? What apps are on your short list? Post your results in the TalkBack.