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Massive demand affects Apple’s iTunes Store, iPhone and iPod touch 2.0 updates, MobileMe service

Friday, July 11, 2008 · 10:35 am · 211 Comments

Massive demand on Apple’s servers today are causing MobileMe to act slowly/intermittently, iPhone/iPod touch 2.0 software to be available one moment and not the next, while the iTunes Store seems to be overloaded.

Our sources confirm that Apple is working on the issues and that huge (“unprecedented”) server demand is most likely the cause.

Are you experiencing difficulties with any or all of the above, too?

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Comment Feed

211 Comments

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Gabriel

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:09 pm · Reply

@Scenes from Cupertino

You’re killing me.

One can only hope that they don’t have to resort to the early-model G4 Mac mini they have as their backup!
Blame Who?

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:11 pm · Reply

“You an thank all the hackers who unlocked the iphone illegally for that!”

Apple was stupid for thinking even for a minute the activation process wouldn’t be cracked. The “take it home” method was flawed. It cost Apple a lot of money. Therefore it needed to be replaced.

Particularly now it’s AT&T;’s money, not Apple, AT&T;probably insisted on a method without Steve’s big glaring obvious flaw in the 1.0 activation process. It’s a lesson, if you’re going to try to change a way of doing things at least think for about 3 seconds for the obvious reasons as to why your idea won’t work.
wiredzen

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:12 pm · Reply

For me, MobileMe is slow but running and the 2.0 software update on my iPhone took about 40 minutes – though most of that was the “Restoring Music and Videos” step.

Originally I was an Apple user (Apple IIe was my first), then switched to MS, then switched back to Apple. My MS years were totally unsatisfactory. While I would agree that Apple obviously underestimated server usage/needs, I’m not going to start crying that the sky is falling like so many people. I would say tot hem, check you instant gratification and infallibility at the door. The mail used to be affected by the weather – THE WEATHER! – and people used to actually leave their houses from time to time. So get a grip. Write me when you have real problems. This is, by any reasonable definition, an inconvenience. Death is not imminent. And the same people wonder why the Apple fanboy (membership I claim, but which I am embarrassed to admit today) has such an obnoxious reputation. Those freaking out have completely justified that stereotype. Breathe for crying out loud.
Tyler

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:15 pm · Reply

back to the iBrick for a few days I guess…

Really, you have to understand that this is going to happen though. Sooo many people trying to update at once. You can’t hold it againts Apple.
It's Not A Tumor

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:18 pm · Reply

This reminds me of the Three Stooges trying to get through a doorway.
Danno Bonano

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:19 pm · Reply

From Canada:

iPod Touch 2.0 Upgrade
———————————–

One of the following occur and they flip-flop back and forth:

1) “Check for Update Button” visible. When clicked I am told 1.1.4 is the up-to-date version

2) Asked to Upgrade to 2.0. When I click on continue I receive an error message stating the iTunes Store is unavailable.

When clicking on the “Buy Now” link from Apple’s web page a message in iTunes pops up stating the iTunes Store is unavailable.

MobileMe is offline again as well (11:18am PDT)

Frustrating no doubt just from the excitement of wanting the new software and access to the App Store!
The Other Steve

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:27 pm · Reply

Okay, time to get out and PUSH!
ica

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:27 pm · Reply

Same problems as everyone else. Completely unable to access and finish the install. Was able to download 2.0 package but nothing more..
graeme

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:32 pm · Reply

‘This reminds me of the Three Stooges trying to get through a doorway.’

LOL
Petey

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:41 pm · Reply

Well I have the 2.0 update, contacts, calendars etc synced ok.

The only problem is I have no music or videos. podcasts etc on my iphone as it is trying to connect to the itunes store.

error -4 appears when i plug my iphone in…
lwww

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:50 pm · Reply

I SWEAR if I EVER see NEGATIVE FREAKING FOUR again, SOMEONE’S GONNA GET HURT
Mark n Scottsdale

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 2:52 pm · Reply

Oh shades of de je vu! !

Last year when the first iPhone debuted, I stood in line at the SoHo store and got four of them in about 20 minutes (and 2400 dollars.) Came home and could NOT activate one of them til the next day and the other hung up and finally activated itself a little after midnight that evening.

This time round I’m happily sitting out the mess. I did upgrade to iTunes 7.7 and got the new 2.0 software for my old iPhone and Mobile Me package for my iMac. It took HOURS yesterday to get on the servers. iTunes has decided it does not like my security code on my credit card (although it’s the right one) and it has generally been an abortion.

This time last year I was ranting and raving on the blogs about Apple not anticipating the level of activity online these things would generate. This year, you’ve not only got the new phones but MobileMe and a major upgrade for the existing six million with “old” iPhones, too. And they still don’t get it!

MEMO TO S. JOBS:

LEARN FROM YOUR PAST MISTAKES. NEW PRODUCT INTRO’s EAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOUR AVAILABLE BANDWIDTH. SERVERS GET OVERLOADED AND SLOW TO A CRAWL. PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED, LOG OFF, and LOG BACK ON TO TRY AGAIN. MAKING IT WORSE OF COURSE>

MAJOR NEW SOFTWARE (ie: MOBILE ME) that is going to eat the hell out of bandwidth in and of itself, SHOULD NEVER, REPEAT NEVER be introduced within a WEEK or more of a NEW IPHONE INTRO. MOBILE ME SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP, RUNNING AND DEBUGGED A WEEK BEFORE. THE EXISTING USERS OF iPHONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR NEW SOFTWARE AND FIRMWARE AND YOU WOULDN”T HAVE THEM CLOGGING THE NETWORK TODAY ALSO.

THIS IS THE 2nd FUCKING TIME YOUR STAFF HAS UNDERESTIMATED (GROSSLY UNDERESTIMATED) THE REQUIRED BANDWIDTH AND SERVER SPACE FOR THIS KIND OF ROLLOUT. FIRST TIME WITH THE ORIGINAL iPHONE, IT”S A MISTAKE. AN UNDERSTANDABLE MISTAKE. THIS TIME, IT”S PURE FRIGGIN STUPIDITY. DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE HAND THAT HAS FED YOU SO GENEROUSLY. iPHONE CAN STIL TANK IN SPITE OF YOUR UPGRADES AND G3. DO NOT TAKE THIS SOFTWARE/BANDWIDTH PROBLEM LITELY. YOU ONLY GET ONE DAY/ONE TIME TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION. THIS WAS IT FOR iPHONE and MOBILEME. AND YOU BLEW IT!

MOST OF THE NEW BUYERS DON”T REMEMBER LAST YEAR. BUT SIX MILLION OF US DO!

HEADS SHOULD RIGHTFULLY ROLL IN YOUR DATA AND DELIVERY CENTERS FOR THIS MESS. MASS FIRINGS AFTER PUBLIC HUMILIATION is TOTALLY APPROPRIATE. PUNISH THE STUPID GUILTY PARTIES AND DO IT IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY. IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME YOU EVER GO THROUGH THIS CRAP!

Yeah, MY FIRST MAC WAS A FRIGGIN’ LISA XL! IT’s true!
graeme

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:03 pm · Reply

Graeme here in the UK after 4 hours iphone validated itself and working fine with new apps.

G
DanielN

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:03 pm · Reply

At last! Been trying to complete the update for 3.5 hours. Countless attempts. Finally it just worked. Now have ‘sync in progress’ as it restores my music and video.

Happy to have my phone back. If I had known, I would have waited.

Good luck to everyone!
macbookmad

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:05 pm · Reply

I’m activated! Took about 10 tries and 40 minutes. I bricked my wife’s iPhone this a.m. and waited to do mine once the business calls died down. Hopefully AppleAT&T;is/are making headway. Will be interesting to find out the back story someday
macbookmad

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:14 pm · Reply

wow. this is sweet. the only thing I can saw to those who are waiting is that it’s worth the wait for 2.0. sorry for your misery but the servers seem to be cranking now
Maconymous @ Iwww

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:18 pm · Reply

-4
Maconymous

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:19 pm · Reply

That was supposed to be a -4 with a smiley sticking his tongue out. Not sure why that was replaced by “raspberry”.
Maconymous

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:23 pm · Reply

Nobody’s mentioning the failure of Apple to update it’s own website to reflect that MobileMe is now working. They still have the old “available soon” page up under Pricing. This is very un-Appleish. What’s going on with the company today?
KingMel

Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:27 pm · Reply

If some of the people on this forum along with around six million other people expected to update their Gen 1 iPhones instantly and without incident, then welcome to reality.

My advice is to find some patience and learn to wait a couple of days, or even a week. That also gives other people a chance to flush out the early bugs while you stay fully operational with the old version of the software.