Hands on: Apple iPhone 2.1 Software Update

“Apple released its latest update to the iPhone 3G this morning,” Jim Lynch reports for ExtremeTech.

“I started the download (which weighed in at about 237 Mbytes) and waited for it to finish. I had no problem installing the update and it took about five minutes or so for it to be complete. Short take: backing up and syncing seems a bit faster, as does updating applications. Thank goodness for that – I remember when it used to take forever just to back up my iPhone back in the days of its initial release,” Lynch reports.

“Before I went to install the 2.1 update, applications would update and it would seem to be take forever. After the new 2.1 upgrade the rest of the updates went faster. I updated eleven applications and it took approximately three minutes for iTunes to update them onto my iPhone. That’s much better before the update,” Lynch reports.

Full article here.

40 Comments

  1. I did a complete restore this morning from scratch and installed the new update. After the new update was installed, it took only 15 minutes for itunes to resync all my apps (50) , music (40), videos (6), and pictures (1000), which was around 6 gigs worth of stuff. I am highly impressed with the new update!’

    Kudos to Apple!

  2. @Geniusless

    Same thing happened to me, then it shows up after first sync with my computer (which would be first sync after updating software & then disconnecting, then reconnecting it to your computer), if you have Genius enabled.

  3. The update worked fine for me although the initial backup took over an hour. I need to try Asphalt4 to see if it still crashes often.

    Exchange calender syncing is still not what it should be though. At least for me. The iPhone does not automatically sync meetings that are already scheduled. You need to go into each event and send an invite to yourself. You also need to tell other people to invite you to their meetings again (not cool!).

    I do not believe Windows Mobile devices work this way with ActiveSync calendering. You would think if Apple paid MS to license ActiveSync that it would work the same way. Geez.

  4. Got my iPhone 3 weeks ago and was thinking of sending it back to Telcel (Mexico) because I did not get any cell signal in my office. Had to get out of the building to get it working. After the 2.1 upgrade this morning I get 2 or 3 bars and the phone actually works. I hope this is permanent and the reception I get is because of the upgrade.

    The genius feature is excellent too. I am hearing songs I had not listened to for a few years and did not remember I owned. Best upgrade ever!

  5. @Touch

    Are you joking about returning your iPhone because you could not get any cell signal in your office? Doesn’t your office have phones already?

    I am guess I’m amazed at the attitude, that if the iPhone doesn’t penetrate steel and concrete that you were going to return it (rather than simply stepping outside for some fresh air and signal bars).

    I wish more people would understand the products that they are purchasing and what those products can and cannot do, rather than having false expectations about them.

    The iPhone is a great device, but it is only as intelligent as the person using it. Just because it is a smart phone won’t make you as well.

  6. I updated this afternoon. The entire process went smoothly. Three of of my apps had updates, which went very quickly compared to the before. Search in my large 1500+ contacts address book is much faster. SMS is much faster. Keyboard display and entry is much faster. Reception in certain areas of my office building that were weak before are clear now.

    Great job Apple!!

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