Both Palm and Apple have rolled out device software updates today, and both are reportedly shipping with some problems…
Apple’s iOS 4.0.1 update is reported to bring a fix to the on-going antenna issue, and it does, inasmuch as it makes the signal bars on the screen look a bit bigger. That’s it.
Okay, they’ve tinkered with the algorithm for showing the bars – meaning that the handset will be less generous in doling them out when in areas of low reception – but this update fails to rectify the core issue of losing signal when covering the lower left portion of the iPhone 4.
Worse still, early installers are reporting problems with getting the software onto their iPhones in the first place.
The Register cites brilliantly named user DiscoRobbo finding fault with attempting to perform the install on his computer, and going to Apple’s forums for help:
“On a Win7 PC. Plugged the iPhone 4 in this morning and told there’s an update. Ran it, and it errored during the install – I now have a brick. Now had to do a full restore, and I guess I’ll have to try again.”
With a whirlwind of negative press surrounding the device (including an incensed Whoopi Goldberg recently ‘murdering’ her iPhone 4), today’s impromptu press conference is possibly one of the most important for Apple in recent memory.
In a year that has seen Apple launch two of their most successful products of all time, that’s saying something.
Palm’s new WebOS update sees the diddy Pre and Pixi – as well as their ‘Plus’ incarnations – get a boost to version 1.4.5, complete with an embarrassing issue.
Whilst this update was supposed to unlock the power of Palm’s devices as mobile gaming powerhouses, there is a tiny bug that actually prevents software from having unfettered access to the handset’s internal architecture, resulting in lock-outs and crashes for a number of apps.
The very ones they were trying so hard to promote.
Not so much of an issue for end users, but budding developers have become suitably annoyed with the situation.
Palm took to their developer forum to address the issue, stating it would have taken longer to fix than simply releasing a broken update:
“We’ve spent the last week attempting to address this issue in a way that would not require restarting the carrier certification process, but we’ve concluded that this is not possible. Restarting certification would delay 1.4.5 substantially and could result in some wireless operators not taking the update at all.”
Better buggy than late, eh?
O2 customers should be able to receive their busted over-the-air WebOS updates any time now, whilst iPhone 4 owners looking for bigger signal bars should connect their device to iTunes (and gear up for some disappointment!).
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