Entirely separate from my iPhone problems, I've also been having some major Mac problems (it's been a BAD Apple week for me) -- and I can't get into my account. So unfortunately I couldn't sync/restore/access my iTunes at all or do any of the suggested troubleshooting, even if I wanted to.
So I went to see an Apple Genius, who didn't believe me at first when he said my music disappeared and all my apps weren't working. He just assumed I hadn't synced properly, or wasn't testing every app, or hadn't bothered to reboot, or whatever. When I tried to explain the situation, and how it was affecting a LOT of users, he still thought it was something that *I* must have done wrong. He looked at the "About" section, which apparently said the capacity was very low, and said that I just didn't sync any of my music. When I said that I had, and that they were actually there, but just not showing up, he rolled his eyes. I started to get really pissed.
He tried a few things, like resetting my settings (without asking my permission), and basically told me I was screwed and that there was nothing that could be done because it was a software issue. I asked "am I really supposed to just deal with an iPhone that doesn't work the way it's intended?", and his answer was yes. He felt ashamed that he couldn't do anything, and it was obvious to both of us that only an Apple update could fix the situation -- so I just walked out, furious that I was in this situation, and nothing could be done.
Thing is, when he restored my phone's settings, we didn't think anything had changed -- since he was only testing whether or not apps would open (and they still weren't). However, when I got out of the Apple Store, I noticed my music HAD reappeared! 3rd-party apps were still a no-go, but my music was somehow back. I walked back in and showed the genius, and he was shocked that now the phone was showing ALL my music, and that the capacity was suddenly full. He then pretty much gave me a "did this guy just switch phones on me?" look, and seemed skeptical. He then said it was great my music was back, and that maybe my apps would begin working again too -- but there was still nothing he could do. He also made it sound like I had way too many apps (I have about 5 sreens worth), and that it was probably my fault somehow for having so many. Or that I probably had inadvertently installed a malicious file somehow. When I told him I've never jailbroken my phone, and that every file on there was from iTunes or a CD, he said he didn't care -- and that it was still possible. I realized I was just going to get more upset if I stayed and listened to this, so I just left.
When I got back home, I tried the "installing a free app" trick again (which did NOT work with me before), and suddenly....it was working! All my apps were now opening!
So that was my very long-winded explanation of how I got my phone working again, without having to do any mass-deleting/restoring/whatever. It just meant restoring my settings (which was a small bummer), and downloading a free app again.
I now have a few app updates waiting for me, and a couple of games I'd love to download -- but I don't DARE do anything with my phone now until another Apple update comes out. If there's one good thing about my Mac also being down, it's that I'm not tempted to change my music or sync either. Not sure what that would do. I just don't want to go through any of this again!!!
