Isn't that like asking for a car that never breakss down?
Sure, it would be nice, but...
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Over the Air OS Updates? Please?
- Thread starter Vandam500
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Isn't that like asking for a car that never breakss down?
Sure, it would be nice, but...
I've never had any phone or any computers ever get it's system files corrupted... so this shouldn't be the issue.
Maybe 'corupt' is the wrong word. I don't actually know what's happening.
All I know is that I've heard of more than one person (my wife included) have the phone suddenly start working 'wrong' in some way which a restore then fixes.
That's "the software breaking itself with no change by the user."
I call that a coruption, but I admit that's just me making up words to describe something I don't understand. At any rate, that's what I'm talking about, even if it really has some other name.
Right, but even with OTA updates you should still be able to do a full restore if desired.
All this said, I think OTA is possible but right now it doesn't seem like there is any reason for Apple to do it. It's not like new security updates come out every month. That's the biggest reason to want OTA updates. Many users can't be bothered to update their computers or phones or whatever... The fact that iTunes does it for you makes it easy enough for most people that if there was a major security issue they would probably be fine.
The real benefit for OTA updates is if there is a major security flaw Apple can get EVERYONE's phone the patch rather than just those who plug in their devices every night.
Personally, I don't want OTA updates and would probably turn them off given the option. What I would like would be the ability to install patches rather than full firmware re-writes.
I don't mind connecting the iphone to my computer for updates considering it's not very often and I do like the fact that whenever ther is an update it does a CLEAN INSTALL and not just an upgrade on top of the OS.
I would much rather see an option to for my iphone to sync to itunes over my wireless network to update my content.
I would much rather see an option to for my iphone to sync to itunes over my wireless network to update my content.
As an oldtime embedded designer, I've always thought that the iPhone has some kind of memory bug. It's the only phone where the highly recommended fix to a stubborn problem is to restore the OS. Perhaps its flash memory wear algorithm is not that great. (Apple uses an inexpensive flash type that only lasts ~5K writes.) It's also possible that the power control used when erasing/writing is faulty... I've seen that before.
OTA updates are perfectly feasible, done by other systems, and make a lot more sense for smartphones, which by their very nature should get everything they need OTA.
Especially if a maker wants their phone adopted around the world. Not everyone has ready access to a computer for activation, restoration, etc. It partly explains why the iPhone barely sells outside of a handful of well off countries.
OTA updates are perfectly feasible, done by other systems, and make a lot more sense for smartphones, which by their very nature should get everything they need OTA.
Especially if a maker wants their phone adopted around the world. Not everyone has ready access to a computer for activation, restoration, etc. It partly explains why the iPhone barely sells outside of a handful of well off countries.
As with all other phones that can do OTA updates, it will download the update first, then verify that the downloaded package is not corrupt. There's no issue with the connection being lost since it will just redownload it if it fails. Many OTA updates require you to have a baseline battery connection before starting (or they require you plug it into a power source). So the issues are really no different than doing updates through iTunes.
As with every other phone that does do OTA updates, you can choose whether or not to accept and download the update. It would not be hard to add an option for this as well.
Yeah, but Apple doing something just because consumers want it is like pulling teeth. Out of the dozens of things that people want in OS updates, Apple brings maybe 1 or 2 into fruition. I guess we'll just see how it pans out in a few months
Usually you have to... What if the user has 2% battery left? What if they are in the middle of their call? What if they have an emergency? You need to be able to decline a download as part of the OTA update model.
Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all. I'm fine with my 3gs jailbroken on 3.1.3. Probably won't update hardware either, but we'll see if it'll be able to be jailbroken, how it looks, runs, etc before I buy.
What you said makes some sense. What would you suggest for a company replacing 17,000 Blackberries with iPhones once they are enterprise ready? Having to manually synch every user's iPhone as opposied to BB's OTA would be a real pain in the .... Just wondering.
You guys seriously act like this is some kind of crazy new technology that people are asking for. It's been done by plenty of other companies (eg Palm does it in WebOS). If the battery is low, refuse to install the update until it's charged about X%. If the user's on a call, refuse to install the update. Warn them when they start that the update will take XX minutes, and if they have an emergency in the middle of that then they're just SOL.
The one and only reason that the iPhone doesn't do OTA OS updates is that Apple hasn't chosen to implement it. I personally don't care one way or the other, but I think they'd be doing themselves a favor to go the OTA route. Would save theirs and AT&T's support people a lot of time dealing with the types that haven't connected their phone to iTunes in 2 years.
I agree with everything you said. I know a couple of people that have iPhones but don't have computers. It would be perfect for them and of course the iPhone would be more accessible to more people!.
Then I guess the iphone as an enterprise device is not going to be a viable option because there is no way a corp is going to have thousands and thousands of iphones that are locked to itunes to get an update.
Actually, the recommended fix is first to reboot, then reset and only then a restore. Doesn't seem that different than other smartphones
Um, Blackberries only recently got over-the-air OS update capabilities with 4.5+, and I bet you most IT shops will set security so that it doesn't happen. You mean to tell me that enterprises have screwed up allowing blackberries to exist in their environments for all these years?
Let's get real. Plugging an iPhone into a computer and using iTunes is no different than plugging in a Blackberry and using Blackberry Desktop Manager.
Sheesh. If you're going to try to convince us that over-the-air updates is a requirement, at least use a real argument.
I think people are missing the point here. Apple is all about the paradigm, and the iPhone paradigm is as a device one syncs media with a computer. It was never intended to be used without a computer. Yes, we can now use the iTunes store on the go...but it's always meant to be synced back to a computer.
Unless Apple completely rethinks the iTunes paradigm, OTA updates just won't be happening...whether some people might find them useful or not.
Unless Apple completely rethinks the iTunes paradigm, OTA updates just won't be happening...whether some people might find them useful or not.
Yeah that's the worst thing about Apple. They never deliver based on what their customers want/need, they just do their own thing.
The fact is that they now its possible with BB. That is real. Does not make a difference what used to be. There used to be no iphone. Your living in the past and trying to validate the future. I thought the Apple mantra was "Think different" but apparently you can only think what Apple tells you to think.
And what you bet on about what IT departments will do is irrelevant. Don't get your **** in a bunch because I point out what is possible now with one device and not allowed or permitted or whatever with the iphone.
The wipe and install from scratch idea is great...in theory. But most iPhone updates have been a headacke for me. Update didn't work, try again, restore, etc... I'm so paranoid of updates that i haven't installed the latest.
At any rate I don't mind no over-the-air for this but would really love it for music/audiobook/podcast transfers.
At any rate I don't mind no over-the-air for this but would really love it for music/audiobook/podcast transfers.
Thank you. There's no use debating the advantages/disadvantages of OTA if Apple won't even consider it.
I'm confused. I've never heard of a corporation that fully delivers their customers wants and needs. Sure, they're able to deliver some of these wants and needs; but, never heard of one that achieves all of them.
If there is a company that does this, who are they?
Personally, I prefer syncing with my computer. It's important to me to back my stuff up on a regular basis. Also, I don't have easy access to wi-fi; so, OTA wouldn't be an option for me.