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That's why I haven't even bothered. I hope either AT&T or Apple steps up and compensates us somehow but I'm not holding my breath. Under other conditions (not a worldwide epidemic) I would usually demand compensation but I don't see either of them actually doing anything other than letting time pass and us forget about it.

I agree totally . . . Apple needs to step up to the plate the same way they, under duress of course, did with the big iPhone price drop :apple:
 
mine says it too

after trying to connect to itunes this is what it does

axcfvt.jpg
 
Ok, so you all thought this was going to be some smooth operation today? You just MUST have a new iphone (that is a little faster but has realistically not even a new product & has been out for a year) today!! Call out of work, stand in 95 degree heat for hours and hours, some of you in line for days knowing full well you may not even get one, gripe about service knowing it's going to be jammed, etc... What a joke that you can't wait for an electronic device for a few days. All of you deserve every bit of anguish you receive today. LMAO!! Hope you all a great day!!

Ok, 1. Totally unnecessary. Apple are a major company, and I expect to be able to take home a new device, and have it work. They must have known that this would happen- this is why the official 2.0 should have been out for existing devices at least yesterday.

2. I am sticking with my 1st Gen iPhone, so I did not "have to have" the new shiny gadget, I simply wanted to upgrade the firmware of my current one as it became available.

EDIT: Finally got through, now just waiting for the restoring thing to happen. Still furious, although now I am furious but have a functioning gadget again. UK users, it is still happening for us.
 
I should note, that I did successfully copy all of the info back from the iPhone backup, so I have my music, photos, videos contact etc, however the phone won't sync any new data, so I can't transfer the Apps from my computer to the phone.

As I recall, when the phone was sitting at the 'connect to iTunes' stage, but iTunes looked like it was doing nothing, I simply unplugged the phone and plugged it back in again, which kicked off the retrieving of data from the backup.
 
Unfortunately I'm still stuck clicking away but seeing a few UK users getting through upgrading their first-gen iPhones gives me a sprinkle of hope.

I think I'm going to hear that error sound in my sleep tonight.
 
This is really strange. I too was stuck on the Accessing iTunes Store page, and then all of a sudden i start hearing text messages come through. and sure enough, I'm at the home screen on the 3G. I can make calls just fine and everything, but I never went through the iTunes activation process. Anyone else experience this?

Edit: iTunes will not let me sync or mess with the phone at all as it does not realize it's been activated for service
 
Whilst we are all stuck in acessing itunes errors, if you drag your playlists it will sync with your iphone despite it not been activated, at least do something constructive while Apple dick on us again.
 
Took a long time...

I have been having the same trouble as most of you... the dreaded (-4) error. It took me since 9:00am this morning until 12:30pm to get it to finally go. Thanks to whoever posted the tip about clicking back and forth as I re-docking over and over trying to get it to work. Apple should have release the software to the existing iPhone users either before or after the 3G launch. (Before would have saved the rush, but maybe cost them some iPhone 2.0 sales, after would have upset the existing users, myself included, I know...)

Anyway, if you are still having issues, just keep trying it does eventually work.
Good luck to all!
 
I think that anyone who depends on their phones for their livelihood or in some other way feels the device is an indispensable part of their life shouldn't have tried to get the 3G today. There were the same load problems last year, and this phone is certainly selling more units today than that one did. Seriously, this IS frustrating, but easily, easily foreseen.
 
This is really strange. I too was stuck on the Accessing iTunes Store page, and then all of a sudden i start hearing text messages come through. and sure enough, I'm at the home screen on the 3G. I can make calls just fine and everything, but I never went through the iTunes activation process. Anyone else experience this?

Edit: iTunes will not let me sync or mess with the phone at all as it does not realize it's been activated for service

Same for me - 9838 errors - then noticed phone was no longer on emergency calls only. Error changed to -4 still cannot sync.
But badgerman is right - you can drag your music on to sync and I am doing that now.

Thanks badgerman
 
I think that anyone who depends on their phones for their livelihood or in some other way feels the device is an indispensable part of their life shouldn't have tried to get the 3G today. There were the same load problems last year, and this phone is certainly selling more units today than that one did. Seriously, this IS frustrating, but easily, easily foreseen.

some of us are just trying to upgrade our 1st gen phones to the new software. some of us are also professionals who depend on our phone for communication. i have been sitting at home all day, missing calls and meetings because i don't have a phone. i can't even call ATT to complain!
 
FINALLY worked after a long while, all seems fine....removed my iToner ringtones but after downloading the new update for that and re-synced, there all back and working fine :)

Still, not very impressed with having to wait sooo long.

I'm from UK btw.
 
I think that anyone who depends on their phones for their livelihood or in some other way feels the device is an indispensable part of their life shouldn't have tried to get the 3G today. There were the same load problems last year, and this phone is certainly selling more units today than that one did. Seriously, this IS frustrating, but easily, easily foreseen.

However, to be fair, the average Joe who just wanted to pick up an iPhone 3G and was unaware of previous load problems, the issue is not so foreseeable. People who pay for a product should be able to activate the same day. It's not the average Joe's fault that they wanted one on launch day, it's Apples fault for being absolutely incompetent, it's been obvious since the "unprecedented" preorders that a lot of units were going to be sold today. As most people have commented, Apple really should have officially released 2.0 yesterday for current iPhone users to ease the load.
 
I think that anyone who depends on their phones for their livelihood or in some other way feels the device is an indispensable part of their life shouldn't have tried to get the 3G today.

I Disagree.

The iPhone update should have worked. Its not my fault for downloading it, its Apples fault for not being ready for it.
 
WooHoo

My phone all of sudden popped up and now it is "Restoring iPhone from backup". I didnt touch anything and the screen is reading "iPhone is Activated". I have the first generation..........was trying to upgrade to 2.0. Anyone else get this?
 
WooHoo

My phone all of sudden popped up and now it is "Restoring iPhone from backup". I didnt touch anything and the screen is reading "iPhone is Activated". I have the first generation..........was trying to upgrade to 2.0. Anyone else get this?

Lucky!

Whip it out of the dock and run!
 
Mine is Fixed

iPhone 2.0 finally went through and my phone is fine. The phone or my PC wont connect to the iTunes store, but thats about it. Keep the faith guys:D
 
Ok, so you all thought this was going to be some smooth operation today? You just MUST have a new iphone (that is a little faster but has realistically not even a new product & has been out for a year) today!! Call out of work, stand in 95 degree heat for hours and hours, some of you in line for days knowing full well you may not even get one, gripe about service knowing it's going to be jammed, etc... What a joke that you can't wait for an electronic device for a few days. All of you deserve every bit of anguish you receive today. LMAO!! Hope you all a great day!!

Your darts are totally misguided. This affects all iPhone owners including those who already had the former model trying to update software.
Do you relish thoughts of water torture on your mother as well?

Karma is waiting just for you . . .
 
I'm now 3 hours into the 'activation' process at home via itunes.... :(

Has anyone recently gotten though to activate their new iphone 3g?

My new shiny brick is so pretty i just want it to work!!
 
I have been having the same trouble as most of you... the dreaded (-4) error. It took me since 9:00am this morning until 12:30pm to get it to finally go. Thanks to whoever posted the tip about clicking back and forth as I re-docking over and over trying to get it to work.

Can you confirm where this post is? This is the exact problem I have right now.
 
some of us are just trying to upgrade our 1st gen phones to the new software. some of us are also professionals who depend on our phone for communication. i have been sitting at home all day, missing calls and meetings because i don't have a phone. i can't even call ATT to complain!

You attempted to install unproven software on a business critical device the day it was released...what did you expect?

It's clearly not good on Apple's part, but perhaps you should have waited to be sure that the software you were installing was stable and functioned properly before you disabled something critical. Why do you think IT staffs do upgrades and installations on off-hours?
 
Mine is Fixed

iPhone 2.0 finally went through and my phone is fine. The phone or my PC wont connect to the iTunes store, but thats about it. Keep the faith guys:D

Good stuff!

There is some hope out there, let's hope it whips my way. 2.5 hours now I've been clicking away - I will get this lovely brick activated soon.
 
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