Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • iOS Update Problems

    Whenever Apple releases a new version of iOS for their iPod, iPhone, and iPad, everyone flocks to their computers to grab the latest and greatest. Most of the time everything goes fine and you can enjoy the new features, but occasionally something goes wrong and a cryptic error dialog pops up, leaving you frustrated and without the use of your device.

    This problem seems to be most common for with people who dabbled with jailbreaking their device. While Apple has not specifically said “thou shalt not jailbreak,” they are not usually forthcoming with assistance in case of failure. Most of the issues stem from putting a new, jailbroken version of the iOS on the device, then trying to go back to an earlier, unmodified version. The device will give an error code and fail to update, and in many cases will do nothing but show the Connect to iTunes graphic. In this case, you usually have to go back to the people who released the jailbreaking software you used in the first place to correct the problem. Sometimes doing a restore in recovery mode will fix the problem, but you will lose whatever was on the device.

    The other issue that we get calls about concerns the inability to update your device’s iOS in iTunes. Upon connecting your device. you may find that iTunes insists it is already running the latest software. If you just bought an iPad 2, you don’t need to update – it ships with iOS 4.3 installed. Also, the iOS update does not apply to the Verizon CDMA version of the iPhone. Apple has not said whether a separate update for the Verizon iPhone will be made available later, but one of the bigger features of the update (Personal Hotspot) has been available on the Verizon model since launch. Finally, iOS 4.3 does not support the iPod touch 2nd gen, classic, or nano so these devices will not show an available update.

    A common cause of update failure is when iTunes can’t access necessary websites over ports 80 and 443. This mostly affects Windows users running a firewall that blocks ports on an application basis. Check your security software to make sure iTunes can use those ports. Many firewalls, such as Norton, have an option to temporarily disable the firewall to test this out. If it works while the firewall is off, you know where to look for the solution.

    Some other not-so-obvious issues have also come up:

    iTunes does not recognize the device: When you plug the device into a USB port, it should automatically launch iTunes and show up under “Devices.” If it does not, make sure you’re running the latest version of iTunes (10.2.1 as of this writing). Windows systems need Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, Vista, or Windows 7; Mac systems need OS X 10.5 or later.

    Error 1013: While downloading the update, iTunes shows this error and puts the device into recovery mode, showing nothing but a Connect to iTunes graphic. This can sometimes be caused by using a jailbreaking app that modifies networking files (such as a manual entry in the HOSTS file on Windows systems). This prevents iTunes from downloading the “legit” software until the edits are removed.

    One thing to be aware of before taking the plunge – in case of a problem with the update, you may have to use recovery mode to make the device work again. This will wipe the device before updating the software, so when it is done it will behave as if it was new out of the box. Make sure you have everything synchronized with your iTunes library before you attempt the update. iTunes will not “reverse sync” your device – if the device has never been synchronized with iTunes, or you connect the device to someone else’s computer, iTunes will attempt to erase all data to set up a new sync connection. There are utilities available to back up a device without using iTunes, but Apple does not recommend or support such things if something goes horribly wrong.

    If all else fails, a great resource is Apple’s Support article, found “here”:http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275.

  • Happy Tuesday,

    We had another storm roll through the region yesterday, leaving snow measuring a couple of inches to about a foot in the higher elevations. At this point every year, I’m just ready for spring to arrive, so, while not entirely unexpected, the storm was most definitely a drag. Sunday was so beautiful – I strapped on my snowshoes and took Owen for a long hike and his first swim of the year.

    It might have been last year or the year before that I swam before the end of March, but I try and take a swim in the Mad River absurdly early in the season every year. I think I’ll pull off a March swim this year too!

    I went out to Apple HQ in Cupertino, CA with Don for a day of meetings earlier this week. I really enjoy these trips, particularly those in winter; eating dinner outside in mid-March is always a refreshing change. Now, if only United Airlines could get me to or from my destination within five hours of scheduled arrivals. Some day.

    Seriously though, these meetings are extremely valuable for Small Dog. Not only do we have direct access to AppleCare executives, the gathering of the very best of service providers makes for a very useful and open exchange of ideas. AppleCare is far and away the best warranty and support product in the industry, and Small Dog is among the very best of the best with customer satisfaction well over 90%. If you ever have less than an exceptional experience, I want to hear about it.

    As always, thanks for reading, and keep in touch.

    Matt
    “matt@smalldog.com”:mailto:matt@smalldog.com

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  • I apologize if I haven’t answered any of your emails in the past couple of weeks. I have gotten so backlogged with interference from life and travel that I am going to have to spend a whole day just getting it back under control. After getting rid of spam and junk, I still have over 500 messages to deal with. Normally, I tell friends and customers that the best way to get ahold of me is email, but that sure isn’t the case this week!

    It is definitely sugaring weather here in Vermont with cold nights, sunny days and muddy roads. Grace and I are juggling our schedules to be able to get up and down the hill in the truck during mud season. One of these cold mornings I am going to have get my motorcycle down the hill on the frozen road.

    Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
    _Don, Ben & Stephanie_

  • iOS 4.3 Bugs Abound

    Last Wednesday, Apple released the highly anticipated iOS 4.3 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. In retrospect, perhaps the update should have stayed in the oven until its official release date on Friday the 11th. While the incremental iOS update brings numerous enhancements to iOS device users–especially those with current gen. devices–Apple’s message boards are becoming riddled with complaints of bugs from some iOS device owners.

    The first issue is the mobile operating system’s performance on iPhone 3GS. While not quite the debacle iOS 4.0 was on iPhone 3G, users of the previous-generation iPhone cite unsavory slowdown upon upgrading. While there always seems to be a base of users claiming “the phone is unusable” when Apple releases an iOS update, 4.3 seems to have elicited a larger negative response from the iPhone 3GS community. Those who have upgraded their devices claim the OS has sluggish and jittery performance when compared to iOS 4.2. Some users have also noted a significant decrease in battery life. As is frequently the case with bugs of this nature, they have a tendency to be blown out of proportion. Simply because some users are reporting problems doesn’t mean 100% of iPhone 3GS users will be affected. That said, as AirPlay enhancements, Safari performance, and iTunes Home Sharing are the only new features compatible with iPhone 3GS, it might be wise to sideline the update if you can live without the aforementioned features. Keep in mind that Apple does not offer an official downgrade method for iOS. If you update to iOS 4.3 and are unsatisfied, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands (jailbreak + downgrade) or wait for Apple to issue a fix–assuming they even do.

    The second major issue to emerge post update affects 4th-generation iPod touch owners. Inexplicably, many device owners are experiencing graphical hiccups throughout the iOS UI. These errors–which are being described as “interference”–seem to primarily affect the lock screen, but are present in additional areas of the OS as well. Users are reporting “snowy” and “animated outlines” around pop-up notifications and other areas of the lock screen. While not all 4th-generation iPod touch owners are experiencing the problem, the issue does appear to be quite widespread. As graphical errors are certainly more perceivable than supposed dips in performance, it is likely Apple will address the issue sooner than later.

    The third and final issue–while not directly tied to the mobile versions of iOS 4.3–affects Apple TV. It would seem post iOS 4.3 update (technically recognized as 4.2 by Apple TV) that select owners of the device are experiencing graphical woes of their own. Beginning last week, Apple TV owners started reporting screen flickering when using the device with some televisions. In the ensuing days, the tech community traced the problem to HDTVs, which attempt to convert the 720p output signal from Apple TV to 1080i. In rarer cases, some users have reported their Apple TVs have become permanently set at the 480p “Auto” option post update. Unlike the two previously mentioned issues, AppleInsider “*reports*”:http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/15/fix_in_the_works_for_apple_tv_screen_flickering_issue.html Apple is currently preparing a software fix to address the issue.

    Unfortunately, it seems releasing software updates plagued with bugs of varying degrees is becoming more of a common occurrence at Apple. What are your thoughts on recent software quality control? Have you experienced any of these issues on your own devices? Comment “*here*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/ios-43-bugs-abound/ and let us know.

  • iDonate Your iPad

    This Tuesday MacNN “*reported*”:http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/03/14/ipads.to.be.given.to.low.income.district.teachers/ Apple has launched a program enabling those upgrading to an iPad 2 to donate their original iPad to a good cause. As opposed to flipping a 1st-generation iPad to recoup the cost of an iPad 2, Apple’s program connects iPad owners with those who really need it. In a partnership with Teach For America, Apple’s program matches donated iPads with educators in low-income school districts.

    The program–which is featured prominently on Apple’s retail store “*page*”:http://www.apple.com/retail/ –links to Teach For America’s “*site.*”:http://www.teachforamerica.org/ Currently, information on the program is relatively scarce, though it appears that interested iPad users need only drop their 1st-generation iPads at a nearby Apple Corporate Store. Upon receipt of a donated iPad, Apple will wipe the device, prepare it and bring it to a needy local school district.

    Teach For America has yet to disclose whether or not donations will be tax deductible, though as it is a 501C(3) organization, it is likely they will be. While for a good cause, the program has sparked some initial controversy given the fact that 1st-generation iPads are barely one year old and still amazingly capable devices. While it is likely Apple and Teach For America will release more information on the program in the coming days, those immediately interested should contact their nearest Apple Corporate Store.

  • Apple Named World's Most Admired Company

    For a forth consecutive year, Apple has been ranked The World’s Most Admired Company by Fortune. Boasting an overall score of 8.16, the company ousted Google, Berkshire Hathaway, and Southwest Airlines, once again claiming the number one spot. Cited for its steady release schedule and continued innovations, the Cupertino giant continues to set the standard in the tech industry.

    Although the announcement of Steve Jobs’ second leave of absence caused stocks to dive earlier in the year, the combined successes of products such as the original iPad, iPhone 4, and most recently iPad 2 have proven incredibly lucrative for the company. So lucrative, in fact, that Apple has nearly doubled its quarterly profits since this time last year. With competing computing companies such as EMC and Hewlett-Packard trailing by nearly two points, Apple cleaned up–scoring number one industry rankings almost across the board. Apple ranked first in all of the following “Key Attributes of Reputation” with the exception of Global competitiveness, which went to HP.

    * Innovation
    * People management
    * Use of corporate assets
    * Social responsibility
    * Quality of management
    * Financial soundness
    * Long-term investment
    * Quality of products/services

    The vast majority of these statistics came prior to the announcement of iPad 2. Though sales figures have yet to be disclosed, Apple’s new tablet had a tremendous launch and first week. Assuming the company continues to innovate and update its computer and mobile products to the same degree of excellence, it will be a shoo-in for Fortune’s award in 2012.

  • MAC TREAT #150: Reordering AirPort Preferences

    BTV, LAX, JFK, IAD…no, I’m not talking about those kind of airports–though JFK’s new T5 is pretty cool–I’m talking about wireless networks. If your Mac goes everywhere with you, it’s a safe bet it has joined several wireless networks in its lifetime. You may have even joined multiple networks in the same building if you live in an apartment complex or a dorm. Your machine keeps a record of every network you’ve joined, and in the case of encrypted networks stores passwords in your Keychain. Though OS X does a fairly good job of retaining which networks are used most frequently, occasionally things can fall out of sync. If your Mac consistently joins a neighboring wireless network instead of your own when starting up or waking from sleep, it’s time to reorder your AirPort preferences.

    Doing this is easy. Simply launch System Preferences and select Network. Choose AirPort in the left column if it’s not already selected, then click the “Advanced…” button. In the window that rolls down select the AirPort tab. Here you’ll see a box listing Preferred Networks. Your most used networks should be at the top of the list. If you don’t see your primary wireless network in the immediate list, scroll down until you find it. Reordering is as easy as clicking the Network Name and dragging it to a different position in the list. To ensure that your Mac is making quick and reliable connections rearrange your networks so that your top three are in the proper order. For instance: Home, Office, Coffee Shop. If you see old networks in the list that you don’t envision using again, you can delete them by highlighting and clicking the minus sign. If you need to add a new network manually or edit the settings of an existing network press the plus sign or pencil respectively. There are all sorts of other preferences that can be adjusted in this panel, though some can have detrimental effects on your system if not configured properly. Experiment at your own risk.