Once again APPLE has released a new version of their iPhone software. Oh joy! You’d think that APPLE would figure out a way to distribute this update in a way that doesn’t aggravate iPhone users by tying their computers and phones up for unacceptable periods of time.
I discovered this latest version this morning when I attempted my usual synchronization between my iPhone and my computer. First came a download of iTunes and QuickTime. That took awhile. Next was the iPhone software download. After the usual 3rd degree, the download of unknown proportions started. YIKES!!! 245 megabytes. Oh oh, I better stop the normal download of my daily podcasts to give the behemoth all the bandwidth I can. Oh oh, again. I have to get out of the house in about an hour and a half and it looks like this one download is going to take close to an hour. Yes, I probably could get faster internet. I have DSLand it runs at it’s optimum speed. Wouldn’t you think APPLE would let you know at the onset how big the download is and approximately how long it would take?
What?? An error? APPLE says to check my network connections and try again. And again. And again. And again. And . . . well, you get the picture. I would have loved having my phone synchronized before I left the house but APPLE’s inept process tied my computer and phone up right up until the last second.
Hey, no problem, right? After all, you can interrupt a podcast download and then come back later and pick up right where you left off this shouldn’t be a problem. Fat chance! Every time you interrupt your iPhone software download, it’s back to go, do not collect your 200 dollars. Alright, enough of this. I’ll shut it off and try again later today. Since this only happens when APPLE releases a new version, I know it’s a problem with thier servers being overwhelmed. You’d think they could engineer a way to throttle the downloads where you didn’t just impolitely get bumped off. Or, they could actually be saving the software somewhere on your computer where you wouldn’t loose it if you did have to restart the download.
So, I came home and immediately started the computer and iTunes. I looked in the download queue to see if the iPhone software download was queued where I could simply restart it again. Fat chance! Got to plug the iPhone in and start all over again. Why on earth do I need to have my iPhone connected to down load software into my computer? But, that’s what I did. Ok, the download started. Oh crap! my phone is ringing. It’s business! I absolutely must take the call. I picked the phone up, answered it and when the call was finished, returned it to the cradle (or whatever they call that thng it stands in). If you haven’t guessed, back to go and do not collect your 200 bucks again. Start over at the beginning. Ring Ring Ring I had to take 3 more calls, each time trashing the previous downloaded portion.
I’m still getting those errors and being dumped. Funny though, I can download every podcast without a hicup. I tell you, APPLE has not thought this whole process through. And, after a couple years, you’d think they would make a little progress in making this process better for their captive customers.
I will seriously look at whatever competition APPLE has when I next look at phones. Any other manufacturer will be a candidate!
