Siri goes down for iPhone 4S owners across the country

from MobileBeat.com
Siri, Apple’s new voice assistant feature for the iPhone 4S, is apparently suffering from an outage, which has rendered it useless for many iPhone owners. The outage began at around 11 am PST today.

Siri isn’t just a simple piece of voice control software. To function properly, Siri must communicate with one of Apple’s servers for additional information. For example, when you ask Siri what the weather is like in Nashville, Tenn., it plays an elaborate game of telephone with a main database that has the information, and then updates you with the answer.

This is precisely the reason jailbreaking theiPhone 4 and the iPad to run Siri is so difficult.

We’re contacting Apple for additional information and will update you with what we find out. In the meantime, feel free to let us know if you’re experiencing the Siri outage by leaving a comment below.

Update: We called Apple’s customer service number to find out more information. Despite toggling off the Wi-Fi and restarting the phone as they suggested, I was unable to get Siri to connect (not that I’m surprised). The Apple Care supervisor I spoke with said it’s entirely possible that it’s a network outage.

Update 2:40pm Pacific: Siri is still offline, according to our tests, and numerous other users are also reporting outages. So far, Apple has not issued an official statement, and it has not responded to our requests for comment.

Update 4:04pm Pacific: Siri functionality has been restored for some iPhone 4S users — including myself. At this point we still don’t know what was causing the outage, or how widespread it was, and Apple still hasn’t responded to our requests for comment.

Siri did respond, however. I asked her, “Siri, where you been all day?” Her response? A number of day spas and hair salons (Screenshot).

Thanks to Armen over at iSmashphone for tipping us off, and to VentureBeat’s Heather Kelly for the suggestion about asking Siri where she’s been.

IPhone 4S Users Report Yellow Screen Issue

Despite posting the best numbers for an iPhone launch ever (4 million in the first week), the iPhone 4S isn't out of the woods yet, as some users are reporting screen quality issues.

The reports began trickling in over the weekend on Apple's discussion forums with some users claiming that their screen was either "washed out" in terms of contrast clarity, or displaying a yellowish tint. Interestingly, this isn't the first time such claims have been made with regards to new iPhones. Last year when the iPhone 4 launched many users claimed that their retina displays were showing whites as yellow, prompting many to return to their local Apple store for a replacement.

But what makes the latest claims odder still is that many of the reports indicate that the yellow tint is present mostly the black iPhone 4S, as opposed to the white model. Of course many consumers have reported no problems at all with their iPhone 4S displays, but the reports from the affected customers are piling up, so much so that some have even resorted to calling this "yellowgate."

For those familiar with Apple history, that nickname may call to mind the "antennagate" moniker attached to the launch of the iPhone 4. Initially, Apple resisted the claims about the new, innovatively crafted antenna. But after numerous reports were filed by both consumers and media alike, Steve Jobs finally relented and held a special press conference to address the issue as well as offer special cases to remedy the matter. In this case, a widespread fix might not be so easy.

So far Apple hasn't made an official statement regarding the screen reports, but those affected haven't reported any problems when attempting to return their phones for a replacement unit. You can review the comments related to the screen issue on Apple's user forums.

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Will Apple tell users they're looking at it wrong?

iPhone 4S suffers from Airplay problem

Bowers & Wilkins have confirmed that they believe there is a bug with the iPhone 4S and Airplay which prevents the new iPhone playing nice over wifi...

The iPhone 4S has a bug which means it won't communicate over Airplay properly, with the smartphone initially being able to connect and then quickly failing, or not being able to connect at all in some cases. The iPhone 4s problem is the latest in a series of bugs that saw an update for iOS5 pushed out last week.

Bowers & Wilkins, who make the famed Zeppelin Air iPod dock, have confirmed that iPhone 4S users have been having problems connecting their devices to the iPod docks via Airplay, going on to say that they believe it is a problem which is affecting all iPod dock manufacturers that use Airplay.

As far as B&W are aware it's a bug within the iPhone 4S and so is a problem that cannot be rectified by any of the audio companies, instead users will have to wait for an update from Apple.

B&W have confirmed that Apple have been notified about the problem and are currently 'investigating to try and offer a resolution', that said it is important to note that this is not as yet an official fault with the iPhone 4S simply that B&W have made Apple aware of what they believe to be a problem

In addition, Apple's own support forums are awash with similar complaints, some of which hint that the issue may be to do with iOS5, rather than just the iPhone 4S. However, Apple were not available for comment at the time of writing.

Do you have an iPhone 4S, are you having problems using Airplay? Let us know via the comments box below...

iPhone 4S 'No SIM card installed' is not a new problem

Some iPhone 4S owners are reporting problems with their new handsets where the ’No SIM card installed‘ is being displayed. This is not a new problem.

Here’s typically how the problem manifests itself:

Got the new 32GB iPhone 4S today from AT&T, activated the phone was working all morning, I started experimenting with Siri and a couple minutes later the phone was hotter than usual and I get Sim Card failure, and Bad SIM messages. The phone now only says No Sim. I get home take out the SIM card and put it in my previous iPhone 4 and it works just fine. I then put in a blank micro SIM into the new iPhone 4S, but it still says NO SIM. Thinking the SIM reader got fried some how already.

Annoying, but this isn’t an iPhone 4S specific issue - it also affected the iPhone 4, and apparently it’s down to a design flaw (or perhaps manufacturing imperfections) with the SIM card tray eject mechanism causing a short circuit with the SIM card contacts.

The folks over on the Woo Blog came up with a nifty fix for this problem back in 2010 - all you need is a little tape. I know that this simple fix has worked for quite a few people. Otherwise, take the problem up with Apple.

Apple's iPhone 4S Battery Troubles Now Joined By New Problems

You still think I'm pretty right???

Apple says it's still investigating battery drain issues with the iPhone 4S after some users complained that the iOS 5.0.1 update didn't solve their problems. But now Apple is facing new gripes that the iOS 5.0.1 update is causing more problems with the iPhone 4S including; microphone failures, Wi-Fi signal loss, and cellular network reception issues, according to reports.

"The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices," Apple said in a statement to All Things Digital. "We continue to investigate a few remaining issues."

Apple released iOS 5.0.1 on Thursday, claiming that it would fix iPhone 4S battery drain. The update also added multitouch gestures for the original iPad and fixed a few other issues. While some iPhone users said the update solved their battery problems, others said the battery suckage was just as bad, or worse, than before.

Some users may never be happy with iPhone 4S battery life, because as I've explained before, smartphone batteries are fundamentally sub-par. But Apple is at least confirming that it hasn't completely solved the problem.

Meanwhile, some users are complaining of new problems with iOS 5.0.1. According to GigaOM, some users have experienced microphone failures, Wi-Fi signal loss and cellular network reception issues. A report from The Startup Foundry says the update is forgetting to list contact names when the user receives a text message or phone call. (A partial fix for the latter issue is available on The Startup Foundry's Website.) Apple didn't specify whether these new bugs are part of the "few remaining issues" that the company is investigating now.

On the bright side, whenever Apple does release a new patch, it'll be easy to get thanks to over the air updates.

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OTA updates, you mean like Android has had all along?

Apple iPhone 4S / iOS 5.0.1 battery-life fix FAIL!

from ComputerWorld.com

"He's dead Jim..."

The iPhone 4S battery-life problem doesn't seem to be fixed in the iOS 5.0.1 patch; some users are even complaining that it's worse than before. Has Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) made a mess of the first OTA update? Many users are still reporting rotten-to-the-core power performance. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers troll frustrated fanbois.
  
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: We will remember them... 


Gregg Keizer reports:

iOS 5.0.1 was the first update that Apple delivered "over-the-air"...without requiring users to [plug in] their devices. ... Apple did not spell out the specific battery-related patches.
...
Almost immediately after the launch of the iPhone 4S, owners began reporting that the phone was exhausting its battery at a prodigious rate.
...
[It's] too early for results reports to appear on Apple's support forum..    

  
Oh no it isn't, says Adrian Kingsley-Hughes:

[M]ost...are claiming that the update is a dud, and some [say] it makes the problem worse. ... Apple’s support forum is...abuzz with complaints.
...
It’s hard to find users who are happy with the new update. ... [I]t’s hard to pin down...whether this is a configuration issue, a app issue, or an issue specific to certain handsets.    

Mark Chubb adds:

iOS users who have updated to iOS 5.0.1 and have had their hopes of a better battery life dashed. ... Most complaints [say] battery life is still draining pretty much as it was before.    

And Paul Hontz finds more problems:

My iPhone...no longer remember[s] the names of any of my contacts! ... [They're] still there but if I got a text or a call my iPhone would have a sudden bout of amnesia.
...
It’s even more bizarre when you’re trying to create a new text. ... In the message pane...[it] forget[s] my contact’s name and just shows the number.
...
I mentioned this on Twitter and many of my followers had similar experiences.    

Nick Farrell is on good, sarcastic form this morning:

Apple did everything it could...including rushing out a patch and firing the incompetent people [responsible].
...
Actually, it denied there ever was a problem until there was enough press coverage.
...
The update also fixes some other problems...such as a flaw in the OS that may allow hackers to build apps that secretly install programs. ... Apple was told about this flaw recently and responded by kicking the developer who found it out of the walled garden of delights.    

Meanwhile, William Bastone tells us how not to react:

Michael Alan Skopec, 48, dialed [911] five times to beef about his malfunctioning Apple [iPhone].
...
Cops traced the calls to Skopec’s home, where he was arrested around 1 AM...according to a sheriff’s spokesperson. Skopec...was charged with obstructing or resisting a peace officer.
...
It is unclear what Skopec thought cops could do about his malfunctioning smartphone. ... Released on his own recognizance, Skopec is next due in court on November 18.    

Nicolò Martini complains on the Apple support forum:

I've updated to 5.0.1 and my battery still drains dramatically. ... [In] Settings->General->Usage, the Usage time is always more than 60% of Standby-time, even if I don't touch the phone, and with all settings turned off ... and no background application running.    

As does Beachgall:

I tried to update my iPhone 4s...and it got hung up in iTunes and said I need to restore the phone to factory settings. ... Then the phone came up as DEACTIVATED! ... Verizon doesn't open until the morning and I'm stuck without cellphone service.    

And Morbo42, too:

Before the 5.0.1 update I...didn't have any battery problems on my iPhone 4S. But...I now seem to have one. ... The phone was charging over night...now after 20min of ... reading some news...and 1h 26min of standby, it is already down to 92%. ... Up until yesterday it was at 97-98% at this time of day.     

iPhone Security Bug Lets Innocent-Looking Apps Go Bad

from forbes.com

Apple’s iPhones and iPads have remained malware-free thanks mostly to the company’s puritanical attitude toward its App Store: Nothing even vaguely sinful gets in, and nothing from outside the App Store gets downloaded to an iOS gadget. Now serial Mac hacker Charlie Miller has found a way to sneak a fully-evil app onto your phone or tablet, right under Apple’s nose.

At the SysCan conference in Taiwan next week, Miller plans to present a method that exploits a flaw in Apple’s restrictions on code signing on iOS devices, the security measure that allows only Apple-approved commands to run in an iPhone or iPad’s memory. Using his method–and Miller has already planted a sleeper app in Apple’s App Store to demonstrate the trick–an app can phone home to a remote computer that downloads new unapproved commands onto the device and executes them at will, including stealing the user’s photos, reading contacts, making the phone vibrate or play sounds, or otherwise repurposing normal iOS app functions for malicious ends.

“Now you could have a program in the App Store like Angry Birds that can run new code on your phone that Apple never had a chance to check,” says Miller. “With this bug, you can’t be assured of anything you download from the App Store behaving nicely.”

Update: Apple has terminated Miller’s developer license as a result of his research.

Here’s a link to a video where he demonstrates the security vulnerability.

http://youtu.be/ynTtuwQYNmk

Miller, a former NSA analyst who now works as a researcher with consultancy Accuvant, created a proof-of-concept app called Instastock to show the vulnerability. The simple program appears to merely list stock tickers, but also communicates with a server in Miller’s house in St. Louis, pulling down and executing whatever new commands he wants. In the video above, he demonstrates it reading an iPhone’s files and making the phone vibrate. Miller applied for Instastock’s inclusion in the App Store and Apple approved the booby-trapped app. (Perhaps the company ought to have been more suspicious of an application in Miller’s name, given that he has hacked practically every device Apple has made since 2007 or so.)

Update: A reader points out that Miller’s application has now been removed from the App Store.

I’ve reached out to Apple for comment but haven’t yet heard from the company. Given how seriously this exploit could affect the company’s crown jewels, expect a patch very soon.

Miller became suspicious of a possible flaw in the code signing of Apple’s mobile devices with the release of iOS 4.3 early last year. To increase the speed of the phone’s browser, Miller noticed, Apple allowed javascript code from the Web to run on a much deeper level in the device’s memory than it had in previous versions of the operating system. In fact, he realized, the browser’s speed increase had forced Apple to create an exception for the browser to run unapproved code in a region of the device’s memory, which until then had been impossible. (Apple uses other security restrictions to prevent untrusted websites from using that exception to take control of the phone.)

The researcher soon dug up a bug that allowed him to expand that code-running exception to any application he’d like. “Apple runs all these checks to make sure only the browser can use the exception,” he says. “But in this one weird little corner case, it’s possible. And then you don’t have to worry about code-signing any more at all.”

Miller won’t say just what that bug is until his talk next week in order to give Apple more time to fix the flaw.

Miller’s exploit in some ways resembles another hack created by John Oberheide in Google’s competing Android operating system. Using a program called Rootstrap, he showed how an innocent-looking Android app could download and run malicious code after making its way onto a user’s phone. (He used a fake Twilight-themed application to demonstrate the potential attack.)
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So he wants to tell them abut a vulnerability to better secure their OS and they revoke his dev license. Nice.