inside aebrahim’s head

There are a lot of reports out there that Apple’s 2.0.2 OS update for the iPhone fixes reception issues with 3G. Now I don’t know whether the issues are hardware, firmware, or software related (maybe all?), but I do know that the 2.0.2 update does not do anything to fix them, at least not for me here in Hong Kong.

In a city that has mobile coverage everywhere, including on underground trains, the iPhone sometimes shows 1 bar only for network strength in downtown Hong Kong, where most other phones show full signal strength. In areas where other phones have no problems getting reception, iPhone can show “No Service”.

I hope that iPhone OS 2.1 has a solution for these problems. The iPhone is a great computer, but it is lacking as a reliable mobile phone.

I came across this limit today while trying to download an application from the iPhone App Store. Apparently, if an application is over 10MB, the iPhone will not allow you to download it over the celluar data network, requiring you to either download over wifi, or via iTunes on your computer.

This seems like a pretty brain-dead limit, since 10MB is not a lot of data and they’re hyping up 3G so much as being as fast as broadband. Well, what’s the use if you’re artificially disallowed from downloadling more than 10MB?

Chalk one up for the bean counters at AT&T who no doubt convinced Apple to include this “feature”.

The iPhone plans for Hong Kong 3Supreme customers are slightly different from the plans for regular customers. Of note is the handset prices are different, at the higher tier levels no prepayment or any payment for handset at all is required. 3Supreme members can also get their hands on an iPhone before others by booking before 15 July. I got this in the mail today (note that HK$1 = US$0.13):

I’ve made a booking with 3 Hong Kong (Hutchison) to get my 16GB Black iPhone 3G this Saturday morning at 11am. I’m looking forward to retiring my four year old Nokia 6600 now.