iPhone 3G w/ OS 3.1 - Problems (Slow operation)

I've just received an email from the BBC inviting me to their Watchdog consumer affairs program next week - they're doing a story about the iPhone 3.1 problems 🙂

I have also been extremely frustrated with slow-downs, freezes and app crashes on iPhone 3G after upgrading to iPhone OS 3.1. It has been affecting all applications including iPod module.

I was able to fix the problems by removing my MobileMe account (Mali, Calendar, Notes, Bookmarks) from he phone. The only way I could remove/delete the account was to do so immediately after booting the phone (otherwise deleting crashed out and didn't take effect).

I had 1500+ contacts. I suspect those people with lots of contacts are experiencing more problems. I believe the problem may be something to do with the iPhone OS 3.1 trying to sync with the MobileMe cloud. Even with the MobileMe account "on" but mail changed from "Push" to "Hourly" the problems persisted. I also tried turning off bookmark and contact syncing (in both cases the spinning dial appears for a few minutes before crashing out and not taking effect).

It is remarkable that Apple hasn't released a fix to iPhone OS 3.1 by now. Apple is obviously still having major problems with the MobileMe service (at least with the MobileMe component on the iPhone OS 3.1).

I've had some improvement leaving 3G turned off but I'm still getting missed calls, freezes, shutdowns, overheating even after hardly any use and rebooting twice a day.

Next I'm going to try leaving wifi switched off when away from home as the problem seems worse on the fringe of shared wifi networks. Perhaps the real workaround is to run permanently in airplane mode - a very expensive iPod Touch with a camera.

I'm EXTREMELY unimpressed that Apple won't at least acknowledge the problem and give some hints about how we might work around it. Apple get it right most of the time but it seems they've got no strategy to deal with problems when it goes this badly wrong other than silence. I'm amazed that such a smart company can be so clueless in its customer relations.

I'm so much more tempted to try Android than I was before these problems happened.

Previous to the 3.1 upgrade, my 3G connection has always been a bit unstable. I've quite often lost internet connectivity and the only way to get it back is to go into airplane mode for a few seconds or reboot.

Has anyone had slow operation problems with 3.1 who didn't have reliability problems with their 3G data connection reliability with 3.0.1 or earlier?

I'm thinking that these problems may be changed behaviour in 3.1 that causes hangs if the iPhone hardware is faulty. FWIW my iPhone is a black 16G 3G bought 08/2008 in the UK.

Let me pile on here - my iPhone 3G is so slow with 3.1 that calls will roll to voice mail before the slider bar responds. Virtually useless as a cell phone now that i can't answer calls.

OS 3.1.2 has just been released.

Your suggestion works! Disabled Google sync Calendar syncing et voila animations are smooth again, Safari is way more reapondsive when closing pages, thanks for sharing!
And please fix Apple!

Thank you apple.. Goto iTunes update ur iPhones to OS 3.1.2 ( fixed all my issues) hurray 🙂

the 'slow operation' problem with 3.1 was more of a problem than 'coma' for me; after 3.1.2 i still have the slow down problem, but have just tried an experiment on my own iPhone that seems to be curing it of the slowdowns like shown in THIS Video Hyperlink.

If you are having problems, look at my thread HERE for a how to on fixing that problem, and go fill in a report on THIS PAGE so you can be included in a tally of those bugged uy the bug (even if it has been cured, of course).

-awr

The 3.1.2 update appears to have fixed all my issues!

The phone has not locked up or randomly crashed since Friday (5 days) and generally feels more responsive. The battery life also seems to have reverted to how it was before the 3.1 update - OK.

Ever since i "upgraded" to 3.1 the phone's response time has been terrible. how can one downgrade to 3.01

BTW. I have been having the same issues, with V3.0 over the last few months. It appears to be getting worse. Lag time with almost every application, TXT, email, Google, Safari. Seems as if the entire OS is suffering from IO issue, or maybe its not releasing memory and caching to much and have to swap on demand and not when apps a closed.

The iPokey or iZombie effect is not related to the 3.1 "coma" issue.

My iPhone became an iPaperweight with version 3.0.1. The main reason I put on 3.1 was hoping for some relief from the zombie issue.

I can't remember if it was 3.0 or 3.01 when it started.

In any event. I will bet a dozen donuts that the problem will go away if you use the string arm install method I described earlier. My phone acted that way with 3,0, 3.1, and 3.1.2. Only when I used the "crashinstall" trick it behaved perfect in 3.0, 3.1 or 3.12

I havent noticed really any slow operation after the update, but I have had trouble with my service getting a searching signal and staying in that signal even when I am in a good coverage area. I have too also reset the network settings or reset my phone every time. Me and my friends think that it is something with the software and the update. Hope this gets fixed soon.

I upgraded my iPhone 3G to 3.1 with no problems, in fact, screen response seemed better. BUT - when the latest update (3.1.2) installed, immediately I noticed everything taking much longer. Screen input often lagging as much as a couple of seconds, while at other times - no significant lag. And when the little spinning ring starts indicating that it is doing something on the 'net, forget about doing anything until it stops. This was not an issue for me before 3.1.2.

How could Apple have messed things up this badly for so many people? If things are not rectified in the near future, I may be trying a warranty claim. The phone just isn't functioning as it is suppose to. I firmly believe it is 100% Apple's fault.

Phone is not jailbroken/unlocked. It has never been abused.