Q: iPad Safari crashing regularly

To Cthehill: Obviously, this "Safari iOS crashing" problem makes for a bad first impression of Apple, but it is unusal. It also is VERY unusual that it has dragged on since the iOS 5 release in October. Normally, Apple is VERY repsonsive to software compatibility problems and quickly issues bug fixes, like they did just this week when the Mac OS X 10.7.3 installer was malfunctioning (this was fixed within hours). The company does not comment on postings in these forums. Typically, Apple simply releases software fixes when they become available.

We can only speculate, but my guess is that this one happened to appear at a critical time, was affected by other issues and/or products, and perhaps even was interrupted by Christmas vacations. That said, iOS 5 was a major update that added much functionality to compatible products, in addition to the pioneering iCloud service, and thus was a complicated change.

Certainly, the problem is maddening (I had the same crashing  problem with my iPad 1. I reinstalled iOS 5 from scratch, but the problem eventually came back, though it is not as crash-prone as it was before). Like you, I'm still waiting for a fix, but I've learned that with Apple, patience is a virtue.

I've also been an Apple customer since 1987 and I can tell you that Apple has earned its' stellar customer service reputation. This is a trusted company I respect, and have relied on for years. I have owned at least 15 Macs over the years, and currently, we have one Mac Pro desktop, two MacBook Pro notebooks, two iPad 1s and two iPhone 4 models in our small business. Since I have other Apple devices available, I can work around the current Safari crashing problems on the iPad by simply using other devices if necessary. (In fact, we only have experienced this crashing problem on one of our two iPad 1s). Others, including you, may not have such options, and so I can understand your frustration.

However, it would be unwise and even unfair, to judge Apple, or any other company, by the handling of any single product or issue which, for all we know, only may be affecting a few hundred customers (though it also could be widespread -- we just don't know).

I do expect more from Apple. I find that, more often than not, the company exceeds my expectations. I even plan to purchase the next iPad model as soon as it becomes available. I hope your problem gets resolved.

One more thing: it's ironic that iCloud, the most important feature delivered with iOS 5, has turned out to be THE feature that allows me to effortlessly switch from my problematic iPad 1 to my iPhone or Mac without skipping a beat. With iCloud, all my updated data, Safari bookmarks, contacts, calendar items and many applications, always are available on any device.

While iOS 5 may have helped cause the problem, iOS 5 also provided the interim solution. This (Apple's seamless integration of hardware, software and now, my data) is what makes it easier for me to endure this crashing problem while waiting for the IOS 5/Safari fix.

When you buy Apple devices, you also get the support ecosystem.

So, are you an Apple employee or contractor? The "Apple's seamless integration of hardware, software" etc. was used in the Net Communications contract announcement: "Apple Solution Experts are independent service providers who have been selected by Apple for their proven expertise in providing technology solutions to all levels of education institutions."

No phony sales pitch, just fix the problem.

Ye-es, Geopix, well, I don't know. Up till icloud, I was paying for that "support ecosystem" via dotmac, for several years. Now it's free, with more added, because it's such a good marketing point for the zillions of iphone users, and that's very cool. But much as I love my Apple products, so far in my 8 or so years of ownership, only my iphone has worked nearly flawlessley. My first imac, the one that looked like a lamp, had fatal incurable (without major $$$) kernel panic issues after 2 years. No help for that. My macbook is lovely but its hard drive crashed 3 or so years in - however Apple replaced it for free as it was a known issue -great customer service, yes. Now my ipad crashes several times a day. I muchly prefer Apple products as i love their usability and artistry, but this crashing ipad thing is finally starting to make me a jaded customer.

Whoever suffers from Safari close unexpectedly........

Try clearing its cache via Settings > Safari > Clear Cookies And Data . You could also try closing Safari completely and doing a reset and see if that helps.

To close Safari completely : from the home screen (i.e. not with Safari 'open' on-screen) double-click the home button to bring up the taskbar, then press and hold any of the apps on the taskbar for a couple of seconds or so until they start shaking, then press the '-' in the top left of the Safari app to close it, and touch any part of the screen above the taskbar so as to stop the shaking and close the taskbar.

To reset : press and hold both the sleep and home buttons for about 10 to 15 seconds (ignore the red slider), after which the Apple logo should appear - you won't lose any content, it's the iPad equivalent of a reboot.

Hope it works for you!

any Apple investors out there having the same problem? Any chance of using your influence to get this thing fixed. Wishful thinking, money talks and all that... just want the crashing to stop. Maybe in March when the new pad comes out?

Some of you are adding useful data to the thread. Others are not.

Apple for whatever reason does not read these forums, and they cannot use them as a diagnostic tool if you fill them up with non-diagnostic posts.

For those of you that have not tried a restore as directed by Applecare, you ought to do that as it has solved the problem for several in this thread. Do not restore from backup. For those of you that have had this problem prior to iOS 5, for example in iOS 4, you have a broken ipad in terms of hardware almost certainly.

You may want to turn on the diagnostic logs as directed earlier in this thread. You may also try a hard reset. To do that, hold down the home and the power button at the same time.

If you suspect hardware, Apple should be able to sell you a refurbished model. Defective RAM is an example of a hardware error. The restore function is nice because it removes the possibility of it being software.

If you haven't sought Apple help on this, you should. If you have, as mentioned, 5.1 is on the way.

Cthehill:

In the spirit of disclosure, I'm a retired newspaper photographer/editor and a freelance photographer with a small business. I'm also a happy, long-term customer who was wishing you well and trying to offer reassurance. If you don't want to hear this, ignore it.

In 1987 (before Photoshop) and again in the early 1990s, I did some digital photography consulting with Apple's marketing department, but nothing since. I do own a small portfolio (only about 60 shares) of stock that has increased in value nicely. I consider myself an activist (but unimportant) shareholder. I even wrote a recent letter to Tim Cook complaining about the Safari crashing regularly problem myself. A CEO needs to hear about real world issues from customers.

Those who've used Apple products for as long as I have know that phrases similar to "Apple's seamless integration of hardware, software" have been in use since the company's early days.

I was sincere in describing my experiences with the company. In my opinion, Apple takes care of its customers. It sometimes is slow, but more often than not, it's reliable. Otherwise, I wouldn't have stuck with the products for so many years.

I tried that, but my Crash Pad stayed on Safari for less than a minute. Back to my slow, but reliable laptop.

Not only does Safari crash way too often but so does the app store. Games are not immuned either. I think it's because OS 5 wasn't made for the iPad1.

Never had these problems till I updated.

Has Apple addressed this yet?

I see 500+ post and not a darn thing.  Analyst are right, user support fails with Apple. 

Great UI and perception of we care but 500+ post in this forum and no solution, really?

At least Pandora doesn't crash. I will use my lap top for work and let my Crash Pad be a pricey radio.

I purchased a two year warranty with my 3G ipad. If it crashes again, I will much such a scene at the Apple store they will beg me to give back my money!

I have deleted my cache so I will see whether or not this works. If not, hello apple store, hello frisbee across the store.

My wife and I experience very frequest crashes of Safari. It is frustrating enough that on my most recent business trip, I left my iPad at home. Instead of the iPad, I used my Android phone, which has been much more reliable than the iPad. This frequent crashing of Safari is amazing. It is as if Apple knows that with enough smart advertising, they can just through these buggy iPads onto the market.

This problem has gone on for years and on all my portable web capable devices, the iPad has the most problems. There is no way to troubleshoot the problem since we operate with constrained access to the systems we own. With my Android systems, if an application crashes, I am usually presented with the ability to notify the vendor.

Is there a way for these iPad problems to be recognized or is Apple only concerned with slick advertising?

Apple is riding the popularity wave and it will take them so far. My wife laments that her new iPhone 4s is not as capable as her old Android phone. Also, Safari crashes way to much there too.

Apple guys, please fix things you know are broke.

I work at Auburn University, and my department has been considering getting iPhones to replace aging Blackberries. I didn't realize that the Apple unreliability/unresponsiveness issue extended beyond the CrashPad. I will make our telecom people aware. You are right: slick marketing and "cool" will only take you so far.

We purchased a number of CrashPads for educational programs and apps that we were developing. There are Apple people who made promises -- and then wouldn't reply to e-mails about fulfilling those promises.

Smoke and mirrors. The Safari issue has been stone-walled, a strange business model.