Q: Iphone 3G slow after update to IOS4

Since it seems to sometimes take a day for the symptoms to arise, and you're rebooting once a day, how do you know removing apps made any difference? I don't see how it would make any difference. They're just sitting there doing nothing, not loaded in memory. 10 or 100, should make no difference. Doesn't matter if your PC's 1000 GB hard drive has 100 GB used or 200 GB used, your PC still runs the same.

_Shorty-CM wrote:
Since it seems to sometimes take a day for the symptoms to arise, and you're rebooting once a day, how do you know removing apps made any difference? I don't see how it would make any difference. They're just sitting there doing nothing, not loaded in memory.

@shorty,
Every app that's installed consumes some of the 3G's limited 128 MB of RAM for the image of the icon on the display, and the required data structures that link to the app's firmware and data store (which are stored in the 8/16 GB flash). So uninstalling apps will free up some that valuable RAM, and give iOSlow a little more runtime memory.

Similarly, deleting any saved websites that have an icon on the home screen will release some RAM, as will cutting back on your spotlight index files, closing Safari windows, and eliminating application folders.

'not sure what these terms mean, but when we double reboot & then run Memory Sweep on our 3G / iOS4.0.1 'phone, we get something like this :

Free 16MB / Inactive 16MB / Active 24MB / Wired 27MB

as against before the reboot, and say a day after the previous reboot, when the Free will have fallen to less than 2MB ...

the exact numbers vary by the second, so the Free 16MB will vary between about 10Mb & maybe 18MB, as we watch ...

and after reading a few e-mails (Mail) and using a few other apps, the Free 16MB will have fallen below 10MB, and then decline slowly to 4MB (+/- 1MB) as we watch ...

Memory Sweep includes buttons for freeing-up memory, but double-reboot seems to give a longer-lasting effect !

Message was edited by: Christopher John Hunter

There are quite a bit of posts on here regarding this issue. I believe this may resolve your performance issues.

After the iOS4 update all of your Spotlight search options may have been selected. There are many more search options in iOS4 than 3.0 -

On the 3G iPhone Go to SETTINGS> GENERAL> HOME BUTTON> SPOTLIGHT SEARCH

De-select the search options you don't want (I just use messages notes). The more options selected the more processing / more is used by your phone.

Reset Phone -

Please let the forum know if this works.

I posted to this forum earlier about the same sluggish problem everyone else seems to have. Seems to me that I have several options. Which direction do you suggest I go? (Ive tried all the relatively easy fixes...)
1. Stay with 4.0, and restore as a new phone.
2. Upgrade to 4.0.1, and restore as a new phone.
3. Downgrade back to 3.x.
4. Visit apple store.
5. Throw phone out window.

Smythley,

Option 3 worked for me. I tried restoring as a new phone. Didn't help. I used this article to downgrade (I'm sure this post will get removed, so I hope you see it soon):

http://lifehacker.com/5572003/how-to-downgrade-your-iphone-3g%5Bs%5D-from-ios-4- to-ios-313

Cheers,
Leann

Already done 1&2 : nothing better
Try 6 : force apple to fix the problem

Smythley wrote:
I posted to this forum earlier about the same sluggish problem everyone else seems to have. Seems to me that I have several options. Which direction do you suggest I go? (Ive tried all the relatively easy fixes...)
1. Stay with 4.0, and restore as a new phone.
2. Upgrade to 4.0.1, and restore as a new phone.
3. Downgrade back to 3.x.
4. Visit apple store.
5. Throw phone out window.

If you value your time and want the highest liklihood of a positive outcome, go with option 3.

If you enjoy frustration and have time to waste on useless activities, go with 4. Note, for efficiency you could combine 4 with 5. Ensure not to injure any Geniuses or passers-by with the projectile.

I will admit, I am hesitant about option 3, downgrading. I am not the most computer savvy person in the world, and it looks like the process is simple if you have a Mac, but a bit tougher if running a Windows machine...

However, I may end up going this route.

Smythley,

I wish I could help you, but I have a Mac, and know nothing about the Windows side of downgrading. Maybe you can find relevant information about the subject via Google. Good luck.

Leann

First off, Apple likes to put their head in the sand and respond to all problems with, "We are not aware of any users having those issues". I experienced those with my original Mac back in '94, then the faulty hinges on my G3 Powerbook which I literally through out in the garbage and now iOS4.

I did speak to a Apple Rep about the sluggish performance and he emailed a link to trash itunes. The procedure was to reboot phone, restore as new and if problems persist trash itunes and reinstall. I did the first two but was blown away by having to reconfigure all my apps, enter passwords and losing all text messages and pictures. Imagine doing that plus the itunes reinstall.

Dear Mr. Apple,
Please consult Mr. Microsoft on how to kill business and your the price of your APPL stock. Oops, it looks like you already figured that out.

Thank you,
disgruntled longtime customer.

Update..Settings for 3GS added.

After the iOS4 update all of your Spotlight search options may have been selected. There are many more search options in iOS4 than 3.0 -

On the 3G iPhone Go to SETTINGS> GENERAL> HOME BUTTON> SPOTLIGHT SEARCH

On the 3GS Go to SETTINGS> GENERAL> SPOTLIGHT SEARCH

De-select the search options you don't want (I just use messages notes). The more options selected the more processing / memory is used by your phone.

Reset Phone -

It works..

Message was edited by: Kasaar

Everyone who has performed the "upgrade" has the same problems and Apple has not addressed these issues. Is Apple going to do anything at all about this problem?

@DRC, the amount of RAM required for a tiny icon and link to the app on the drive is negligible. But you go right ahead and believe it is the source of the problem, I don't mind.

@Smythley - the way back to 3.1.3 is not as techy as it sounds on Windows. Google the Lifehacker instruction article, read to the end and ensure you download all the correct software and run it with the correct administrator and compatibility settings (easily found in the properties menu), then action it step by step and you should be back to a happy 3G in under 30 minutes.

That said, it's your phone, your responsibility. It worked for me though.