iphone 4S shuts down itself ?

If it was a panic.plist crash it will happen again. Mine crashes every 3-4 days.

Re

a. In the first 48 hours of use (iOS 5.0.0) it crashed 3 times (always during standby)

b. After each crash, I "just" had to wait for it to reboot (no hard reset)

If it crashed and then rebooted, this sounds very much like a panic.plist crash/error. I would contact Apple and tell them you are having random reboots. Don't forget to tell them you are getting panic.plist crashes in your diagnostic log. They will replace you iPhone if you mention you are having panic.plist showing up in your diagnostic log has its a hardware issue and cannot be fixed with a software update 😉

TUD wrote:

If it was a panic.plist crash it will happen again. Mine crashes every 3-4 days.

If your iPhone is crashing every 3-4 days and when this happens a panic.plist shows up in your diagnostic log, then I would contact Apple and arrange for a replacement to be given. Panic.plist's happen because of a hardware issue/fault. Other crashes in the log which end in plist are quite normal, but the ones that begin with panic are the serious ones.

My first 4S done this with pretty much the same frequency and Apple replaced it.

An update:

My iPhone has just crashed! First time after 5.0.1 update/restore and 3 days after the last crash.

This time I had to do a hard reset in order to get it to work.

The strange thing is that there isn't any panic.plist log this time...

So here's my story to this point - I bought the 4S the day it came out and had no problems with it until it was stolen. Then I received a new one from the insurance company, and then this problem started happening. Shutting itself without any notification. So I went to the apple store today and they did a reboot with repalcement of the firmware. We'll see if this fixed anything. One thing that has changed is that when I boot up the phone it no longer shows 310-410 (I think) where AT&T normally shows up. Before this reset/firmware update etc it woudl show that for a couple of seconds before going on to show AT&T....

I'll update this blog if there are further crashes.

It is highly unlikely what the Genius performed at the Apple Store is going to resolve the issue as it believed to be a hardware failure.

I have had this issue with my 4S since Oct. 17th. I did a total restore and setup as a new iPhone on Oct. 26, panic.plist issue was not resolved. I updated to iOS 5.0.1 on Nov 10th and visited the Genius Bar on the same day. While I was there the Genius preformed a DFU mode reset and I was on my way. Naturally, this did not resolve the issue as well as the phone crashed again on Nov. 13th. It is very apparent this is a hardware issue and not an iOS one.

I tried to convince the young woman at the apple store of this and mentioned all the feedback on all these boards, but she insisted they had to reset everything first and make sure it was not some soft of corrupt software/firmware issue. She said that if the problem happens again I can go back and they will replace no problem. We'll see.. so far it's been about three hours without a problem. Then again, this problem was sporadic and unpredictable for me.

And just a minute after I typed this my phone shut itself off... and there's the panic.plist. So I guess I'll be doing my second visit to the genius bar this evening after work. This is obviously a hardware problem!

Keep us posted on how the refurb unit performs.

I went to the apple store and they gave me with a phone they claimed is new, but since i didn't originally get the phone from apple they don't give you new charger etc. I will update in a couple of days when I see how the replacement performs.

Too be honest, at this present moment in time, the chances are that any replacement 4 S will be new and not a refurbished one that has been returned to China, stripped down and parts replaced etc.

The reason you did not get a charger is because it's a replacement. I got my 4S from Apple's website and when I got it replaced at the Apple Store they only give me a handset.

When you get a replacement, they do not give you a retail boxed iPhone with accessories as a replacement, has the retail boxed ones are for their selling stock. They have other 4S's (with no accessories) and these are used for their replacement stock.

An update:

Today, for the first time after 5.0.1 update, I go a crash, this time with a panic.plist... Seems like a hardware problem after all...

I intend to call Apple UK tomorrow and ask them to send a replacement.

Such a shame - suce a great device...

I'll keep you posted

Any updates on this? Had same problem 4 times. At request of Apple did a restore as new iPhone and now waiting to see what is going to happen. The guy from Apple on the phone was sure this is an App causing the issue.....

Latest update:

After the last crash (on 5.0.1 to which I've upgraded), I've called Apple UK again.

As I mentioned, the first time they asked me to restore - which I did (to 5.0.1).

This time, after I told them that I got the same crash, they said they'll replace my iPhone.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not in the UK right now and there's no Apple store around here (Israel), so I'll have to figure out a way to replace it (the guy from Apple UK said that I can replace it on any Apple store around the globe).

I think we can say that this is a hardware problem...

Same problem happened to me this morning.

Had the phone fully charged before I sleep last night.

Then wake up in the morning thinking why is there no alarm, checked the phone and realise it not on.

I tried to turn it on but unable to. Thinking maybe its power drain out so I tried to charge it but no it is still not turned on.

Tried the hard reset and suddenly it wakes up with 59% power 😟

oh ya the phone s/w is currently 5.01