Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

128 points

iPhone 4S - iTunes Store app freezes when searching for Podcasts

This has me stumped. I have several Apple devices using my iTunes account, but only my iPhone is giving me grief lately.

iPhone 4S

iOS 5.1.1

iTunes Match is ON for music (does not affect podcasts in theory)

Recipe:

Search for podcast I want to download using iTunes store app
Find it and click on name to see episodes
Results screen loads partially, then does nothing. Can see list of episodes, but cannot activate "Download" buttons.
Wait for a few minutes. Wait a lot of minutes. Nothing changes, but network activity indicator is spinning around next to WiFi indicator.
Quit iTunes app
Restart app and it crashes
Lather, rinse, repeat

I usually listen to episodes of the same 5 or 6 podcast series, like most folks. I was able to grab any of them directly from the iPhone before, but in the last few days it simply can't be done.

Clue: I CAN download music. I can pay for it. Just can't get podcasts.

What I've tried:

Log out and back in to store
Turn iTunes Match off and back on
Restart iPhone

No joy. Any ideas before I contact Apple support??

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.1

Posted on May 15, 2012 9:54 PM

63 replies

BradPDX Author

Level 1

128 points

May 18, 2012 10:36 AM in response to BradPDX

Update: I tried using the iTunes store on my wife's iPhone 4S with her account.

It works fine.

I suspect that it is my account that is affected, and not my individual devices per se.

May 18, 2012 10:47 AM in response to BradPDX

I have already force quit the app.

I've just noticed the battery life has worsened in general.

I have a dock for my phone at work and I normally only have to dock and charge 1 or 2 times a week. I've found mysle having to dock it daily recently.

BradPDX Author

Level 1

128 points

May 18, 2012 11:10 AM in response to magoo_mch

@magoo_mch - This really belongs in some separate thread, but: you've been able to use an iPhone and charge it only twice a week? I can't say that I've ever seen that, my friend. It is pretty normal for any of these devices to chew through a charge every day or two, because there are so many things it may be doing that use battery power.

The same goes for all other brands, not just the iPhone. These are pretty potent computers running on tiny little batteries.

My iPhone 4S is the third iPhone I've had - first a 3G, then a 3GS and now the 4S. Never had a charge last more than 2 days unless I didn't use the phone for anything, ditto for my wife. I usually leave it charging every night.

recneps

Level 1

18 points

May 18, 2012 11:57 AM in response to BradPDX

Add me to the list of people having this issue. This is really bad timing as I'm going on a trip and won't have my desktop available for syncing. iPhone 4S with 5.1.1

May 18, 2012 10:18 PM in response to BradPDX

Same for me, on 5.1.1. I hope it's fixed soon. It's a real pain. Has anyone tried reinstalling iOS?

May 19, 2012 12:32 AM in response to Zachery Wood

I have done a complete restore back to a time before I had updated to iOS 5.1.1, but it seems that it does not restore the IOS back to the version I was running at the time.

When doing a restore, it seems to install iOS 5.1.1 and then do the restore of all my files and settings. I think that this effectively answers your question about reinstalling - and I still have the same problem.

It appears, to me, that you cannot go back to an earlier iOS version (unless you jailbreak your iPhone).

I have also noticed/tried the following:

I am sure that the battery life issue is linked to the iTunes store 'hanging' when looking for podcasts as I have the circle permanently spinning whilst it is searching.

I have tried to download podcasts from three different internet networks and locations - so I don't believe it to be down to my network connection.

I have also tried it with different podcasts, so it is not a problem with the publisher of the podcast e.g. BBC

I am able to download other items e.g. single of the week, economist magazine etc. - so I have no problem with my iTunes account.

esolo

Level 1

0 points

May 19, 2012 1:12 PM in response to BradPDX

same here, saw it day one of update from ios 5.1.1 but no one online said anything till now. though i was going crazy. this has to be a big problem because no apple tech has chimed in with answer. I have restored iphone 4s and logged in and out of account and nothing.

they only way to download new podcast is to sync though desktop. it's very inconvenient when i want new smodcast.

APPLE at ****'s heart i stab at thee!

May 20, 2012 12:18 AM in response to esolo

Another user with same issue here. Updated to ios 5.1.1. Since then both iPad3 and iPhone 4 can't download podcasts. Been like this for 2 weeks. Really really annoying since I use both devices for podcasts more than I use them for anything else. Suspect it is a backend thing because for a day or two my phone suddenly seemed to work OK, but now it's borked again.

jbruels

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2012 11:00 AM in response to BradPDX

This is getting a little rediculous. Is there ANYONE who has an answer to this with this problem going on for almost 2 weeks?

Boich

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2012 12:45 PM in response to BradPDX

Not that it'll help but I'm having the same problem. Can't search for anything on iPhone or iPhone on the store. Which Apple, means I can't buy anything so get it sorted. Can't confirm the battery issue but it's gone down 6% in about 5 mins so could be.

All software up to date. iPad 1 & 4s

BradPDX Author

Level 1

128 points

May 20, 2012 1:53 PM in response to BradPDX

As the original poster, I feel a bit responsible for this thread and just wish to remind everyone that this forum is NOT Apple support - they aren't watching this and making a "to do" list, and no one from Apple will chime in with an answer. We can each contact Apple support directly, this is a place for users to discuss matters. It's the "self-help" department.

FWIW, I've already contacted Apple about this and look forward to a reply this next week. I'll keep everyone posted.

Update 1: I tried erasing and restoring my iPhone 4S from iCloud backup. Took a couple of hours, but really works. What I found along the way is that this issue appears tied to iTunes Match for me. When I first used the restored iPhone, iTunes Match was OFF and I could successfully use the store. I then setup iTunes Match and immediately went back to the old "bad" behavior. I am not sure yet if simply turning iTunes Match "off" helps - I do know from experience that turning it on or off involves a lot of client-server transactions, and so it often takes a while to see results. I try to give these systems at least 15 minutes to sort things out.

Update 2: I am fortunate to have 2 iOS devices to test. I just turned iTunes Match OFF on my first-gen iPad, then logged out and back into the store with my account. I waited a few minutes, then tried to access the very same podcasts that have been giving me grief.

Behold, it works just fine.

So, my current hypothesis is that this issue is tied to iTunes Match.

Here is a good use for the Community forums: are the rest of you using iTunes Match? Let's see a show of hands. For science.

esolo

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2012 2:08 PM in response to BradPDX

i've never used itunes match. this happen right after ios 5.1.1 update and i already did a restore on phone. i know there are others still seeing this problem. I've done everything and still nothing.

mirslam

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2012 7:47 PM in response to BradPDX

Same problem here. Not just podcasts, music too. Intermittent but frequent.

esolo

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2012 8:18 PM in response to BradPDX