As an iPhone 3GS user, I have upgraded to iOS 4 right after Apple announced the public release. So far, I am quite happy with the update. Multitasking, unified inbox, folders and spell check are some of my favorite features. Apple’s engineers also tweaked some of the UIs to improve the responsiveness. Perceptually, I think iOS 4 offers better performance over the previous OS.

However, it is another story for iPhone 3G users. Many users claimed that iOS 4 is not a crappy update. In the Apple’s technical support forum, you can find lengthy discussion (38 pages) about the performance issues of iPhone 3G after upgrading to iOS 4. Users complained the UI is less responsive. It takes 5 seconds to open SMS app. The iBook app runs so slow and even the unlock slider works slower than before. These are just some examples of the complaint. Someone has also posted a video demo on YouTube to show you the slow performance after the iOS upgrade.

Obviously, the difference in performance for iPhone 3G and 3GS is due to the different computing power. The iPhone 3G is riding on a 412MHz ARM 11 chip, while the processor of 3GS model runs at 600MHz. Added to that, the 3GS model has 128MB RAM more than its predecessor, that also contributes to the speedier performance.

The limited computing power of iPhone 3G, however, shouldn’t be an excuse for Apple to deliver a crappy OS for millions of existing 3G customers. Recently, as reported by Wall Street Journals, Apple finally takes action to investigate the series of complaints related to the performance issues. Probably, it may be addressed in the upcoming iOS release.

Some Recommendations Before Apple Offers the fix

If you are an iPhone 3G user, here are a few recommendations.

For those who are still running iPhone OS 3.1.3, keep using it. At the mean time, I do not recommend the upgrade. Just stay away from it until Apple releases iOS 4.1. Especially, don’t help your wife or girl friend to upgrade the 3G to iOS 4. Here is an interesting post from the Apple’s support forum:

I hear about os 4.0.1 coming up next week.
Hope they fix all the problems. Yesterday i upgrade my wife’s 3g and now she want to kill me.

On the other hand, if you have already upgraded to iOS 4, you may consider to downgrade it back to iPhone OS 3.1.3. Lifehacker offers a great downgrade guide that you may find useful. However, it’s not as straightforward as you think.

If downgrade is not an option, you can try out these fixes that possibly improves your iPhone 3G’s performance:

• Double hard-reset – Interestingly, some users reported that a double hard-reset can improve the performance. I do not have iPhone 3G to test out the solution but some claimed the solution works. If you have no idea how to hard-reset your iPhone, check out the instruction here.
• Disable Spotlight Search – According to an iPhone 3G user in ModMyi forum, you can simply turn off spotlight search to boost the performance on iOS 4. To disable spotlight search, go to Settings -> General -> Spotlight Search and deselect all items.

Please let us know if the solution works for you and stay tuned about any related update.

Apple’s newly renamed iOS Developer News feed has released two notes today, one on exciting new features in iTunes connect, and the other announcing iAd for Developers — a great way to promote apps, in apps.

iTunes connect is gaining the following:

• Using the new Version Release Control to choose when your new app version goes live on the App Store;
• Delivering binaries using Application Loader;
• New states for your app including Prepare for Upload, Pending Developer Release, and Processing for App Store;
• UI Enhancements that indicate when you can edit your app information;
• Game Center functionality for the setup of Achievements and Leaderboard Categories for sandbox testing purposes.

You’ll find the iTunes Connect Developer Guide available for download on the homepage of iTunes Connect.

And for developers who want to get a little more attention for their apps:

The new iAd for Developers program is a great way for you to advertise your own apps to millions of users across the iAd Network. When a user taps on an ad for your app, they can download it from the App Store without leaving the app they’re in.

It’s easy to get started. Learn more about how you can drive more customers to your app with iAd for Developers.

Any devs out there liking either or both of these updates?

[iOS Developer News]

Apple announces new iTunes Connect features, iAd for developers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb iPhone Forum user shaolinfinest let us know last night, and many others have since confirmed, that Best Buy was starting to give away InvisibleShielf protective side films for iPhone 4:

I’m not sure if this has been discussed but Best Buy is starting to receive Zagg kits called “iPhone 4fix” or something like that. Basically Zagg sent us a bunch of invisishield sides to put on customers iPhone 4’s and they are free. The only disclaimer on the kit is that it says shield and install is free but install is up to the associate if they want to put it on or not. Before going in, call your local Best Buy if you are like me and don’t want to put a case on it. I installed the sides today and it was easy to put on and feels ok so far.

Whether or not InvisibleShield provides any protection from signal loss if you’re prone to such things in your area is debatable, but it’s interesting to see how other retailers are competing with Apple’s free bumper program.

Speaking of which, the TiPb iPhone 4 store has the full on front-and-back-protecting InvisibleShield and BodyGuardz in stock, and the Case-Mate Clear Armor available for pre-order. Just don’t use as much liquid to apply it as Dieter did…

We’ve also started to hear that folks are receiving their free Apple bumpers, in some cases a month or more ahead of the previously suggested delivery date. Those who asked for 3rd party cases instead haven’t had any such luck so far.

Of course, Apple’s free bumpers are pretty much restricted to black, and the TiPb iPhone 4 store has more cases in more colors than you can shake a gyro at, so check out Leanna going red, or pick out a color all your own.

See Apple and Best Buy, you don’t get to have all the fun!

[Okay, that was snarky enough to earn a "sponsored" tag]

Apple bumpers arriving, Best Buy giving away free side film for iPhone 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

If you’re looking for a thin, durable, and stylish skin case to add a splash of color to your iPhone 4, the Case-Mate Gelli Case for iPhone 4 may be exactly what you’re after. It’s thermoplastic material feels great in your hand and it’s chic design is sure to make heads turn!

The Case-Mate Gelli is made from a thermoplastic translucent material that Case-Mate claims is lighter, softer and more resilient than silicone and rubber cases. It adds just enough traction to prevent your precious iPhone from sliding on surfaces, yet smooth enough to allow your iPhone to be easily removed from tight jean pockets.

This case offers great protection to the iPhone 4 while still allowing easy access to all ports and controls. The spaces between the dock connector and mic/speaker phone are also exposed allowing 3rd party cables to easily plug into the iPhone 4.

The fit of the Case-Mate Gelli is very snug and thin. However, since the material is thin, the lip that curls around the sides of the iPhone 4 and onto the screen can be easily pushed off the screen. This allows for dust to easily collect under the case and I catch myself wiping out dust several times a day. However, I have not experienced and scratching to the screen because of this.

The Case-Mate Gelli is a very fashionable case and is available in 6 colors. Pink, Aurora (yellow), and Tomato have the kaleidoscope design (see pictures for a closer look). Teal Blue, Clear, and Gray come in the checkmate design. This style has squares and triangles instead of circles.

If you’re looking for something thin, stylish, and protective, check out the Case-Mate Gelli Case for iPhone 4 available now from the TiPb iPhone 4 accessory store.

Pros

• Thin, flexible, yet protective
• Fashionable
• Access to all ports and controls

Cons

• Collects dust on the edges of the screen

Case-Mate Gelli Case for iPhone 4 – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Look like Apple will soon release another update for the iOS 4. Yesterday, Apple released iOS 4.1 beta 2, a pre-release version for iPhone developers. Unless you are developing iPhone apps, there is no reason for you to try out this beta version.

As usual, Apple does not detail the fixes and features for the upcoming release. So far, based on the reports from early adopters, the upcoming iOS 4.1 release may come with the following updates:

• Signal Bars fixed and taller (which is already included in iOS 4.0.1)
• New Baseband (02.07.01)
• Game Center Support
• Camera Switch and Flash buttons reposition in landscape mode
• Allow to add Favorite as voice or FaceTime
• Option to turn off Spell Check
• FaceTime and Game Center Parental Controls
• Full Bluetooth AVRCP (i.e. Audio/Video Remote Control) Support
• Fix for iPhone 4’s proximity issue

For those concern about jailbreaking, iPhone Dev team has confirmed the beta 2 release of iOS 4.1 can be jailbroken using redsn0w. However, ultrasn0w do not support the unlock for the new version of baseband. Here is the jailbreaking update about iOS 4.1 beta 2 from iPhone Dev team:

If you’ve updated to 4.1beta2 on iPhone3G or iPod2G(non-MC), you can use this redsn0w from June to jailbreak. Just point it at the 4.0 IPSW (the public one, not the developer GM one).

(Yes – point it at the 4.0 IPSW even though you’re at 4.1beta2).

Don’t do this if you need the ultrasn0w carrier unlock!!

Note 1: This won’t hacktivate your iPhone3G – but for those with legit access to the 4.1beta2 this shouldn’t matter. Please don’t pirate Apple software

Note 2: If you’re at 4.1beta2 you’ll probably experience network problems after jailbreaking. Until a new version of redsn0w is released, you may need to rely on afc2 access (such as FunBox-like file browser programs) to manipulate your filesystem.

Note 3: This is recommended only for power users who can deal with the problems that will pop up as the JB apps fall further behind the beta firmwares.

We have no idea about the release date for the general availability of iOS 4.1. But please take extra care when iTunes prompts you to upgrade your iPhone firmware. Make sure you hit the “Cancel” button to avoid the upgrade if jailbreaking and unlocking are essential for you.

If you are iPhone developers, you can download the beta 2 release at iPhone Developer Center.

The Street is claiming that the reason Apple has delayed the white iPhone 4 until “later this year” is due to light leaking around the edges of the glass. This according to the ever popular “person familiar with”, in this case the manufacturing process.

As the source described it, if it were a metal or plastic material, a simple coating would fill in the gaps and block the internal light. Glass is an entirely different issue.

Take this with a white iPhone 4-sized grain of salt, of course.

[TheStreet]

White iPhone 4 delays caused by light leak? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

With iOS 4, the built-in Notes app gets the ability to sync with multiple IMAP accounts, including MobileMe and Gmail. When you set up MobileMe or Gmail (not via Google Sync/ActiveSync/Exchange but via the Gmail button) there’s a toggle to turn notes sync on or off.

If you enable notes sync for multiple accounts, you get a new Accounts button at the top left of the Notes app. Tapping it takes you to a new screen where you can choose to view All Notes, just the notes on your iPhone, or just the notes that are synced via IMAP to your email account(s).

Those notes then appear in your desktop and web-based IMAP clients as well, like Apple’s Mac Mail.app (in Marker Felt, ugh!) and Gmail.com.

If you’re using multiple IMAP Notes accounts, let us know how it’s working for you. For more features, see our complete iOS 4 walkthrough.

iOS 4 features: Sync multiple IMAP accounts with Notes is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Apple Peel 520 is an adapter case that just might hack your iPod touch into something closer to an iPhone, courtesy of a VoIP client, SIM card, and a dream:

Powered by an Infineon baseband chip, this adapter not only offers voice calling and text messaging (presumably requiring a jailbroken iPod touch for the apps; GPRS not possible yet), but it also doubles up as an 800mAh battery and provides 4.5 hours of call time or 120 hours of standby juice.

Whether this ever hits the market in Asia — let alone North America — is anyone’s guess but if it did show up, would you want?

[Engadget]

Apple Peel case attempts to turn iPod touch into iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

We’re guessing Apple will get an AT&T Captivate (or similar Samsung Galaxy S-class device) death-grip video up sooner or later, but in the meantime… Scoble to the rescue!

He shows both devices in the same area on the same network dropping bars and, he says, calls. We get it. Manufacturers aren’t perfect. Phones aren’t perfect. How many more videos will we get before this meme dies like bars beneath watery flesh?

And no, it’s not an outsource, just yet another video making its hits off the antennagate saga where no phone, on no carrier is safe. Now before anyone cries “yeah, but iPhone 4 only needs a death-touch, not a death-grip!“, we’ve already seen other videos showing the Galaxy getting killed by a single finger as well.

Of course, iPhone 4 is iPhone 4 in every market and on every carrier, so if anyone has a problem it’s very easy to find out about everyone else who has that problem. With other devices, if someone has a problem with a Captivate will that get tracked to someone else with a problem on a Vibrant on T-Mobile, or a Galaxy in Europe?

No doubt Consumer Reports is on top of that.

[@scobleizer]

Scoble death-grips Android Captivate before Apple is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Once again keeping to the every-2-weeks cycle, Apple has released iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers. If you’ve got an account, head on over to developer.apple.com and update your SDK and firmware.

We’re guessing Apple plans on doing what they’ve done in year’s past — keep releasing betas until they hold a fall Special Music Event and show off the final version along with a new iPod touch G4.

If anyone notices anything new in beta 2, we’ll update!

[developer.apple.com, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog