Computer Tips and Tricks

Original iPhone Software Update to 3.0

This week the iPhone 3.0 software update became available. Of course I wanted to have it on my (original non-3G) phone immediately. It may have been foolish to risk an update on a day that I really needed the phone. To add to the decision, the sync of my Version 2 software was taking a huge amount of time to complete. Like many other people, the backup of my iPhone was taking so long that I often would cancel it. This day was no different: cancel the backup and let the rest of the sync proceed normally.

So given that backdrop, I downloaded the 3.0 iPhone Software Update and installed it. I wasn’t starting with a very full iPhone:

So with a little bit of fear, mixed with the excitement of new features, I followed these steps:

• Downloaded the software without installing
• Sync’ed the iPhone (cancelled the backup)
• Found some courage (this step always seems to help… along with a short prayer)
• Accepted iTunes’ question about installing the new update

To my surprise, the update went smoothly. That minute or so that it takes for the iPhone to reboot is a VERY long minute.

iPhone 3.0 Backup Faster

Is it just me, or did that backup take far less time? After letting a day go by, I decided to bite the bullet and let the sync complete the backup, however long it would take. And again, I was pleasantly surprised to have the backup complete in just 2-3 minutes!

What I didn’t notice before, so maybe it’s just me, is that after backing up the phone, iTunes now gives more details about what it is doing during the backup process. So I was less apt to cancel it, knowing what steps were being taken and what portions of my phone were being backed up at the moment.

The above app, “Airports” was purchased and updated on the iPhone over Wi-Fi, so iTunes wanted to keep a copy on my computer. So far so good. I really don’t have a lot of apps on this iPhone (my wife and kids have a ton of apps, but I am waiting for the 3Gs to arrive for apps). I have never been one to like a lot of apps slowing down my devices.

So after a little bit of waiting, and much to my surprise, the iPhone backup went smoothly. Incidentally, this update made me go around town with the feeling that I had just gotten a free phone. So cool.

iPhone 3.0 Update on Original iPhone Complete

To sum it up, are my notes on my iPhone Backup and 3.0 Update:

• Original iPhone Version 2 to Version 3.0
• Update downloaded separately from the install
• Sync iPhone
• Cancel backup
• Successful sync
• Reboot iPhone
• Reboot iMac
• Bring up iPhoto and iTunes (before connecting the iPhone, just for smooth operation)
• Connect iPhone
• Cancel backup again
• Allow Sync to complete
• Allow iTunes to update software to Version 3.0
• Wait for iPhone to Reboot after update.
• Success!

Still Having Problems with the iPhone 3.0 Backup?

See the comments below if your are having problems. Also, the Apple Support Discussion thread is very interesting. The main problem seems to be solved by deleting some data-hogging applications then re-installing them. See the thread on Slow Backup Process for details. There is hope for speeding up the slow backup process. It seems to involve taming some of the wild applications out there.

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