Going by blocks-long lineups alone, you might think that Apple's iPhone 3G is the best phone + mobile Internet device ever made. And I think it is, at least in theory. But as many early adopters have already noticed, the reality is that the iPhone 3G is showing signs of software—and perhaps hardware—issues.
As summed up by a helpful report by AppleInsider, the biggest problem users have is that third party applications tend to crash relatively often. This problem stems from the fact that, between the NDA on the iPhone SDK and the App Store being the only method for distributing applications, developers are having a hard time thoroughly testing applications. Facebook and Twinkle have been problematic for me, though the latest update to the Facebook app seems to have eliminated the stability problems I experienced with the initial version. Reinstalling problem applications seems the only work around so far, but the effects are temporary.
Another issue that seems to be common is an interface lag; some users are experiencing a pause between touch input and application response that gets progressively worse over time. Because it affects both iPhone and iPhone 3G, it is most likely an issue with the iPhone 2.0 firmware. I have experienced occasional pauses while typing, but have not noticed anything systemic in the last week.
GPS-based Location Services are having issues as well. Several people have noticed that Location Services will stop working inexplicably, despite being in an open area and having good cell reception. After a few days, none of the location-based functions of any app would work on my iPhone, not even in Maps. A friend at Purdue University who had the same issue tipped me off to doing a reset. Since then it has worked like a charm (knock on wood), though some users have had to reset their iPhone more than once to restore the functionality.
Other issues have surfaced as well, including syncing with BMW's iDrive system for hands-free use, echoing audio when using a hands-free Bluetooth set up, unresponsive tilt sensor, and ringer volume resetting. Many have experienced issues using in-car charging kits and other devices, though according to iLounge, the change was due to the fact that Apple has "discontinued support for certain types of charging accessories, namely ones that used the FireWire standard rather than USB."
Though some of these problems may stem from faulty hardware, such as problem tilt sensors, they don't seem to affect large percentages of users, although they can be vexing given the hours-long wait and significant amount of change spent to acquire an iPhone. The good news is that many of these issues can most likely be solved with software, and Boy Genius Report has turned up evidence that Apple is testing a 2.0.1 firmware update. With the numerous issues surrounding the iPhone 3G launch, including activation problems, sold-out stock, and MobileMe snafus, Apple will hopefully be dedicating itself to clearing these issues up as soon as possible.
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