More iPhone 1.1.3 problems and fixes

Users, in droves, continue to report a bevy of issues with the iPhone 1.1.3 software/firmware update, and we’ve discovered a number of successful fixes. All of the issues below afflict users with non-hacked, standard iPhones.

Continued Bluetooth issues Bluetooth issues are rampant after the 1.1.3 update (as previously reported)

iPhone Atlas reader Chris writes:

“iPhone software 1.1.2 worked perfectly well with my parrot CK3100 car kit. I upgraded to 1.1.3 and now have problems where the phone locks up when used with the kit. Tried all the ideas mentioned before resorting to restore as new phone. Whoopee! It worked, but the first time I made a call the call dropped, then everything got stuck. Turning off the WiFi, and toggling flightmode did nothing. I killed the Bluetooth pairing and repaired, yes it worked again. Now whenever I get in the car and the devices pair, the phone locks up.”

Another reader reports unbearably low volume from the Bluetooth Apple headset:

“(After the 1.1.3 update) the Apple Bluetooth Headset- the volume is incredibly low- so low that I have to press it into my ear while talking so I can hear the other person. If I switch to the iPhone’s built in ear piece the sound is perfect.”

The most commonly successful fixes for Bluetooth issues after the 1.1.3 update are:

• Reset Network settings Tap Settings, Tap General, Tap Reset, Tap Reset Network Settings. This will cause your iPhone to restart, and will delete any stored Wi-Fi passwords as well as DNS settings and more. It may, however, restore your ability to pair with and use Bluetooth devices. If this fails, try resetting all settings.
• Toggle Airplane mode Turn Bluetooth off, then navigate to Settings, then slide Airplane Mode to On, wait a few seconds, then slide it back to Off. It seems that discontinuing and restarting the EDGE and WiFi components in the iPhone can restore connectivity.
• Restore Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC then press the “Restore” button in iTunes. When prompted, choose the option “Set up as new iPhone.” Once the phone has been restored, re-attempt pairing with the problematic Bluetooth device. Unfortunately, this solution will result in the erasure of some custom settings on the phone.
• Update Bluetooth device software Check yoru bluetooth device manufacturer’s Web site for any available updates. One reader wrote: “I had the same issue with the Nuvi 660 after running the 1.1.3 update. I tried turning the bluetooth off on the iphone and back on, unpairing and re-pairing, and nothing worked. I finally ran a web update on the Nuvi which had a bluetooth update (3.0 I think) and that fixed the problem.”

Ringtones do not properly transfer Several users have reported an issue where multiple ringtones do not properly transfer to the iPhone under software/firmware 1.1.3. For example, a user may try to transfer 3 distinct ringtones to the iPhone, but only the first ringtone transfers and is shown in triplicate on the device.

As described by one iPhone Atlas reader: “When adding custom ringtones, if more than one is added they show up as duplicates.”

The workaround for this issue is to delect the “Manually manage music” option on the iPhone Summary tab in iTunes then go to the “Sync” tab and turn on the options to sync music and ringtones, and finally click the “Apply” button. This will generally allow all ringtones to properly transfer. You can then turn “Manually manage music” back on and customize the music you would like to sync.

Poor reception/Dropped Calls We previously reported on a marked increase in dropped calls since the 1.1.3 update. Users continue to report the issue, in conflation with poor overall reception.

Interestingly, the latest report comes from an AT&T employee who claims his droputs are not cell tower-related; a theory verified by his access to monitoring tools for the towers:

“I actually work at AT&T, and made to horrid decision to drop my hacked iphone for the traditional 1.1.3 (non-hacked) update. Bad move. I lost about half my reception quality, everywhere I go, and I know it’s not due to a tower outage, having access to the status of them. Bluetooth quality also became abysmal, sometimes even to the point where the words make absolutely no sense. I truly hope they use the SDK to fix my egregious error soon. I can’t stand 1.1.3.”

Increase in “other” data For many users, the size occupied by “Other” has dramatically increased since installation of iPhone software/firmare 1.1.3.

One reader writes:

“Since I installed 1.1.3, ive seen an increase in the size of my other data. Normally it was under 20mb and now its anywhere from 200mb to 700mb and I can’t get rid of it, even if I delete everything and start over. I read comments on apple.com and other users are having similar problems.”

In at least some cases, a glut of email in the iPhone email client’s Trash folder can represent a portion of the swollen “Other.” Navigate to the trash box on your iPhone-stored accounts, and delete excess messages. Unfortunately, there’s no method for deleting multiple emails simultaneously, so this can be a tedious process. For IMAP accounts, it’s best to delete the messages via other means (your desktop/laptop, for instance), then delete and re-establish the accounts on your iPhone.

If “Other” is still taking up too much space, restore as previously prescribed. Connect your iPhone to your computer, then in iTunes, select your iPhone and click the Restore button under the Summary tab. Restoring the phone will erase contacts, calendars, photos and other data stored only on the phone, but will restore automatically backed-up information including text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, etc.

Battery problems Some users report problems with battery life after the 1.1.3 update. One reader writes:

“My family owns 2 iPhones with 1.1.3, and both have experienced a low battery warning (not the 10 percent power-remaining popup dialog, but the completely drained plug-in symbol) even with close to a full charge.”

In some cases, restoring the iPhone can alleviate these issues.

Cover Art mix-up Some users have reported that cover art is not matched to the correct albums after the 1.1.3 update.

One reader writes:

“Yesterday, I noticed album art for one new album was crossed up with a Yeah Yeah Yeahs album I’ve had for years.  Then I noticed the cover art for Oasis’s “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” was displaying for a new Arctic Monkeys record.  Of course the Oasis record I’ve had since it was released like a decade or so back, and had it ripped ever since iTunes was released.  All the art matched the correct records in iTunes itself and on my daughter’s new-model nano.”

The fix for this issue is usually to turn the iPhone off then back on.

All music not syncing Some users have noticed that not all of their music syncs to the iPhone after installation of 1.1.3. A reader writes:

“I updated to 1.1.3, and just recently have done my cherry-picking off ‘best of’ album lists, buying a bunch of new CDs in lots of several.  Generally, I play CDs on my stereo I work but I do rip them so they can go on iPods and of course my iPhone.  I noticed I’d rip a couple and I was sure I sync’ed my iPhone after ripping — my “recent additions” smart list is set to sync with my iPhone — but the latest couple albums wouldn’t show up.  There’s definitely about 1GB user storage available on the iPhone.”

Likewise, the fix for this issue is usually to turn the iPhone off then back on.

Cannot connect to mail servers If ou’re having problems connecting to email servers under iPhone 1.1.3, like this user:

“My wife and myself has been experiencing failure with our iPhones connecting to .Mac and gmail accounts for days on end when we can see messages have come in on our Powerbooks. Last night I had to reboot the iPhone to get it to update and download. I did revive the iPhone’s abilities to connect by holding down the Sleep/Awake button for 5 seconds (cold reboot).”

There’s a pattern forming: the fix for this issue is usually to turn the iPhone off then back on.

Failing that, try the following: Tap Settings, then tap Mail. Select the account with which you are having problems and delete it (via the “Delete Account” button at the bottom of the account screen) then re-establish it.

Alternatively, try resetting network settings.

Google Maps repeating Some users have reported an issue where Google Maps displays distorted images, in some cases repeating the same area. One reader writes:

“I’ve noticed since the update that in Google Maps the map often becomes a tiled page of squares containing the same small part of a map repeated over and over.”

Airplane Mode doesn’t stick iPhone Atlas reader David Powers reports that Airplane mode doesn’t stay intact during sleep sessions after the update.

“I can say categorically that my unhacked iPhone does not reliably remain in airplane mode, but it used to. […] It’s now rare that iphone isn’t out of airplane mode when i return to it after a few minutes of it sleeping. […] Who wants to be the one the FAA blames for a crash?”

If you are experiencing any of these issues, please let us know.