I haven’t seen any mention of this on release notes or anything, but a number of people who were struggling with the partial compatibility with their vehicles now seem to have no problem.

If you have been trying to get your phone working with your car you want to try again, delete the current pairing if you have one, and start again afresh.

In a new blog entry Scoopz has documented what needs to be done: http://blog.scoopz.com/2008/10/11/fix-for-iphone-and-bmw-idrive-address-book-not-synchronising. It seems to work for many people but not all, it hasn’t worked for me.

In summary, he creates 2000 contacts and add them to the iPhone, this then allows the BMW to synchronise the contacts list.

Hopefully, BMW/Apple will come up with a correct solution soon, my iPhone stability seems to have got worse with the 2.1 firmware release. Although it hasn’t really been useful since purchase.

Cut from a solid piece of aluminium it has the looks, certainly the bottom end of the range 13″ laptop looks much better than its black/white plastic forerunner. Slightly slimmer in height, with improved processor, graphics and few other components the machine looks nice.

One nice feature, is the glass touch pad, technology from the iphone. This is probably the laptops best new feature, supporting 1, 2, 3 and 4 finger gestures. The back lit keyboard is nice too.

But probably not enough to want me to upgrade from by current macbook. It is my second laptop anyway so new features don’t really give enough.

Apple seem to be singing the praises of the new build technique, milling the case from solid aluminium, it is nice, but since when was the case the most important technological achievement when talking about a computer. Surely the Hardware and Software are the key components. Maybe I’m missing something, lets make it Hardware, Software and Case in future.

Don’t misunderstand me, I do like it, but can’t we concentrate on what’s inside.

What I would really like is an Apple Tablet. Their has been lots of talk about the tablet over the last couple of years, but still no sign. I can dream…

Video available at www.apple.com

After a recent update was requested for Air Sharing (which is a fantastic application – get it now) within minutes of the iPhone been turned on, the iPhone prompts for the AppStore password. Presumably so that the application can be updated.

constant password request by iPhone

This wouldn’t be a problem, accept it then fails:

update failed message

Let’s hit dismiss a couple of times and everything is normal, but its not long before the same message is repeated, canceling the update does not achieve anything either.

Connecting back to the PC, also does not resolve.

Yep, another fault with the AppStore.

This is what I then did to resolve the problem:-

Next step, lets remove AirSharing icons from the the front screen and select the delete option and the other applications that are failing to update with the 0xe800002e error, then do a cold reboot of the iPhone – just for good measure.

On restart – AirSharing is Back !

Let’s Re-sync…

NOW – AirSharing is on the iPhone, BUT not in iTunes, its not selected to be installed !!!!!

airsharing de-selected

BUT – it is on the iPhone!!!!!!

airsharing on iphone

So to try and get everything correct again, I will add the AirSharing application back into the iphone and re-sync.

I now have one AirSharing application installed, and syncronising is working again, and so far – no password requests.

APPLE – Sort the AppStore out !!!! Please…

I have been keeping a close look at reception issues, as I had issues before, and according to apple, one of the main fixes was to improve the 3G reception.

On the whole, I think the 3G reception is marginally better, although its hard to say as I don’t get a 3G signal in my main locations.

The other noticeable difference has been the 2G signal. Before 2.1 it was near impossible for me to get a signal at home, now – since 2.1 – I can get the occasional signal in various parts of the house. It is still not usable at home, but I can get the odd text message through the phone now – assuming I leave it in one of the magic locations.

Talking to o2 about this in August, they will be building a new transmitter in about 9 months time, so hopefully then I will have a decent signal. I need to either wait or switch back to the T-Mobile or Orange which do supply a usable signal. And a point to note, I’m not in the back of beyond. Just terrain issues seem to be the problem. But if T-Mobile and Orange can provide suitable signals its a shame o2 can not, especially in the year 2008.

Did the 2.1 improve my life, not really, still waiting on too many key components of functionality.

Battery life is better tho, so at least I can use the iPhone as an iTouch.

Roll on April 2009, hopefully by then we will have a new transmitter, and maybe even a new firmware update that allows the phones bluetooth to work correctly with my car again.

In summary, when the AppStore indicates that their are updates for applications, they are downloaded, and then the iPhone is synchronised. This is where the problem starts, Error 0xE800002E is then given for one or more applications, and the relevant update not applied.

iTunes iPhone sync error message 0xE800002E

The recently released 2.1 firmware doesn’t make any difference, BUT, a quick fix of

Delete the Application from the iPhone
reApply the Application to the iPhone

Will get around the problem, * BUT * this is only until the next update.

The main annoyance of this, is that the local data, like user ids, passwords etc is lost when the application is removed, so has to be re-entered each time. High scores etc, are lost with no method of getting them back without playing a game again.

Come on Apple, give this some sort of priority.

I’m not the only one, there are lots of information on the web about it:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=541871
http://forums.macnn.com/103/ipod-iphone-and-apple-tv/376631/cant-update-any-iphone-apps/
http://www.macworld.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=1788&mode=linear
and generally on Google…

BUT, until it is fixed, this is just another thorn in the side of what should be a good product.

[although I hear the first Android handset is out next week (at least in some countries)...maybe....]

Some further links:
http://www.macfixitforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/450071/0xE800002E_Error
http://rupertgee.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/error-0xe800002e/
http://www.macfixitforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/450071/0xE800002E_Error
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smenzel/2810760668/
http://www.touchfs.com/node/99
http://tech.kateva.org/2008/09/iphone-21-does-not-fix-unknown.html
http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/unknown-error-occurred-0xe800002e/

Come on Apple, get it sorted

They state that it improves issues like:

dropped calls, battery improvement, fast backups (again)

The big question, will it resolve the CarKit Interface issues? Will i finally be able to use the phone in my car again.

Lets hope (fingers crossed) – its released this Friday, lets wish the week away.

Available from ThinkGeek.com (iPhone Japanese Touch Pen Stylus), the Touch Pen Stylus allows full control while using your iPhone compared with your finger.

More information including pictures can be found here http://iphoneindia.gyanin.com/2008/08/15/iphone-japanese-touch-pen-stylus/

Some handsets appear to switch to Edge even when 3G is available.

According to the Wall Street Journal, they have claimed that Apple is set to release a fix within weeks.

Further details available here: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/08/15/iphone3g_patch/.

I missed this earlier in the week, but Business Week have also got an article regarding the Communications chip that is used by the iphone. They suggest that the chip contains faulty software, but this should be able to be corrected by a suitable update. Read more here: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc20080813_430402.htm

And more here: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/08/14/iphone_3g_reception_issues_to_be_relieved_by_software_update_report.html

The “signal” that is sent out for the 3g service – appears to be several DB below minimum levels, questioning how the phone got approved. The original phones for approval may have had different software which allowed them to pass. This we should all hope for, at least if it is software – there is a chance Apple can resolve this. If it is a hardware fault, I really can’t see Apple recalling the phones for replacement – but then a failure of this significance in the very phone that was sold as the “twice as fast” NEW 3G iPhone will no doubt be a huge blow to Apple.

This will be an interesting one to keep track of over the next few weeks.

Further reading… http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/13/iphone_not_very_3g/