After the chaotic scenes at Apple Stores today as throngs of people were unable to activate their new iPhones, we've received a few reports that the devices are getting activated properly via iTunes once more. Anyone having more success now than they did before?
UPDATE 3:26PM EDT: Lots of commenters are saying that things are slowly getting back to normal.
See also: Photo Essay: 3G iPhone (un)activation excitement
More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:
- Special Feature: The iPhone naysayers, one year later
- Prediction: Apple will ship 10 million iPhones in 2008
- Prediction: 3G iPhone jailbroken within a week
- Analysis: Independent gaming could flourish on the iPhone
- Analysis: Why podcasting is failing
Comments
I just tried again to finish my 2.0 upgrade and am still unable to connect (as of 10:35 PST). Have been without phone service for 3 hours now.
NOPE! NOTHING!
Still getting the error -4 in Tampa, Fl
Nope, still getting the error -4 in New York City...it's 13:40 currently
Phone activated after 3 hours of trying...but it still will not show up in iTunes to restore my backup settings or new apps. I'm disgusted with the whole thing.
been trying for an hour straight -- only error -4
In SC California got nothing just this -4 crap total BS Apple way to go.
Nope, nothing here in Texas either. My notice is saying the connection to iTunes timed out. Been going on for about four hours now.
I'm getting 'error (-4)' too. I've been without my 1st GEN iphone for at least 2.5 hours! - Palatine, IL
**You would think for the past few months Apple and AT&T would have there shit together.... this is going to be some bad marks for the two companies!**
Still no luck with activation :((((((
Winnipeg
They should have released the Update 2.0 to first gen owners days ago. If that had been done, we wouldnt have been dealing with 2 million or so users trying to update at the same time. Been 5 hours. about to start throwing things......
I'm so piss. I did the lane since last night and couldn't get it connected at the store and now i'm home still with no activation. I'm getting this error " The Network Connection timed out " ????
AMEN to that! I agree, it would have been much easier if they chose to launch the new software update and the new phone on different days. That alone would have probably resolved most of the issues we're experiencing today. It's 1:06pm CST in Austin, TX and I'm still on the four hour mark. Luckily, I don't rely on my phone so much as to really need it, however it's time consuming to keep checking back into iTunes.
Nothing yet!!!
ping albert.apple.com -t
still nothing 2:13pm EST
My phone now works but I can't sync it yet with the backup in itunes.
NY CITY:
PHONE IS WORKING BUT ITUNES IS STILL NOT CONNECTING, SO I CAN"T DOWNLOAD MUSIC OR CONNECT TO MY ITUNES LIBRARY!
WE ARE GETTING THERE BUT NOT QUITE THERE YET!
ITUNES IS NOW CONNECTED!
Hmmm want to send some of that connectivity my way? :)
Just finished the 2.0 upgrade process at 12:25pm MDT. ITunes connect finally worked.
DId you do anything different to connect or just keep coming back?
I'd love some connectivity... Is this available for purchase in itunes store?
Greetings from Germany,
jipeee! After four hours of sweat and fear it finally works! Installed 2.0, now syncing my music!
No joy here on the East Coast still for me (Washington DC), and my existing iPhone turned into a paperweight around 10:30 AM Eastern and has not been able to continue the process. To make matters worse for the first hour or so in that I tried to call support, I wasn't even placed in a call holding line - and instead told by an automated machine that "no support specialists are available and to seek assistance online", and the system promptly hung up on me. This repeated for almost an hour before I was put in a long waiting line.
After finally getting through, I was told the obvious - that it's a problem, try back in a couple of hours. (The only saving grace from my fury is that I'm told that my backup should not be lost for the restore to the phone when it completes.)
I will definitely be asking for a credit to my account for the time that I cannot use it. This is going to leave a sour taste in both new adopters of the iPhone, and existing customers for a long, long time. Not the way you want to start off a big event, or impress people.
Yes, heavy usage is anticipated, but Apple should not be trying to pat their head and rub their stomach at the same time without having adequately prepared. Whoever planned this did not put a lot of thought or analysis into estimated impact, or come up with any contingency plans for an event of this size.
PS - Whoever came up with the idea of "in-store" activation should be taken out into the street and stoned with locked iPhones. Talk about a poor first impression!
im in DC too.. and whenever i press the check for updates button it just tells me that 1.1.4 is the current update.... crap they really messed up with this.
I'm back up! But I'm scared. My photos and music are gone after the restore. Everything else seems fine. But since iDisk is still acting up in the .Me conversion, I'm worried that I'll loose all my contacts again. They seem to wipe each other out.
I have been trying for the last 6 hours and I have had no luck. I am located in Chicago, IL. I'm not sure if location makes a difference, but I am furious to hear that some people are able to activate and I seem to keep getting screwed. Funny how the people that spend 3 times the amount for the first generation of iPhone are getting screwed the most. Why the hell isn't it connecting and when the hell can I epect this to work!??!?
Does anyone have any pointers on how to make this work!??!!?
Desperate.
IT WORKS!!! MY 1st generation just synced with iTunes now I have the 2.0 software. 2:51 p.m.
By the way, I got around the 1.1.4 prompt by restarting iTunes, but If you are not getting prompted for 2.0 - I would seriously grit-your-teeth wait until next week to upgrade.
I repeat - if you have not started the upgrade process, DO NOT try to upgrade unless you want your iPhone or Touch downgraded to "Fetus mode".
Wait until the all-clear is given and problems with the iTunes servers are fixed.
Still no go in Dallas, TX
If you have a 1st Gen iPhone just wait!!! Allow those of us who sat in lines for 4+ hours to at least have a working phone instead of a $300 paper weight and no phone service on old phone! And a smiley just to show that I'm not totally jaded :0)
Been trying since 6:30 AM San Diego time to upgrade my 1st Gen To 2.0
Downloaded fine but not its locked cause of this stupid iTunes problem. Why not release 2.0 to 1st gen owners a day or two ago so this wouldn't of happened?
OMG! It pinged us off itunes with the usual -4 error, but....THE PHONE NOW WORKS!! :-) NOW WERE GETTING SOMEWHERE!
JACKSONVILLE FL
In San Francisco, trying to update my iPhone to 2.0 - been trying for 3 hours. Still not working and the phone is bricked in the meantime :(
It's a go...finally...in Tampa
If it makes you feel any better I'm sitting on a 500 dollar paper weight. Oh wait only a 400 dollar cause of the generous 100 dollar rebate from apple....
Just worked in NC. Very clunky process!
just went up in chicago - been trying for 3.5 hours. seems some are starting to get connected. hopefully server issues are fixed.
Just FYI, I just plugged my 3G in at the same time my old iPhone was plugged in and I am not able to get to the home screen on my 3G, but no phone service... At least I get to play with it a little bit. Just installed AIM, with no problems.
I'm up!! Service and iTunes are a go! I should have complained on a blog post hours ago!
Orlando, FL
Just worked. iTunes still gives the same error message but the phone activated by itself. I wonder if Apple just bypassed activation.
I'm up!! Service and iTunes are a go! I should have complained on a blog post hours ago!
Orlando, FL
I'm up!! Service and iTunes are a go! I should have complained on a blog post hours ago!
Orlando, FL
And Austin, TX IS BACK IN ACTION! It's 2:06pm CST and I've been trying to connect since 9:00am this morning. Wow, that was insane.
just got mine activated in Arkansas
Just connecting to itunes server after 2 hours of attempting.
Working in NJ! BTW, I wasted time toggling back and forth from music to iPhone to try to access the store. I left it alone while doing other things and it finished the activation automatically. My advice is to keep it plugged and and get some fresh air :).
If it makes anyone feel better, I'd be happy to take your new paperweight off your hands. :D
Just cursed Apple & AT&T up and down, and ironically, received a slew of my backed up text messages from being without service for the past 6 hours, and iTunes miraculously connected. Hooray! Looks like iTunes activation is back up!
Now working in Dallas, TX!
Post new comment