Comprehensive iPhone bug list debuts, 68 and counting

Many (hundreds) of thousands love the new iPhone, but with mass lovin' comes the obligatory list of bugs. As such, the first lengthy and comprehensive bug list from poking and prodding that iPhone screen into submission during the wee hours of the night has been released. There are 68 reproducible bugs on the list so far, with each bug having been confirmed on two separate iPhones. Of course, the list's 'reproducible' status for each bug comes with a disclaimer that some obscure steps normal iPhone users may never uncover were used in unearthing some of them. We're hard-pressed to find our favorite bugs (or bug categories), so check out the complete list here and if you dare, start mad-swiping that iPhone screen if you feel lucky.

[via Digg]

[andrew @ Jul 16th 2007 11:39AM]

most of these are pretty bootleg. Here's a real one that I found on day 1: under advanced settings for a pop email account, the phone does not remember the configurable option to delete message from server when 1) removed from trash or 2) after 7 days. Seriously, check it out to see what I mean - as soon as you leave the settings after picking one of the above options, it goes back to the default of "Never." I've identified the problem to Apple, and engineering is supposedly working on it. I'd rather they just work on an Exchange client, though!

[Matt @ Jul 16th 2007 11:59AM]

I think many of these problems are simple fixes, not really huge errors.
Such as the text not aligned, well that is not something that will crash your phone probably.
Though the safari errors are something that need to be addressed and fixed.

Yet none of these have deterred me from buying this phone in a week.

[Ray-- @ Jul 16th 2007 12:12PM]

or what about the bug that doesnt let you get phone calls while using edge... wtf

[Argot @ Jul 16th 2007 12:28PM]

That's a feature.

[Jon @ Jul 16th 2007 12:18PM]

Unfortunately that's a GSM bug, not an iPhone bug. I have the same issue with my 8125.

[Matt @ Jul 16th 2007 12:19PM]

This bug, I can 100% is false.
Have contacted AT&T and Apple about it and they say anytime this happen it should not. They are putting time in actually figuring out where/when/how this is happening.

Also, two of my close friends have iPhones and we have tested this ~25 times in different places. Also have gone to ~3-4 Apple & AT&T locations and tested there phones there with no problems.

[Tom @ Jul 16th 2007 12:35PM]

That's not so much a "bug" as a fundamental limitation of the EDGE standard. And THAT my friend, is why I'm holding out for an HSDPA iPhone.

[Vince Maling @ Jul 16th 2007 6:38PM]

Matt --

You're just, well, wrong.

EDGE is a data-only cellular network, much like EV-DO or GPRS. In fact, the ONLY cellular network capable of simultaneous circuit-switched voice and data is UMTS/HSDPA, which of course is not available on the iPhone.

The iPhones in AT&T and Apple stores are running on WiFi, a non-cellular technology which can be used in conjunction with voice service.

You would have experienced the same "bug" on a an 8125, a Nokia E62, a BlackBerry, a Motorola Q, or any other device running on EDGE (or EV-DO, for that matter).

[Matt @ Jul 16th 2007 8:46PM]

Vince Maling
Incorrect, I turned off Wifi on every phone to make sure it was not connecting via wifi and I was online (collection data) and was still able to receive calls. Also, had my friend out in the middle of no where with ZERO wifi and browsing (collecting data) on EDGE and he still got the call. YOU CAN get calls on EDGE while surfing/collecting data.

[Matt @ Jul 16th 2007 9:02PM]

I have seen it argued that dual-band networks (850 and 1900) are better able to support call signalling during data sessions. I believe the logic is that if the data session is say using the 850 band then the phone is not able to monitor the 850 signalling channel, but could monitor the 1900 signalling channel. I don't believe there is anything in the standards that would dictate this behaviour, though it may well result from implementation issues.

Certainly for my part, I and a number of other users here in Houston are able to receive voice calls during data sessions. And yes, Houston is a dual band market. If you want to know if ATT operates is both bands in your area then you can check in the Field Test (*3001#12345#*) under Cell Information; cells operating the 850 band have frequencies (FQ) in the 100-200 range, whereas cells operating in the 1900 band have frequencies (FQ) in the 500-800 range.



This is exactly WHY the iPhone can get calls while browsing, BUT you must be in a city where you have dual-band. AT&T has been "upgrading" there EDGE network this past year (end of 06 to 07), thus allowing data browsing and phone calls to interrupt that data transfer. So we are both correct, it just depends on where you are.

[Nick @ Jul 17th 2007 12:56AM]

Odd, as my Nokia E61i on T-Mobile will interrupt my data connection and allow me to receive a call just fine.

[Mile @ Jul 16th 2007 12:31PM]

Pricing isn't a bug, right?

[TVGenius @ Jul 16th 2007 12:34PM]

It's suffering from the PS3 bug. Fancy, innovative, overpriced, black, but just not up to par.

[craig @ Jul 16th 2007 4:01PM]

Unlike the PS3, it is not getting beaten by superior competitors.

[kuzu-b @ Jul 16th 2007 12:43PM]

As someone who did Mobile Game QA for a year, believe me, 68 bugs on a production phone is NOTHING. I guarantee I can break almost every phone out there and I mean break BADLY.

[craig @ Jul 16th 2007 4:03PM]

68 bugs is not Apple's list though. It's most likely a far smaller number than what is known.

I agree though, the iPhone is less buggy than I'm used to with phones. It's also more feature-restricted.

[momo @ Jul 16th 2007 12:52PM]

My iphone got more serious problem than those listed.
1.My iphone sometimes had strange behavior. When i'm using some function like safari or others, it suddenly close and open another function like calendar. It already happened many times.
2.There's one time that I'm using safari online and it became very very slowly and hung. Even home button doesn't work.

I guess these two problem might related with the heat i felt from iphone. Everytime I play it for about 30 mins, it became very warm. I think this may be the reason for my iphone unstability.

[chrisC @ Jul 18th 2007 4:39AM]

momo:
Your 'problem' with safari is because you have too many open web pages. Delete them and leave no more than 2 or 3. Then you will return to the 'snappy mode. Trust me, I found that out on my iPhone too. The other problem is when you retrieve a POP email that has a large (>100K) attachment and if you did that, the unit freezes!

chris

[fraklinc @ Jul 16th 2007 12:56PM]

about 5 of the 68 are true, for example one of my friend told me his unit was freezing up when, i took a look at it, it was the screen that was to dirty and the system could not reconize the touch

[jilie @ Jul 16th 2007 1:00PM]

68 bugs on a phone that leaks many basic features?
lol
my attempt to create a realistic image for the article:
http://pastehere.com/PasteImages/dxcfrn.jpg

[pstelman @ Jul 16th 2007 1:15PM]

It may have a bunch of bugs, but so what... it's the iPhone!!! ;-)

[firesign @ Jul 16th 2007 1:17PM]

A great number of these "bugs" are not bugs at all. Especially the "UI/Usability" issues: most seem to spring from the tester's lack of understanding of the interface. In several cases, the tester seems to be nitpicking design decisions he/she doesn't agree with -- which is very different from a "bug".

[DarkFader @ Jul 16th 2007 1:24PM]

Are there any critical security bugs?
The updates are going be installed automatically, right?

[mike @ Jul 16th 2007 1:53PM]

the Iphone is perfect!
you are the bug!

[Mike @ Jul 16th 2007 2:14PM]

Apple is also very good about providing fixes in a timely manner. It wouldn't shock me if the fixes are pushed to the phone automatically.

Other phones on the market require you to have a data cable and sync software... some even require you to take the phone to a store since flashing wipes out your contacts. The store has to back up the data and restore it after flashing.

Despite the flaws, I have a feeling Apple will make many phone manufacturers looks even sillier and primitive when it comes to addressing bugs. There are so many phones that randomly reboot and exhibit odd behavior, it's kind of sad.

[craig @ Jul 16th 2007 4:07PM]

"Other phones on the market require you to have a data cable and sync software..."

Of course, Apple requires this in order to activate the phone in the first place. No other manufacturers makes this more of a requirement than Apple does.

"Apple is also very good about providing fixes in a timely manner. It wouldn't shock me if the fixes are pushed to the phone automatically."

Apple hasn't fixed any yet, and if you think they're going to publish updates any other way than through iTunes you're crazy.

[Argot @ Jul 16th 2007 4:26PM]

"There are so many phones that randomly reboot and exhibit odd behavior, it's kind of sad."

Yeah, and the iPhone is very high on that list.

[NLN350 @ Jul 16th 2007 2:22PM]

And they call it "Jesus Phone" with all those bejesus bugs and shortcomings. 'Hope they can fix all these when version 2 comes out.

[Petey @ Jul 16th 2007 4:15PM]

If it really is the Jesus phone, you'll be waiting at least 2,007 years for that update.

[Cam @ Jul 16th 2007 2:49PM]

Nice list of bugs... Can you guys give us a list of all the bugs on competitor phones? I mean, why single out the iPhone, after all its only a bit player. What about the problems with all the phones that are clearly better than it.

[craig @ Jul 16th 2007 4:09PM]

Why are bugs with other phones relevant to the iPhone? Where are all the articles trumpeting the revolutionary aspects of every other phone other than the iPhone? Are you complaining about that too?

[cam @ Jul 16th 2007 6:12PM]

@craig

Well, considering that the iPhone is getting compared to all the other phones and the features they have that are glaringly absent on the iPhone, it'd only be fair to point out the bugs they don't have either...

I mean, aren't you curious... With so many bugs, maybe I don't want an iPhone but I haven't seen any articles that scrutinize the competition to the same degree....?

[Tom @ Jul 16th 2007 3:08PM]

Its interesting that an Apple product with 68 and counting bugs is viewed as a minor glitch. Had this product been manufactured by anyone else (enter cell maker name here) it would be getting slammed for some of these bugs. I guess Apple fanatics will look past any glitches by Steve-o.

Lets take our blinders off. This is a revolutionary product that wasn’t brought to full development before being launched. iPhone v2 or v3 is what should have been launched, not this anemic version of what the phone could be. Replace EDGE, add more business centric features, fix the bugs, design a replaceable battery and then you will have what should have been launched. I’ll give it a year or so to get most of those features. I wont follow Steve-o blindly down the path of buying his first gen products or look past the many bugs just becuase it has an Apple logo on the back.

[Zeeliv @ Jul 16th 2007 4:48PM]

Did you actually read the list at all? Half of them aren't even bugs, they are UI inconsistancies. The other half are really minor.

If this were a list of bugs for any phone it'd be overlooked.

[Robert Johnson @ Jul 16th 2007 6:16PM]

>Had this product been manufactured by anyone else

No one would have "counted" them and no one would care.

[phoneorpda @ Jul 16th 2007 3:15PM]

there seems to be an inconsistency in the LCD models too.

check pictures here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=328862

even though a lot of the screens seem to have the white dots now, most of the ones on release date or near that don't have any sign of them.

there are a lot of people reporting this, especially the ones who returned an earlier model for a replacement, who noticed the white dots and a difference in sharpness/brightness on dark backgrounds/videos.

anybody else noticed this?

[brentphx @ Jul 16th 2007 5:00PM]

ok... so just for the record- I'm not an apple fanboy- BUT... this LCD issue with the white dots... come on now!

Has anyone ever used a touchscreen? They all have this! Bank of America just updated their ATM's near me a while ago with touchscreens manufactured by Diebold- if you look at the screen from ANY angle other than dead on, you can see the grid of white dots AND a pattern of BofA logos tiled on the screen in order to recognize the coordinates of your touch!

SAME thing is happening with the iphone, but I do find it hilarious that all the apple people out there that were early adopters are getting irate and demanding returns on their phone!

[Steve Simitzis @ Jul 16th 2007 4:44PM]

Many of these "bugs" are not. Many of them are UI tweaks that the writers would prefer, but others would not.

[SteveMB @ Jul 16th 2007 5:15PM]

Add one more bug. The non-removable battery.

[pixelator @ Jul 16th 2007 5:32PM]

Doesn't matter to me, my Blackjack fits my email, texting, browsing and occasional vid watching needs just fine. No smudgy onscreen keyboard to fumble with, full file management and third party app support and best of all, no $600 pricetag.

[rxden @ Jul 16th 2007 9:59PM]

i'll take any of these bugs as opposed to the million my q had with locking up and rebooting on its own. i for one have been using the iphone since launch day without a hitch - the only thing is att slow network but then again i am not surfing the net much outside of hotspots

[Josey @ Jul 17th 2007 10:00AM]

What a bunch of lemmings. Its telling that any comment hinting at the iPhone not being the end-all of technology are ranked low and comments that praise the iPhone are highly ranked. You people are a bunch of Apple lemmings. Wake up and you will realize the iPhone is not the best thing since sliced bread. Even Apple knows this which is why you will see considerable iPhone changes within the next year. But at least Apple can always count on making money off you sucker early adopters. I wonder how many of you have the first generation iPods and first generation AppleTVs.

These Apple fanboy comments are pathetic. I always thought Microsoft people were fanatics but the Apple group takes the cake. Most of the comments write off the bugs and ask for the bugs of other cell phones. What do the bugs of other cell phones have to do with the cell phone on your desk? Nothing. Wake up... look at the phone on your desk and realize it isn't as great as it soon will become for those willing to wait less than a year. Apple lemmings keep drinking the over marketed kool-aid.

"the Iphone is perfect!
you are the bug!"

"It may have a bunch of bugs, but so what... it's the iPhone!!!"

[Lisa @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:20AM]

Josey - Sorry. Own one for a week and lets see what you say.
Ours is recently purchased and has zero screen problems, zero software issues so far. It's amazing in every way.

[Rob @ Jul 30th 2007 10:32AM]

Amazing, except that for a "smartphone" not to have basic functionality like Copy and Paste is pathetic. Forget everything else, the fact that the alleged best smartphone to hit the market cannot even allow one to easily edit a document, copy a URL from an email to Safari, or any other litany of everyday uses that we use copy and paste for is just a major gaffe. Add to it that this phone does not do a lot of very basic things that other cheaper phones (not just smart phones, phones) do like MMS, video, and multiple user SMS, and you do not have a truly viable product.

I will be honest, the instant they make these, and a few other changes (NOT including things like storage space, I'm fine with 8GB), I will get one in an instant. Until then, as far as being a true"smartphone" goes, it's not anywhere near the top of the list in terms of being functional and useful.

You don't have to "have one for a week" to know that this phne is lacking in some important areas. They are fixable, but it is worth questioning why they were not in there from day one.

Bugs are to be expected in v1.0 products, since sadly nobody unit tests anything worth a dang anymore - they let the early adopters do it for them. Apple is no different than anyone else in that regard. So congrats on being a unit tester that had to pay $600 for teh rights to do so. I appreciate your dealing with all the problems now so I don't have to later when I get mine.