Apple Blocks Lawrence Lessig's Comment On iOS 7 Wi-Fi Glitch 326
destinyland writes "A glitch in iOS7 has cost "a significant number" of Apple users their Wi-Fi access, according to ZDNet. But they also report that Apple is now censoring posts in their "Apple Support Communities" forums where users suggest possible responses to their loss of WiFi capabilities (including exercising their product warranty en masse). "We understand the desire to share experiences in your topic, 'Re: wifi greyed out after update to ios7,'" read one warning sent to Lawrence Lessig, "but because these posts are not allowed on our forums, we have removed it." Lessig — who co-founded Creative Commons (and was a board member of the Free Software Foundation) has been documenting the ongoing "comments slaughter" on his Twitter feed, drawing attention to what he says is the Borg-like behavior of Apple as a corporation. Lessig "is now part of an angry mob in Apple's forums who upgraded to iOS 7 and lost Wi-Fi connectivity," ZDNet notes, adding that as of this morning their reporter has been unable to obtain an official response from Apple."
Re:Another day, another anti-Apple story (Score:5, Informative)
I wonder if a DFU restore might fix... (Score:4, Informative)
I've read about glitches when one does an update, so I wonder if the Wi-Fi problem would go away if someone backed up their device (would have to be dumped to a computer with iTunes), did an erase all, then followed it up by a DFU restore. This method pretty much ensures that all data stored on the device is erased. Then the device can be restored, apps/music reinstalled, and things back to normal.
This also stems from a general IT lesson I learned. If possible, when it comes to OS upgrading time with major number versions [1], one is best off rebuilding a server from scratch than updating it, due to cruft left behind from the previous OS, and other inconsistencies which might cause issues later on. Sometimes this isn't possible, other times, it is easily done.
[1]: The cautious exception are RPM based Linux distros which are really just stacks of filesets snapshotted and regression tested at a certain point in time. Those, I can just increment the version number, run yum upgrade, and be done with it, since it is more of a large update than a major version upgrade. Even with these, it doesn't hurt to install from scratch since it seems that RPM databases tend to get corrupted over time.
Re:Pardon me, but... (Score:5, Informative)
Have to agree. We're deploying iPhones to replace Blackberries and the number of hoops I had to jump through just to create Appled ID accounts for corporate use was mindnumbing. Not to mention the constant pestering with every update.
Yes, Enable Location Services. No, don't use iCloud. No, I don't want to answer security questions. I told you this when I set up the phone the first time, and every time I've updated. Why do you keep asking me?
Not to mention the joke with ID accounts themselves. You set one up then, when you go to load your first app, you're told you have to review/update your information so you can sign into iTunes! WTF?! I don't want to sign into iTunes. I want to install a free, non-Apple app.
There is no way I can recommend an iPhone to anyone. Sure, they look cool and work (mostly), but the nagging and Big Brother nonsense just doesn't make them worth the effort.
Re: Another day, another anti-Apple story (Score:2, Informative)
Portions of the Slashdot community have been anti-Apple since the "hacker proof" sealed box Macintosh came out in 1984.
Re: Another day, another anti-Apple story (Score:5, Informative)
I think this "angry mob" is just a angry man.
Yes, because as anyone who's familiar with Lessig's work knows, he's *so* hot-headed, overly emotional, and generally unreasonable. Watch the 'angry man' rave! [ted.com]
/sarcasm
Re:Another day, another anti-Apple story (Score:2, Informative)
I've upgraded all my iOS devices, everyone I know that own one has also upgraded. No issue so far. Your pick.
Re: Another day, another anti-Apple story (Score:5, Informative)
Disclosure: I used to work for Apple in their Customer Relations Department.
You are correct that the perceived quality of Apple products is just the same Chinese manufactured products in a flashy shell with really good advertising. I know they've been doing this since the return of Steve Jobs to apple and the candy colored iMacs. I can't speak about before that time. How they managed to create the perception of superior quality products while using the same cut-rate manufacturers used by Dell while at the same time instituting Apple's infamous "No Return" policy is baffling to me. You couldn't even return same day D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival) equipment to the store you bought it from. You had to take it in for repair. Add this with the debacle of the Power Mac G4 Cube which had over a 33% D.O.A. rate that Apple was denying and their success can't be explained by anything short of Jobs making a deal with the devil. It's that illogical. Needless to say that it was not a fun time to work for Apple Customer Relations.
Their policies have improved some, mostly due to the work of the Attorneys General of several states and the European Union but, they still use the same manufacturing facility that all the other electronic companies use (Foxconn). So all they still do is put it in a pretty package and charge more for it. Yet, people still fall for it in droves. *sigh* I don't want to live on this planet anymore.