iPhone Troubleshooting 101

When you buy an iPhone, you have to activate it via iTunes. This process should take only several minutes, but I had a problem with my activation. My phone was working, and I could access the Internet through WiFi, but I couldn’t make and receive phone calls. I had to spend hours over phone with AT&T and Apple customer support. I spoke with at least 10 different representatives and most of them had no idea why my phone was not working. I was told to hook up my iPhone to a computer and wait for 48-72 hours; to go to Apple store and ask a Mac Genius for help; to send my phone back to Apple and change a SIM card… I've used all possible troubleshooting techniques described in the iPhone User Guide.

Luckily, I’ve decided to call AT&T Customer Service at 1-877-419-4500. I’ve received this number in email with my activation confirmation. Finally, one of the customer support representatives was able to help me. He performed different troubleshooting tricks: sent me updates, verified phone information including the SIM card number, and, at last, he found that my personal information wasn’t properly entered at one of their databases. He restored it and instantly my cell signal bars appeared along with AT&T and E (EDGE network) symbols.

iPhone Activation and Troubleshooting Tips

• Watch Apple’s Activation and Synchronization video.

• If you have iTunes Store account, check your personal data (email, credit card, address, and phone) before activating your iPhone.

• Try disconnecting your phone from the computer for 30 seconds and pluging it back in. This will restart your activation process.

• Go to iPhone Troubleshooting Assistant and try all steps.

• If you don’t see cell signal bars, check area coverage.

• Call AT&T service at 1-877-419-4500.

• Download iPhone User Guide and look for Tips and Troubleshooting.

• If you need to remove the SIM card, it’s easy to do with a small paper clip -- push it firmly down the hole on the SIM tray until the tray will pop up. Your SIM card’s 10-digit number is on the back of the card. To view the number, you have to remove the SIM card carefully from the tray.

iPhone Dissected

In 2004-05, I had a gifted student, David H., who was taking apart and building new computers since he was 2 years old. He used to bring different computer parts from home and take them apart in class. David’s help with hardware problems at our PC lab was very useful. Recently, I found an article “A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears” in New York Times. According to this article, David researched and uploaded the British Mosquitotone's version of the high-pitched sound into his cellphone and used it as a text-message ringtone Highring (A.K.A Teen Buzz) with his friends at Roslyn High School. Many adults can't hear a high-pitched sound at 14,400 hertz.

"David was asked, did he think this new device would alter the balance of power between adults and teenagers? Or did he suppose it was a passing fad? "Well, probably it is," said David, who added after a moment's thought, "And if not, I guess the school will just have to hire a lot of young teachers."

Today, after searching for information about iPhoto hardware and software, I found an article "Apple's iPhone Dissected: We did it, so you don't have to" by Anand Lal Shimpi.



These pictures reminded me of David. As I wrote in my previous post, the Modern Leonardos and Michelangelos dissect computers, software, webcams, and cell phones to fulfill their quest for knowledge.

Images:
http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3026

Links:
David’s projects in 2004-05 -- Binary and Face (takes time to load).

iPhone

Today I bought an iPhone in Apple SoHo store.

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