Woman sues Apple over iOS 4 upgrade crippling iPhone 3G

November 4, 2010 By Molly McHugh

A California iPhone 3G user is claiming Apple purposefully created iOS 4 to disable older phone models. In a lawsuit filed this week, she is suing the company for a number of charges concerning the faulty software.

Get ready to hear the phrase “iBrick” more times than you ever wanted to. IPhone 3G owner Bianca Wofford is saying that’s exactly what the iOS 4.0 upgrade did to her phone. Not only that, but Wofford is alleging that Apple conspired to eliminate older versions of the iPhone with the upgrade, encouraging users to buy the iPhone 4.

When iOS 4 was released, Wofford upgraded her iPhone 3G to the platform – and there was no turning back, as Apple does not allow its users to “downgrade” systems, another sticking point Wofford has with the company. The upgrade gave her a phone with a fraction of its former functionality and caused it to repeatedly crash. As she stated through her lawyer, “The true fact of the matter…is that the iOS 4 is a substantial ‘downgrade’ for earlier iPhone devices and renders many of them virtually useless ‘iBricks.’”

Wofford should really trademark that word, because she’s definitely not the only one lodging this complaint. Apple’s discussion boards have been brimming with similar criticisms from users for months, all concluding that the iOS 4 is simply incompatible with older versions of the iPhone. Not as many people have indicated that they were tricked by Apple, however – something Wofford’s lawyer made a point to get across. “What better way to underhandedly create incentive to purchase a newer product than by essentially rendering an earlier product useless by the false promise of a software upgrade.”

It’s difficult to accept that Apple intentionally marketed a product that would, in essence, destroy its iPhones – but it’s equally hard to believe that a technical error of such magnitude is possible. IOS 4 was designed to alleviate the issues users were having with previous platforms, Jobs even promised it would.

If found guilty, Apple will have to award $5,000 to all affected users – but the odds of this being settled out of court for an undisclosed amount are pretty good.

Showing 17 comments

Joe at 8:08pm 6th January 2011 If you're still using the crappy slow iPhone 3G you really need to upgrade. This is a good thing Apple is doing, you all should thank Steve for helping you out.
Dave at 10:12am 19th December 2010 Update - Unless you're operating 10.5 or later on your Mac, you're stuck with IOS 4.1. There may be some hacky workaround somewhere, but I haven't seen anything yet. So why not just upgrade to 10.5? Because some people are still on systems not quite fast enough for the newer OS, and jumping into a new computer isn't always super convenient from a cash standpoint. So before leaving the comfortable confines of 3.1.2, make sure your hardware/firmware chain can handle it all - Happy Holidays!
Dave at 2:21pm 17th December 2010 I'm sorry that Jeff came across as flippant. I too fell into the 4.0 trap last June and spent about a week feeling like I was trying to surf the web on my original Mac 128k. But about 30 minutes of online research, I was able to locate some downgrade instructions from [probably] some teenager who's way more tech savvy than I'll ever be. And in about half that 30 minutes I was back to the cozy warmth of 3.1.2. To 'not-jeff': Just because Apple says we're not supposed to downgrade to 2009's iPhone's OS doesn't mean we all have to suffer. There are workarounds, and it's not always bad or illegal. And so now after a 6 month wait, I'm finally confident in the latest's OS's ability to improve things and will go ahead with the upgrade this weekend. All the best :) P.S. - If it sucks, I'll just downgrade again & wait for next summer's new phone -
1. nick at 11:42pm 6th January 2011 Yea good 1, just 2 add it doesn't suck. i upgraded to 4.0 it was horrible then to 4.2.1 and it works fine.!
jeff at 5:54pm 8th November 2010 Just downgrade to 3.1.3 and get over it. I did
1. not-jett at 8:32pm 8th November 2010 wow Jeff you really are special... so your fix to this issue is to do what apple does not allow ... i guess you figured out how to make the money to buy the iphone so you are probably not a simian by rather close genetically it seems.. what part of "apple does not allow downgrading" don't you understand? I'm not talking whether it is technically possible that's a whole other discussion and one that I'm quite sure would be painful with the likes of you.. not-jeff
Jason Ross at 11:20am 7th November 2010 I have the 3G. and still use it, when it wants to work. it shuts down on the all the time. to say its slow would be giving it praise. its sloooooooooooooooooooooow. everything, camera, calander, phone book, itunes, you name it its slow. at first i wanted the new iphone 4. now im not so sure. with all the major problems it has. i do have a question for apple, did someone not test out the phone before they massed produced them. in test i mean, you know, maybe make a phone call? drop it, take a pic indoors? you know, the really hard things that just an average person like me might be majorly affected by. as much as I love apple, i am seriously thinking af leaving stupid AT&T, who i might add i will not miss at all, and going and getting the droid.
Cindy-WA at 9:48am 5th November 2010 I too have had an enormous amount of trouble with my iPhone since the upgrade.. I have been blaming AT&T and the network! Furthermore, Apple's evil plan is working as I was going to purchase the new 4G iPhone on payday this month... Hmmm maybe not now...
1. Joe at 8:07pm 6th January 2011 It's not a 4G. It's a iPhone 4.
Jude P at 6:20am 5th November 2010 My 3G phone stoped working imediately after I upgrade to IOS 4.0, two weeks later I broke down and purchased a new Iphone.
Dan at 2:30pm 4th November 2010 I'm with Bianca...the 3G is a piece of junk after the iOS 4 update!
1. Harry at 5:44am 5th November 2010 Well, in most countries if that happens the upgrader will just downgrade back to OS 3.2. In the good ole U S of A, you sue the pants off 'em. That says something about being uniquely American.
  1. Justin M at 6:04pm 8th November 2010 Wow, you don't read do you? It says you can't go back after installing iOS 4, so downgrading is not an option, which is the heart of the complaint.
    nick at 11:39pm 6th January 2011 Back In a lil place called armenia they downgrade. Ive done my 3g.
    
    Rachael at 9:22am 8th January 2011 You can downgrade if you jailbreak, but that's it. My friend had to downgrade my phone because it completley died on me.
Loth at 12:47pm 4th November 2010 Apple will pay them off. "Ibrick" sounds a lot worse than "antennagate" Apple is evil. Apple knows what is best for you. Apple does not care for your opinion because Steve knows what you want. You want a new Iphone 4 so we will help you along and brick your old Iphone to move you to the new one.
1. Chad Mason at 7:23pm 4th November 2010 I totally agree with you! Thats why I stick with my Microsoft products!