When Apple released iOS 4, many users welcomed the multitasking, folders, and home screen wallpaper features with open arms. Unfortunately, not everything went smoothly for iPhone 3G owners updating to 4.0, and some are still having issues to this day. Taking all of that into consideration, the following news shouldn't come as much of a shock: Apple is being sued for allegedly crippling the iPhone 3G in order to entice those owners to upgrade to the iPhone 4. The lawsuit was filed by Biana Wofford, who believes that Apple knew that updating the iPhone 3G beyond iOS 3.x would turn it into a "device with little more use than that of a paper weight." She also complains about how difficult it is to downgrade to a previous version of the software, saying that in order to do so, one has to become a "hacker." A full quote from Wofford can be read below:
"Even though Apple has actual knowledge of thousands of complaints from iPhone 3G/3GS consumers, Apple does not allow for those same users/consumers of third generation devices to download and re-install earlier and optimized iOS3.x operating system without resorting to 'hacker' tactics that will void Apple warranties and violate iPhone user agreements."
As I said before, the news of this lawsuit isn't terribly surprising. What is surprising is that it's taken this long for a suit to be brought up. The iPhone 3G's sluggishness while running iOS 4 has been well-documented and, while iOS 4.1 was supposed to improve the device's performance, it looks like some users aren't satisfied. On the other hand, Ars Technica brings up an interesting point: it's not clear if Wofford ever visited an Apple Store or contacted AppleCare about her problem. I'm not sure if either action would've done anything to help, but it would've been worth a shot. There are a number of ways that this case could end, so we'll be sure to keep our eyes peeled. In the mean time, are any of you iPhone 3G owners still having problems with iOS 4.x?
Via Ars Technica
