The concern is about someone being able to take advantage of this after leaving the store.
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Apple Planning System for Retail Stores to Update iPhone Software With No Need to Open Box
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I bought another 13 Mini a few months ago and it was up to date on the latest iOS version out of the box. I always assumed they don't package them immediately after manufacturing, and only update and package lots as they send them out.
An OTA update is a delta. I prefer the the full OS, which is why I use my Mac to install it. Apple's software has gotten buggier under Tim Cook, so I want to lessen the chances of any potential problems by putting a clean install on a new iPhone.
It probably shipped with 17.0.2 already pre-loaded. Newly boxed units will always have the latest version of iOS on it, so it must have been packaged extremely recently.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That's true. I've seen pictures of huge numbers of iDevices gathered on compact "towers" (like bees on home combs) all cable connected in manufacturing plants. So in some kind of JIT manufacturing process, I assume that orders drive updating them pre-boxing and immediately boxing & shipping them.
To that OP, I was referring to their concept of perhaps one being in store for some period of time instead of the brand new iPhone 15 they referenced, which was obviously just shipped and thus could be delivered up to date.
If you bought that 13 mini in an Apple store, and it had been there for a while, it would NOT be up to date. If you ordered it for delivery, those could be updated ahead of boxing and arriving as you expected it. Or if you ordered for pickup at store, the same: it could be updated pre-boxing and then rushed to the store for you. My comment was about one just sitting on shelf/inventory in store. Whatever OS is on board is the one that will come out of the box when it is purchased unless THIS concept is in play so they could update them in box in stores.
I can see the day coming where users cannot reject software updates on existing devices.
Why not just start the new device on a previous iOS version that has a majority of the bugs fixed.
Why not have a built-in USB flat metal connectors on the box and they can just drop the box onto a dock. The last thing the user wants with the new iPhone is a dead battery or pending update as soon as power reaches 50% and you have to charge it before you can use it or exchange it with your carrier.
Why not just start the new device on a previous iOS version that has a majority of the bugs fixed.
Why not have a built-in USB flat metal connectors on the box and they can just drop the box onto a dock. The last thing the user wants with the new iPhone is a dead battery or pending update as soon as power reaches 50% and you have to charge it before you can use it or exchange it with your carrier.
iPhones already turn on when you place them on a wireless charger (or plug them in). It's only a small step from there to send some kind of signal (perhaps Bluetooth LE or NFC) to the phone that it should start an automatic update.
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Yes, that makes sense. It also allows them to prevent the battery from deep discharging.
I ordered it for pickup and picked it up maybe an hour later. I don't think they can currently update and box them in the store. Maybe I just got lucky and they had received a bunch shortly before my order.
Or just tested it better and make sure the release was stable.If they wrote better software to start with...
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Yeah sure... Especially that stores like this have usually around 300 to 500 iPhones in stock. Imagine having to update them all...
As long as this method can only write to the iOS in flash and not the bootloader then I guess it's ok. In that case if one was paranoid they could DFU update with cable from a known good OS image after purchase.
My thought is that they only have to update a few at time on an "as needed" basis. If the update doesn't take very long, they could do it as they pull a new phone for a customer, sit it on the pad and then bring it out for the customer. If it takes longer do "x" units periodically as needed.
I gotta wonder how they’ll accomplish this. I imagine in the back of the store they probably have stacks of each different kind of phone and unless these pads can do multiple devices at the same time, the employees would have to rotate through inventory to make sure every device gets the software updates. Can’t imagine going to work and being told that my task today is to rotate devices every half hour or so to make sure they are updated.
Think they have too many employees on the ‘update inside the box’ team that should be working on releasing better iOS.
This sounds…. wild.
Just imagine having to place each iPhone box on this device to update. Sounds a very laborious process. And are they doing this every time an update comes out?
Then how will you know if the phone has updated. What happens it it goes wrong, does the customer receive a balked iPhone?
And how long can you do this for? You’ll only be able to update so many times until the battery drains.
Or alternatively you can automate an update when a customer first starts the phone. They’ll likely be moving over content anyway so don’t need instant access.
Seems an unnecessary complication.
Just imagine having to place each iPhone box on this device to update. Sounds a very laborious process. And are they doing this every time an update comes out?
Then how will you know if the phone has updated. What happens it it goes wrong, does the customer receive a balked iPhone?
And how long can you do this for? You’ll only be able to update so many times until the battery drains.
Or alternatively you can automate an update when a customer first starts the phone. They’ll likely be moving over content anyway so don’t need instant access.
Seems an unnecessary complication.
If it were me it wouldn't be a per-unit process. Imo the service iPad would send out a beacon with wifi info, log destination info, etc. that would trigger any phone in proximity which is in a retail unopened state to OTA update.
id imagine the update sizes will be marginal enough that battery life won't be affected
Hmmm this is rather interesting. But my thought is that some people might prefer the older software on a sealed device as part of the allure. If you’re able to find older iPhones that were never opened it’s always fun to go back in time and play around with past iOS versions. Not to mention there are a lot of people who don’t want to update their phones due to various reasons or prefer older systems.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I presume OP (post #7) purchased/received AFTER 17.0.2 was on board. Else OP lied about "latest & greatest" on board when they first opened their iPhone. OP did NOT say they got it on 22 September.
I did assume OP was not lying. If so, 17.0.2 was on their phone on open... or 17 was and it background updated by the time they got around to checking or something like that.
The point was not to try and convict OP for deception but answer their misassumption that all boxed iDevices sold in stores are already up to date with latest OS version. That can't be true if the iDevice is already boxed and in store for any time longer than the latest OS update was in fact updated.
This approach appears to be an effort to address that scenario... so they are always up to date when opened (assuming battery or wireless charging can allow them to update in box).