iPhone users who are still running the OS build 3.1.3 are seemingly having troubles downloading new applications from Apple’s App Store. Some of the users of older Apple OS build reported on Apple’s Support Communities that they are having problems directly installing new apps to their devices although they can still update they already existing apps or sync their apps from iTunes to their iPhones.
One particular user reported the problem as: “Whenever I go into a specific app in the app store, none of the buttons work properly. 1) clicking on the price no longer downloads the app, 2) the ratings button does nothing, 3) the ‘tell a friend’ and ‘git this app’ buttons jump back to the top of the app window, 4) pictures usually don’t show up. They usually appear as five gray rectangular boxes with white borders (though in one app one too-large-for-the-window picture shows up 5) the ‘app support’ button still goes to the developer’s website. 6) the ‘top in-app purchases’ banner is just text now.”
This problem seemed to have started around December 15th and it seems that up until now, it is still causing troubles to other users. The latest reply is at Dec 24, 2011 and one user in particular was complaining that only the update button works and not the download button. This glitch apparently affects not only iPhone devices but also iPod Touch units that are still running on OS build 3.1.3 and there are also cases wherein 3.x. versions are experiencing the same problem. And while restoring your phone to its factory setting can sometimes wipe out the glitch, this seems not to work on older devices.
At least not all iPhone users who opted to restore their phones were successful in fixing the glitch because at least forum users reported that they all went through the process of restoring their old iPhones but were not successful in downloading new apps from the App Store. Several users even complained that majority of their apps downloaded previously now show its prices as a replacement for the “installed button” when viewed on the Apple App Store. This is one of the reasons why they are thinking that the latest version of the Apple App Store is not compatible with the OS build 3.1.3. Even Engadget, a tech news website also confirmed that the issue is real by testing it one of their devices. Tech news site Engadget was also able to confirm the issue by testing one of its devices.
Up until now, Apple has yet to release an official statement regarding this matter although they have promised its users that the problem will be fixed soon.
