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The next iPhone firmware update will be released this Friday, according to Steve Jobs at Apple's Let's Rock event in San Francisco. The new version will include fixes for many ongoing problems reported by users in version 2.0.1 and 2.0.2. On the list of fixes is a solution to the application crashing problem, battery life improvement, faster iTunes backup speeds, and other bug fixes.

In addition, firmware 2.1 is purported to solve many connectivity issues and reduce the number of dropped calls. The download will be free for iPhone users, although iPod Touch users who haven't already upgraded to 2.0 will have to shell out $9.95 for the upgrade. Along with the firmware, iTunes has been updated to version 8.0 and is already available for download.

Would you pay your full cable bill if there was static on the screen all month? Buy a dozen eggs if three of them were broken? How about paying $30 a month for the same service that others get for $20 a month?

This is exactly what I pay for a service I can't use. I love the iPhone 3G, but I can only use the EDGE network. I leave the phone set to EDGE because it works. The moment I switch over to 3G, data latency times shoot through the roof, voice quality decreases noticably, and calls drop every five minutes.

Apple and AT&T both deserve kudos for pioneering such an outstanding new product. I am willing to be patient with their growing pains. The network is going to be a perpetual work in progress. But it's not right to force me to pay for something that doesn't work. See, if I had an original iPhone, my data plan would be $20 a month and limited to EDGE. As it is, I have an iPhone 3G with a $30 data plan limited to EDGE.

I continue to try and use 3G at least twice a week to check up on the network but there has been no improvement. Various customer service representatives at AT&T have listened to my story. Of course I've updated to 2.0.2. Yes, I've rebooted my phone. A million times. No, not just using the sleep button. Yes, I've held down the home button and sleep button to reset. Nothing works. Nothing works except for EDGE.

Looking to upgrade to 3G but not sure what to do with your old iPhone? NextWorth offers a trade-in service or will buy your used Apple hardware for cash. The company inspects all incoming late model iPhones and iPods before cutting a check then offering the item for sale. Not only does this satisfy the demand for older generation iPhones, it allows owners to recoup value from their old phone while keeping used devices out of the waste stream.

True, one may fetch a higher price in an online auction, especially if the used iPhone is unlocked. NextWorth simplifies the process for those who don't have the time or inclination to deal with unknown bidders and shipping hassles. Prices offered depend on market conditions, however at the time of this writing a first-generation 8GB iPhone with 'normal wear' is netting $177.10. Almost enough for a brand new 3G.

PwnageTool 2.0.3 for Mac OS X is now available from the iPhone DevTeam. According to their blog, this new version supports iPhone and iPod firmware 2.0.2 5C1. The latest version updates Installer.app to beta 6 and also contains a localization for Germany.

Along with the latest Pwnage tool for Mac, the iPhone DevTeam has also released the ‘150’ beta update to the Windows QuickPwn application. This update improves the user interface, provides bug fixes for YouTube, and the adds BootNeuter support for unlocking 2G iPhones.

So the downloaded apps on your iPhone stopped working. Rebooting or resetting all settings does nothing. Suddenly you notice your music is gone. What is an iPhone owner to do? Now that the dust has settled on this particular bug many workarounds have been suggested. According to Steve Jobs himself, Apple won't have a fix until September. If you can't wait that long to restore the full functionality of your iPhone, then continue to read.

Speculation about this bug is rampant in online forums. The workaround I've used with success has been described as extreme. I suffered with the app and music problem on my iPhone 3G (2.0.1) and decided I was going to deal with the issue once. So instead of trying many of the gentler methods I attacked the problem with gusto. My phone's performance has improved noticeably since the procedure, which included a 2.0.2 firmware upgrade.