Is there an iPhone app update bug?
One of our readers has tipped us off about a potential iPhone app bug that manifests itself when updating software. In this particular case, the reader was attempting to install the second update of Cro-Mag Rally. On the first update, iTunes notified him the update was available. This time around, he wasn’t notified; instead, he was presented with the Check for Updates link when seeking it out, even though the iTunes App Store indicated a new version was, in fact, available.
I’ll let him explain the rest.
The problem is with how iTunes installs app updates. Like I said, I had already updated Cro-Mag Rally once before. What I didn’t realise at the time was iTunes didn’t actually overwrite the original file—it creates a duplicate! Yes, you read correctly. iTunes created another file in the Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications folder called “Cro-Mag 1.ipa” to sit along side the original ‘Cro-Mag.ipa’ file. I checked the info of the app currently in my iTunes library at that time, and sure enough, it’s file name was “Cro-Mag 1.ipa.“ Now we’re getting to the problem. You see, when iTunes is checking for app updates, it must be going by file name rather than app name. So, in this case, iTunes has been
checking for updates for “Cro-Mag 1” instead of “Cro-Mag,“ and, of course, it won’t find any.To prove this, I removed Cro-Mag Rally from the iTunes Library, but kept the file. Then I deleted the original “Cro-Mag.ipa” file and re-named the other, removing the “1” from its name. Then I added it back to iTunes with its new name of “Cro-Mag.ipa” by dragging it to the iTunes window. Immediately, I had the message at the bottom of the window telling
me of an update available!
Have any of you had the same problem? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to let Apple and the product’s developer know, as well. Doesn’t seem like a hard fix…the right people just need to be aware of the issue.
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I was having the exact same problem!
Thanks for the workaround!
on July 24, 2008 at 10:36 AM - LINKYep - Having the same issue on my mac. Multiple copies of every app that’s had an update.
on July 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM - LINKI’ve noticed the same thing plus an even bigger problem: apps that I purchase on the iPhone aren’t backed up to my Mac and can only be updated from the iPhone. Likewise, apps that I purchased on my Mac can only be updated on the Mac rather than on the iPhone.
on July 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM - LINKYet ANOTHER file re-name had to be done this morning, as iTunes wasn’t recognising an update to Blackjack 21 available. Again, removing the ‘1’ in the filename of the app sorted the problem. This is ridicluous!!! SORT IT OUT APPLE.
on July 25, 2008 at 01:43 AM - LINKI have noticed that not every app seems to notify me of updates. Kinda annoying.
on July 25, 2008 at 03:12 PM - LINKHaving the same issues, I’ve had to uninstall the app and then reinstall the new one to actually get an update.
on July 26, 2008 at 06:17 AM - LINKActually, there’s an easier way to update, although still not the solution we all seek…when you see an app you’ve already purchased shown in the itunes store, click on purchase. It prompts you that you already own it etc, so click ok. It will then update the version you already have. You can verify this by right-clicking on the icon of the app and selecting ‘get info.‘ Do this before and after the download to see if it works. No need to delete anything.
on September 7, 2008 at 12:06 PM - LINK