Apple issues a fix for 1970 date bug in latest iOS 9.3 beta

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Apple has finally issued a fix for the notorious "1970 date bug", a bug that would render an iPhone useless by setting the date back to January 1, 1970.

The fix itself comes in the form of iOS 9.3 beta 4. With the new update, the earliest date that the device can be set to is January 1, 2001, 12:00 AM GMT.

Users have reported being able to restore their devices by flashing iOS 9.3 beta 4. This is, of course, not something that everyone has access to. Registered developers have access to beta recovery images. Those on the pubic beta program do not.

Since iOS is based on Unix, all dates start at January 1, 1970 and count up from that. Setting the device back to that date effectively sets the date to zero and depending on the user's time zone, less then zero.

Normally, most software issues that might break an iPhone can be solved by putting the device into recovery mode. The user can do this by shutting off the phone, holding the home button, and plugging it into a PC running iTunes. That wasn't the case with this issue.

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Related Forum: Mobile Devices

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/apple-issues-a-fix-for-1970-date-bug-in-latest-ios-93-beta

Comments

"Apple issues a fix for 1970 date bug in latest iOS 9.3 beta" :: Login/Create an Account :: 21 comments

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DownsizePosted:

Update is good, glad I did it!

YoutPosted:

Internet issue is a problem, but have done the update and it all seems good!

SleepPosted:

I had actually done this and had to drive 80 miles for them to fix it.

MeadowPosted:

Famous Now they just need to fix the internet issue on the phone since new update its been bugged.


Tell me about it! It is such a joke.

HDGPosted:

theres always an issue after an update

BCSPosted:

Mickers
BCS Can't believe people actually did that 1970 retro theme, it's good that there doing this!


Retro theme? Though it literally did not work and just bricked the phone...


Yeah someone posted on fb it gives you a retro theme and people fell for it ending with a bricked phone.

StrokesPosted:

Good job they fixed this issue!.

AxerPosted:

Thank Goodness i was scared my bro would prank me

FamousPosted:

Now they just need to fix the internet issue on the phone since new update its been bugged.

XboxPosted:

I'm very glad they fixed this issue.