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Apple iOS 8 update cripples phones. How to fix it.

Apple is facing yet another controversy. An update, iOS 8.0.1, caused phones to lose cellular service and disabled features. Need help fixing your phone? We can help you out.

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Jeff Chiu/AP/File
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks about iOS 8 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 2. Apple has stopped providing an update to its new iOS 8 mobile operating software, following complaints by some users who said Wednesday, Sept. 24, that the update interferes with their ability to make phone calls.

After a weekend of record sales, Apple's products are facing yet another problem.

Apple sent an update of its new iOS 8 to customers on Wednesday. What was intended to fix issues, instead left many customers with crippled phones. Customers complained that the update disrupted cellular service and disabled the Touch ID. Within an hour of its release, Apple retracted the update.

"We have a workaround for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who lost cellular service and Touch ID functionality today after updating to iOS 8.0.1," Apple said, according to BBC. "We apologize for the great inconvenience experienced by users, and are working around the clock to prepare iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it is ready in the next few days."

IOS 8.0.1 was intended to fix several problems with the new software, including HealthKit, a new fitness app that wasn't usable due to problems. The update was also intended to minimize the amount of data used to send text messages, but that update is believed to have caused cell service to stop. And, somehow, the update removed third-party keyboards when users entered their passcode.

This is Apple's second controversy in less than a week. On Monday, customers began complaining that the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were bending in their pockets. The phones unexpected bending is believed to be caused by the larger size (the new generation of iPhones are much larger than previous versions) and inadequate support from its aluminum frame. Customers took out their frustration on Twitter using #BendGate. 

But the iOS 8.0.1 debacle and #BendGate don't compare to Apple's largest controversy. In 2010, the then new iPhone 4 had massive antenna design issues, known as "Antennagate." The problem led former Apple CEO Steve Jobs to cut short a Hawaiian vacation to hold a press conference on the issue, and Apple gave out cases to customers who were upset about the issue. But Apple weathered that storm, and all things indicate that this won't be any different.  

"It's a PR headache, but it doesn't affect how consumers view Apple and it's not a sign that something is fundamentally wrong at Apple today," Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, told The Wall Street Journal.

The string of controversies come after a weekend of record sales for Apple. The company announced Monday that its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales hit a record 10 million in the first weekend. That sales number doesn't include sales in China, one of the world's largest smart phone markets, because the phone is still waiting to be approved by regulators.

Need help fixing your phone? Apple has provided a support page for those who need help re-installing iOS 8. Using iTunes, customers can re-install the original version of iOS 8, but the health app won't work until Apple releases a new update to iOS 8.

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