Release record
Release notes
Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.
The September 12 release focused on reliability after the 2.0 launch. Apple’s preserved changelog covered fewer call setup failures and drops, longer battery life for most users, much faster iTunes backups, more reliable POP and Exchange mail fetching, faster third-party app installation, and fewer hangs when many applications were installed.[1][2]
The update also improved texting and contact performance, refined the 3G signal display, added repeated message alerts, offered data erasure after ten failed passcode attempts, and introduced Genius playlist creation. Apple’s security bulletin separately records repaired application-sandbox isolation, font parsing, DNS and TCP protections, passcode enforcement, and WebKit document lifetime handling.[3][4][5]
Source ledger
Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.
MacRumors · Arnold Kim · 2008-09-12T13:11:00Z · Apple-listed call, battery, backup, mail, and app changes
Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · iPhone 2.1 — 12 September 2008
MacRumors · Arnold Kim · 2008-09-12T13:11:00Z · Apple-listed messaging, contacts, signal, passcode, and Genius changes
Apple Newsroom · 2008-09-09T00:00:00Z · Genius playlists and 2.1 software
Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iPhone v2.1 security content
MacRumors · Arnold Kim · 2008-09-12T13:11:00Z · Apple-listed iPhone 2.1 changelog
Apple Newsroom · 2008-09-09T00:00:00Z · Genius and 2.1 software
Documented & observed
Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.
Release changes
Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.
security · fixed
The change reduced the ability of a remote attacker to poison cached name-resolution information.
Recorded at Public
security · fixed
Apple identified arbitrary code execution as the most serious possible result and updated from FreeType 2.3.5 with the 2.3.6 fixes.
Recorded at Public
enhancement · changed
Apple’s changelog covers both initial contact loading and subsequent search responsiveness.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
This entry concerns the on-screen indicator and does not infer a change in radio coverage or network capacity.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
Apple singled out POP and Exchange retrieval while describing a broader reliability improvement.
Recorded at Public
enhancement · changed
This is limited to backup duration; the source does not claim changes to backup contents or restore behavior.
Recorded at Public
feature · introduced
Apple’s iPod touch announcement corroborates that the 2.1 software added the Genius feature for building related-song playlists while mobile.
Recorded at Public
security · fixed
A crafted site could previously terminate the application or execute code; Apple improved document-reference handling.
Recorded at Public
enhancement · changed
The claim retains Apple’s qualification that the improvement applied to most users rather than promising a universal result.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
Apple’s consumer changelog identifies both connection setup and in-call reliability as improvement areas.
Recorded at Public
security · fixed
Apple scoped the bypass to a person with physical access and noted that it did not affect versions before 2.0.
Recorded at Public
security · introduced
The consumer changelog documents the option as a new local data-protection control.
Recorded at Public
enhancement · changed
The update joined a performance correction with an optional reminder behavior for incoming text messages.
Recorded at Public
security · fixed
The earlier behavior could let one third-party application read files from another app’s sandbox and expose sensitive data.
Recorded at Public
security · fixed
Predictable sequence values could otherwise assist spoofed connections or insertion of data into an existing connection.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
The entry combines two adjacent application-management items from the preserved Apple changelog.
Recorded at Public
Milestones
Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.
Public release
iPhone 2.1 combined call, battery, backup, mail, application, messaging, contact, signal, passcode, and Genius improvements with six documented security repairs.
Historical context
Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.
Historical avg for .1 releases
47 days, 5.2 milestones
Based on 21 previous iOS .1 releases