Updated: iPhone 3.0 Spotlight Search Finds Deleted Messages?
UPDATE: iPhone 3.1 does indeed fix this.
Matt Janssen has discovered what looks like a bug in iPhone 3.0 Spotlight, whereby the search feature keeps emails in the index/cache even after they’ve been deleted from the inbox and purged from the trash (and even obliterated from the host server). Janssen claims in the video above he’s found emails he deleted several months ago using this method.
Email is likely cached to speed up searches. Initially tapping on a deleted email in a search result will launch Mobile Mail, which will promptly crash, but searching and tapping a second time will actually show the email, albeit in a buggy manner.
Engadget (via CultofMac) has heard this bug might be fixed in iPhone 3.1, now on Beta 3, and perhaps to be released as soon as Apple’s next iPod/iTunes event rumored for the week of September 7.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Not likely. I noticed this a long time ago and just assumed everyone else had noticed it.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Just tried it out on 3.1 beta 3 and the bug wasn’t there.. They must of fixed it..
August 18th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Exactly, I’ve known of this for a long long time. I’ve even submitted this bug to Apple and they’ve told me they’re aware of the problem and are fixing it.
This has all been blown way out of proportion, it is no way anything new. I noticed this when I first got the 3.0 Beta.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Fastlane and Frag:
I remember the headlines on this a from WEEKS ago, I think they were even posted on the big geek sites (engadget, gizmodo) and they are running the same news *** if it were unheard of.
I guess nothing makes headlines like the iPhone!
August 18th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
NOT a bug on my 3.0!!! Someone’s iPhone is fu&ked up!
August 18th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I’ve known about this as long as I’ve had the 3GS. In fact, I use this feature very often as a secure way to recover informatoin that was once sent to me but information I do not want others to find (access codes, etc).