Fast fix for iphone apps and music no longer working, no computer needed

Question

Reply if this works for you, or if it doesn't...
Thanks to sbogaty who posted this fix!
This was buried in the long thread topic : iPhone applications no longer work
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7960722#7960722
Posted by: sbogaty
Posts: 1
From: NY
Registered: Aug 26, 2008
Re: iPhone applications no longer work
Posted: Aug 26, 2008 4:10 PM in response to: pmonahan
I am having the same problem as many of you. 3G iPhone. 2.0.2.
In the past 3 weeks I have had at least 5 if not 8-10 examples of loss of all iPod content and access to all apps. I know this happens on 2.0.2 and I know it happened at least a couple of times on 2.0.1. I am fairly certain that it never happened on 2.0.0.
This seems to happen EVERY time that the iPod crashes and reboots itself or when I force a hard reset. I haven't tried with a normal turn off/shut down in fear of having to go through this whole process again.
I have a solution that while not optimal works EVERY TIME!
1. Do a "reset all settings" from general settings. This will wipe out the set up of an exchange mail client, but not Yahoo, Gmail, or POP. While a pain this only takes a few minutes to reset up. It will not touch any app settings, high scores, etc. Additionally, all of your apps will need to reordered on the screen if you are like me and like certain ones to be on certain pages. Again, a pain, but this takes 5-10 minutes max for 4 pages worth of apps. Additionally, you will need to change any other personalized settings that you have set up (ring tones, favorites, brightness, etc.) At this point all iPod content will be back, but apps still won't work.
2. Go to the app store and download any app that you want. This will have you reinputing your username and password. Once this is compthe app is fully downloaded and installed you will have access to all of your apps again and your phone will work perfectly UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE TO DO THIS. Note, during this step, I have done a hard reset multiple times and gone through a overly long Apple logo time frame (and sometimes even hard reset during the Apple logo again) but this has yet to have any ill effect. Once the phone comes back up all apps works and all iPod content is there.
Finally, I have now stopped downloading or updating apps directly from the phone if at all. As this often causes or requires a hard reset.
Generally I get one to two days before having to do this again.
Please know I am not suggest this is all OK and I am barely tolerating this as it should just get fixed, but this is pretty easy and while monotonous on the 5th+ time, it isn't that time consuming and has worked every time.

Answer 1

Downgrading to iTunes 7.7.0 following the steps in the link below has worked for me for about 12 days now.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6055900&postcount=161
It boggles my mind that with an issue like this so big that Apple STILL doesn't have a permanent fix for it yet.