Apple Reportedly Plans to Cut Price of iPhone XR in Japan Due to Poor Sales and Restart iPhone X Production

[Burger Thing]

Flipping the camera is frikkin garbage in Facetime. I am on 12.1.1.

It is certainly not easier compared to Skype or WhatsApp.

At the end, it doesn't matter. One uses, what he/she prefers. Where I live, in Asia and back home in Europa, I see the majority of people using WhatsApp. Even my colleagues sporting the latest iphone X(S)es, are using WhatsApp. In all my years using iPhones I have yet to receive a single Facetime call from a non family member. But I get WhatsApp calls all the time.

So it can't be that much harder to use than Facetime then.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

So anytime a manufacturer or engineering team makes either a mistake or crafts an interface one doesnt like I’m going to use your words: “incompetence”.

For a mistake, where something no longer works after an update, if course its incompetence.

Edit: A few months back, the Android version of SkyGo was updated and it was no longer possible to download the latest episode of a TV programme to the tablet because the text to "click" was below the bottom of the screen. Clearly not properly tested and clear incompetence. Eventually fixed in an update.

 

[iMEric984]

Why do you need video calling programmed at an OS level? So it can be used for covert surveillance?

Just use one of the numerous apps like Skype, viber, Facebook Messenger... that request access to your camera and internet connection

You mean google???

 

[loon3y]

It more and more looks like Apple overplayed it's hand with this year's high-priced products.

The iPhone XS and XR are not worth the upgrade for many over an iPhone 7 or 8 as the only things that are improved are the camera and the screen (for an almost 50% premium!). Even on an iPhone 7 you won't max out the processor or the GPU and I still think Touch ID is worth way more than face ID.



Here in the Netherlands you'll be registered for having an outstanding loan if you buy a subsidized phone, making iPhones way less attractive for people who want to buy a house as the registration will cut thousands of euros from your maximum mortgage and will increase your rent. Just putting down € 1500 at once for a phone is not something a person does every day.

So, I’m assuming you never used Face ID. I don’t know anyone that’s what’s to go back.

It’s not even practical to go back. Face ID alone is worth the upgrade because of its Effeciency.

 

[Applemaniac7]

it's interesting my basic question about technical support is so difficult to answer and provokes so much anger.
.

What's this obsession with technical support, quite frankly I've never heard anything so redic in all my life. Do you really think that if Skype goes down that you will be left there twiddling your thumbs.. it will be exactly the same as what you do if Spotify, Facebook, YouTube goes down.. bugger all as they will have a massive team of people working round the clock to fix it. So now I've answered your childish side tracking question, let's get back to your first point, please explain how FaceTime IS A LOT EASIER, not a little bit, but a lot easier to use than Skype.. I await your nonsensical answer!!

 

[tromboneaholic]

What's this obsession with technical support, quite frankly I've never heard anything so redic in all my life. Do you really think that if Skype goes down that you will be left there twiddling your thumbs.. it will be exactly the same as what you do if Spotify, Facebook, YouTube goes down.. bugger all as they will have a massive team of people working round the clock to fix it. So now I've answered your childish side tracking question, let's get back to your first point, please explain how FaceTime IS A LOT EASIER, not a little bit, but a lot easier to use than Skype.. I await your nonsensical answer!!

What I wrote was "if Skype doesn't work, who are you going to call for tech support?" I didn't write "if it was down."

Why do you insist on arguing something as obvious as this?

Do you know how many grandmothers and grandfathers use FaceTime to answer calls from their grandchildren, for example, that would be at a loss if you asked them to install any third party app on their phone?

Do you really live in such isolation as to how the real world works?

I suppose this is exactly the type of mentality that confuses a price decrease with a carrier subsidy.

 

[Khedron]

So, I’m assuming you never used Face ID. I don’t know anyone that’s what’s to go back.

It’s not even practical to go back. Face ID alone is worth the upgrade because of its Effeciency.

Why settle for compromised Apple products that force you to choose when Android just lets you use face or fingerprint?

 

[I7guy]

Why settle for compromised Apple products that force you to choose when Android just lets you use face or fingerprint?

All android phone lets you use face id for financial transaction authentication?
[doublepost=1543761746][/doublepost]

What's this obsession with technical support, quite frankly I've never heard anything so redic in all my life. Do you really think that if Skype goes down that you will be left there twiddling your thumbs.. it will be exactly the same as what you do if Spotify, Facebook, YouTube goes down.. bugger all as they will have a massive team of people working round the clock to fix it. So now I've answered your childish side tracking question, let's get back to your first point, please explain how FaceTime IS A LOT EASIER, not a little bit, but a lot easier to use than Skype.. I await your nonsensical answer!!

Apple has the best technical support in the business. Different suveys and awards bear that out. His entire point, if support is needed, it's very easy to get.

As far as facetime being easier, clearly NOT having your 95 year old grandmother install a 3rd party app is easier. Facetime "just works."

 

[iMEric984]

It makes Android a proper OS that does its best to support whatever the user wants to run, whereas iOS just says nope can't do that.

iOS "manages" 1 app at a time.

LMAO. That was a good one.

 

[macfacts]

Do you see Apple having an incentive to lock the customer into a 24 month contract for cellular service it doesn't sell?

You are trying to argue on technicalities, like where the discount is coming from. You are ignoring the fact that the carrier isn't selling many iPhone xr models (apple doesn't have to release numbers for the carrier to know it's own numbes.) and someone has decided to lower the price to sell more.

 

[tromboneaholic]

You are trying to argue on technicalities, like where the discount is coming from. You are ignoring the fact that the carrier isn't selling many iPhone xr models (apple doesn't have to release numbers for the carrier to know it's own numbes.) and someone has decided to lower the price to sell more.

But the lowered price is being offered by the carrier as an incentive to lock the customer into a 24-month contract. If the phone wasn't popular, what would be the incentive?

The rumor was Apple was cutting the price (which it didn't), to support the conclusion the phone isn't selling well.

To me it seems most likely that someone caught wind of a $100 offer, and without having any inside knowledge extrapolated the rest to conclude Apple was lowering the price due to poor sale.

 

[macfacts]

Facetime is a lot easier for most normal people to use though.

If you believe smartphone users will have difficulty installing a video caller app from the app store, they are certainly going to have difficulty activating iMessage or FaceTime.

 

[I7guy]

If you believe smartphone users will have difficulty installing a video caller app from the app store, they are certainly going to have difficulty activating iMessage or FaceTime.

The setup and transfer of old phone to new phone can be done at an Apple store.

 

[macfacts]

The setup and transfer of old phone to new phone can be done at an Apple store.

So you are confirming that FT has to be setup, it does not work out of the box.

Now explain how setting up FT is different/easier than doing the same with a video chat app (like WhatsApp) from the app store?

 

[I7guy]

So you are confirming that FT has to be setup, it does not work out of the box.

Now explain how setting up FT is different/easier than doing the same with a video chat app (like WhatsApp) from the app store?

I’m confirming a new phone has some setup. What are you trying to spin?

But if you buy an iPhone you can go to your local Apple store and for those who can’t setup computers, phones, TVs can get assistance at the Apple store.

If you have most android phones, you’re stuck. (Ask a friend I guess)

WhatsApp there still is configuration, plus downloading. Plus more confusing options. And because it’s not integrated into the ecosystem that dang password prompt keeps popping up randomly.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

For a mistake, where something no longer works after an update, if course its incompetence.

Edit: A few months back, the Android version of SkyGo was updated and it was no longer possible to download the latest episode of a TV programme to the tablet because the text to "click" was below the bottom of the screen. Clearly not properly tested and clear incompetence. Eventually fixed in an update.

I’m confirming a new phone has some setup. What are you trying to spin?

But if you buy an iPhone you can go to your local Apple store and for those who can’t setup computers, phones, TVs can get assistance at the Apple store.

If you have most android phones, you’re stuck. (Ask a friend I guess)

.

When I have bought a new phone from Carphone warehouse or EE, they ask if I want my phone set up.

 

[Burger Thing]

So you are confirming that FT has to be setup, it does not work out of the box.

Now explain how setting up FT is different/easier than doing the same with a video chat app (like WhatsApp) from the app store?

They can’t. Became the argument that FaceTime is easier to use than for example WhatsApp, is complete BS. That is why the “argument” is getting sidetracked with ridiculous statements about support. etc.

In reality: a FaceTime video call will most certainly fail before a WhatsApp video call when the connection/bandwidth is limited. I remember in the past we had calls when my wife and me gave up on FaceTime and reverted to Skype because of connection issues. FaceTime was unusable while Skype managed the limited bandwidth just fine. Disclaimer: we don’t use Skype anymore. Everyone we know is on WhatsApp anyway.

And before iOS 12 flipping the camera on FaceTime was as easy as on all the other apps. Unfortunately Apple decided to make a mess out of it. And they included stickers and stuff. Yeah.

 

[I7guy]

They can’t. Became the argument that FaceTime is easier to use than for example WhatsApp, is complete BS. That is why the “argument” is getting sidetracked with ridiculous statements about support. etc.

In reality: a FaceTime video call will most certainly fail before a WhatsApp video call when the connection/bandwidth is limited. I remember in the past we had calls when my wife and me gave up on FaceTime and reverted to Skype because of connection issues. FaceTime was unusable while Skype managed the limited bandwidth just fine. Disclaimer: we don’t use Skype anymore. Everyone we know is on WhatsApp anyway.

And before iOS 12 flipping the camera on FaceTime was as easy as on all the other apps. Unfortunately Apple decided to make a mess out of it. And they included stickers and stuff. Yeah.

"They" can and "they" did. You have a straw-man, imho, discussing facetime failures as it's nothing verifiable except anecdotal experiences. One anecdotal experience against another.

It's not been my experience with facetime since I got my 5s for an overly large number of failures due to bandwidth issues. I had whatsapp and it rolled over in the same way with limited bandwidth. I don't use skype on my iphone so I can't comment however the quality on a high-powered laptop with a decent cam wasn't really great.

12.1.1 fixes the screen flipping button issue so that it's not longer an issue, at least as far as I am concerned.

 

[Phone Junky]

WhatsApp there still is configuration, plus downloading. Plus more confusing options. And because it’s not integrated into the ecosystem that dang password prompt keeps popping up randomly.

This is just getting silly. Last year my daughter switched from iPhone to an Android. No more FaceTime between us. I searched the alternatives and we tried WhatsApp.

Hitting the install button didn't really seem to be much of a challenge. I really don't remember any 'confusing options'. You're not giving users enough credit. It was installed and set up in literally no time. I have never had a password prompt pop up.

I talk to her for well over an hour when we use it and it has been rock solid. No connection problems whatsoever.

I think it's also kind of funny how you periodically throw Group FaceTime into your arguments like it's been around forever.. They just added it.

I like Apple just as much as the next guy but the automatic dismissal of any alternative is just bizarre.

 

[Nippi2000]

WhatsApp there still is configuration, plus downloading. Plus more confusing options. And because it’s not integrated into the ecosystem that dang password prompt keeps popping up randomly.

Password prompt? You are either blatantly lying or you have never used WhatsApp. What an idiotic post.

 

[Burger Thing]

This is just getting silly. Last year my daughter switched from iPhone to an Android. No more FaceTime between us. I searched the alternatives and we tried WhatsApp.

Hitting the install button didn't really seem to be much of a challenge. I really don't remember any 'confusing options'. You're not giving users enough credit. It was installed and set up in literally no time. I have never had a password prompt pop up.

I talk to her for well over an hour when we use it and it has been rock solid. No connection problems whatsoever.

I think it's also kind of funny how you periodically throw Group FaceTime into your arguments like it's been around forever.. They just added it.

I like Apple just as much as the next guy but the automatic dismissal of any alternative is just bizarre.

I hope that what I7 wasn't trying to say, is that Android Users are smarter. After all, figuring out confusing options and all.

 

[I7guy]

This is just getting silly. Last year my daughter switched from iPhone to an Android. No more FaceTime between us. I searched the alternatives and we tried WhatsApp.

Hitting the install button didn't really seem to be much of a challenge. I really don't remember any 'confusing options'. You're not giving users enough credit. It was installed and set up in literally no time. I have never had a password prompt pop up.

I talk to her for well over an hour when we use it and it has been rock solid. No connection problems whatsoever.

I think it's also kind of funny how you periodically throw Group FaceTime into your arguments like it's been around forever.. They just added it.

I like Apple just as much as the next guy but the automatic dismissal of any alternative is just bizarre.

Let see:

Facetime
- Install phone number

What'sApp
- Download from app store (for the third time)
- Open app, tell what's phone number
- review configuration options and decline access to contacts and photos (what's app is owned by facebook, the leader in consumer data privacy and protection)
- find out there are some display issues with contact names, research and find out what's app needs access to your contacts, but granting that access will upload your contacts to the server. (really what's app). Annoyed did it anyway.
- Caved in and gave what's app access to photos
- new security feature was provided whereby you need a pin to login every now and then. Enabled the option as I am secure first and convenient second.
- So now I get prompted for the secondary pin every now and then
- All the above for 4 people who all have iphones and when they travel we use what's app and imessage interchangeably. There is no reason to have what's app installed with my personal data now being managed by facebook.

 

[Phone Junky]

Let see:

Facetime
- Install phone number

What'sApp
- Download from app store (for the third time)
- Open app, tell what's phone number
- review configuration options and decline access to contacts and photos (what's app is owned by facebook, the leader in consumer data privacy and protection)
- find out there are some display issues with contact names, research and find out what's app needs access to your contacts, but granting that access will upload your contacts to the server. (really what's app). Annoyed did it anyway.
- Caved in and gave what's app access to photos
- new security feature was provided whereby you need a pin to login every now and then. Enabled the option as I am secure first and convenient second.
- So now I get prompted for the secondary pin every now and then
- All the above for 4 people who all have iphones and when they travel we use what's app and imessage interchangeably. There is no reason to have what's app installed with my personal data now being managed by facebook.

Whatever. You're trying to make it out to be more difficult than it is. If installing the app and setting it up one time is too much for you to handle, then I guess you are better off sticking with FaceTime and not communicating with anyone that doesn't have an Apple device. So silly...

 

[I7guy]

Whatever. You're trying to make it out to be more difficult than it is. If installing the app and setting it up one time is too much for you to handle, then I guess you are better off sticking with FaceTime and not communicating with anyone that doesn't have an Apple device. So silly...

What you point out is different strokes for different folks. Right? What's app has no benefits to me and is owned by the company who one can't trust their personal data to. So whatever, you either decided you want to install it or not. But it's my own opinion, facetime is superior.

And with the family split all over the place, group facetime is great.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Whatever. You're trying to make it out to be more difficult than it is. If installing the app and setting it up one time is too much for you to handle, then I guess you are better off sticking with FaceTime and not communicating with anyone that doesn't have an Apple device. So silly...

FaceTime uses end-to-end encryption and the company behind it does not harvest user data for profit. Many informed consumers are becoming more and more concerned about privacy, and they are not "noobs" for making a choice they feel comfortable with - and that works.

At the same time, it's easier to set up or recommend a phone for a grandparent, relative, or non-techy friend where all they have to do is sign in with their ID, and FaceTime will work.

There are valid reasons for both advanced and inexperienced users to prefer FaceTime's security AND ease of use. It's also the reason why everyone me and my wife need to video conference with has FaceTime.

iOS is dominant in Japan, and the carrier subsidy for iPhone Xr on select 2-year contracts doesn't do anything to diminish FaceTime's utility in the region.