Apple Takes on Droid X With Latest Smartphone Antenna Video

[HLdan]

It takes a strong person/company to simply admit their mistake, apologize, fix it, learn from it, and move on. Instead, Apple has set themselves up as the “antenna monitor police” casting aspersions at their competitors. It’s pathetic!

Why don't you be more realistic instead of trying oversimplify the situation. Oh sure, just say, "To our loyal fans, we're sorry, we're stupid, we made a mistake, we're fixing it, yada yada yada....". Even Apple being humble and admitting that they are they screwed up and are fixing it won't make a damn difference on this sight of the misery loving complaining brats on this forum. This is not some mom and pop store that could just easily get on their knees to their customers and beg for forgiveness and admit they suck.

Apple did the right thing and they don't owe you or anyone here a politically correct explanation or admittance to wrong doings. They offered a bumper for free, refunded all who bought one and in the mix of things they have every right to defend themselves in any which way rather you like it or not.

Furthermore, some of you self-righteous Apple haters here need to put yourself in the position of Steve Jobs, be real about it, you would've done the exact same thing as he and Apple have handled this. You're running a multi-billion dollar company with stockholders, you're not gonna make public apologies and walk away with a yellow tail between your legs. If you have any ballz as a CEO you will stand your ground and backup your product and not allow people to slam all over you as this forum loves to do.

 

[Bill1819]

Just a thought

Apple is playing dirty pool a little bit. I am disimpressed.

The problem with this entire matter is people have treated Apple as if they are gods. When Steve Jobs had his liver replaced a while back, fanboys and money grubbing stock holders were treating it like the death of John Paul. But, to get to the point, Apple is backing their claim with these antenna videos. Also, all these other companies are doing what they should do in a situation like this; kick them when they are down or expose a weakness. So,I have no issue with HTC, Motorola or whomever. I actually like the Droid X for example. But Apple is still on top of their game. You need "haters" to make your product grow or to challenge yourself. I would be disappointed and worried if Apple did not say anything.

 

[rans0m00]

Why don't you be more realistic instead of trying oversimplify the situation. Oh sure, just say, "To our loyal fans, we're sorry, we're stupid, we made a mistake, we're fixing it, yada yada yada....". Even Apple being humble and admitting that they are they screwed up and are fixing it won't make a damn difference on this sight of the misery loving complaining brats on this forum. This is not some mom and pop store that could just easily get on their knees to their customers and beg for forgiveness and admit they suck.

Apple did the right thing and they don't owe you or anyone here a politically correct explanation or admittance to wrong doings. They offered a bumper for free, refunded all who bought one and in the mix of things they have every right to defend themselves in any which way rather you like it or not.

Furthermore, some of you self-righteous Apple haters here need to put yourself in the position of Steve Jobs, be real about it, you would've done the exact same thing as he and Apple have handled this. You're running a multi-billion dollar company with stockholders, you're not gonna make public apologies and walk away with a yellow tail between your legs. If you have any ballz as a CEO you will stand your ground and backup your product and now allow people to slam all over you as this forum loves to do.

I don't know if Apple simply said there is a fix in the works when its out we will replace your phone and if you cant wait then you can return your current one. I would be really happy actually. Pointing out other companies flaws just looks tacky.

 

[Trotsky]

Just defending themselves

I think CR got it all wrong and Apple got mad and did ther own testing. They have a right to do this and I support it.

 

[firewood]

But a fact is a fact, there is a very good reason why all other cell phone makers wrap their antennas inside plastic cases.

There were many phones that had external antennas, not wrapped up in plastic cases. These aerials used to stick up out of the top of phones before people and the FCC became worried about radiation into your skull.

 

[CFreymarc]

My land line NEVER drops calls.

You have never lived in rural parts of the mountain states I see.

 

[Jax44]

I do not own an iPhone 4. However, I used one at the Apple Store. it had full bars, and I called my cell phone (iPhone 3GS it also had full bars too) Then I held the iPhone 4 like I do with my 3GS, and watched th bars go down and the call dropped. I tried it, again, but using my iPhone 3GS. It didn't drop any bars OR the call. Again. Same location, iPone 4 kills the call. I used a Droid X at the same mall today. It had full bars. I held it, and tried to drop the call. No bars lost, no call dropped.

I should point out, that my Apple Store has an AT&T repeater in the store, yet I managed to drop the call. I'm sure there was a Verizon repeater in the mall though.

I don't buy it. The Apple stores have very high signals, I doubt you could completely lose a call.

 

[Journojulz]

I don't know if Apple simply said there is a fix in the works when its out we will replace your phone and if you cant wait then you can return your current one.

You can't offer an open recall on a million sales a week.

If you can live with the bumper - get the phone - its great

if you want to wait til next year - get a refund.

 

[Trotsky]

And now

There were many phones that had external antennas, not wrapped up in plastic cases. These aerials used to stick up out of the top of phones before people and the FCC became worried about radiation into your skull.

So now they conceal the cancer threat.

 

[Trotsky]

Apple is the God of Tech

The problem with this entire matter is people have treated Apple as if they are gods. When Steve Jobs had his liver replaced a while back, fanboys and money grubbing stock holders were treating it like the death of John Paul. But, to get to the point, Apple is backing their claim with these antenna videos. Also, all these other companies are doing what they should do in a situation like this; kick them when they are down or expose a weakness. So,I have no issue with HTC, Motorola or whomever. I actually like the Droid X for example. But Apple is still on top of their game. You need "haters" to make your product grow or to challenge yourself. I would be disappointed and worried if Apple did not say anything.

I agree.Apple needs to be strong, fair and objective. So far they have done all of these.The phone works great with a case. Great product.

 

[Trotsky]

You're dreaming Frisco

We can't fix it so we'll attack our competitors.

Apple continues their pettiness--I think maybe it's time for Jobs to leave.

Apple is doing this because of the huge threat of Android.

Android is eating Apple's lunch in the smart phone market and soon the tablet market.

When you are scared and desperate you take desperate measures--just what this is.

Take over the tablet market? Give me a break. Problem with Google software is that they really gave no control over the junk hardware that it is installed on. Jobs leaving? He personally took it to CR and proved that the signal loss is not exclusive to Apple.

 

[vlj9r]

Apple, please stop the comparisons. I can understand why you are doing it. If there is a lawsuit you can say, look, they all loose signal too. The bottom line is you don't hear those complaints from users of those smartphones. They don't make it to the evening news.

Correct the design problem, a case of your choice is not the perfect solution. I'm afraid you will have to issue a recall. I don't envy your position. No matter what you do it will upset loyal customers. Especially those that tied themselves to another two yrs of AT&T. Hopefully you won't be announcing a new iPhone carrier in the USA. That would be salt in the wound.

 

[leomac08]

Apple has made a trollish statement with this!

 

[cumanzor]

So now they conceal the cancer threat.

Heheh, yeah sort of. Except there is no danger to begin with.

 

[Xavier]

Apple is trying to remove the "finger pointing" from their iPhone 4 and move it to all smart phones. And judging by the video, the iPhone 4 is not the only phone with this problem.

 

[siphyn87]

Yeah I tried for a good solid 20 minutes trying to replicate this, in an area in which I only had 1-2 bars on my Droid X. 20 minutes later my phone still had the same number of bars, I don't see how Apple can get away with lieing about other phones like this. I understand they are trying to defend themselves, but stooping this low is just sad and is really starting to make me think differently about them. I honestly hope they get sued for it. Also, yes I'm an apple fan, but this is my opinion. I own a macbook and had both the iphone and iphone 3g before I decided to switch carriers.

 

[PerfSeeker]

Apple is trying to remove the "finger pointing" from their iPhone 4 and move it to all smart phones. And judging by the video, the iPhone 4 is not the only phone with this problem.

Kind of sad for a company that tries to emphasize how "magical" and "perfect" they are compared to the competition. Now it's "we suck as bad as they do".

 

[iSamurai]

Apple is playing dirty pool a little bit. I am disimpressed.

that's unpossible!

 

[juicedropsdeuce]

Kind of sad for a company that tries to emphasize how "magical" and "perfect" they are compared to the competition. Now it's "we suck as bad as they do".

+1

 

[Xanderhoff]

Apple is trying to tell people like you the simple facts by demonstration. Chill out.

AGREED

 

[PeterQVenkman]

That quote sounds an awful lot like Apple's reply, and the small number of issues reported with the iP4.

Are you forgiving one and not the other?

Apple's reponse would have been "There is no issue" or "not a big deal." Then they would hold a press conference about how unfair the media is, while simultaneously using the media to spread their PR.

Every company does it, but rarely does a CEO publicly show so much disdain for the consumer.

Then again, if I was on vacation on Hawaii and got called back to go to work for PR damage control, I'd be angry, too.

Kind of sad for a company that tries to emphasize how "magical" and "perfect" they are compared to the competition. Now it's "we suck as bad as they do".

Yup. They aren't doing themselves any favors by showing that their products are no better than the competition. This isn't what Apple used to be. I think that's what people find so jarring. Apple used to tout how much better they were. Now they've lowered themselves down to the level of competition they used to fly right over.

 

[gorgeousninja]

wtf is steve trying to prove, YOU FAIL

Did you join M.R. just to post these insightful, well judged comments? Aren't we the lucky ones?

 

[juicedropsdeuce]

AGREED

fail

 

[Castiel]

Kind of sad for a company that tries to emphasize how "magical" and "perfect" they are compared to the competition. Now it's "we suck as bad as they do".

Thank you for admitting Android phones suck.

 

[ryanw]

The discussion has gotten out of hand. Motorola was one of he first companies to jump all over Apple and antennas. Now that the Droid X exhibits same behavior Apple has the right to show the issue can be replicated. It's business.

My sense on this is that if any of these phones are on 1900 MHz they exhibit this behavior more readily hhan when they are on 850 MHz.

Finally, i have been sporting my new iPhone 4 for nearly a month. I have yet to drop a call. I have traveled by car from San Francisco to Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. I have been in New York and Hawaii. The iPhone 4 has the best reception of any of my iPhones. I have owned 4. And my upload and download seeds are far superior to any Android or Blackberry device on hoer networks. I also use simultaneous voice and data on 3G on AT&T. Show me any Verizon or Sprint phone that can accomplish this without resorting to wifi except for the EVO which does not work in Europe. Another location I travel to twice a year.

I'm feeling a little bit of "BS" in this posting. How can you have owned 4 iPhones and be aware of the upload / download speed of android or blackberry devices on the same network? Based on personal experience or what you've heard?

I'm an iPhone owner, I'll never do android or any other OS as long as the iPhone stays the best product. I switched to Macs from Windows when OSX came out. OSX was the first OS that gave me the freedom to switch from Windows. Was OSX perfect? No, but even with all it's quirks it gave me an overall better experience than windows. iPhone is the same thing. It's been somewhat of a trap as it tries to limit me from teathering my phone, controlling various functions of the phone, etc.. But overall, it's a far superior experience then what I've had when owning my motorola flip phones, my nokia phones, and trying out any android phone or blackberry. The iPhone suits my needs far better than any other phone on the market.

Now if Apple ever lets OSX or the iPhone experience fall behind, I'll give them a few years of slack to try to keep me, but if they can't make up the ground then I'll switch to whatever the latest thing is.

People should be giving the iPhone 4 some slack. This is the first major hit that apple has taken since the launch of OSX. Say that about any other company out there. Microsoft constantly screws their customers and NEVER completely delivers. Blackberry products are crippled at the core with the windows mobile frameworks (I cant stand how it doesn't separate email and instant messages into different areas), the android phones have no "quality assurance" driving developers to create compelling apps.. the android marketplace is worst than the wild wild west. I could go on and on....

Give the iPhone 4 some slack. Personally, I have used a case on every single one of my iPhones because if you drop it a few times your glass will shatter without one. So I have painfully learned to keep a case on the phone. The antenna appears to be larger on the iPhone 4 than any other iPhones, once I throw it in a case i can see how it would give me the best reception over any other iPhone I would have owned... so for "ME", this is perfect. It has a huge antenna, it's not buried in the electronics of the device, and will have a case protecting it... rock n' roll!