Clearly they didn't do a good job of testing the other phones. As shown in the Apple video it wasn't that hard to find problems with the other phones.
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Apple to Offer Free Cases for iPhone 4 Customers
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Clearly they didn't do a good job of testing the other phones. As shown in the Apple video it wasn't that hard to find problems with the other phones.
"Facts don't lie". Handpicked, incomplete and irrelevant facts you mean? This site is full of Apple apologists who are incapable of acknowledging that Apple is capable of a design flaw. And then they laud Apple for throwing out a $.50 case that until today they had been gouging customers $30 for.
I have probably spent $20,000 with Apple in 5 years. All in my personal capacity. I am a fan. And, I do not think this design flaw impugns the company. But I do think their response to it does. Why people on here cannot just admit that no one and no company is perfect and Apple blew this one is beyond me.
I hate to say this, but I am not impressed by Jobs' appearance today. Offering the bumper case for free is essentially putting on a "Band-Aid" solution for the antenna problem, and they still haven't addressed the proximity sensor problem, either.
I hope Apple does do a hardware fix for both problems and have them "slipstreamed" into later production iPhone 4's, hopefully by late this summer.
I hope Apple does do a hardware fix for both problems and have them "slipstreamed" into later production iPhone 4's, hopefully by late this summer.
Thanks Apple.
I bought one of those bumpers and decided it looks fugly with it on. Also you can't use lots of non-OEM chargers, as well as the dock with it on, so WTF !
Listed it on ebay, and sold it and now you are going to refund my purchase.
Awesome. $30 in my pocket, and I don't have any antenna issues anyway.
I sold my 3GS to pay for my iPhone 4 upgrade, sold my 3G for my 3GS upgrade and my 2G for my 3G upgrade.
I have no complaints.
I bought one of those bumpers and decided it looks fugly with it on. Also you can't use lots of non-OEM chargers, as well as the dock with it on, so WTF !
Listed it on ebay, and sold it and now you are going to refund my purchase.
Awesome. $30 in my pocket, and I don't have any antenna issues anyway.
I sold my 3GS to pay for my iPhone 4 upgrade, sold my 3G for my 3GS upgrade and my 2G for my 3G upgrade.
I have no complaints.
I hate to say this, but I am not impressed by Jobs' appearance today. Offering the bumper case for free is essentially putting on a "Band-Aid" solution for the antenna problem, and they still haven't addressed the proximity sensor problem, either.
Maybe you should watch again.
It would seem that a band-aid is exactly what is needed at this time while they study the problem and determine what to do in September. Jobs said just that. "We'll re-examine this in September and decide whether to keep going [with the bumpers] or maybe we'll have a better idea."
If you get a deep gash on your leg, you put a band-aid on it and go somewhere where it can be evaluated to decide what further action to take. It takes a little time and the band-aid is a temporary fix.
And he most certainly did address the proximity sensor "issue" - at least twice during the talk. He clearly says that "we're tracking some problems with the proximity sensor and we're working on some solutions and hopefully we'll get those into the next software update. This seems to, again, affect a very small number of users but it's probably a pesky problem for those users."
Did you even watch or are you one to b!tch and moan just to hear yourself b!tching and moaning?
I'm not an apologist. I'm just a person who paid attention is all.
Lots of people can not duplicate this.
Anyone who claims they bought a $700 product and it does not work but doesn't return it or call support for the company who made it is pretty stupid don't you think? Especially since Apple has never once said there is a problem or an issue related to reception. So it is not like people were waiting on it. In fact they specifically said it was not an issue. So if you choose not to contact support for an issue the company who makes the device publicly says doesn't exist, not calling support seems to be amazingly stupid.
I assume Apple will have criteria for case makers that meet certain criteria, most importantly cost of product for Apple, to get them included in the giveaway. What level that is likely depends on how many cases/bumpers they can get how soon at various price levels. People are not likely going to get $80-$150 cases for free.
High Five!
They acknowledge that a few people are whining about having a problem so they are going to stick a pacifier in their mouth. If that doesn't do it, they want their iPhone back. For everyone else who likes their iPhone 4 (which seems to be almost all 3 million), they get a free case or refund.
Obviously, Apple should institute a complete redeign and a $1B recall based on monitoring Youtube and chatrooms.
You saw the numbers. If people are behaving totally differently from how they have done in the past and reporting problems at a lower rate than for previous products, how exactly is Apple supposed to determine this? What better data can you point to that indicates this is a more pervasive problem than Apple calculates?
How is Apple supposed to decide how to spend millions or billions of their shareholders dollars if persons such as yourself can't be bothered to make that call? Why is Apple's behavior less defensible than yours?
In fact Apple is going to be eating $10's of millions on cases to make the problem go away for every customer... without even possessing evidence that this is a pervasive problem...
... yet you can't be bothered to make a phone call.
It's not that I have a problem calling AppleCare. I have done it for my MacPro, Cinema Display and other iPhones. If I have a problem that isnt covered on the freakin news, I call and have always been happy with the results.
Why would I call AppleCare and sound like an ignorant a$$ about a problem the world is aware of?
If Apple wants realistic stats, why not ask users to utilize a poll that asks for serial numbers to authenticate and determine how many people have this problem. My guess is a crap load more than .55%. That stat is almost offensive considering EVERY person I know that owns one says the problem exists.
Those stats and the 1.7% return stats are complete BS. I know MANY people that were waiting for a "fix" for the problem before returning. Like any normal knowledgable user would do.
But in the end you are right. We should all flood AppleCare reps and complain about the same problem we already know they are aware of. That's smart.
Just bought meself a cheap HTC Smart off ebay for 45 quids ... its crap ... but will suffice until I get my iPhone 4 in a coupla weeks .. great... BUT heres the thing .. I tried the hand wrapping thing .. within 20 seconds the HTC signal dropped from three to one bar .. so Steve is probably right .... its all smartphones that have this accursed thingy .. its just that Apple being Apple they are expected to produce perfection .... so folks are more picky ...
Meantime I continue to throw the HTC at the wall as I take 5 times longer to text and do everything else on it ....
Now pass me that free Bumper case someone ....
Yeah the first day of the first death of grip video, I did a test on a 3G, and I was able to get 3 bar drops with a case on the phone. Of course this stuff is capable on all phones. Most people just don't know where to diddle the other phones.
Most people use a case on their phone, especially their iPhone. It is a fragile device that should have a case on it. I don't care how sexy you think it is. Only a small fraction of people every used a iPhone, iPhone 3G or an iPhone 3GS without a case. Now the iPhone 4 comes out and everyone says they don't want to use a case. It is silly.
If you don't want to use a case go for it. If the phone does not work for you without a case return the thing. Return it return it return it return it. And no I don't care if you bought any stupid fart apps or accessories.
So what? It is a tiny fractional percent. The raw numbers are meaningless. It is 15,000 out of 3 million. If it was 15,000 out of 30,000 it would be significant. If it was 100,000 out of 250,000,000 it would be less significant.
Why would calling Apple about a phone you think does not work be futile? Seems stupid to me that anyone would not call a company when they paid $600-$700 for a device and it does not work. I would say it is extraordinarily dumb not to call Apple in light of the fact Apple has publicly said multiple times there is not a problem. When they said that, people should have called, not just sat around and claimed it is futile. That is just dumb.
Yeah that doesn't even really make sense. By that criteria they could say nobody is affected.
Costumers never get the credit for their work. Sure they have an Oscar category for them but they usually get the short end of the creative stick.
Thanks for being sane. I wish the best of luck with your 3GS and your iPhone 5.
I think you are lying. I would bet anything that you have never owned the iP4. Prove me wrong jerky...
Sounds like you might have a nice little side business to go there.
So I could buy from the Apple refurbished store $149 for the 16GB and $249 for the 32GB
I bought my Extreme Base Station and Extreme Express there and are very happy.
So please return it already.
Seriously. I am thinking about a couple more phones from the refurb line. It is too bad only a tiny number of people have returned their phones. I guess refurbs for iPhone 4 will be in much shorter supply than 3GS for quite some time.
Haha, but imagine all the buyers who can maybe get credits. Although I am not sure how they are going to do the refunds. Seems like they would just give one per phone. Not sure how they are going to sort it all out.
You could return it and then order a free case from Apple. Or you could keep it, and still get a free case from Apple and have two cases. Your choice really.
Yeah recently bought a beatiful stainless steel grill... then I had to put a cover on it. OMG WTH do they want me to put a cover on my pretty grill. How dare they!!!
Not sure you know what a fanboy is. A fanboy was likely already happy with the iPhone 4 correct? So this would not make them happy right? Maybe happier, but not happy, unless you are claiming the fanboys were unhappy before this? Your statement is so confusing can you clarify when the fanboys went from being unhappy to happy and why?
I hate to say this, but I am not impressed by Jobs' appearance today. Offering the bumper case for free is essentially putting on a "Band-Aid" solution for the antenna problem, and they still haven't addressed the proximity sensor problem, either.
I hope Apple does do a hardware fix for both problems and have them "slipstreamed" into later production iPhone 4's, hopefully by late this summer.
You don't own an iPhone 4 so why do you care?
There are a couple of burning questions I have.
1) Why Sept 30th? If they are not planning on making a hardware change, then the bumpers/cases will still be needed. If this is the only issue with the phone then people will still want to buy it especially if there is a "bandage fix".
2) Do they anticipate a hardware fix or are they working on one that they feel will be ready by Sept 30th? If so, it might be worth waiting for. '
3) Is this problem really so far spread that the phone really isn't as fun to use? Or has the media really ran with this to the extent that people who don't have the iP4 are no longer certain they want one (like me).
4) IF they are planning on making a revision or hardware fix, what harm could it do to tell people that they are planning this. I cannot imagine that they would lose a tonne of revenue and people would praise Apple for taking charge of a flaw and eradicating it.
1) Why Sept 30th? If they are not planning on making a hardware change, then the bumpers/cases will still be needed. If this is the only issue with the phone then people will still want to buy it especially if there is a "bandage fix".
2) Do they anticipate a hardware fix or are they working on one that they feel will be ready by Sept 30th? If so, it might be worth waiting for. '
3) Is this problem really so far spread that the phone really isn't as fun to use? Or has the media really ran with this to the extent that people who don't have the iP4 are no longer certain they want one (like me).
4) IF they are planning on making a revision or hardware fix, what harm could it do to tell people that they are planning this. I cannot imagine that they would lose a tonne of revenue and people would praise Apple for taking charge of a flaw and eradicating it.
They acknowledged that there is a problem, nearly the same problem as every other compact smartphone.
Every phone is flawed, just in slightly different ways.
There's a huge problem with the 3GS antenna. It drops calls where my iPhone 4 doesn't. Same with one of my Android phones. What do you suggest be done about those?
I just watched Steve Jobs' press conference, and have some thoughts.
Admittedly, I am a fanboy. I have purchased everything Apple over the last six years: Two Mac Mini's, PowerBook 15", 23" Cinema Display, three iPods, three iPhones, two Airport Express, Airport Extreme, etc.
I received my iPhone 4 two weeks ago, and was able to duplicate the antenna issue both at my work and at my home. Sure enough, the signal bars dropped. And I still think this antenna issue is much to do about nothing.
When I make a phone call on my new iPhone 4, I'm not gripping it to the point of my hand shaking, therefor 'antennagate' does not affect me.
I love my iPhone, and won't even accept the free bumper case. An overhyped product will always receive overhyped media coverage.
Admittedly, I am a fanboy. I have purchased everything Apple over the last six years: Two Mac Mini's, PowerBook 15", 23" Cinema Display, three iPods, three iPhones, two Airport Express, Airport Extreme, etc.
I received my iPhone 4 two weeks ago, and was able to duplicate the antenna issue both at my work and at my home. Sure enough, the signal bars dropped. And I still think this antenna issue is much to do about nothing.
When I make a phone call on my new iPhone 4, I'm not gripping it to the point of my hand shaking, therefor 'antennagate' does not affect me.
I love my iPhone, and won't even accept the free bumper case. An overhyped product will always receive overhyped media coverage.
I agree I have the Signal issue to but I have made 30 or so calls on my iPhone and nothing has dropped
The problem with forums and...
"social" sites or whatever they are called (like Facebook) is that they're used mostly by people who are desperate to be heard. This is my second post. Second. I don't have (nor do I want or need to) have the time to read through all the replies, most of which keep repeating the same thing over and over again precisely because there are so many it's impossible to know if what one says has been said before (now I include myself). Just one sentence here, another there; no substance or sense in most of them. Some of the posters need anger management (I mean, what good does it do to rant or ramble on the same issue over and over again), and some just need to be "funny".
This thing is very, very simple, as has been stated millions of times here: if you're not happy, return the phone. Mr. Jobs said it as simple as that. But, you know what? most of the unhappy people won't return the phone (and, again, Mr. Jobs gave us the statistics). Why? because they want to have an iPhone, that's the only reason why. It may be because of all the other things the iPhone does (and does very well), or simply because it's the "thing" to own. Let's face it, even though there are millions of people with an iPhone, it's still a status object. How many people do you see with an MP3 player which is not an iPod? I wish I could say that another reason is because they're really beautiful objects (design wise and beauty wise) because that would mean that people are getting better educated on the way they choose things, but I'm not very sure about this (and even though they are this type of objects, I think it's mostly because Apple has an extraordinary marketing strategy).
I'll tell you more. I'm pretty sure I don't have the antenna issue, not because I haven't experienced it (I tried, but I couldn't see any difference in the bars shown) but because where I live AT&T has a very lousy reception (so, for me, it's not the iPhone's fault). So, if I were to be rational about it, I would get me a phone from another carrier, but most of them are hideous, and I want to be able to sync and work with my other Apple products seamlessly. And because, I admit it, (like MTV) I want my iPhone. I'm not saying people are not having problems with the antenna (Mr. Jobs admitted today the proximity sensor issue too), but apparently some don't, and I would guess that in many cases it's probably AT&T's fault.
So, if you're unhappy, return it or smash it against the floor like Whoopi Goldberg did, and then you won't have to post again, which will save you (and us) precious time. If the post is not constructive, it doesn't serve any purpose. Go watch TV, or better yet, get an exercise routine or do something useful. I have a deep respect for people who do write sane and reasonable replies, and not only for that, but also because they apparently have an endless patience.
The man said it himself today "We are not perfect". There you go: Apple is not perfect. Sorry to disappoint you, but, hey, what a discovery: Apple can be humble. If we apply ourselves the same attitude, we'll all be healthier.
"social" sites or whatever they are called (like Facebook) is that they're used mostly by people who are desperate to be heard. This is my second post. Second. I don't have (nor do I want or need to) have the time to read through all the replies, most of which keep repeating the same thing over and over again precisely because there are so many it's impossible to know if what one says has been said before (now I include myself). Just one sentence here, another there; no substance or sense in most of them. Some of the posters need anger management (I mean, what good does it do to rant or ramble on the same issue over and over again), and some just need to be "funny".
This thing is very, very simple, as has been stated millions of times here: if you're not happy, return the phone. Mr. Jobs said it as simple as that. But, you know what? most of the unhappy people won't return the phone (and, again, Mr. Jobs gave us the statistics). Why? because they want to have an iPhone, that's the only reason why. It may be because of all the other things the iPhone does (and does very well), or simply because it's the "thing" to own. Let's face it, even though there are millions of people with an iPhone, it's still a status object. How many people do you see with an MP3 player which is not an iPod? I wish I could say that another reason is because they're really beautiful objects (design wise and beauty wise) because that would mean that people are getting better educated on the way they choose things, but I'm not very sure about this (and even though they are this type of objects, I think it's mostly because Apple has an extraordinary marketing strategy).
I'll tell you more. I'm pretty sure I don't have the antenna issue, not because I haven't experienced it (I tried, but I couldn't see any difference in the bars shown) but because where I live AT&T has a very lousy reception (so, for me, it's not the iPhone's fault). So, if I were to be rational about it, I would get me a phone from another carrier, but most of them are hideous, and I want to be able to sync and work with my other Apple products seamlessly. And because, I admit it, (like MTV) I want my iPhone. I'm not saying people are not having problems with the antenna (Mr. Jobs admitted today the proximity sensor issue too), but apparently some don't, and I would guess that in many cases it's probably AT&T's fault.
So, if you're unhappy, return it or smash it against the floor like Whoopi Goldberg did, and then you won't have to post again, which will save you (and us) precious time. If the post is not constructive, it doesn't serve any purpose. Go watch TV, or better yet, get an exercise routine or do something useful. I have a deep respect for people who do write sane and reasonable replies, and not only for that, but also because they apparently have an endless patience.
The man said it himself today "We are not perfect". There you go: Apple is not perfect. Sorry to disappoint you, but, hey, what a discovery: Apple can be humble. If we apply ourselves the same attitude, we'll all be healthier.
I assume you are referring to the red ring issue. Yes, after 3 years of denials that there was any issue at all they finally offered to replace them with refurbished units. They offered only a 30 day warranty on those units because they exhibit the very same issue. Just like the iPhone, you can find many customers who were ignored (again, for years not weeks) and had to come up with their own fixes (I personally used the towel technique for the two years I owned the console before Micrsoft was kind enough to send me a slightly less defective unit).
Solid comparison.
It is a inevitable part of the design, yes, just as attenuation is with all radio devices. It's sort of like saying the design of a flashlight is flawed because it casts shadows if your put your hand in front of the beam. There are laws of physics to deal with, you know.
I love all the Droid comments "Have fun with that" "Goodluck with that"
You people crack me up.
Good luck with your iPhone 4!
Android ftw.
+1 to that! I love my Droid, much better then my friends iPhone 4 IMO!