Apple's Free iPhone 4 Case Program to End September 30th

[sportsfan]

Another example

Anyone who has had to replace a logic board or similar internal will find that the revision numbers are rarely the same (and often the board looks different in other more obvious ways). This may involve simple PCB rerouting or the use of slightly different peripheral chips. This is not unique to Apple, it happens in the auto industry, as well as many other consumer electronics manufacturers.

Issues come up, engineers re-design, and a revision is pushed to manufacturing. But, the iP4 antenna problem is such a hot-button issue that much more is being made of the supposed HW revision than any other time in recent memory.



Yeah, sucks for the customer when the carrier and manufacturer can just shift the blame, huh?

Sony had about 5 internal revisions of their Fatty PS3 before finally changing the outside case.

 

[dstankus]

What a bunch of crybabies...

If you don't like the way the phone works, they said you can return it.

If for some reason you're mad at Apple, you can return your phone.

If you are happy with the case solution, then you get one for free.

I think they've gone pretty far in giving you all kinds of choices.

I can't believe the whining "all I want is my iPhone to work [the way I want it to]!..." Well, it is what it is. Make your choice and move along...

It's unbelievable how some folks think that there's some sort of Constitutional right to have these electronic gadgets.

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; da-dk) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

As always and as with any other electronic device the disclaimer states that the company may change and revise the unit without notice. Apple may use that to silently revise the iPhone 4's produced from now on. If they truly sell as many phones as stated they can easily revise new units without being stuck with the first revision.

 

[HacKage]

If you don't like the way the phone works, they said you can return it.

If for some reason you're mad at Apple, you can return your phone.

If you are happy with the case solution, then you get one for free.

I think they've gone pretty far in giving you all kinds of choices.

I can't believe the whining "all I want is my iPhone to work [the way I want it to]!..." Well, it is what it is. Make your choice and move along...

It's unbelievable how some folks think that there's some sort of Constitutional right to have these electronic gadgets.

Totally agree. The people who are saying I expect mines to get replaced etc if there is a hardware revision, take your phone back, and get a new one after that date if you are so worried about it. Quite a few of those who have bought the phone seem to think that because it has a flaw, then Steve himself should come out and bend over backwards for them. Electronics have fail rates, fact. Revisions happen covertly and overtly, doesn't mean you have a right to get that new revision because you had the earlier one.

 

[NikeTalk]

I hope some of you never buy a car using these principles. You'd just be happy with your defective car huh? NO! You would want it to operate how it is suppose to and like the dealer said.

 

[HacKage]

If you don't like it, take it back. If you don't like the solution to the problem, get a refund.

 

[Eminemdrdre00]

This is sad news. I suffered from the antenna problem, and the free bumper fixed it. I wasn't happy about having a case on my iPhone though. I never had a reception problem with my iPhone 3G or 3GS. If they didn't change the design, the "antennagate" drama is just going to start up again with people who buy it after September 30th.

 

[calvin2006]

My reception actually gets better when I am holding my iPhone 4. AT&T in Louisville, KY. I have the opposite of the antennae issue, I guess.

 

[manu chao]

The "Antenna-Gate" problems largely seem like AT&T Problems, as Australian and French press have already said - and My experience here in Canada on Rogers confirms.

Maybe it is also partly a cultural problem, I get the impression that the American consumer tends to be rather quick in complaining. This naturally has always two sides, the retail and service sector in the U.S. also seems be more accommodating towards customers compared to Europe or East Asia.

 

[whoami]

I hope some of you never buy a car using these principles. You'd just be happy with your defective car huh? NO! You would want it to operate how it is suppose to and like the dealer said.

You'd be surprised how many cars have "silent" revisions to hardware and software. They'll never admit they exist until you exhibit one of the said issues and ask for a repair. Why cause a mass recall for something the consumer "may or may not even notice"

 

[celo48]

"We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought."


This IS the MOST critical sentence in this announcement. They are trying to make people believe that the problem is small and there is no reason not to buy an iPhone4.

Steve Jobs is a smart guy but we will see if this trick will work or not.

I personally will NOT buy an iPhone4 until they make a hardware change or release the iPhone5 which I believe if this last trick does not work, they will either make less money from iPhone4 or they will release something new soon.

 

[Alisstar]

Great! I'll finally be able to get my orange bumper case.

 

[iHeartapple2]

I am not using a bumper or case and I am loving it! I simply don't touch the antenna when on a call. Problem solved! For those of you still bitching about the proximity sensor. Put the phone up to your ear and talk on the phone like you are suppose to and the sensor will do it's job of dimming the screen! Problem solved! If you just don't think you can get past these to minor issues get a Android phone!

 

[VenusianSky]

Maybe it is also partly a cultural problem, I get the impression that the American consumer tends to be rather quick in complaining. This naturally has always two sides, the retail and service sector in the U.S. also seems be more accommodating towards customers compared to Europe or East Asia.

First off, the complainers on the internet do not represent the majority of consumers. Actually, I read more about people here that are completely happy with iPhone 4 than people complaining about the antenna. Second, when you go from having fine quality electronic products being manufactured in the US and Japan to mass-produced Chinese junk, maybe there is some right to complain. I don't complain because I have accepted that anything made in China is junk. Doesn't mean that it's not useful. I just expect it to have defects and last no more than a few years. Guess I am not just talking about the iPhone anymore either.

Oh, and as for AT&T. How would someone from Canada actually know what AT&T service is really like? Again, all you hear from are the AT&T internet complainers. I have no complaints with AT&T service in my area. I never have drop calls and 3G performance is excellent.

People aren't as vocal about a product when they are happy with it than the people that are not satisfied.

 

[Brinkman]

Hardware fix and a white one is all I ask for

the hardware fix is to get a free case adn like it.

 

[celo48]

This is sad news. I suffered from the antenna problem, and the free bumper fixed it. I wasn't happy about having a case on my iPhone though. I never had a reception problem with my iPhone 3G or 3GS. If they didn't change the design, the "antennagate" drama is just going to start up again with people who buy it after September 30th.

This is what people do not want to understand.

WHY would I have to put a case to make my phone work the way it should be? And this is not some free phone with a two year contract. You pay over $200 and sign a 2-year contract with a minimum of $80 (incl. taxes, etc.) each month.

First, Steve Jobs said; Hold the phone differently.

Then he gave people free case.

Now, he says the problem is smaller than we thought. Well, this kinda means, there is still a problem.

 

[nagromme]

I like the free case for occasional situations that call for extra protection.

I almost never use it, and my iPhone works fine without, so I don’t see a big need for new hardware. My old 3G was sensitive to hand-position in much the same way, I just never knew it until antennagate got me to test it.

Depending where you live, though, it’s nice to have a case. (For any phone!) It’s good that Apple is still officially offering a solution to those who need it.

This is what people do not want to understand.

WHY would I have to put a case to make my phone work the way it should be? And this is not some free phone with a two year contract. You pay over $200 and sign a 2-year contract with a minimum of $80 (incl. taxes, etc.) each month.

First, Steve Jobs said; Hold the phone differently.

Then he gave people free case.

Now, he says the problem is smaller than we thought. Well, this kinda means, there is still a problem.

You don’t have to. Almost nobody does. A few people, with ANY phone, do need a case.

And yes, Apple admits there’s a problem. Other companies deny it... while their own manuals admit the same problem

And no, the metal doesn’t make a huge difference—not in my testing. I can see the bars drop (but not calls drop!) when I grip my phone in a certain way in certain places (which you can make happen easily with any phone in certain places). But I often do NOT see a bar drop when I bridge the metal while not surrounding the rest of the phone with my hand. I don’t doubt that that can happen, but it’s not the norm for me. I bridge the metal and talk away.

Note too that Apple’s not the only one using external metal for antennas—see some of those Nokia manuals that were posted.

 

[ktappe]

it's costing Apple Money and they're gonna stop it. If you call Applecare with a problem - they'll still give you a free bumper if you whine hard enough, I'm sure.

That doesn't explain them ending the 30-day return guarantee. That's actually the part that worries me the most; if I buy an iPhone 4 and find it does have the grip-of-death, I will have to pay $30 to return the thing. That is STUPID, as such an issue is a defect and should allow a free return.

 

[lilo777]

I am not using a bumper or case and I am loving it! I simply don't touch the antenna when on a call. Problem solved! For those of you still bitching about the proximity sensor. Put the phone up to your ear and talk on the phone like you are suppose to and the sensor will do it's job of dimming the screen! Problem solved! If you just don't think you can get past these to minor issues get a Android phone!

So, when you have a long call (say, half hour) you are constantly monitoring your hand to avoid touching the "wrong" spot? Can you do that and concentrate on the conversation at the same time? In addition, as I understand, you have to make sure you push the phone against the ear really firmly. Multitasking, iPhone style

 

[CFreymarc]

Yeah, right! You kept denying that there was any problem then you tried to underplay it. Whatever you say about the antenna, Mr. Jobs does not matter anymore.

"The more a small problem with your product turns into a press fiasco, the more it is a sign of your success." -- allegedly said by Henry Ford commenting on the 500,000th Model-T sold by Ford Motor Company.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

You'd be surprised how many cars have "silent" revisions to hardware and software. They'll never admit they exist until you exhibit one of the said issues and ask for a repair. Why cause a mass recall for something the consumer "may or may not even notice"

this is FALSE information....even the slightest change that improves or alters functions of a particular car model have to be disclosed...even if nothing is wrong with your car personally...I have a VW and I get every notice regarding recalls and repairs to faulty components...can you imagine if Toyota secretly fixed Prius' and didn't tell everyone? someone could potentially die...if Apple alters the hardware in the iPhone 4 they would have to notify the FCC

 

[celo48]

"The more a small problem with your product turns into a press fiasco, the more it is a sign of your success." -- allegedly said by Henry Ford commenting on the 500,000th Model-T sold by Ford Motor Company.

That's why Ford sucks... That's why Ford almost bankrupt...

 

[hugodrax]

I guess Revision B will be shipping by then. Everyone should thank the "Gotta have it now" crowd for beta testing the hardware.

 

[dwd3885]

wait. so if you buy an iphone after september 30th, you have to buy a bumper or case now and you don't get one for free? That seems lame.

 

[MrMichaelJames]

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought.

Uhh ok. I loved my iPhone 4, so it was a very sad day that I returned it the day they announced the free case thing. Legally there is an implied warranty with all products that says a product will do the basic function that it was advertised to do. In this case if you sell a product as a phone, it has to be able to make phone calls. The iPhone 4 is flawed in that it doesn't always make or receive phone calls. If they were to come up with an early revision to the iPhone 4 that fixes this issue then yes, people have a right to request a new phone and legally they should get it. Basically Apple would be admitting to a problem and would have to provide the solution to fix the problem.

Now if they change the case design for the iPhone 5 (which I hope they do) and put the antenna back inside the case then the iPhone 4 users would not legally have a leg to stand on in requesting a free phone. I refuse to put a case on my phone so I went back to my iPhone 3G and all is well again.

Hopefully the iPhone 5 will be better, but we'll all just have to wait and see. I sure won't be ordering one in the first shipping batch this time though. And I sure won't be ordering it online through apple.com. I couldn't return my iPhone 4 to an Apple store and it was a major hassle.