THIS IS A NON-ISSUE to 99% of iPhone 4 owners.
Exactly. And it would seem that it's only an issue for ATT owners as there are no multiple complaints from outside the US. Perhaps a handful in large metro areas in Europe (I imagine London might have a couple of trouble areas) but that's all.
And this just supports that this is more a carrier issue than some fictitious "major design flaw"
It really is a shame. $100 million and the phone's antenna doesn't work.
$100 million and with a great antenna, ATT is still screwing up and folks are still blaming it on Apple.
Apple has said there is no issue. So anyone who didn't call Applecare when they claim their phone does not work is dumb.
That makes no sense at all. I think you were trying to say that those that called Applecare to say their phones aren't working are stupid? yes.
Well your comment is actually the stupid one. Apple didn't say that some phones could be defective. Sure they can't. It's just part of making electronics. It happens. And yes folks should call Applecare or go to a store.
What they said was that their data just doesn't support the notion that this is an ISSUE (ie a major design F-up). Because if it was, the numbers would be much higher.
Yeah, why not trust the testing of the manufacturer of a flawed product over the testing of an independent source.
Because no one has called into question their testing methods. It passed the FCC etc. And unlike Consumer Reports who was called out less than 6 hours after their big study was published for having faulty testing methods (leaving the issue of the sampling aside), no one has jumped up to say the same for Apple. And given all the hype if there was reason, they would
With that 100 million lab, how did they miss this flaw during all that high-tech testing ?
Because there is no flaw. What is happening is part of the unfortunate side effects of the rules on cell phone tech. All phones have things that decade the signal, be it fingers, building walls, etc. All phones lose reception etc.
Even Consumer Reports said 'areas of weak reception' and nothing about those in good or great reception. Implying that whatever is happening is a total non issue for the latter folks
And so is Apple. This "bad press" over a fairly insignificant problem will probably cause more total iPhones to be sold over the long run.
Not the bad press, but rather the response. Because the presence of the 'bad press' will lead to many sources posting the news story that Apple responded to them etc. If your trusted news source gives a thumbs up to that reply, then for many that's all it takes to be convinced that the bad press was just sour grapes
The 1.7% number is tainted. Jobs said that the data came 3 days ago. That's only about 2.5 weeks into the return window iPhone 4 for the earliest of recipients.
Many people were also waiting until the press conference to make a decision and people will usually return something at the end of a window (i.e. close to 30 days), not at the beginning.
maybe with other things, but for many especially in the US, your cell phone is THE phone in your life. So if it is not working, you will have it serviced, return it etc right away.
I guarantee that tonight the number is already higher than 1.7 and that it will rise above that mark over the lifespan of the iPhone 4.
There will possibly be a spike over the next couple of weeks. Due to those in crappy ATT areas getting the message that crappy ATT is not going to be all that less crappy just cause they got a hip cool phone. So if Verizon is the great carrier in that area, that's who they should be using and yeah it sucks that they can't have the cool phone etc.
But there's no reason to believe that the spike will be that huge given that the issue isn't a design flaw at all and thus effects a small group. Or lasting since those in crap zones won't buy the phone after all (and many of those that don't know will be more careful to find out before switching phones and/or carriers)
You miss my point.
If the number was way more than .55%, we'd never know the number.
We might. It all depends on whether that number still falls within Apple and the Government's acceptable range of defect.
These types of devices are complex and even the most perfect design will have problems with manufacturing issues. A screw isn't set perfectly tight, a sim card is punched slightly too small, Fed Ex drops the box and a tiny wire way inside snaps. and so on.
So long as the amount is small enough to be negligible, no serious injury or death occurs and the company makes good on repairing and or replacing, it's just part of the game.
Why Apple doesn't just fix the damned iPhone 4. It drops calls, period, any way you look at it, iPhone 4 drops a lot of calls!
Sure Apple is not perfect, neither is iPhone 4.
Because Apple isn't responsible for fixing ATTs network.
there's nothing to fix in the phone itself. If there was we would see a lot more reports, especially coming from areas with the best ATT coverage. And Consumer Reports wouldn't have added that weak reception comment etc.
The iphone 4, while of course not perfect, is not flawed. The design is solid. It's the other side that has the problems.
Yeah and? Are you shocked that the compet didn't like having it called out that they aren't perfect either.
You can have signal attenuation and still keep the call going. Just because the signal strength decreases doesn't mean you lose the connection.
Exactly, the two are not the same thing.
To go back to my friends room analogy. You and I can start off shouting and depending on the noise in the room we can drop to a normal voice and be fine. Or we can start off standing next to each other and move apart and be fine. Or not. If more people are coming in the room.
I don't exactly trust AT&T to report dropped calls accurately, merely because I don't know how they record them as a drop.
I don't trust them to give out the numbers because of the fear that some folks will take any number that they deem high as 'you are crap' and either leave or not sign up. For example, 100k drops a month sounds huge to the uninformed, even if it might be out of a 1000 times that in attempts. ATT won't risk it.
that means that the numbers have been screwed with and we don't want you to know how.
It doesn't always mean they screwed with the numbers (perhaps the interpretation). They just don't want to give them out and that is the standard shut you down code phrase. Because as you said your own company knows that phrase etc.
This issue occurs, and if some day you're affected by it you would be pretty pissed too.
Well sure. But the wise and considerate man looks at all the factors rather than knee jerking on one party. Because Apple made the phone, they carry the weight of a lot of the issues when it's not always on them. To their credit they make good on many of those issues because it's just not worth the time and energy.
The bumpers are a good example. The perception is out there, thanks to the media, that this bars issue is a major deal and that a case is the answer. Rather than waste time trying to convince the masses, Apple is just giving folks free bumpers. Why not, it's not really going to cost them that much since the silly things are like 10 cents to make and maybe another 5 cents to package. Come Sept 30th they will likely just have the bumpers in the box. You get a black one for free and if you want a color you have to buy it on your own.
Excuse me! I'm 53 years old and way to smart to read Consumer Reports. I subscribed to their magazine for several years, and I'm sorry to say, I just can't recommend it at this point.
I"m way younger than 53 but I do read Consumer Reports. However I read it with my brain on. I don't just blindly follow anyone. No matter the 'rep'. Which is also why I'm not holding my breath on my next Mac coming with a Blu-ray drive.
the issue is not the death grip but in fact that if you put your finger on one spot, you loose all signal in a lower signal area.
Exactly. If you are in a crappy service area anything is going to make it worse. If you are in a good or great area, it rarely to never matters what you do.
Apple did screw up, and is now willing to refund you money completely if their screw up affects your user experience to the point that the rest of what the phone is not enough.
They are not NOW willing to refund your money. They have given a full refund on the phones since the first 3g came out. With an extended return period of a couple of days over double the standard 2 weeks, to be in line with ATT's no ETF period. And no restocking fee since they open the phone before they let you take it out of the store.
with the first iphone, there was a restocking fee although I remember reports of folks saying the managers waived it if you were returning it cause ATT sucked in your area.