Coverage of Apple's iPhone 4 Press Conference

[Anuba]

Propaganda doesn't only happen in wars. I can't believe you can argue against this.

I never argued against the existence of astroturfing, I explained the utter futility of doing it on MacRumors - it's like handing out Bibles and Jehova's Witnesses pamphlets in a mosque. It would be infinitely more efficient to go where there are lots of potential Apple customers, not droves of the already converted. So when kids come here to kick the ant hill and tin foil hatters start talking about 'suspicious join dates' and 'payrolls' it gets a bit silly.

There has never been a reaction like this before. If it was all just astroturfers whipping up a storm then why didn't they do that when the iPad was released, or the iPhone 3GS, the 3G or the original iPhone? I was here for at least two of those releases and there was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of dissenting voices, other than the usual "blehh the bezel is too thick" and "oh come on, no 64 GB iPhone??" So why would the suddenly mobilize out of thin air now? They didn't. It's the issue that's extraordinary. Overblown, sure, and there's plenty of bandwagon effect, but... there's no smoke without fire.

 

[WeegieMac]

Apple have posted comparison videos, for those who didn't know, at the following address:

http://www.apple.com/antenna/

It clearly shows other manufacturers devices losing signal strength when held in the "Death Grip" ... it's not specific to the iPhone 4.

Hopefully this puts and end to this, but I doubt it.

 

[dijisurf]

I never argued against the existence of astroturfing, I explained the utter futility of doing it on MacRumors - it's like handing out Bibles and Jehova's Witnesses pamphlets in a mosque. It would be infinitely more efficient to go where there are lots of potential Apple customers, not droves of the already converted. So when kids come here to kick the ant hill and tin foil hatters start talking about 'suspicious join dates' and 'payrolls' it gets a bit silly.

There has never been a reaction like this before. If it was all just astroturfers whipping up a storm then why didn't they do that when the iPad was released, or the iPhone 3GS, the 3G or the original iPhone? I was here for at least two of those releases and there was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of dissenting voices, other than the usual "blehh the bezel is too thick" and "oh come on, no 64 GB iPhone??" So why would the suddenly mobilize out of thin air now? They didn't. It's the issue that's extraordinary. Overblown, sure, and there's plenty of bandwagon effect, but... there's no smoke without fire.

It would be easier for others to see if you copy/paste my full quote when you reply back. I explained everything once already.

 

[Anuba]

Apple have posted comparison videos, for those who didn't know, at the following address:

http://www.apple.com/antenna/

It clearly shows other manufacturers devices losing signal strength when held in the "Death Grip" ... it's not specific to the iPhone 4.

Hopefully this puts and end to this, but I doubt it.

It will die down a little bit. In the mainstream media there's probably a feeling that Apple's belly can't get any pinker, so they'll move on to the next target now. The gadget sites will probably stay on the story for a while longer. The forums will probably go on about it until next summer, though.

Swedish press just ran a story referring to it as "virtually a non-issue for Swedish users" and that it only affects "America's prehistoric 3G network". "We will probably see the same problems as in Germany - namely none whatsoever".

 

[seedster2]

I'm sure the koolaid set are writing all these talking points down in their trendy moleskin notebooks and will repeat them to us as if they are unquestionable facts.

You know these statistics will be undoubtedly regurgitated as the gospel truth without any sort of scrutiny.

I hope you guys realize the 0.55% of complaints to apple care could just as easily mean that of ALL complaints to apple care the antenna issue for iphone 4 makes up 0.55%, not 0.55% of all complaints about the iphone 4 to apple care.

It is just as important to listen to what is not said as what is said!

It always surprises me that no one in the media ever has follow ups when quoting these statistics. It is very important to get the context before assuming they are relevant.

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And there we have it. Sucks they can't fix the problems for everyone, but they're not going to, so if you're unhappy, time to pick your poison: free case, different grip, or different phone. Those are apparently all the options you're going to get.

Gotta agree with you. They will spin it and make the problem sound miniscule but if you are experiencing the issue, there is no reason to keep the phone. Go another route, don't just voice your anger here. They after all only care about your money.

Also, people really need to stop tying their own sense of self to a corporation. If you find yourself getting all prickly because someone says something negative about Apple, then you need to take a deep breath and reevaluate your self esteem. Apple really doesn't care about you.

And if you have problems with the iPhone, the very best suggestion has been offered by Apple itself--return the phone. Not because you are a whiner or don't "deserve" it, but because making your choice known with your wallet is the only thing any corporation--including Apple--cares about.

Apple is just a big company.

couldnt agree more. If disgruntled owners complain about their unhappiness with their phone they are told to return it and shut up as if someone is insulting their mother. I would be pissed if I waited in line 10 hours and got a lemon. A case wouldnt placate me, but I imagine many were awaiting some sort of resolution with the PR Presentation. Now there really is some grounds for put up or shut up.

Our God Steve said it so it must true...

Whoever thought he would get up there and admit fault in person was sadly mistaken. If that were the case they would release something written just like he did for the price drop. This was all public relations and investor pacification

Its pretty simple. If you want to send a message to Apple, then don't buy the phone or return the one you have. Complaining about it on Macrumors fourum does nothing. However, I would would bet that most people that are complaining will keep their phones and just keep going on about whatever the next so called hot issue is.

This is true. Many feel aligned with Apple that they just cant imagine going elsewhere. Another factor is the tremendous amount of artificial lock in created by these integrated application stores everyone is touting. Basically throw a lot of money on apps and the user will be reluctant to switch no matter how bad the hardware performs

I am not sure that this what SJ said. His words: "This is hard data... the iPhone 4 drops less than one additional call per 100 than the 3GS. Less than one." The corresponding slide also said "per 100 calls" not "per 100 dropped calls". Now, if you think about it, if 3GS drops 1 call out of 100, then it means that iPhone 4 drops twice as much calls. I'd say it's very bad.

Good point. It's always about what he doesnt say. Masterful salesman.

Instead, consider the possibility that it's perhaps you who want it to be a conspiracy against Apple, because it's comforting to imagine that the people complaining are just faking it, and that in reality, Apple is perfect, loved by everyone and incapable of error.

Indeed. All goes back to aligning yourself with a corporation. Strange because Apple doesn't care about their users personally. But these zealots are ready to insult anyone who questions SJ.

 

[bfar5]

Get a life guys, its a phone.

Uh isn't this an IPhone discussion thread? What should we be talking about on here?

 

[Darkroom]

I am satisfied...I get a refund for my launch day purchase of a bumper and Steve said he loved me....

the statement above proves my theory that apple fanboys are unloved dweebs with daddy issues that are remedies by steve jobs.

 

[bfar5]

Wow with so many daily activities that you do it's amazing you make time to be "Extremely Pissed Off" at Apple. Extremely pissed off from a phone issue for goodness sake, extremely pissed off because Apple is passionate about their products but make mistakes at times. You've lost faith in the company for one product. To get "extremely pissed off" over this is consuming your life. Go swimming again.

Why do you feel the need to be patronizing? I am not losing any sleep over my phone. Why do you stick up for Apple? In this instance Apple deserves the fallout. Not for the mistake but for being cute about it with the magic bumper.

 

[tigajr]

What a joke, a bad taste joke was that conference!

What amazed me was they were in a hole over this and rather than stop digging they just carried on digging themselves in deeper and deeper.

They might have been able to get away with this a year or two ago, but with Android breathing down their necks it seems like madness now.

Mr. Steve Jobs truly, honestly believes that people are stupid! Nothing new.

Some things don't seem to change: Steve's arrogance is still alive and well.

 

[Stewie]

I have always know that a large percent of the US population are idiots. I just didn't realize that most of them post on this forum. I so wish I had the time to call out all of you, but that would just take too long.

It is very simple. If you don't like your new shinny iphone, take it back. As the more intelligent people around have have said, no one forced you to buy it. How stupid are you people?

And to those that think there will be a rush of returns starting tomorrow, how do you function in the real world all alone without a helmet on your head? The average user knows nothing of this non-issue and nothing of the apple press conference today. Only people with too much time on their hands who do. iPhone sales will continue to rise, returns rates will stay about the same.

For you own sake and for all the people here who are tired of listening to you complain, either take your phone back and get a refund or ****!

 

[scan300]

the statement above proves my theory that apple fanboys are unloved dweebs with daddy issues that are remedies by steve jobs.

The statement above proves my theory that apple fudboys are obsessed with apple fanboys and harbour secret erotic fantasies that border on Freudian.

 

[meatballs]

The matter was that the phone was losing signal strength when gripped. Not when the bridge was crossed by a coin or by a finger.

Wrong. Bridging the antennas is the issue with the iPhone 4. No other smart phone has this problem because they have internal antennas and to bridge them you'd have to open them up. Jobs presentation was pure deflection.

Please pay attention in the future.

 

[cdcollin]

Return Rate

I wonder what the return rate to Apple stores has been, compared to the 3GS. I find it interesting that they chose to use AT&T's data, especially when one considers that the majority of users presumably purchased their phones through Apple's retail channels. Could one return their unit to an AT&T store if they purchased it through Apple?

 

[Anuba]

Indeed. All goes back to aligning yourself with a corporation. Strange because Apple doesn't care about their users personally. But these zealots are ready to insult anyone who questions SJ.

I can sort of understand the old school Mac zealots, because they were around when Microsoft was at the height of its dominance and Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy. I think most people in their situation would become embittered, suspicious and knee-jerk defensive like most oppressed minorities.

But I'm clueless as to why the iKids generation is acting almost the same way. They were barely toddlers when Gil Amelio nearly ran Apple into the ground, they grew up in the iPod era when Apple was already a healthy company and their products were rather ubiquitous... why are they running around with swords drawn fighting windmills like they were protecting a sanctuary for a near-extinct species? Reminds me of that Japanese soldier who kept defending some jungle for 30 years after WWII ended because he didn't get the memo.

Anyway... I noticed that one of the phones Apple tested has the antenna at the top. So it's not impossible, it's just tricky to get it right with the SAR rating and all. Those radio engineers that Apple hired recently, wasn't one of the job specifications something about "optimization of radiation performance"? Maybe plan B is to have these new recruits develop a magical antenna that sits at the top but stays within the SAR limits?

 

[NinjaHERO]

You could make a really big smartphone that doesn't have this problem, so big you can't get your hand around it, but no one's going to buy that. We're not perfect, and we're working our asses off.

How big a phone? Would a 5 inch screen fix this problem? Because if so, I'll happily buy it Steve.

 

[Master Chief]

Someone called me up, in the middle of the night, about one of the sheets. Here it is:

So tell me. What is wrong with it? What is missing? Facts... remember Steve

Ok. So there's no iPhone 3G nor iPhone 4 on it – which may say a lot – and the Max / Min Bars thingy looks like they swapped it... but I don't get it.

Goodnight.

 

[Shin3r]

I never argued against the existence of astroturfing, I explained the utter futility of doing it on MacRumors - it's like handing out Bibles and Jehova's Witnesses pamphlets in a mosque. It would be infinitely more efficient to go where there are lots of potential Apple customers, not droves of the already converted. So when kids come here to kick the ant hill and tin foil hatters start talking about 'suspicious join dates' and 'payrolls' it gets a bit silly.

There has never been a reaction like this before. If it was all just astroturfers whipping up a storm then why didn't they do that when the iPad was released, or the iPhone 3GS, the 3G or the original iPhone? I was here for at least two of those releases and there was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of dissenting voices, other than the usual "blehh the bezel is too thick" and "oh come on, no 64 GB iPhone??" So why would the suddenly mobilize out of thin air now? They didn't. It's the issue that's extraordinary. Overblown, sure, and there's plenty of bandwagon effect, but... there's no smoke without fire.

You then don't understand the zealot like nature of Apple fans to put down the company they love as much as they praise it. This is the perfect forum for propaganda. Apple has created a following, not just people who like a product. And when something isn't perfect, this is the perfect place to start because everyone blows everything way out of proportion.

News media read these forums too...a great way to ignite flames on the Television and make the problem out to be worse than it is..all to get higher viewer ratings.

 

[Master Chief]

Ok. One more sheet:

Isn't really helpful either. Right.

1.) What was the return rate for 3GS again?

2.) Drop calls = < 1 more per 100. Say again? What exactly does this mean? Nothing really.

Note: A higher drop call number might in fact be easily explained (people reporting proximity sensor issues).

 

[brinatech.com]

You know this actually was just more free press for Apple. I don't think this will hurt them in the future, people will forget about this in a week or so. I think most people are just overjoyed with the iPhone 4. I know I am, the screen is just so clear, HD camera is awesome, it's super fast. This thing never leaves my sight. Maybe a good time to pickup Apple stock while there's some bad news. I'm sure they will blow earnings out of the water since iPhone 4 started selling.

You know what, I bet, even after this, people are still waiting in line to buy the product

 

[jasonforisrael]

every phone might have this problem to a degree, but the problem with the iPhone 4 is that it has it more than any other phone.

i usually only have about 3 bars because of where my house is. when i grip my iphone bare to make a phone call, it drops calls like crazy.

i've had many, many other phones that have never had that issue.


apple has admitted the flaw, said they will still be studying it up until Sept 30 when they make some new announcement, but the diehard fanboys on here still claim that the iPhone doesn't have an issue.

ALL OF US HERE LOVE APPLE PRODUCTS. but they are not perfect, and this has been displayed. quit denying it, and just realize that your favorite company made a mistake. the best thing they can do is try to make good on it - and they are at least giving it a shot.

 

[meatballs]

every phone might have this problem to a degree, but the problem with the iPhone 4 is that it has it more than any other phone.

Jobs is trying to steer the discussion away from Apple by saying other smart phones have this issue too.

But in reality the iPhone 4 is the only smart phone phone with this issue. You can't bridge the antennas on other smart phones because they're internal.

 

[hadleydb]

A reaction to the press conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15b04AjCPow

 

[Laglorden]

So they've found a way to fix it - and they are of course making new phones now which will not have "the problem" - but these will not hit the retail channel until September. If you want an iPhone 4 that works properly, wait until then to get one. If, like me, you've already got one and like me, you have "the problem" [not everyone does apparently, even though Steve basically said that every smart phone including the iPhone has this problem, some people still refuse to believe him], they are going to give you a FREE bumper or 3rd party case to shut you up!

So all this stuff we've been reading about software fixes and special black phones being exchanged in store was just bollocks [as Steve would say].

So that's that - we're screwed!

BTW if you're one of the people that says they can't see a problem with the signal, then you'd better not be applying for a FREE case - those are only for the people who shouted loud enough for Apple to hear and then do as little as possible about it. Wankers!!

If you belieive that, just return it and get a new one in September? Problem solved by then according to you.

 

[firewood]

1.) What was the return rate for 3GS again?

2.) Drop calls = < 1 more per 100.

Wasn't 6% the number for 3GS returns to AT&T?

Anyone have any good guesses at AT&T's top secret dropped call rate for the 3GS?

1%

10%

Even more in SF and NYC?

 

[Laglorden]

No they just come to macrumors and complain that apple and steve jobs are killing kittens because they have antenna problems.

I think normal behaviour is somthing like (for all products not just iphone)
1) Try again.
2) Try again, cursing "Why doesn't this stupid #¤¤%! **** work?"
3) Express frustration by throwing it somewhere.
4) Maybe contact Support. Being told "no that's not a problem, try holding it another way" (You really think Support _registers_ all support calls especially in "infected" cases like this, hello? Companys (not pointing just to Apple here) have _deleted_ threads in their support forums...)
5) Maybe trying to search for a "solution" themselves, maybe bying a "bumper", maybe trying to apply nailpolish/duct tape/paper clip/band-aid/whatever.
6) Promise themselves not to buy this kind of **** again from that stupid company.