Steve Jobs Again Speaks Out on iPhone 4 Antenna Issue via Email

[BobVB]

[Read the article. Are you actually dropping calls or just watching the bars?

Count me as one who hasn't watched ANY of the videos. I normally answer with my BT Jawbone because holding a phone to my ear rapidly starts to hurt my neck with its 3 fused vertebra. But if I was going to move somewhere I would pick up the phone out of the charger - instant disconnect.

A totally not technical friend who got his early on the 23rd called the evening of the 24th to ask if I was having lots of dropped calls.

Yes, I take it some people have been 'bar chasing' and that's confused the issue but the complaint is real - dropped calls in venues that the 3GS didn't drop calls.

 

[moebius]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A293 Safari/6531.22.7)



At this point I agree. I certainly believe some people have the issue that affects them regularly, but at this point they should just return the damn phone and stop getting so worked up about it.

arn

Well, I disagree.

The reason why Macrumors is a great website is not only because is informative and fun, people here are emotionally invested with apple and the moment we take the decision to buy a product from apple, we give them something else than money, we give them trust.

In this issue, a good "friend of ours" (apple) is not responding accordingly.


Wake up! Capitalism and all the transactions involved, are way beyond money.

People have a reason to be upset.

 

[pdjudd]

They're causing the outrage and reactions by holding back denying the problem.

Not making an official statement (EMAILS DO NOT COUNT!!!) is not denying a problem exists. Keeping your mouth shut is the best way a company can avoid unnecessary liability.

 

[wovel]

Ef that

My relationship to Steve and Apple is hardware/software provider role.....THAT'S IT, not a friend role. I have my friends and family for that advice.

If their crap can't work they need to fix it. They are the ones who happily took my money and now telling me that it's just a phone and all this other wishy washy bs?

If it is just a phone steve, how about you effing give me back MY money or man up and fix the effing issue. I want it to work and will hold out for a solution. However, if they don't do anything, I will be returning it. These silly replies don't sooth anything. Rather they make me even more upset

Steve's replies as of late are making me view apple alot more negatively and if they keep it up, they can just go screw themselves and find themself another customer

You know there is no evidence at all that there were any emails frome Steve and BGR even says now (go look at their site) that Steve did not make the just a phone statement. Perhaps if you realized that Journalists are not perfect and the people reporting these stories are so far below journalists on the credibility tree they can not even see the bottom of their shoes.

 

[Whimsicool]

Easy way to reproduce problem...

and potentially embarrass Apple at the same time

Went to my local Apple store earlier in the week, and made my way through each iPhone 4 on display, gripping each phone the way that causes the bars to drop. Bars dropping happened to each and every phone on display. 5 bars to none in about 10-15 seconds.

I wish I had made a video of the experience. More than 10 iPhones in Apple's own store. All of them doing the exact same thing - bar failure.

 

[sslanchi]

So...my co worker has been trying really hard to get an iPhone 4 even though he knows they have issues and that they are sold out.

We just came back from Best Buy. He asked them when they were getting a new shipment, and this was their response...

'We have no idea when we will get more because they are being recalled.'


They were unable to give us any more info than that. Take it for what it is ppl..

 

[donlphi]

So you think a 3G is a better device overall than an i4 with a bumper?

All those nice features (Retina display, 5 MPix camera, front camera, LED flash, gyro, 800 MHz A4, 512 MB RAM, etc.) are worth less than $30 more for a bumper to you?

Sorry, but I still have my 3G, and it now seems really slow, pokey, and memory limited compared to the newer iPhones.

And I never took many photos with my 3G, they never looked that good to me. But now I'm having lots of fun taking great photos with my i4. I've even learned how to hold it properly, and not cover the lens with my finger when taking photos!

Don't get me wrong. I love iPhone 4 for all of the features except for the phone calls. It drops calls like crazy. Quite frankly, feature wise, it's not that big of a jump from the 3Gs and that's why I don't mind returning the phone. The lack of speed and features would drive me nuts with the iPhone 3G. There are several apps that will not work on the 3G. However, I would have a hard time buying a phone (and keeping it) if it required all sorts of "fixes" to make it work. A software update is fine, but attaching a paperclip to one end and standing on my head every time I want to make a call is not worth it.

You can get a 3Gs for pretty cheap these days. If you wait a few months, I'm sure Apple will be selling some refurb iPhone 4s too.

 

[firewood]

Still, you wouldn't by a Sony HD TV and then expect to accept the fact that it may only come out as black and white.

Hah! My new Sony HD TV gets zero picture on rabbit ears, zip, nada, no signal, where my old analog TV at least got a slightly snowy but full color picture with just a wire for the antenna.

 

[wovel]

Arn,

Any chance for an update to this story. The AI report (which has a lot more reliable sources than this story) indicates this guy has been trying to sell this story for the past couple of days. Many people may find his motivations relevant.

 

[pdjudd]

'We have no idea when we will get more because they are being recalled.'


They were unable to give us any more info than that. Take it for what it is ppl..

If he can’t say more than that, they are wrong. If Apple has issued a recall, there would be massive documentation and Apple would have to formally announce it. You cannot just recall something without making a formal announcement. The store would have documentation on this.

 

[Tunster]

Not making an official statement (EMAILS DO NOT COUNT!!!) is not denying a problem exists. Keeping your mouth shut is the best way a company can avoid unnecessary liability.

I'm sure they've received thousands of calls from unhappy customers (that probably don't even touch the realms of internet forums). Surely a huge log of them would trigger some sort of procedure within Apple to start the ball rolling to solve the problem?

A public announcement is normally the start of things? Apple have done nothing to confirm an issue which is clear as silk. It's not like we're all making it up to try and gain something? Yes, we have to give Apple the chance and time to solve quite a complex issue which there's probably several different options to take.

Completely ignoring your hugely enthusiastic and passionate customer base shouldnt be one of them when we all have paid for a premium product and it's not fit for purpose.

 

[sslanchi]

If he can’t say more than that, they are wrong. If Apple has issued a recall, there would be massive documentation and Apple would have to formally announce it. You cannot just recall something without making a formal announcement. The store would have documentation on this.

You sure?

Is it impossible that Apple has temp. stopped future shipments?

Maybe you could link me to the official rules and guidelines of a product recall since you are so familiar with them..

 

[wovel]

and potentially embarrass Apple at the same time

Went to my local Apple store earlier in the week, and made my way through each iPhone 4 on display, gripping each phone the way that causes the bars to drop. Bars dropping happened to each and every phone on display. 5 bars to none in about 10-15 seconds.

I wish I had made a video of the experience. More than 10 iPhones in Apple's own store. All of them doing the exact same thing - bar failure.

So...my co worker has been trying really hard to get an iPhone 4 even though he knows they have issues and that they are sold out.

We just came back from Best Buy. He asked them when they were getting a new shipment, and this was their response...

'We have no idea when we will get more because they are being recalled.'


They were unable to give us any more info than that. Take it for what it is ppl..

Cool stories, bros....

 

[sslanchi]

Cool stories, bros....

Thanks bro

 

[epo]

And now the whiners are reacting to wish fulfillment lies

So people are now getting exercised about a made up quote from Steve Jobs. Says it all really.

Again it is really, really simple. If you have an iPhone 4 and you believe it is faulty then take it back, get a refund, get another phone and get on with your life.

If you won't do that then you either do not have an iPhone 4 and are just trolling or you are a compulsive whiner and should seek help.

 

[wovel]

So people are now getting exercised about a made up quote from Steve Jobs. Says it all really.

Again it is really, really simple. If you have an iPhone 4 and you believe it is faulty then take it back, get a refund, get another phone and get on with your life.

If you won't do that then you either do not have an iPhone 4 and are just trolling or you are a compulsive whiner and should seek help.

Don't let em get to you, they are going to come after you..

 

[pixilad]

You've all seen it, but I am in a very good AT&T location in the Seattle Area. It was the second shipment of phones.

Normal Hand Position:

This is how I would normally hold my original iPhone and iPhone 3Gs with no problems. Notice the thumb is able to access the volume and mute buttons. I am pretty sure this was how the original phones were meant to be held - secure in the palm of your hand.

Altered Hand Position:

This is how I might hold the phone if I were holding it out to show somebody something. To use the phone with this hand position would be ridiculous and probably cause severe carpal tunnel.

I find it incredibly sad that nothing has been said or done a week after the release. I suppose I'll return the phone within 30 days if the problem isn't resolved and just go back to the 3Gs, but Steve leaves these messages like "Stay Tuned". It reminds me of being in high school or college when a girl would break up with me but still greet me with a hug or kiss. Does she want to stay together or does she want to stay broken up? I want to return the phone (break up), but Steve keeps making me feel like he's going to fix it.

If you spent less time worrying about the signal issue you might not have missed those 22 calls.

 

[WeegieMac]

and potentially embarrass Apple at the same time

Went to my local Apple store earlier in the week, and made my way through each iPhone 4 on display, gripping each phone the way that causes the bars to drop. Bars dropping happened to each and every phone on display. 5 bars to none in about 10-15 seconds.

I wish I had made a video of the experience. More than 10 iPhones in Apple's own store. All of them doing the exact same thing - bar failure.

Strange, because Apple Retail Store policy is to have no SIM cards installed in any display iPhone.

 

[BobVB]

Again it is really, really simple.

Potential restocking fees, hopes that Apple will fix the problem, sold previous phones. No, returning is not 'simple' as any simpleton knows.

You aren't having problems, as Ms. Manners suggests I say 'How very nice for you.' Doesn't have a whit to do with those that do and until then save your helpful suggestions for your own needs.

Thanks.

 

[splashnader]

Business 101:

Never admit there is a problem, until you know how to fix the problem.

 

[pdjudd]

I'm sure they've received thousands of calls from unhappy customers (that probably don't even touch the realms of internet forums). Surely a huge log of them would trigger some sort of procedure within Apple to start the ball rolling to solve the problem?

Apple I am sure receive tons of complaints that they are very much aware of. But they are not going to comment on them unless the damned well have to. Making public statements that are open ended and do not have any real specifics opens them up to huge risks and liabilities. Rule one of a business that can get sued is not to admit to things that you do not have to address. Apple isn’t going to address anything official without making sure they can control how people respond.

A public announcement is normally the start of things? Apple have done nothing to confirm an issue which is clear as silk. It's not like we're all making it up to try and gain something? Yes, we have to give Apple the chance and time to solve quite a complex issue which there's probably several different options to take.

Solutions are only half the problem. Identification and understanding the problem is the other half here. If you don’t have both parts you are going to have a situation that you cannot control. Once you admit to something publicly, you become liable rightfully or not.

Completely ignoring your hugely enthusiastic and passionate customer base shouldnt be one of them when we all have paid for a premium product and it's not fit for purpose.

Again. Not saying something is not the same as ignoring. Those are two very different actions. They are not the same thing. Apple hasn’t said anything about lots of topics. Does that mean that they are ignoring everything else in the world?

 

[epo]

Potential restocking fees, hopes that Apple will fix the problem, sold previous phones. No, returning is not 'simple' as any simpleton knows.

You aren't having problems, as Ms. Manners suggests I say 'How very nice for you.' Doesn't have a whit to do with those that do and until then save your helpful suggestions for your own needs.

If it is faulty there will be no restocking fee, perfectly simple. The rest of your comment makes no sense and isn't even grammatical. Not only can't you write, you can't even read. I never said whether I had a problem or not. What I did say was that if you had a problem then send it back, otherwise you are just trolling or just whining for the sake of it.

 

[firewood]

I'm sure they've received thousands of calls from unhappy customers (that probably don't even touch the realms of internet forums). Surely a huge log of them would trigger some sort of procedure within Apple to start the ball rolling to solve the problem?

Thousands of calls, given millions of purchasers, is at the 0.1% to 0.5% level.

People with cell coverage more than -67 dBm would never notice any signal problem whatsoever, and so would not be calling.

People with -88 to -68 of signal would notice some bars drop, but not dropped calls ( or maybe the usual amount of dropped calls for AT&T

People who bought a bumper, or normally use their cell phone in a case, would probably not be calling. (That's a lot of people. I know one person who wouldn't even open the box her 3G came in until she had a case ready to put it in right away.)

People who learned to hold their cell phone like the manuals said they should would not be calling.

And people with only -110 to -113 of signal might well be saying: Wow, what a GREAT phone! I could never get a connection here at all before.

 

[Matthew Yohe]

Exactly, people keep saying "Just return it if you're not happy" - well we do like the phone, we just want to know if Apple will get it working. When Jobs says "Stay tuned" it leaves us in limbo about what to do next...

If you're not crying about this issue on the forums and you understand that the device has only been on the market for 6 days, then I don't think people are telling you to take it back.


Just continue holding on, there is plenty of time for things to change.

 

[OneHump]

Time to short AAPL. They're going to get buried by this issue and it's only going to be made worse by how the respond. I don't care what anyone says, my iPhone4 is a disaster.