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Stress Testing the iPhone

Definitely reassuring that the phone has seen such extensive testing.

Nevertheless, I'm sure that there will be some hair-tearing about some insignificant flaw when it's launched, like there always is... maybe people will complain that the Apple logo on the back feels too smooth or something weird like that.
 
Much Ado said:
Is it honestly like that with other smart-phones? Granted they have experience, but this is a two year project, not a quick-out-of-the-blocks plastic device running something other than OS X.

Anyway, the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding. Let's hope its sweet and throughly apple.
Click to expand...

It's not like smartphones are perfect; as a Treo 650 owner I can attest to that. Forums are full of people with Treos, Windows Mobile devices, etc. that have any number of hardware and software problems.

-Zadillo
 
Much Ado said:
Is it honestly like that with other smart-phones? Granted they have experience, but this is a two year project, not a quick-out-of-the-blocks plastic device running something other than OS X.

Anyway, the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding. Let's hope its sweet and throughly apple.
Click to expand...

Do you really think they have been stress testing a device for 2 years? I'm willing to bet hard cash the iPhone didn't come out of the labs until last fall.

Zadillo said:
It's not like smartphones are perfect; as a Treo 650 owner I can attest to that. Forums are full of people with Treos, Windows Mobile devices, etc. that have any number of hardware and software problems.

-Zadillo
Click to expand...

Yes and this is from people who KNOW how to make a phone. How does that fare for Apple if the people who KNOW what they are doing have issues with their device. Again, even if the iPhone wasn't on Crapular, you couldn't pay me to use it until Gen 2.
 
SiliconAddict said:
Do you really think they have been stress testing a device for 2 years? I'm willing to bet hard cash the iPhone didn't come out of the labs until last fall.



Yes and this is from people who KNOW how to make a phone. How does that fare for Apple if the people who KNOW what they are doing have issues with their device. Again, even if the iPhone wasn't on Crapular, you couldn't pay me to use it until Gen 2.
Click to expand...

Well, again, Apple has already shown they can do something Palm can't do, which is actually do something NEW in the phone arena. Palm has been churning out the same basic Treo design using the same screwed up Palm OS (although now you can also choose a screwed up Windows Mobile Treo; nice to have options!).

I'm sure the iPhone will have its issues, but I frankly have already seen more interesting stuff out of Apple than Palm could dream of doing (or maybe Palm has some more revolutionary products like the Foleo in the pipeline too).

This idea that Apple is going to have to fail because they've never made a phone before and the existing people who make smartphones and regular phones still can't get it right isn't guaranteed.

Look at Apple's entrance into the MP3 player market; not the same as cellphones, to be sure, but there were plenty of companies out there doing Flash-based mp3 players, Creative Nomad hard drive players, that Compaq Jukebox thing, etc.

The idea that Apple would have to fail with the original iPod or not be able to "get it right" because the people who came before couldn't has been shown to not always be the case.
 
true test

the true tests will be with cheez doodle fingertips, grubby pizza hands, etc. personally, i'm careful not to touch my macbook and other electronics with nasty mitts and puffed cheese snacks are scary, but i'll bet you all know at least one person who's kind of like pigpen.
 
brooksfow said:
the true tests will be with cheez doodle fingertips, grubby pizza hands, etc. personally, i'm careful not to touch my macbook and other electronics with nasty mitts and puffed cheese snacks are scary, but i'll bet you all know at least one person who's kind of like pigpen.
Click to expand...

Indeed, although people like that will make a mess of just about any phone - wouldn't be unique to the iPhone, really. Just with a regular phone, it would be maybe the physical keypad and smaller screen that get all gunked up.
 
Dropping and bouncing

"dropping it onto concrete and bouncing it off sidewalks"

Though the smooth chrome finish may not be retained, it's nice to hear that the iPhone is ready for the NBA. :)
 
SiliconAddict said:
Do you really think they have been stress testing a device for 2 years? I'm willing to bet hard cash the iPhone didn't come out of the labs until last fall.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and with recent changes to battery life and screen material, the idea of an 8 month stress-testing period seems unrealistic.

You can't test for longevity- that's what us consumers have to discover for ourselves with any Rev A product. What you can do is check the industrial design is sturdy and that the thing will survive knocks, falls etc.

As i once again maintain, the testing period (and the fact that all works well following it) shows that the phone has been designed well and that Apple are taking good care and attention over their product, as would any smart-phone company.

So far this has gone by the book (no more, no less), and we'll just have to hope that the thing holds out in great quantities come the 29th.
 
Zadillo said:
Well, again, Apple has already shown they can do something Palm can't do, which is actually do something NEW in the phone arena. Palm has been churning out the same basic Treo design using the same screwed up Palm OS (although now you can also choose a screwed up Windows Mobile Treo; nice to have options!).

I'm sure the iPhone will have its issues, but I frankly have already seen more interesting stuff out of Apple than Palm could dream of doing (or maybe Palm has some more revolutionary products like the Foleo in the pipeline too).

This idea that Apple is going to have to fail because they've never made a phone before and the existing people who make smartphones and regular phones still can't get it right isn't guaranteed.

Look at Apple's entrance into the MP3 player market; not the same as cellphones, to be sure, but there were plenty of companies out there doing Flash-based mp3 players, Creative Nomad hard drive players, that Compaq Jukebox thing, etc.

The idea that Apple would have to fail with the original iPod or not be able to "get it right" because the people who came before couldn't has been shown to not always be the case.
Click to expand...

Several differences to the MP3 market. The biggest is that companies didn't take Apple serious (Just as many companies Sony, doesn't take Microsoft serious.) when they entered the market. It took YEARS for anyone to come close to Apple's design. In this case we already had a design in the works before Apple even announced the iPhone in January. By next Fall I fully expect Verizon, T-Mobile, etc to have an answer to the iPhone.
Also if you look at the iPod it really didn't take off until it was universally accessible. (Read: Available to Windows users.) I see parallels to this in Apple's exclusive contract with ATT. IN this case though it will be what? 3 years before we see the iPhone anywhere other the on ATT's network.

As for doing something new in a phone. Just like stuffing a crap load a features into an MP3 player new on a phone isn't always good. Being someone who does Dell warranty work I occasionally go into highly sensitive buildings. Example Yesterday I was in a General Dynamics building to repair a Dell laser printer. If I had a camera in my phone I would have had to leave it at the front desk.
Things like that along with those of us who don't care to have a MP3 player in a device that we use for work, makes the iPhone no better then all those bloated MP3 players out there. *shrugs* Just my opinion. I know people love to have the kitchen, washroom sinks thrown into their phones.
 
Much Ado said:
You can't test for longevity- that's what us consumers have to discover for ourselves with any Rev A product. What you can do is check the industrial design is sturdy and that the thing will survive knocks, falls etc.
Click to expand...

Eh, sure you can. If any of you guys ever watch the show "How It's Made" more often than not when they tour any kind of factory where consumer products are made they show the torture testing most products go through for quality assurance. (For example, luggage being loaded with bricks and rolled around in a huge tumbler for a few days. Plastics being exposed to super-power ultraviolet lighting to simulate years of sunlight, etc.)

The benefit the iPhone has it that most people will only use it for the two-year duration of the service contract. If you buy in to the figures that pro-recycling groups put out, the average person only keeps a cell phone for 18 months. So even if there are latent long-term defects (Like the paint in the titanium powerbooks that started coming off a few years later.) most users will have already taken advantage of signing another contract with their cellular provider to get a new device by the time they start popping up.

Edit: Furthermore, I wholly believe that the iPhone will meet and exceed everyone's expectations. Steve knows what the world expects from him as a modern day Willy Wonka, and I feel completely confident that he has done absolutely everything within his power to make sure the iPhone is as close to flawless as possible. IF the iPhone wasn't 110% of what Steve-o wanted it to be, the release date would be pushed back. Look how much the value of Apple stock has increased since the iPhone announcement and how it continues to increase with each following news bit. Steve wouldn't throw all that away for anything in the world. (Well, aside from some backdated stock I suppose :D )
 
too good for iPhone?

wow. i know you feel like a technogod and a real insider when you toss around nomenclature like "rev a" or "rev b". please people! it is a phone! probably a very good one. i will buy it and use it. if there is a defect, the manufacturer will fix it. if they add a desirable feature later (which they most certainly will), i'll trade mine in or throw it away and get the new one. if you have a lot of time on your hands i'm sure you could even sell it on eBay.

point is - don't act like you're too good for it because it's the first version. that's like saying "I REFUSE to buy an '07 335i cause it's the first year, and BMW will certainly just make it better later!" of course they will. that's how things work. it's just money. spend it and enjoy life instead of waiting for the next revision - trust me, there is always something better coming.
 
io_burn said:
Eh, sure you can. If any of you guys ever watch the show "How It's Made" more often than not when they tour any kind of factory where consumer products are made they show the torture testing most products go through for quality assurance.
Click to expand...

That's what i said, you can make a sturdy product in the labs but there is simply no way you can predict the implications of your product on a huge scale, over several years, whether iPhone, Treo or laptop.

Your MacBook might look great in the labs, but what about the fact that a few of them will discolor or have battery problems after a while?

I seem to be repeating myself a lot here.

Bottom line: Don't bash the testing they've done.
 
strangelogic said:
This was at&t testing team, not :apple: if I read it correctly. And while all companies do testing on new products, all testing is not the same. I've worked in s/w testing specifically for 20 years - and despite a documented methodology and extensive training there are systems that crash/burn at launch due to poorly planned/executed tests and incompetent testers.

The implication of the article to me is that this at&t testing was more than they usually do because they normally just rely more on the manufacturer testing. It does not mean it will be perfect by any means. But, it does mean that they have been making every effort to make sure it doesn't suck.
Click to expand...

If I'd spent $50m improving a network, I'd double test it too.
 
wnurse said:
Every phone manufacturer test their phones this way. This is nothing unique. Still says nothing about real world usage (if that was the case then there would never be a bad phone since they are all tested)... does say though that apple is doing their homework. At least they are not hoisting an untested phone on the public.
Click to expand...

LOL! "Every manufacturer tests their phones"? If only, if only. This quote does NOT come from a person who's ever had any model of Treo, which simply can't have gone through rigorous testing of the nature described by Apple.
 
scoobydoo99 said:
wow. i know you feel like a technogod and a real insider when you toss around nomenclature like "rev a" or "rev b". please people! it is a phone! probably a very good one. i will buy it and use it. if there is a defect, the manufacturer will fix it. if they add a desirable feature later (which they most certainly will), i'll trade mine in or throw it away and get the new one. if you have a lot of time on your hands i'm sure you could even sell it on eBay.

point is - don't act like you're too good for it because it's the first version. that's like saying "I REFUSE to buy an '07 335i cause it's the first year, and BMW will certainly just make it better later!" of course they will. that's how things work. it's just money. spend it and enjoy life instead of waiting for the next revision - trust me, there is always something better coming.
Click to expand...

I don't think some feel like they are "too good" for the Rev A iPhone.
Working in the automobile industry (and you don't have to work in it to know this) I would never buy a vehicle the first year it comes out.

The point is not that whatever is wrong with it won't be fixed, it's the hassle of having it done.
Taking your vehicle into a shop, taking of work to do so etc., etc.

Now speaking for myself I have no problems with buying the RevA iPhone.

When there are updates for it, I will apply them.

If another version of the iPhone comes out 6 months or whenever with more features, I am fine with that because I know that is inevitable.

I however, will keep my iPhone for a long as I can.
 
Zadillo said:
This idea that Apple is going to have to fail because they've never made a phone before and the existing people who make smartphones and regular phones still can't get it right isn't guaranteed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't get where that's coming from either. The iPhone really isn't the first time Apple's done this. Ostensibly, this device is a phone, but when you really look at it, it bears more similarlity to a pared down laptop that just happens to be able to make phone calls, recreate the functionality of an iPod and take input from the user via its screen. It's really more of a tiny computer than a cell phone. From that perspective, there's hardly anyone out there more qualified than Apple to make this. In fact, I think Apple's approach is only highlighting exactly what's wrong with the attitude of the people and companies that have been making smart phones so far. They view them primarily as phones and subjugate the rest of the functionality (in terms of design and UI) to that part of the device, which is the wrong attitude to have, IMO.
 
Originally Posted by SiliconAddict
Again, even if the iPhone wasn't on Crapular, you couldn't pay me to use it until Gen 2.
Click to expand...

thats fine, but we'll be using it when your stuck with your crappy phone on whatever carrier you have right now.

so while we are flipping through our music videos and telephone calls with our finger while your slamming text messges through a keyboard and listening to music on your ipod we'll be doing it all on one device

see you in about 6 months with an iphone :D :cool: :)

Originally Posted by scoobydoo99
wow. i know you feel like a technogod and a real insider when you toss around nomenclature like "rev a" or "rev b". please people! it is a phone! probably a very good one. i will buy it and use it. if there is a defect, the manufacturer will fix it. if they add a desirable feature later (which they most certainly will), i'll trade mine in or throw it away and get the new one. if you have a lot of time on your hands i'm sure you could even sell it on eBay.

point is - don't act like you're too good for it because it's the first version. that's like saying "I REFUSE to buy an '07 335i cause it's the first year, and BMW will certainly just make it better later!" of course they will. that's how things work. it's just money. spend it and enjoy life instead of waiting for the next revision - trust me, there is always something better coming.
Click to expand...

Bravo! I've bought "rev A" products all my life. iMac G3,G4, PS3, N64, first gen ipod (dads), any time :apple: releases a OS always get the first verison and NEVER HAVE HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH ANY!!!!!! not one bug, not one crash, never had to send anything in to be repaired nooooooothing. possibly I may be the luckiest electronics user ever (maybe my iphone dies first day) but "rev a" products never scared me. maybe its just me but just constantly waiting for the second gen product to come out just so "you miss out on a few bugs," then you throw up a :) like your so happy about it seems asinine.

and like scooby said there is something always bigger and better right around the corner thats called the technology world. you think rev B is going to not have bugs? if it has new features those might be kinda buggy.
so you might as well wait till rev 3...oh crap wait new features on that..those might be kinda buggy...better wait till revision 4...
 
xUKHCx said:
Wonder how it will stand up against the torrent of abuse that it will receive in my pocket complete with my keys and coins.
Click to expand...

As a Treo 650 user, I just adjusted how I carried stuff in my pockets.
Treo in front right. Keys, ID & debit in left.

Issue be gone!

It's like a lot of the gripes I am hearing, reading are about such petty things.
Sure, place ANY phone in a pocket with keys + coins (and who carries coins anyway? Pirates?) and said phone will get scratched.

There will be some adjustments, as always is the case with new tech. But I bet, in the end, those adjustments will be not only easy to grasp but well worth it.

Last I checked, the sky is not falling. :p
 
I had a dream about iphone. It was sweet. Then i woke up and realized that im 6 days away from it even being released...that was less sweet.
 
Quality testing

It's good that quality testing is being done, but, obviously, in no way can it guarantee that every iPhone out there will not be damaged by real world use. but better to have the testing and make the improvements that can be made before launch, than not.

Look, I once went out to the golf range (public course, I'm not rich! I just admire Apple's approach to things) with my old Treo in my hip pocket. When I got done, the screen was ruined, just from the hip-twisting motion involved in swinging the club. So none of these things are perfect; I believe, and we will soon see, that the iPhone will be closer to perfect than most!
 
inkswamp said:
Yeah, I don't get where that's coming from either. The iPhone really isn't the first time Apple's done this. Ostensibly, this device is a phone, but when you really look at it, it bears more similarlity to a pared down laptop that just happens to be able to make phone calls, recreate the functionality of an iPod and take input from the user via its screen. It's really more of a tiny computer than a cell phone. From that perspective, there's hardly anyone out there more qualified than Apple to make this. In fact, I think Apple's approach is only highlighting exactly what's wrong with the attitude of the people and companies that have been making smart phones so far. They view them primarily as phones and subjugate the rest of the functionality (in terms of design and UI) to that part of the device, which is the wrong attitude to have, IMO.
Click to expand...

Very well said!
It's like calling a knife a can opener.
Sure, it'll open a can. But it does so much more.

Fact is, the level of moaning about an unreleased product that a mere couple-hundred people have ever so much as touched, is pretty pathetic.
Most people are looking at this, and life, with too narrow a focus.
I wonder if this device were called, say, 'MiniMac' (take the whole 'phone' thing out of the equation) if there would be so much griping about phone this and phone that?
Probably.

But, this is a public forum. So moan on, moaners.

Me? I just look forward to seeing how this new tech fits my little Mac universe. That's all. Thanks.
 
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