Tim Cook on New iPhone 6s Battery Case: 'I Wouldn't Call it the Hump'

[sofila]

I think Apple assumed (quite rightly) that most people would hold the remote lengthways to operate it. Sadly, they didn't take into account that someone would try to prove their design expertise (ha!) by holding it widthways to use as a TV controller.

Since the control is also a game controller then it has to balanced on both sides when held horizontally. If you need to find your bearings on a tiny sliver of plastic then I suggest you use the volume control; I suspect that's why it's a rocker and not two separate buttons: to help the pseudo design experts.

You don't understand the point of picking up a remote and blindly recognise the right direction, but have to make fun of others noticing it

Apple CEO says the last Apple product put on sale is a really good one. What a surprise

 

[apple_iBoy]

No one at Apple asked me if course, but...
If I were designing this, I would have made it smoothly taper toward the edges, so you'd get a profile kind of like the iPhone 3G or the first iPad. Or the back of the current iMac for that matter.

I think the iPhones of old were more pleasant to hold in the hand, so if done right, this battery pack could have actually returned the form factor to a more pleasing shape, from a human factors point of view.

 

[emulator]

Not true at all for many people. 90% of the time i have no battery issues, but when i travel or spend time in NYC then i do and would use this case. So for me, i would take the phone in and out of the case.

What you need is a $20 portable charger, not a $100 case.

 

[ScottNWDW]

I don't get what all the hate is about. Maybe if people would look at the features and benefits rather than the looks of the case you would realize it is a pretty damn good product. Putting the iPhone in the case is easy, it discharges the case into the iPhone first and it has the pass through microphone and speakers and can be used with the lightening docks. Third party battery cases are rigid, usually more than one piece, have micro usb chargers, and usually make your phone even bulkier all the way around, they don't discharge into the phone right away, there's a switch to do that and you forget the switch you usually have to wait until the phone then charges a bit. The Apple case discharges automatically first and when it is completely discharged you can easily remove it and charge it up if you want. The"hump" on the back actually makes it more comfortable to hold.

 

[freepomme]

It's the battery.



No. Easier.



Open pocket. Insert iPhone.



Nope. It's just the battery housing.

But how lol when I'm holding the phone now my fingers are on the back edges but with that hump there, do your fingers touch it? Does the battery get hot? Since you know you're touching the battery ?

You don't get a bulge from those skinny jeans?

 

[Neil87567]

It's not just the design also, recent products indicate Apple is no longer a company that cares about the design of the products (in both the looks and functional persepective).

Just take a look at this pic:

Hahahahaha, I literally had to laugh out loud when I saw this. As a long time Apple customer, I wholeheartedly have to say the company genuinely deserves the ridicule that is poured out over Apple and their new products at the moment.

 

[b-dogg]

Oh no, my battery is dead but I can't use that charging case because it's ugly. Idiots.

And it still won't fully charge it. You can buy and external portable 3000mAh (like x5 mobile mini) for $10 on amazon. And remember - you can't put the apple case on and tell it when to send power to the iPhone. It will start doing that the minute you put the case on. You'd have to carry the case with you all day in a separate pocket, then put it on only when you needed it.

It doesn't even work well, the ugliness is the least of it's problems. It's a design disaster.

 

[Tech198]

Neat nickname "The hump" ....

I would add "...that goes bumpity-bump" ....u gotta finish this one off

It's probably a case i would have to take a second look just to make sure it was from "Apple"

 

[nicho]

And remember - you can't put the apple case on and tell it when to send power to the iPhone. It will start doing that the minute you put the case on. You'd have to carry the case with you all day in a separate pocket, then put it on only when you needed it.

why?

 

[chfilm]

Well, this is embarrassing.

This is the exact same thing I wanted to write.

 

[Dranix]

Why are people always bring the very nice emergency charging of the ApplePencil as a fail? It is for EMERGENCIES not the normal way to charge it...

 

[KJL3000]

You'd have to carry the case with you all day in a separate pocket, then put it on only when you needed it.

why?

Because it's only intended for overnight trips! Duh...

 

[Marpleesi]

 

[Fzang]

Why are people always bring the very nice emergency charging of the ApplePencil as a fail? It is for EMERGENCIES not the normal way to charge it...

...Emergencies...? Huh.

 

[zhenya]

It's not just the design also, recent products indicate Apple is no longer a company that cares about the design of the products (in both the looks and functional persepective).

Just take a look at this pic:

The case is a 'meh'. The vast majority of cases people choose to use are worse than this. Yes, it should be better though. The mouse is a bit of a head-scratcher until you realize that they would have had to ruin their precious design of the mouse in order to put the charger anywhere else. It's emblematic of a company where the designers get the final say, not the engineers.

The pencil charging, this one I have to take serious issue with. The pencil was going to charge with Lightning. There was no chance for anything else. So people who like to post pictures like this, I have to ask, would it have been better if the pencil required a cable to charge? Because that's the alternative. Without this option, which is clearly for convenience so you don't have to carry a cable, what would you have proposed instead? Be specific.

 

[chiefkp]

Is it April 1st already?

 

[MacHiavelli]

I asked my iPhone what it put its recent weight gain down to.

It explained, 'iBulge'.

 

[maflynn]

Cook should be embarrassed that they released such an ugly product and yes, no matter how you sugar coat it. The fact remains the 6s battery is not up to snuff for many people.

 

[doctor-don]

Two issues Tim.

1. You approved this fugly case, why? Is profit that important ? Brand reputation before $
2. When buying a case with an extended battery, the ability to take remove the iPhone is very long way down the list. Shockingly, once you the the phone in, for most people it will remain in that state, probably until they decide to sell it and want to clean it.

You have launched a product people are laughing at, including the faithful, time to play CEO and not the really nice bloke! This reminds me of apple before Jobs came back, some silly products that should never have made it past the conception stage.

MHO1 - Please proof before posting. Feel free to EDIT your post so it can be understood.

I actually agree. I've owned MANY battery cases, for many models of iPhone, and I'm excited to receive my Apple battery case. A soft case like the silicone apple case I've had on my iPhone 6 for over a year.

The only drawbacks are it's less mAh than most of these cases, and it's expensive. Considering the smart features, partially slim profile, antennas, and lightning port, I'd say those things are easily ignored.

People need to get off their high horse about "design" and "Steven Jobs wouldn't have allowed this". This is a mostly elegant way of providing additional power and doing a decent job of it.

Now why would you be excited about adding another $100 to the price of that phone?
Elegant would have been providing a thicker iPhone that could accommodate the necessary battery.

The ONLY advantage would be in having additional battery power that is NOT separate from the phone itself, although anyone wishing to recharge from a 10,000 mAh external battery pack on a camping / hiking trip would have the pack in which to carry the battery pack.

 

[eMacmadman]

The iTumour makes me glad I bought a 6s+ instead. I put cases on my phones and leave them in place until I trade in the phone. So easy removal is not a priority. Depending on usage I get 2-3 days out of an 6s+, so I don't need a battery case. In an instance where I might, I carry a 7800 mah portable battery and an iPad charger. The iPad charger is Apple approved for charging iPhones and it charges an iPhone very fast. It typically takes about two hours or less to fully charge from about 25%. The iTumour is proof that phones don't need to be any thinner, they just need better batteries.

 

[H2SO4]

I actually agree. I've owned MANY battery cases, for many models of iPhone, and I'm excited to receive my Apple battery case. A soft case like the silicone apple case I've had on my iPhone 6 for over a year.

You’ve illustrated the problem for us perfectly. They’ve been so busy making it thin above all else that they’ve skimped on the battery and forced you to have to take matters into your own hands.

 

[maxsix]

I agree with Tim

It's most definitely_not_ a hump.

It only resembles an ugly arse battery case.

In reality it's a significant milestone in Apple History, its the day style was killed off for good.

It's proof positive of Apples Unfettered Greed!

Why bother to bring another ugly battery case for $99 into a market that is already jam packed with battery cases? The answer is simple, Apple is the hulking, drooling, 800lb. Gorilla that_does what it wants, when it wants.

Just in case you didn't already know this, they're getting into YOUR FACE to be sure you don't misunderstand!

Apple... what a company

 

[bobob]

Don't make phone 1mm thicker.

Make an ugly case.

Why should everyone have to carry a heavier, thicker phone whether they need the extra battery life or not?

 

[Max(IT)]

I actually agree. I've owned MANY battery cases, for many models of iPhone, and I'm excited to receive my Apple battery case. A soft case like the silicone apple case I've had on my iPhone 6 for over a year.

Most cases are rigid, tough plastic that typically snaps together in two or more pieces. Bright LED lights that you can't disable while it's charging, and on/off switches that I've never understood the point of. This case fixes all of these issues, and is only thick where it has to be. It's not thick at the top and bottom where the battery isn't. Yes it's weird looking, but actually looks like it will be comfortable to hold.

The only drawbacks are it's less mAh than most of these cases, and it's expensive. Considering the smart features, partially slim profile, antennas, and lightning port, I'd say those things are easily ignored.

People need to get off their high horse about "design" and "Steven Jobs wouldn't have allowed this". This is a mostly elegant way of providing additional power and doing a decent job of it.

Absolutely agree. I'm going to buy one next month.... I'm going to use it only when needed, and this is much easier than any other to put on and off the phone. I don't want an huge battery case like Mophie.

 

[ggibson913]

Sorry Tim, it's ugly and too expensive. Next time design a slightly thicker phone with a bigger battery or better yet improve power efficiency.