Apple CEO on antenna problem: 'We aren't perfect'
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30 Comments
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0
smithinjapan
Good on them for finally giving the case for free and taking the onus off the customer to 'fix' the problem. Inexcusable for Apple.
0
SuperLib
Well at least they aren't blaming the customer anymore...
0
smithinjapan
SuperLib: Agreed. For a while their claims that it was how the customer held it and not a software/design flaw seemed relatively legit, but it's clear now (though they're still not admitting it), that it's a glitch.
0
skipbeat
Potential buyers of the iPhone 4 is not eligible for the free bumper after September 30th. Wouldn't this set Apple back to the antenna problem? Is Apple already in the works of redesigning the iPhone 4 to fix the antenna problem?
I don't understand why this was a design flaw in the first place when Apple have top engineers working for them who should have realized the human hand coming into contact with the antenna would prevent the phone from working. Sure, the design of the antenna is cool, but it prevents the iPhone 4 from working in some cases.
Wouldn't this constitute a recall since Apple is giving everyone who purchased the iPhone 4 a free bumper or a refund for the bumper to fix the antenna problem.
0
SuperLib
Well I don't remember BlackBerry getting front page news coverage every time it releases a new phone, either. The media attention to the problem is proportional to the media attention the phone gets overall. Stop whining.
0
sourpuss
Superlib, spot on. Live by the sword, die by it. Jobs needed this reality check.
But has he actually learned anything? Jobs still seems to only reluctantly admitting the iPhone problems. I have had a few Apple products over the years and have been very pleased with them (even though none were problem-free), but have to laugh at the ego on this guy is.
His remark that all phones have reception troubles made me laugh loudest. I have a supposedly "inferior" Xperia with "outdated" Android 1.6, and can hold it any which way I want without losing signal bars or dropping calls. No doubt this has something to do with Docomo's superior setup. Still, kudos to apparently down-and-out Sony Erikson for making a phone that does what it's supposed to, no matter how mistakenly the customer holds it...
Anyway, all of this really puts an exclamation point on the fact that a phone is only as good as its network. (apologies to Thomas the Tank Engine)
0
S7ro9kGm3aQ
Maybe if Jobs hadn't been selling "magical" phones, then the media wouldn't have been so critical.
0
Madverts
In the business I'm in the phone get's lot's of abuse, especially being dropped on a regular basis. The i-phone's screen lasted one week in February before breaking so I'm back to trusted Nokia...
0
Moondog
Anyone who thinks Jobs 'hasn't learned anything' or 'isn't doing enough'--rather than relying on the filtered reports in the media who naturally don't want to let go of this story--should stroll over to apple.com and watch his whole presentation. He very clearly demonstrated that the problems with the iPhone are common to all phones and that the 'problem' has been blown all out of proportion.
For example, only about 1/2 of 1% of all users are reporting a problem and that whatever problems there may be, they're not being reflected in the rate of phone being returned. The rate of return of the iPhone4 is only 1/3 of what it was for the previous model.
And then, after demonstrating that there isn't a real problem (that is unique to the iPhone), Jobs announced they would give everyone a bumper--anyway--and also waive all restocking fees on returned phones.
The real story here is that the media and bloggers love 'a story' and when someone reported 'a problem' they all jumped on it and blew it all out of proportion to the reality.
Kudos to Jobs for going far beyond what was really necessary to fix the 'problem.'
0
LIBERTAS
This isn't all it's not perfect at. The London Telegraph reported, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7880155/How-your-Apple-iPhone-spies-on-you.html July 8th, that the security on the iPhone is questionable too. It seems that the UK police love it, as it documents all kinds of potentially chargeable criminal offences committed by its user that can't be properly erased, and that they can use as evidence. Not being a "business" phone, many safeguards were not incorporated into the design. Orwellian or what?
0
S7ro9kGm3aQ
Apple fanboy in the hizzouse.
Moondog...seriously. Kudos to Jobs for lying to the world about the problem being software-related before doing a u-turn and having to fake some videos of Nokia and RIM phones losing signal strength, when in fact they do not.
Enjoy living in cloud cuckoo land sir!
0
jforce
Nice to see jobs come out and say he's not perfect, but his company actually has been rushing products out to the market since the first gen Iphone. At Apple HQ the Iphone and accessories department has overtaken the campus and I feel it's put pressure on the Mac department to also speed up and release lees than adequate products. A lot of EGO within the HQ and department managers trying to climb the ladder. Jobs really has no hold on the management, but is simply limited to presentations and stamping marketing decisions. You'd all be surprised at the age of a lot of these bigtime decision-makers, too. Nuff said.
I hope they don't get the Microsoft rep for patches and updates back in the 90s and early 2000s.
0
SuperLib
He's come a long was from his "don't hold it that way" emails, huh? It it nice to see that Jobs finally learned there are limits to the "shut up and like it" approach. Hopefully Apple will benefit from this in the future.
0
mikehuntez
Apple products are not any better than other products on the market. It's just the wave of the cool Apple iProducts that they are still riding. Buyer beware.
0
Badsey
i'll wait for iPhone 4 sp2. -should be fixed by then.
0
limboinjapan
I will say this again beware of Apple!
I was once one of their greatest fans and users but learned the hard way that they view customers as a disposable commodity, they first offer you something good then make changes then make you pay through the nose if you want service or to keep using their products.
The i-phone will be no different they will sooner or later make some change that will demand you either upgrade you phone to a new model or pay some crazy fee to modify your existing phone to the new system or it will no longer work.
Job's initial response to the problem shows his true feelings toward customer basically "you are idiots and we don't care"! and had the media and consumer groups not made such a racket they would have kept that stance!
0
SuperLib
I have an iPod, and I think it's a great piece of hardware, a big step up from my old Creative Labs, but it did serve as an introduction into the world of Apple. Since it wouldn't play .avi files I had to convert every single piece of video to MP4 which was so time consuming that I ended up not watching any videos on it anymore. There's just no reason for that except to spite your rivals and use your customers as the ammunition.
I transferred my song from my Creative Labs to my PC to my iPod, but iTunes told me if I deleted the files from my PC (which I didn't need after transferring them) then it would also delete the files from my iPod. Made no sense whatsoever. I sent an email to a Machead friend of mine and I'll always remember how it started..."You're not using iTunes in the way it's supposed to be used." So I can't delete files from my PC because I have to use iTunes in the way that Apple wants me to use it?
I really do love Apple hardware....very, very beautiful....I just wish they didn't make you feel like sheep when you buy it. That seems to be a requirement.
0
skipbeat
I disagree. I had the hTc EVO (Sprint) and I did not experience drop calls by holding it whichever ways. Now I have the hTc Incredible (Verizon) and I have experienced about 8 drop calls on the first day I got the phone. This is the first time in 10 years that I experienced drop calls. The incredible lets me know the call is a drop call. I have not gotten all 4 bars when I use the phone. Most of the time it is 2 or less when I am inside and sometimes 3 bars when I am outside. My estimation for drop calls on the incredible will probably be 1 a day depending where I use the phone indoor or outdoor. So if it is one a day than the iPhone 4 will double that per day. I have T-mobile with a basic cellphone, and I did not experience drop calls. The experience with T-mobile was like the caller was so far away.
I think poor reception is a combination of the phone, network, and service that allows for drop calls to happened.
The iPhone 4 is clearly a design flaw when it comes to making calls. Along with ATT as the carrier whose network is overloaded with the 85 millions plus.
It seems the antenna problem happens only in the U.S. and not in Europe or Japan. No bumpers or cases of them.
Nokia Kicks Apple While It’s Down, Says It Prioritizes Antenna Performance Over Looks @http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2010/07/17/17venturebeat-nokia-kicks-apple-while-its-down-says-it-pri-95869.html
The title of the article by the reporter makes Nokia looks like a sore loser with their biased reporting in favor of Apple.
0
lostrune2
Any 3rd party actually make a study on this issue?
3rd party is preferable over any company's presentation.
0
sourpuss
Consumer Reports is very 3rd party.
0
lostrune2
IIRC, Consumer Reports still rates the iPhone as the best but does not currently recommend it until the glitches are fixed.
0
Moondog
To skipbeat et al:
If it doesn't happen to you with your Nokia, then it's because you're standing is an area with a strong signal. This doesn't happen to any phone, including the iPhone, except in marginal areas. And, it happens to very few iPhones, too. Only about 0.5% have complained. This is just one of the points made in the presentation (as anyone willing to spend the time to watch it would know).
0
skipbeat
@Moondog,
People are not complaining because they like the iPhone for the apps and its other features so they will put up with the lack of phone calls until they get tired of the game.
Hot Topics- Whoopi Destroys Her iPhone - The View @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSA6tSX8ZIo
0
Moondog
So, your position is that iPhone users aren't complaining because they're too happy but someday when they're no longer happy, they'll start complaining ... or move to another phone. Wow! That's a blistering argument that explains everything! LOL
0
skipbeat
Moondog, it came out of the mouth of some iPhone 4 owners. There are some iPhone 4 owners that want the gadget to work as a phone and not just a mini computer. Some have switched and some other people are waiting for the iPhone to go to another carrier besides ATT before purchasing it.
0
MistWizard
Gee, if duct tape will fix the problem then the problem is whiners. If duct tape will fix the problem you could find something more decorative.
If any whiners would like to give me their iphone for this problem, I will take it off their hands.
I suppose for Jobs it is poetic justice to have the media against him for once. Still does not make the complaint legit though. However, him saying they were holding it wrong was way stupid.
0
lostrune2
It's like people complaining about Windows Vista.
0
randomenigma
MistWizard: then you wouldn't get this either:
"I went to the doctor and said it hurts when I do this."
"What did he say?"
"He said, 'Don't do that.'"
0
Sarge
Jeez, if some people aren't satisfied with their iPhones, they can buy another product. Most people are satisfied.
0
MistWizard
Since duct tape did not fix the problem, I should think not!
randomenigma, I get it. But duct tape probly did not allow the patient to do that and not feel pain. Apples and oranges.
Duct tape comes in a variety of designs and colors these days!
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