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Apple To Hold iPhone 4 Press Conference
teh31337one noted an Engadget report that Apple has announced an
iPhone 4 Press Conference for Friday at 10am PT where presumably they will address all this wacky antenna stuff that has been happening.
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They discussed about the problem, what they intent to do about it and some technical details too. It wasn't exactly unusual from Apple, but here is more info for anyone interested.
They'll hold the press conference correctly.
"We are proud to announce the iPhone 5..."
This is a newsmessage about an upcoming newsmessage?
In the future, can you warn me about such newsmessages? Then i'll get the message that the message is coming with the message in it.
And can ignore it.
Will Steve hold it the right way?
Be honest about what went wrong, and do right by the customers. Goodwill is the single most valuable asset a business can possess.
The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
No need for a press conference to tell everyone to hold their phone differently!
..if they have hired the Iraqi Information Minister to give their speech. "There are no issues with signal reception using iPhone 4. Never!"
I hope they hold it in the right spot. It's not going to get a very good reception otherwise.
Apple's response so far seems to indicate (in my opinion, of course) that they have gotten too comfortable in their market position. "People will buy our shit no matter what, why should we fork out the cash to fix this?" is the vibe I got off them.
It will be interesting to see what they have to say tomorrow.
Living With a Nerd
Look there! At the flashy light and the monkey! Pay no attention to your iPhone's antenna!
Palm trees and 8
I honestly read "how to hold the iphone 4 conference"
T-minus 4.25 hours and counting...
If Apple were the kind of company to admit mistakes and fix problems, we'd have some word on resolving the iPhone 4 issues already. Instead, 'holding it wrong' and bumpers for everyone.
This has, at best chance, to be a press conference releasing the white iPhone 4.
And if I'm wrong, I'll gladly accept some egg on my face, and those in disagreement all get to say "I told you so."
There's a spot in User Info for World of Warcraft account names? Really?
are they going to play for miami heat too?
At first I read "Apple To Hold iPhone Correctly".
If Apple stays true to form they will say Consumer Reports is wrong, that their conclusions are false, and that the iPhone 4 is the best smart phone they have ever developed.. After that Apple will maintain the status quo.
Where will the spin spinner land? Downplay? Recall announcement? User's fault? Free rubber-thingy? iPhone 5 announcement?
Will try explain that this flaw got through the process because the ONE iPhone4 prototype was "stolen" which caused problems in the process?
I am seriously considering starting my day late for this one. (okay, not really...)
Is that the press conference about the iPhone 4, or is it the "iPhone 4 Press" conference?
Apple's next suggestion...
Eh, Mr Jobs?
To be honest, there isn't that much wrong with Vista (after the service packs). Vista's main problems were that the initial hardware was underpowered (esp memory), terrible drivers and software that didn't play nice with UAC.
Windows 7 is a response to the Vista name being mud. It's an improvement, but it's really the same core.
"The issue was that we had a 'signal bar' on the phone. We had forgotten that this was a magical device. The signal bar has now been replaced with a Mana bar. We expect the rest to work itself out."
Will be a hard pill for Apple to swallow after the hyped up outlandish claims about the new antenna design
"People have asked, 'What's this?' Some have even said, 'This doesn't seem like Apple.' What are these lines in this beautiful stainless steel band?
Well, it turns out there's not just one of them, there's three of them. And they are part of the entire structure of this phone. That stainless steel band that runs around is the primary structural element of the phone, and there are these three slits in it.
It turns out this is part of some brilliant engineering, which actually uses the stainless steel band as part of the antenna system. And so, one piece is Bluetooth, wifi, and GPS, and the other is UMTS and GSM. So it's got these integrated antennas right in the structure of the phone.
It's never been done before and it's really cool engineering."
Will be really hard to acknowledge a defect after all that hype.
This space for rent.
"These cowards have no morals. They have no shame about lying."
Stick the quote in the right column.
"Due to popular demand, the cost for the bumpers will increase by $30."
NOW they're gonna talk, 2 days after I returned my iPhone and switched to Verizon. If they end up taking care of business and fixing the iPhone 4, are they gonna pay my Verizon cancellation fee?? I was a loyal customer of Apple for years and got fed up when they were doing nothing about the issue, except a software update to make it show less bars. So I was forced to give up.
Craziness!
Ladies and gentlemen,
You're all holding it wrong.
We are always right.
Shut up and pay for the next iPhone.
The end.
"Windows 7 is a response to the Vista name being mud. It's an improvement, but it's really the same core."
Then why is vista a slow turd on most hardware, even modestly up-to-date hardware, yet win7 runs well enough on even a 6 or 7 y/o 1.6ghz P4 with 1GB of ddr333 ram(I've done it)?
Why are OEM's putting 7 on netbooks but no-one dreamed of doing it with vista?
Same core? Really? Maybe it's the same in some ways but it sure seems different to me.
Flappinbooger isn't my real name
Steve Jobs will be demonstrating to the media and the public the correct way to hold the phone. Everyone needs a remedial course since everyone's holding it wrong.
"Apple To Hold iPhone 4 Press Conference, but not with left hand"
Operator error: They're driving the phone the wrong way. The floor mat got stuck in the pedals.
This will probably turn out more like a circle jerk with Jobs being the pivot man.
"We have decided to sell the iPhone, without a required carrier contract. Just pick a carrier that you like based on the services they offer, their coverage, and experiences that you have had with them. Of course, we will continue to offer bundled offerings for those who want them."
"Oh, and we will be releasing a free SDK, so anyone can write their own apps for it."
I guess that should be the dream on scenario.
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
There's been a lot of performance improvements made, this is true. But I'm running Vista 64 on my "office" machine (quite a basic £250 PC with 4GB RAM) and it's fine. For what I need it for, I can't be bothered upgrading.
Of course, it's not much of an issue for desktop machines when 2GB of ram costs about £20.
I saw that headline and logged in to make basically the same joke...
"I hope they hold they hold it properly, or else they may find they get a poor reception from the press."
Something news-worthy will occur soon!
Some believe that there already is a second iPhone 4 with the Signal and Proximity detection issues solved. They are also saying that Apple are silently replacing the faulty iPhone 4 models with the new one for anyone that brings their faulty one in for repair.
Some googling found this:
http://gizmodo.com/5586256/is-apple-silently-recalling-the-iphone-4-now
I think I first heard it via The Register.
I'm interested to see if they say anything about the glass on the new iPhone.
From what I've seen so far, the device cannot withstand a simple 6ft drop test onto a concrete floor. This is a fairly standard test, isn't particularly hard and ensures that the phone survives the daily wear and tear of being out and about all the time.
To be clear, we're not talking about throwing it onto the floor here, but if it slips out of your pockets and bounces on the floor then there is a (not unrealistic) expectation that it'll survive - especially when you've paid several hundred UK pounds on a phone and tied yourself into an 18 month contract.
I appreciate my data is anecdotal at best, but I've seen quite a few people now with shattered fronts or backs caused by a simple drop onto the floor.
Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
1. Pull the iPhone out of the pocket (if it's not already in your hands).
2. Shake the iPhone
3. Follow the steps in this picture.
I wonder if Apple is going to announce they have an addiction and they are checking into rehab.
A man walks into the doctor's office and says, "It hurts when I do THIS." The doctor looks at the patient and says, "Well, don't do THAT anymore..."
yep they will announce iphone 5 and the sheep will line up. even how its a iphone 4 with the defects fixed.
The antenna issue is the most visible problem, but the proximity sensor problem is also troubling. I'm hopeful that it'll be solved by software update.
The antenna is a hardware problem and it's not going to be fixed by software, however many bars the screen displays. The one call I've made on it was choppy as hell until I repositioned my hand, then it was clear as a bell. I'm holding off on buying a case for my phone until I see what Apple announces.
I'm sure there's an iPhone 4.1 in development. These problems won't exist on iPhones sold in a few months.
Here's a guess: Could these problems have been overlooked because of their field testing? The field units were placed in dummy cases which would have prevented physical contact with the antenna.
bah.
I mean, the iPhone isn't out even one month yet, the antenna issue is in no way clearly understood by anyone. Rushing out a fix or a new hardware revision or even doing a recall of a few million iPhones is nothing you do within weeks. This is just impossible.
Just assume that this is caused by some parts being not always made to spec and this being corrected now (there are reports of replacement phones now looking slightly different and not having the antenna issue). How on earth should Apple get two or three million phones made on the spot? Keeping quiet, replacing phones slowly as customers return them and later dealing with this under the common warranty would be just reasonable.
I'm really looking forward to all the boundless critics eating their pants if Apple should come up with something fair and reasonable tomorrow.
"...they will address all this wacky Antenna stuff..."
Woah! Slow down there Mr. Wizard. I need Laymans terms, none of that bullshit techno-jargon that we can't understand...
From what I've seen so far, the device cannot withstand a simple 6ft drop test onto a concrete floor.
Six feet!? That's quite a drop!
To be clear, we're not talking about throwing it onto the floor here, but if it slips out of your pockets and bounces on the floor then there is a (not unrealistic) expectation that it'll survive - especially when you've paid several hundred UK pounds on a phone and tied yourself into an 18 month contract.
Oooh, you're British. Now everything makes sense, I just forgot to convert feet to.. wait, what?
I went to eat some animal crackers and the box said, "Do not eat if seal is broken." I opened the box and sure enough..
Ring ring....
Me, walking down the street adjusting my iPhone in my hand as I speak: Hello.
Apple: Hi, we are holding a press conference on [silence]
Me: Hello? Hello?
[call dropped]
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
First off, thanks for at least acknowledging the possibility that you might be wrong and that Apple may, in fact, try to address this issue. Too many fanbois have ruined this part of Slasdot by spewing vitriol and what can only be described as hate. No light, just heat.
I think that Apple will address the issue because this special conference is being called on extremely short notice (with MacNN calling it an "emergency press conference"). Having not seen the actual wording, I can't say for certain but again due to the short time-scale (less than 48 hours) it wouldn't seem to be just another announcement of a product update.
Also you are incorrect in asserting that Apple doesn't "admit mistakes". The most recent example that I can recall is the $200 rebates they gave everyone who bought an original iPhone. As you recall, that occurred after the angry groundswell from early adopters who had purchased it a few months before for a couple hundred dollars more. I do not remember whether they gave hints that they might do this or if they called a "special press conference" on short notice.
On the other hand, the market seems to think you're right! Last I checked Apple was down 1.5 percent, roughly double the overall market. So people seem to think Apple will have no or an innefectual response.
Guess if I really believe this conference will solve things I should buy Apple stock! :). And you should sell short!
Nintendo gave away free rubber covers for the wiimote when people start throwing them at TVs. Apple is going to offer a rubber bumper at a big discount! Say, oh, 80% off? Apple can't possibly be as good as Nintendo...
Everyone complaining gets a 30-50$ gift certificate for the Apple Store to buy the 30$ rubber thingy for their JesusPhone.
Which is cunningly priced almost exactly the same as another highly sought after Apple item.
BTW... there is a joke in there somewhere about iPhone needing a rubber band to stay up and online.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
"...we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned."
and
"We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple," Jobs wrote.
Where Steve will attempt the farthest reaching Jedi mind trick ever! "These are not the Droids you are looking for ..."
more like: Apple "How To Hold Your iPhone 4" Press Conference
What I don't get is for all those people complaining, why they don't return the damn thing. Honestly, given the iPhone 4 is out less than 30 days (well within most return periods) and the antenna problem surfaced the next day and was fleshed out the next week, it seems stupid that people would willingly hold onto it.
So what if there's a 3-week waiting period for it? You expect some fix? With a lawsuit silencing Apple, there's not much you can do and not much you can expect them to do without jeopardizing their case. And it certainly won't come in the 8 days left you have to return it (most offer 30 day return policies).
I have plenty of iPods, Macs, iPhones and an iPad. Even I don't see the point in waiting for a fix that may never come - just return it already and get on with life. Your old phone still works, so use it until Apple either fixes it or when the iPhone 5 comes out next year.
I know complaining is fun, but is being stuck in a 2-year contract with a phone that doesn't meet your basic needs fun? I think that's stupid. Also stupid are those who buy an iPhone 4 knowing this problem (I'll be generous and say since this week, when CR's non-recommendation hit the news everywhere (and if you didn't hear it, you probably don't know about the iPhone 4 either) and then complain about it.
Gizmodo has a nice writeup of return policies for the iPhone - http://gizmodo.com/5574502/remember-you-can-always-return-your-new-iphone - maybe the ones who can complain would be those who bought at Best Buy and RadioShack for they get screwed with the restocking fee. But AT&T and Apple don't.
Fake (or real) Steve Jobs said it right - "It's just a phone. Not worth it." If it's dropping calls as bad as the complaints are, return it. If you're happy, great. If you're complaining because it's cool and trendy, I've got better things to do in life. Given that, I'm guessing it can't be that big a problem at all with the 3-week wait for it, which would imply that there won't be a recall. Unless people are really that stupid and will fork out nearly $2000 over 2 years for something they could've just avoided. It's not a life or death situation nor a necessity (a phone might, but what were you using before?).
Vote with your wallet and return it. Apple probably won't fix it in time so you can return it. I suggest returning it while you still can rather than waiting for a recall that may or may not happen at all.
I guess I'm tired of complainers who don't see the most obvious solution to their problem. Sure it's nice if Apple fixes it, but why rely on that?
here is a box of fake iPhone 3 covers we had left over from staff testing. feel free to pick one up on your way out the door. or wear gloves. here's a box of old gloves from the Foxconn factory, grab one. be careful, they are coated with beryllium dust. hack gasp, wheeze.
thump.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
Someone who is not Steve Jobs takes the stage...
1. The iPhone for is our most successful iPhone ever. First day sales figures.
2. iPhone 4 has better reception than any phone we've shipped.
3. The reports of problems have been massively overblown.
4. Still, even though there is not a problem, you can have a $30 giftcard and buy a bumper with it if you want.
5. Some unrelated but big announcement to redirect attention (iPhone on Verizon, it will now come in green, etc.)
or else!
Hopefully at the same press conference they'll announce a service pack to fix the buggy abomination known as iOS 4 (although knowing Apple they'll make you pay for it).
I made the mistake of "upgrading" my iPod Touch to 4 and now it won't work through the USB port on my car stereo. Google "ios 4 car stereo problems" and you'll see a huge Apple thread with people posting about this.
He took a duck to the face at 250 knots.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
If I was Apple, I would have like, given engineers phones to test outside of work like a normal user a few weeks before they released it to the public.
They will demonstrate how the iPhone 4 gets and keeps a signal better then any past iPhone, but will still offer a store credit of $30 to all iPhone 4 purchasers, which they can use to purchase the bumper case of their choice, or a 3rd party case, or use it on something completely different. Also they will announce an extension of the return window, so people can have more time to decide if the iPhone 4 works for them.
Or they may do the above mentioned demo, but also say that they are going to start applying a coating to the antenna anyway, and will offer a free exchange for anyone who wishes to do that. Behind the scenes they will cut the costs of this replacement plan by using the returned iPhones as replacement for others (obviously after applying whatever change it is they would be making, and then going through the usual refurbishment process).
Whatever they do, the one thing I'm positive they will do is demonstrate how the iPhone 4 performs better as-is, because it does perform better as-is in my experience. There is an issue with attentuation and it can be pretty dramatic, but overall the phone still outperforms my 3GS's reception and signal quality, including, and especially, when the signal is weak.
--- What?
What's the big deal? Just hold the phone with an oven mit... or plastic salad tongs.
sig: sauer
> with 4GB RAM
How on earth did you cram 65,536 16K ram packs into your machine?!?!
Heh. Maybe they're just going to announce availability in Canada
$30 is essentially their "full price". It's about what 99% of users will pay when buying a computer with Windows 7 installed, and it's about what 99% of volume license partners pay, and it's about what 99% of nerds paid by using a .edu address.
I'd say $30 is a damn fair price.
Just a little wacky stuff out there; no defective design, no lies about software bugs. Just some non-specific wacky stuff. Run along now.
... that the number 4 is very unlucky. From a scientific viewpoint, since these things were manufactured in China, perhaps there is some self-fulfilling prophecy going on here.
Make sure everyone's vote counts: Verified Voting
I'm almost positive Apple is going to announce that they've screwed up and will address the problem. The response may range from offer free rubber bumpers all the way to replacing the phone. It's not that I have any special adoration for Apple, it's that they've done similar things in the past. They blame the end user first, drag things on, presumably in the hope they blow over, and eventually give in and address the problem. Apple seems to know it's base amazingly well. They know that the fans will drop to their knees and worship Jobs like a god. It will make them even more devoted than if the iPhone had never had a defect.
And regarding the problem itself, I'm almost positive it wasn't a matter of insufficient testing. I'm not an engineer, but I'm almost positive that anyone who does work with antennas who took a look at the design would immediately know there's a problem. But design to priority and concerns were dismissed. And it was probably easy for them to dismiss the concerns because they went around the office, saw the way people held their phones and assumed few enough people held it the "wrong" way that it wouldn't be an issue. It's kind of like their mouse which requires you to lift your index finger if you want to right click. Usually, it's not a problem, but occasionally is it. They're basically playing Russian roulette with usability, designing certain elements around how they expect most users to interact with them.
I like that Apple is obsessive about design and usability because other companies are not obsessive enough. But proper engineering is equally important. I'd say Apple's designers are seriously overpaid if they can't take basic engineering concerns into account. Might as well hire a bunch of design school students for cheap if they want pretty, but impractical and flawed product design.
Goodwill requires some sembalance of respect of your customers, instead of thinking (rightly, so far) they are nothing more than placid, compliant sheep, LITERALLY willing to stand in line when told to.
5. Some unrelated but big announcement to redirect attention (iPhone on Verizon, it will now come in green, etc.)
There's a green iPhone? Where do I get one!!!
I am not particularly familiar with the inner workings of Apple or any large company, but how could a recall cost 2 billion dollars? Say they've sold 5 million of these (I don't know what number they're up to now, but they were pushing 2 million at the beginning of the month, so let's just say 5 million to be on the safe side) and every single one got returned. That would mean it'd cost Apple $400 per phone to do this recall. I can't imagine that it'll cost that much, even if they replaced every single phone with a new one.
Maybe if you want to talk about potential lost sales, but I imagine that they've already crossed that bridge by now. Anybody who's interested at all about the phone has almost certainly heard some of the press about this issue.
But at the end of the day, your point stands. Apple can certainly afford to do a recall, they probably should.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
During the press conference tomorrow, could everyone turn off their WiFi stuff? I want to see the demos.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Conference on how to hold an Apple iPhone 4.
[...]
How are they going to hold it? And are they going to hold it correctly and not by the sides?
Sounds like engineering knew about it, but management blew them off:
Last year, Ruben Caballero, a senior engineer and antenna expert, informed Apple’s management the device’s design may hurt reception ...
As for the fix...
Apple has told its manufacturers to alter the iPhone production process to include an internal component that will insulate the defective antenna connection that has disrupted the phone's signal reception, said Kumar. This internal bumper will give Apple a non-cosmetic solution and will presumably avoid the need to change the appearance of the phone, said Kumar.
I did not RTFA, so I presume they will hold the conference by the lower left corner.
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
Given a $30 coupon I'd spend it on just about anything other than a case. I don't like cases and I've not had any problems with the new iPhone.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
That's a 3G, not an iPhone 4, and in what world is a 6-foot drop indicative of a phone falling out of one's pocket.
To be fair, he is Urkel posting under a psudonym. Those pockets reach at least 6 feet.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
... I will gladly take a handout, in whatever form.
Today I was in a restaurant I go to every week. For the first time ever I actually had a signal in the restaurant. My 3GS never once got a signal here. I didn't try holding my iPhone with my left hand, but I don't doubt I would have lost the signal had I done so, because it was only 1 bar. I was able to browse the web (a bit slowly) and even play a 48 kbps AAC+ audio stream while doing so.
So, sure, pick it up with my left hand or otherwise bridge the gap and I'm sure I'd have had had no signal, but then that's exactly what I had before regardless of how I held it or didn't hold it with the 3GS - no signal. The iPhone 4 gave me a signal as long as I was careful not to bridge the gap. I don't see how you can view that as worse. Maybe if worse = better, then it was indeed worse.
If you read other recent posts of mine you'll see that I've had similar experiences all over the place. My iPhone 4 picks up a signal in more places, and the signal is usable and reliable in more places. It is a better phone.
Now... I will be happy if they announce a fix, perhaps requiring a recall. If they are going to make the phone even better, I'm all for that. Also I'll be happy if they say we get a $30 credit at the Apple store too. Sounds good to me. I'll also be fine if they just say that people are reporting that they are happy with the phone, because I am very happy with mine. Actually, no, I'll be disappointed, because who doesn't want a handout?
--- What?
If you think a multi-billion dollar product is tested only on Cupertino grounds. There is a far simpler explanation. It was tested thoroughly but not with a focus on hand position relative to the antennae.
Give him a break, he's probably posting from his Iphone.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Actually, the antenna issue is understood by a great many people. Most notably electrical engineers.
The issue is that when you touch the antenna you become part of the antenna, this changes the electrical length of the antenna. This is important as electrical length determines the frequency of the signal you can pick up using that antenna, so changing the electrical length changes the frequency the antenna expects to receive. This is why up to 80% of the signal is lost, not because the signal is gone but because the phone is no longer interpreting that signal as the signal it wants.
A lot of work has been done on antennas in the last 100 years, this one has been known for most of that time. To anyone with any understanding of how radio signals work, this is not surprising and it is just bad design work.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.