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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..."
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
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
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?
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.
Eh, Mr Jobs?
"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.
"Due to popular demand, the cost for the bumpers will increase by $30."
It used to be the news site for Linux, until it became apparent hardly anyone is interested in that any more.
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.
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..."
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.
"...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..
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!
"...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.
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?
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!
... 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?
And the moderation proves it - poking fun at Linux is funny, but heaven forbid we point out that Windows and Nokia are the market leaders, not Apple.
It's a fact. Your mod points don't change that.