Slashdot Mirror
Sony Decides Its Waterproof Xperia Phones Are Not Actually Waterproof
Mark Wilson writes: Sony seems determined on confusing its customers by giving very conflicting advice about its Xperia smartphones. If you're familiar with the range, you'll no doubt be aware of the advertising material that appears to show users taking photos in the rain and even (seemingly) underwater at the pool. Take a look at the picture above and you'd probably assume that a) it depicts someone shooting a video or taking a photo in a swimming pool, and b) you can do the same with your phone. But you'd be wrong (at least on b) because Sony has changed its mind about what waterproof means. Or it doesn't know. It really depends on where you look on the Sony website.
If the warranty doesn't cover it, it shouldn't appear in advertising materials. Overclocking processors generally voids the warranty and in general overclocking isn't something that appears in marketing materials for most or all processors. There may be a mention of the processor being unlocked, but they don't usually mention that it can be overclocked to whatever level.
In this case, they shouldn't be advertising the phone as being waterproof if they're not going to cover damage that results. Same goes for Samsung. Advertising their phones as waterproof and then having the terms of the warranty not include damage that came of it ought to be grounds for a false advertisement suit.
Overclocking processors generally voids the warranty and in general overclocking isn't something that appears in marketing materials for most or all processors.
Actually the box of my AMD FX-8320 reads:
The joke is when you read the included papers inside of the box:
The really funny commercials are for cars. It shows a car driving calmly down the road, and the small print says: "Professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt."
Don't attempt what? Driving down the road? Isn't that what the car is for?
Maybe the Sony phone thing is the same level of CYA boilerplate from lawyers.
If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
The kicker is that water inside is used as evidence that you had a plug out.
Indeed. My experience with the equally waterproof-but-oh-not-actually Galaxy S6 Active:
...
Me: I've had it underwater for a few minutes total, to a depth of a foot at most. It flipped its shit, the screen bugs out and it thinks a Galaxy Gear is plugged into it.
Customer Service Rep: OK. Take the SIM tray out. Is the ring white or red?
Me: Red.
CSR: Well that's proof that water has gotten into the phone, so unfortunately there's nothing we can do for you.
Me: The red ring is proof you've sold me a defective product. You advertise it as able to withstand water under the conditions in which I've used it. Your own commercial has this device getting doused in ketchup, dropped hard, and then dunked into a bowl of milk. Water getting in means it didn't function as advertised.
CSR: You must've used it wrong.
Me: Everything was perfectly secured and I used it in a way supported by the manual and your advertising materials. You even have an "Aqua Mode" explicitly for taking pictures underwater.
CSR:
Me: If you don't make this right, I'm just going to dispute the charge on this defective product.
CSR: Unfortunately there's nothing I can do.
They ended up with their defective phone back and I ended up with my money back. PITA, though.
Nothing posted to