Apples corporate soap opera continues – Now free iphone case!

Jul 16, 2010

The iphone signal and antenna issue in a nutshell

The hysteria regarding the iPhone 4s so called ‘Death grip’ signal / antenna problems continues apace with many referring to the saga as ‘Antennagate’ and US senators entering the fray! This follows recent criticism of the iPhone 4 by the US consumer service ‘Consumer Reports’ (‘Which?‘ magazine is the UK’s equivalent).

Consumer reports iphone 4 review criticised the iphone for its signal problem.

However overall ‘Consumer Reports’ review still put the iPhone 4 at the top of the mobile tree (if you don’t take the signal error into account) but their report still caused Apples shares to dip drastically.

New York Senator Charles Schumer sends Steve Jobs an open letter via Appleinsider.

The letter criticizes the perceived problems relating to the iPhone 4′s antenna which can be affected by the way a user holds the phone.

Here is the letter between Mr (needs to concentrate on real issues) Schumer & Mr (Oh God! My profits! Boohoo!) Jobs

Dear Mr. Jobs,

I write to express concern regarding the reception problem with the Apple iPhone 4. While I commend Apple’s innovative approach to mobile technology and appreciate its service to millions of iPhone users nationwide, I believe it is incumbent upon Apple to address this flaw in a transparent manner. According to Consumer Reports’ review, released Monday on its website, the iPhone 4′s signal-strength problem is a hardwire glitch triggered by gripping the device in a particular manner. This finding, according to Consumer Reports, “call[s] into question” Apple’s recent claim that the problem is “largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software.” Consumer Reports declined to recommend the iPhone 4 because of this hardware design flaw.

Given the discrepancy between Consumer Reports’ explanation of the reception problem and the explanation provided by Apple in its July 2 letter to customers, I am concerned that the nearly two million purchasers of the iPhone 4 may not have complete information about the quality of the product they have purchased. The burden for consumers caused by this glitch, combined with the confusion over its cause and how it will be fixed, has the potential to undermine the many benefits of this innovative device. To address this concern, I ask that Apple provide iPhone 4 customers with a clearly written explanation of the cause of the reception problem and make a public commitment to remedy it free-of-charge. The solutions offered to date by Apple for dealing with the so-called “death grip” malfunction-such as holding the device differently, or buying a cover for it-seem to be insufficient. These proposed solutions would unfairly place the burden on consumers for resolving a problem they were not aware of when they purchased their phones.

I also encourage Apple to keep its promise to provide free software updates so that bars displayed accurately reflect signal strength; I further urge Apple to issue a written explanation of the formula it uses to calculate bar strength, so that consumers can once again trust the product that they have invested in.

I look forward to Apple’s swift action on this matter, and once again laud Apple for its innovative efforts and service to millions of Americans.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

Of course it is important that the issue of whether the iphone has a software or hardware problem is resolved but I have a real problem with politicians who jump on the bandwagon of media created hysteria.

Steve Jobs Press conference regarding iphone 4 signal issue

The latest in this sorry saga is the press conference Apple staged today where Steve Jobs defended the iphone saying it was still a huge improvement on the 3GS. Rather than recalling the handsets Mr Jobs offered those who have a problem with the iphone 4 a free plastic bumper that Apple already sell for $29.

Dress up your iPhone 4 with an iPhone 4 Bumper. Choose one of six colors — white, black, blue, green, orange, or pink — and slip it around the edge of your iPhone 4. With metal buttons for volume and power, two-tone colors, and a combination of rubber and molded plastic, Bumpers add a touch of style to any iPhone 4.

or so says the blurb on Apples products page but will this placate iphone fans and media criticism?

“We’re not perfect. Phones aren’t perfect. We want to make all our users happy. That’s what drives us to make these products in the first place.” – Steve Jobs

Mr Jobs also revealed that only 0.55 per cent of iphone 4 owners had actually called Apple to report a problem with it.

So will the free case/bumper solve the problem?

Well according to ‘Consumer reports’ the guys who started much of the hysteria – yes it will! Watch this consumer report video for their testing of the case / bumper and decide for yourself.

Consumer reports previously stated:

The Bottom Line: The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem. So does a piece of duct tape, as we reported earlier, or just being careful how you hold the phone. But these options all put the onus on consumers to solve or pay for a fix. We’re still calling on Apple to provide an acceptable free solution to the iPhone 4′s signal-loss problem.

—Paul Reynolds

Perhaps a bit of levity will diffuse some of the more incensed Apple fans and diffuse the media hype so here’s …with the iphone antenna song! Feel free to sing along:

Song A Day #561. “The IPhone Antenna Song”

there’s an awful lot of hoopla
around the iphone 4 anttenna
when you grip it with the death grip
and you’re call slips away

the media loves a failure
in a string of success
the facts won’t ever matter
if they can make bigger messes

sure i can make it happen
but in terms of daily usage
i’ve yet to drop a call
so this whole damn thing is stupid

and you can call me a fanboy
i’ve been called worse things
but gizmodo just ridiculous
pulling their anti-apple strings

you bought a stolen prototype
get over it and move on
or hey even better
let’s all sing this song
If you don’t want an iphone 4, don’t buy it
if you bought one and you don’t like it, bring it back!