-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Apple to hold iPhone 4 press conference this Friday
- Thread starter celebi23
- Start date
- Status
SuperPac
Member
MercuryLS said:
I might have missed it if you mentioned it, but are you an iPhone 4 owner that's affected by the reception issue?
I've been using my iPhone 4 just as effectively as I've used any iPhone model before it since launch day. Most of those days without a case (I have a bumper but dunno that I'll keep it on).
CTLance said:
For Christ's sake, he's not your girlfriend, he's a CEO. When it comes down to it you either A) think the bumper solution is sufficient or B) don't.
You're reading way too much into this.
I just like that it doesn't make me so paranoid--without a bumper, I felt like it could slip out of my hand any second (although I'll admit it does look better without a bumper).Gooster said:
The Faceless Master
Member
other than the obvious jab at HTC, the response from Apple was great, albeit quite drawn out... good for them, and good for the people having issues.
Apple did what they needed to do with this conference IMO.
- Demonstrating other phones do it too and showing a low percentage of return rates and support calls make it seem like less of a big deal. Media will report these figures as just half a percent and it won't seem like such a big deal anymore.
- Free bumpers and everyone who bought a bumper gets a refund so no existing case owners get screwed.
Yes it's more of a bandaid solution, but anyone expecting some kind of massive recall and hardware fix to be ready only two weeks later was smoking crack.
- Demonstrating other phones do it too and showing a low percentage of return rates and support calls make it seem like less of a big deal. Media will report these figures as just half a percent and it won't seem like such a big deal anymore.
- Free bumpers and everyone who bought a bumper gets a refund so no existing case owners get screwed.
Yes it's more of a bandaid solution, but anyone expecting some kind of massive recall and hardware fix to be ready only two weeks later was smoking crack.
Marty Chinn
Member
Aristotlekh said:
This.
nib95 said:
I kind of agree with you but it comes down to this:
People that like the look of the phone and don't want the bumpers, but are having the signal issue - Return the phone and wait until Apple "fixes it" in production.
People who already wanted the bumpers - Cool, you get them free and get to have/keep your phone.
People who never experience the issue - Nice, keep on trucking and enjoy one of the best smartphones in the world.
That's it.
I had some laughs but it's over now.
VeryGooster
Banned
Judging solely by the grip/jackets that come with Wii remotes, I can't even begin to imagine the amount of crap that finds its way on top of a bumper.
It's one product in a diverse marketplace - it isn't anyone but Apple's responsibility to convince potential buyers that it's worth buying in the first place. They already seemed to have convinced a fair number of people (translation: record-breaking) to buy the iPhone4 so I think you can worry less about the unconverted.KingGondo said:
I don't see how this press conference is going to help them at all. Especially now that they're basically attacking the press, whom are the very people they need on their side. They may well get roasted simply for the comments about Bloomberg and the NY Times. The media tend to stick together, and don't generally take attacks well. They now just how much sway they hold over public opinion, and gladly use it to get what they want.
They should have just released another letter from Steve saying "we love the phone, we think it's the best product we've ever made, our customers agree. Unfortunately, some people are having a problem and we take every complaint seriously. That's why we'll be offering a free case to anyone who wants one, as well as extending the return period with no restocking charge."
Would have gotten the same point across without all the defensiveness and finger-pointing. This could end up being a big moment in Apple's slow alienation of the media.
They should have just released another letter from Steve saying "we love the phone, we think it's the best product we've ever made, our customers agree. Unfortunately, some people are having a problem and we take every complaint seriously. That's why we'll be offering a free case to anyone who wants one, as well as extending the return period with no restocking charge."
Would have gotten the same point across without all the defensiveness and finger-pointing. This could end up being a big moment in Apple's slow alienation of the media.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
Think about it this way: almost all iPhone cases from any manufacturer do not protect the front at all, because it's glass. People buy films for that if they're really concerned. Now that the iPhone 4 is all glass on both sides, it doesn't need the back protected. Glass is extremely scratch-resistant material, despite what you'd think from reading people freak out about it. I really don't know where the impression that glass scratches easily comes from.demon said:
The bumper protects drops, and it extends a bit out to make the phone thicker so if you slid it across a desk, the surface of the phone wouldn't touch the table.
Already have Belkin Vue case. I have no intention of using any case that doesn't also protect the back. Thus, the bumper case is useless to me. Rather Apple should have given everyone $30 to get whatever case they want, but than again, that would be much more than $1-2 cost to make a bumper.
VeryGooster
Banned
curls said:
No. I absolutely loathe them. I already have the damned things attached to my wrist.
SimleuqiR said:I kind of agree with you but it comes down to this:
People that like the look of the phone and don't want the bumpers, but are having the signal issue - Return the phone and wait until Apple "fixes it" in production.
People who already wanted the bumpers - Cool, you get them free and get to have/keep your phone.
People who never experience the issue - Nice, keep on trucking and enjoy one of the best smartphones in the world.
That's it.
I had some laughs but it's over now.
You are missing one big point. They haven't say they are gonna fix it. They only said that it affects all phones in earth and they are so good that they are gonna give free bumpers to complainers. Nothing else.
I need to know if they are gonna fix it before I buy one, this way I got no idea if they do. They didn't even acknowledge the problem, they just said that others did it too.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
They're not just giving out bumpers... they're giving out cases. There will some kind of choice.knitoe said:
Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
most people don't understand the difference between hardness and toughness.
they drop a glass in their kitchen and it shatters so they think it's just weak and delicate, period. never mind that it's crazy hard to find something in your pocket harder than glass that can scratch it.
edit:
knitoe said:
they will be joining with 3rd parties to give out other free cases since they don't have enough bumpers.
so, i dunno, you can get a second "full" case. no refund for already purchased 3rd party cases though
gutterboy44
Member
Was waiting for the 32gb White to come out, but I think I am just going to hold on to my 3GS for now. If all of a sudden in October the antenna issue 'magically' disappears I will reconsider. I am also curious about some new Android and Win7 phones to come.
I don't like cases at all, but if you really like your iPhone 4 I don't see how this press conference really has any effect other than maybe a few $ back.
On a side note, I don't even want to imagine how insane the profit margins are on those cases are.(clearly this is the case with the majority of all accessories across all brands) There is barely anything to them, a few grams of polypropylene and that is it.
I don't like cases at all, but if you really like your iPhone 4 I don't see how this press conference really has any effect other than maybe a few $ back.
On a side note, I don't even want to imagine how insane the profit margins are on those cases are.(clearly this is the case with the majority of all accessories across all brands) There is barely anything to them, a few grams of polypropylene and that is it.
Marty Chinn
Member
Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
It doesn't, and I've been happy with how my 3G has handled scratches on the face. However, let's not try to imply that it's so hard to scratch that it's virtually unscratchable. People have already reported getting scratches on their iPhone with even just careful usage and handling, so people wanting a case is not some insane idea to protect their phone.
I couldn't care less what phone people buy, it's just funny for people who said they were considering an iPhone to completely rule it out after this press conference.kaching said:
It's called a free market for a reason, and there are a bunch of great phones out there. All I know is it's BY FAR the best phone I've ever used (and has been universally praised by critics), so for people who have never seen one in person to be so reactionary is a bit silly.
soul creator
Member
itxaka said:
Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but isn't that the point of having the 30 day return policy? After all, some people don't have issues with it. So if you were already interested in the phone anyway, is it really a huge deal to buy it, use it for a few days and see if it affects you? And if so, return it and get your money back?
It's not like if you try the phone out you're stuck with it forever.
VeryGooster
Banned
Marty Chinn said:
Yep. Seriously. I'm STILL trying to figure out WTF was in my pocket or what I was doing that put a deep (or deep enough that you can feel it) although barely visible scratch (except in bright as all hell daylight) on the back of my iPhone, and what else I did to put a tiny chip in the antenna. So far I've theorized safari adventures in my sleep.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
I didn't say it was. I was explaining why Apple would leave out a back portion to the case.Marty Chinn said:
Regarding drops, Stephen Fry's review mentioned an Apple employee throwing his bumpered phone across the room for fun. It does fine. You're putting too much stock in that one video that showed it finally cracking after a few consecutive drops. Shit happens.
gutterboy44 said:
one nice thing the 4.0.1. software update does is help 3GS owners figure out how badly we're gonna get screwed by the iPhone 4 attenuation issues. By redoing the bars, I can now see that my apartment and office are relatively weak 3 bar signals whereas they were 5 bars before (obviously right on the bottom edge of that range).
so now i can expect my signal to drop to 1 or 2 bars at home if i were to death grip an iPhone 4 in here.
If I still had 5 bars in these key spots after the update, I wouldn't be concerned about the new iphone antenna design. As it is now, I feel I would need a case.
This helps existing iPhone users gauge whether they should skip this iPhone revision or accept that they'll need a bumper if they jump in.
infinityBCRT
Member
Nope, thats not what they needed to do. They didn't need to say look, other phones suck so our phones can suck too.Sean said:
And it doesn't mitigate the fact that people are getting more dropped calls on this than on the 3GS in weaker reception areas.
Marty Chinn
Member
Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
Would you drop your phone three times on a concrete surface then? Or are you not confident enough in the construction of the phone and bumper?
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
What the fuck? I don't care. I don't work for Apple. I was just explaining to a dude asking about the design of the bumper.Marty Chinn said:
You're a really weird fucking guy, Marty.
SuperPac said:
I don't have an iPhone 4, it hasn't launched here in Canada yet. I'll test it out at the Apple store when it comes out. Rogers network is rock solid, so it may not be an issue here. We'll see, I'd like it Apple would just fix the issue rather than use a bandaid fix.
You keep saying it protects from drops but there is already video out there of the thing shattering from impact with the bumper on it. I agree with you about protecting against table scratches(main reason why I got one), but I think I'm screwed if I drop this thing outside. In the office I'd probably be fine though.Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
- Status