MacDailyNews Take: Quoting purported emails vs. Apple’s official statement is disingenuous, at best, Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports states, “We think it’s the company’s responsibility to provide the fix—at no extra cost to consumers. Our tests, conducted in our labs using controlled signals, confirm growing anecdotal indications that the iPhone 4’s problems are anything but illusory. Our tests found that when your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side—an easy thing to do—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. We tested several other AT&T phones the same way, including the iPhone 3G S and the Palm Pre. None of those phones had the significant signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4.”
MacDailyNews Take: Consumer Reports’ iPhone 4 “tests” are crap. Please read: Electromagnetic engineer: Consumer Reports’ iPhone 4 study flawed – July 13, 2010. And, oh-by-the-way, Apple has already stated that they “will issue a free software update within a few weeks.” That means “at no extra cost,” Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports states, “Ironically, aside from these reception glitches, our other tests placed the iPhone 4 atop the latest Ratings of smart phones. But we did not feel comfortable listing a phone with such a problem as ‘recommended,’ and therefore have withheld that tag.”
MacDailyNews Take: Consumer Reports is a joke read by a rapidly-dying demographic. They ought to stick with crock pots, adult diapers, and support hose; things that are easy to evaluate and are of keen interest to their readership. Perhaps this stick jammed sideways in Consumer Reports’ orifice is some attempt to ride Apple’s coattails in an appeal to demographic that’s younger than dirt before they run out of gullible subscribers who actually believe that Consumer Reports’ “tests” and “ratings” regarding audio systems, electronics, computers, and God-knows-what-else aren’t absolutely meaningless drivel?
Consumer Reports states, “Our stopgap fix for the issues of applying duct tape to the phone—while inexpensive and easily done—obviously isn’t meant to be a permanent solution. The real fix, we believe, should come from Apple. The company has said it will issue a software update that will make the phone’s bars more accurate, though it remains to be seen if fixing metering inaccuracies will address the problem of dropped calls. The company will also provide a full refund to users who return their iPhone within 30 days. But for those who prefer to keep their iPhone, we encourage Apple to step forward soon with a remedy that fixes the confirmed antenna issue, and not one that requires additional consumer expense.”
Consumer Reports blog post is here.
MacDailyNews Take: Consumer Reports should learn how to conduct proper scientific tests and fix their laughable rating “system” before recommending anything. Again, using Consumer Reports as a basis for tech buying is like using Windows for color-sensitive print work. It’s something only attempted by the ignorant.
Although Consumer Reports hasn’t seemed to notice, Apple has already plainly and clearly stated: “If you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.” Apple’s customers, therefore, do not require some anachronistic rag to oh-so-bravely stand up for them, thanks.
So, what’s the real impetus behind Consumer Reports’ assholish crusade? Money? Stupidity? Hubris? What?
As we’ve consistently stated numerous times already: If the iPhone 4 requires a case or a hardware “fix” of some sort, then Apple should provide one free of charge to every iPhone 4 owner. The operative word is “If.” Unlike Consumer Reports, we feel the responsible thing to do is to withhold judgement until Apple releases their free software update.
Apple’s July 2, 2010, open letter regarding iPhone 4, can be read in full here. Consumer Reports should give it a try.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
FU CR
Consumer Reports coverage of this is starting to sound more and more like a hit piece sponsored by Apple’s increasingly desperate competitors. In the battle of fear-mongering versus facts, fear-mongering usually wins.
MDN take:
‘Rapidly dying demographic’?
Um, I believe that is the FASTEST GROWING demographic.
Having said that, Consumer Reports now officially sucks.
While there is an issue with the iPhone 4 antennae, the simple solution is to put the thing in a case. This renders it nearly a non-issue.
This “story” should have died weeks ago, but seems to have gained a life of it’s own…
OR
Someone, or some organization is making a huge effort to keep it alive and in the headlines. Who it could be is anyone’s guess.
I saw that the Consumer Report story made the news on Canada AM our national morning show which also does the news.
Was a pretty crappy job (i.e. negative) of reporting without any mention that if there was a problem there was an easy fix and that not everyone experiences the problem. Also that CR says it is a great phone otherwise.
News writers just wallow in negativity and sensationalism. Jerks.
While MDN continues to bash CR, the rest of the nation’s media cites CR as an authority with reliable lab resources and testing protocols that are scientific and dependable. Engineers will always argue about these things, but what CR has demonstrated is exactly the problem people are having with the phone.
The iP4 is a non working phone for a great many people who believed Steve Jobs when he said it was the ‘best ever’.
Telling people like me to just return it is avoiding the issue. Apple has produced and sold a defective product. Apple should be held accountable for their arrogance in offering a stupid ‘fix’ that simply manipulates the bar display which is and always has been rather useless.
Rumors that Apple is already applying a coating to the badly designed antenna band are probably true. Correcting the immediately discovered defect (by the end of launch day, reports of the problem were everywhere) is something Apple should have done before they ever sold the first one.
Try as you may, MDN, this ain’t going away until a true hardware fix is provided to every phone ever sold – including a replacement, which is the most likely outcome from this. Apple does it voluntarily or some court or some state attorney general will order it.
The duct tape comment was vicious. It’s such an ugly thing to say. Also, when else has CR spent so much time on a product?
Must Consumer Reports make such a big deal of it?!
Dear Consumer Reports,
The iPhone 4 works as intended and forcing the phone to function outside it’s specs isn’t a flaw. Take a sports car for example, all cars sold in thr U.S. are left-hand drive. If a left-handed person wants to shift a manual transmission with his or her left hand, there is going to be a problem. Now answer this CR, is the car flawed? Are you going to issue this kind of suggestion to all car manufacturers?
During certain instances and during a lengthy death grip, my phone experienced this problem. It is however corrected when I release the death grip. It is a “free” fix.
THey are getting the hits they want. Everybody is in the game.
Keep It Up — Return the phone and get over it! Apple is under no obligation to do a damn thing if you knowingly keep a product with which you are unhappy and they have provided you with the means to return within a reasonable period of time. This is want the free market is all about. The government, a lawyer, no one beside the unsatisfied consumer has any right or reason to interfere. Exercise your right! Get the point across loud a clear. That is the only suitable solution.
They are trying to ride to the fix so they can look like the knights in shining armor. Hey, thanks for fixing the problem we told you to fix. Lucky for you customers that, we, Consumer Reports tested, reported, stood-up to the evil corporation, and force a quick fix to your phone.
By the way, our subscription is………
i can’t believe there is still this much to say about this.
Latest business strategy:
Ride the coat tails of Apple’s fame to generate buzz on your own product.
Perfected by GreenPiece – emulated by Consumer Retorts and many more to come. Better get used to it as Apple demolishes legacy technology.
O.K. I think these bastards are being influenced by some hidden agenda. I happen to have one of these iPhones and truly, if they are making this much noise, it can only be explained by attempting to ether manipulate the stock or they are in cohorts with an entity that benefits from the iPhone brand tarnishing.
I think Consumer Reports should have tested the iPhone outside of AT&T;’s network. I’ve heard no reports of signal loss outside the States. Have you heard any reports of problems in the UK, or France? A Canadian member of the DevTeam, who unlocked an AT&T;iPhone 4 has tested it on Bell, Rogers and Telus here in Canada, and has had no signal degradation problems. I think 50% of the problem is AT&T;once again.
It does seem like much ado about nothing. Might this be about stock manipulation? If so, may the price drop until I buy a load then raise to it’s rightful place.
I can’t help but wonder if CR staff don’t have ties to some of the less reputable hedge funds. A hit piece like this, just before earnings season, is a godsend for a hedge fund doing the short, lie, profit routine on Apple.
Ignore CR, CR subscriptions are going down. Ignoring their tests will keep them like graffiti on an unexposed wall. Reponding to it means someone is reading it.
MDN should stop repeating its position.
There are no report of long return lines.
Clearly the harping is to attract attention therefore let the harping fall into deaf
Ears!
@Mr. Reee,
My money is on google or htc, with nokia coming in a close second. An outside chance of Microsoft, because it looks like their tactics, and they are getting increasingly embarrassed with each passing day…
Bad cup of coffee this morning Keep It Up? Please return your iPhone and inform us of the perfect replacement you find so we can all be in Utopia.
Excuse me, I’m 55 and a Consumer Reports subscriber, and I don’t appreciate being called “a rapidly dying population”. I own an iPhone 4, and the attenuation issue is real to me. But I’ll patiently wait for Apple to come up with a solution.
CR is not anti-Apple. They regularly give praise to Apple products and excellent customer support.
Consumer Reports once reviewed three trucks and since never trusted there option without my own research.
Chevy Canyon: low reliability, lacking power. No praise
GMC Canyon: low reliability, sluggish. No praise
Isuzu I-290: above avg reliability, power matching a v-6, praised.
Now they are all the same truck, engine, etc. In fact, GM farmed out the engineering to Isuzu for the series of small trucks as well as the Small SUV.
Why did it not reflect that they are all the same and should have been rated the same? But the Isuzu, at the time, was new and Japanese? Did they test it or just slighted the product to country of origin. This is one of many they seem to get wrong.
I’m not going to sit idly by while MDN vilifies crock pots!!!!
In case anyone missed this from a previous article:
“In July 1996, Consumer Reports tested motor oils for their readers, but instead of using normal cars, they used New York City taxis, which are normally run 24 hours a day and never allowed to cool down – which means that the most strenuous test of motor oil, the cold start (which causes most engine damage), occured rarely, if ever, during their testing. They found no difference between any of the motor oils, from the cheapest to the best synthetic, and concluded that all ‘natural’ oils are interchangeable, but that synthetics still hold an advantage for some drivers. The idea that the research was meaningless because their research methods were horribly flawed was not brought up; nor did they go to the natural conclusion that if they couldn’t tell the difference between Mobil One and the cheapest oil on the shelf, they probably couldn’t use that research model to tell whether individual natural oils were different in quality.”
That’s only one example of many. Read more: Inconsistencies and statistical problems of Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is loving the attention and the clicks. They haven’t been this popular …. ever.
CR is going to milk this as long as they can. Seems like a ‘slight’ conflict of interest.
“skirt Apple’s obligation to offer a product that works consistently and reliably out of the box.” Lets replace “Apple” with “Microsoft”or “Dell.” So, CU believes Apple is obligated, but MS or Dell is not?
This was due to happen in one line of product eventually and the media like a change in the wind as it SELLS. Dam . Bit good old Steve has always plans 5 years ahead, if iPhone slows then he’ll just bring something else to market sooner. Bricks and mortar. Planning and R&D;
“we’ve called on Apple to do something about “
The great and powerful CR has issued this edict. How dare the misbehaving and derelict little Apple ignore these demands, which were made ten minutes ago.
@ Keep it up
How does an ocassional dropped call render the phone non-working? Is this problem affecting all iPhone 4s? No, it isn’t. And are you suggesting that Apple should have corrected a problem before they knew it existed? How is that possible? You need to think things through a little better.
@ MDN,
“Consumer Reports is a joke read by a rapidly-dying demographic. They ought to stick with crock pots, adult diapers, and support hose; things that are easy to evaluate and are of keen interest to their readership.”
MDN, you ageist bastards, retract that bullshit. One day, if you are careful and stop drinking, smoking and drug taking to excess, you too can be geriatrics.
It beats the hell out of the alternative.
Has anyone tried Krylon spray fixative? Mask the glass and spray a thin coating on the metal?
With all the conspiracy theorists mindless babble on about hidden agendas or being tools of Apple competitors on the part of CR, it might be helpful to point out that CR has never-NEVER-lost a lawsuit alleging bias on their part.
And how soon people forget. For several years, Apple have been atop the ratings for computers and service, and MDN beats the drum for Apple. But when there is an obvious problem for large numbers of people, all of a sudden CR is irrelevant? Talk about wanting it both ways.
Grandstanding douchenozzles..They’ve gotten more play out of the iphone antenna ‘conspiracy’ than their entire year in publication so far–so obviously milk the Apple train for all you can, Consumer Distorts.
What about painting over the metal band with clear acrylic nail polish?
I love my Apple products and I have two iPhone 3GS phones so I can not comment on the iPhone 4signal issue from actual experience – but I can apply logic and some questions that make me believe this is more than just a software issue.
– Why has this only come out with the iPhone 4? iPhones have been selling since 2007. Apple says the software fix is for all iPhones… If the signal level being reported is incorrect then somebody should have seen this on a previous iPhone – especially given the fact that the human body is such a variable in antenna systems…
Seems to me there is more here than just software showing incorrect display of the signal strength.
If the “free market” that right wing nutjobs like MDN support is actually going to function, it requires educated consumers. So why do these same right wingers then attack publications and organizations that try to educate consumers? CR actually does a pretty good job most of the time and they don’t take advertisements, gifts, or other benefits that might compromise or even appear to compromise their objectivity. Do they sometimes get one wrong? Sure. Did they get this one wrong? No! An issue exists and MDN even AGREES with CR that Apple should fix it for free! Why should they withhold judgement for now? When Microsoft or Dell or HP releases a new product with a flaw or two or 1000, does MDN give them a grace period to fix the flaws before going apeshit over it? If/when Apple does fix the issue, no doubt CR will update their rankings to give the iPhone a recommended tag since they gave it a rave review in all other areas. It hardly seems like a crusade against Apple to give the two iPhones the two highest scores, does it? So what is the impetus behind MDN’s assholish crusade against CR? Political ideology? Stupidity? Hubris?
CR could never buy advertising this good for itself… They are getting headlines all over the world for free…Expect them to ride this horse until it’s been dead for over a month…
I’m a bit aghast at all the name calling and vitriol towards CU, but I’m also stunned at the lack of intelligence displayed by a “not recommended” statement. That just doesn’t match the name of the organization, “Consumer Reports.” How is it possible that they can’t recommend the device with the highest recommendations of the consumers reporting?
A simple statement that there is a reception problem that is easily remedied, and that Apple is working on the problem would have sufficed.
Perhaps Vatdoro is right, . . . and that CU has encouraged its writers to become hit whores. I can’t see any other reasons, except perhaps incompetence or graft.
The “rapidly-dying demographic” you refer to invented data communications, IC’s and the internet. As I said yesterday I can forgive ignorance but not stupidity.
@AppleJack
CS does not recommend cars that perform excellently, but have less than average reliability ratings. So it is not inconsistent for them to withhold their recommendation for a smartphone that allegedly had issues with reception.
Personally, if I were in the market for an iPhone 4 right now, I would wait until Apple comes out with a definitive “fix.” Why buy into a potential problem that you can completely avoid with a little patience?
Good lord, how hard is it to return a fu&king;phone to the store?!?!? Jesus people – if you are unhappy with it – bring the god damn thing back to the store! There’s a sh!tload of people in line waiting to get yours!!!!
Agree with MDN totally with respect to CR. Bunch of socialists (read their history) who are not above manipulating data for a little free publicity. I’ve rarely found their product ratings consistent with my own experience.
Lighten up Al, take your geratail and slip on your adult depends, and remember that going being in denial and being a idiot is all apart of age, Consumer Reports is a old rag, and yes I will admit it once had apeal “years ago” but now it garbage bird cage liner.
This comming from a 57 year old that knows.
I am a hardcore Apple fan and I have been for years. I purchased an iPhone for my daughter and one for myself. I purchased the $29 bumper case for both because we were dropping calls and having data freeze issues on both phones. That seemed to fix the issue. Now we are both having issues with our Bluetooth devices not connecting at times and folks on the other end have a difficult time hearing us. I just came across this and was wondering if anyone else here has had this issue: iPhone 4 Bluetooth issues reported
July 13, 2010 11:00 by Erica Sadun
While testing out the Jawbone Icon wireless Bluetooth headset recently, the parties I called complained of diminished sound quality on their end. They talked about overly compressed muffled sound, with decreased dynamic range. Over at the Jawbone end-user forums several threads have been discussing exactly that.
Informal testing here at TUAW central with a couple of Jawbone units on both an iPhone 3GS as well as the iPhone 4 showed that the 3GS displayed none of the problems that the iPhone 4 is demonstrating.
It turns out that problem is not isolated to the unit I tested, let alone the manufacturer. At Apple’s discussion forums, other Bluetooth headsets are apparently producing the same distortion effects when used with many iPhone 4 units.
An iPhone 4 antenna glitch may lie at the heart of this matter. A spokesperson for Aliph states, “We are aware of and concerned with the user frustration surrounding the issues affecting all Bluetooth devices (headsets, car kits, and speakers) connecting to the iPhone 4 and iOS4 updated phones. We know users have come to expect the freedom of hands-free and we are working night and day with our partners, Apple and AT&T;, to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.”
Thank you for any help you can offer folks. I think I am going to return the iPhone 4’s and just continue using our 3G S models and see what the iPhone 5 will have to offer next year. Every big company has problems once in awhile with a particular product and my experience has been great in the past with Apple products. Have a great week! D.
MDN, I’d suggest you not get in a “rep” war with CR. They have more rep in most quarters, despite their occasional “failings”, than you have. Anywhere. They don’t take ads. They don’t take money to be consultants. They don’t have an axe to grind. They don’t accept “gifts” of the products they test. They buy the products on the open market and test them to the best of their ability. Seeing as they use Engineers to design their tests, those tests usually are informative for the typical end user.
You gather and comment upon articles written about Apple products or related topics, What is your area of expertise?
I’m not saying you should fold up your tent and walk away. I’m saying you should respect an expert, even if you don’t agree with them. Disagree? Sure. With respect, though, unless they have shown themselves unworthy. CR has not done that. So, stop acting like a child.
@DLMeyer
/nod
If an external case is “necessary” for the phone to function properly during normal use, then Apple should provide one with each one sold. It’s that simple. Thank You.
I didn’t realize Apple had extended the return-for-refund window to 30 days for this situation. That means every current REAL iPhone 4 customer can still return their iPhone 4, if they are having REAL “reception” issues. If just 10% decided to do so, that would be in excess of 200,000-300,000 (probably more than that by now) worldwide. Haven’t seen reports of people lining up at Apple Stores to get a refund, have you?
In the real world (not some “isolation chamber”), the return rate is probably less than 1%, because even 20,000 angry customers would be obvious. There are probably more people returning iPhone 4 because it’s their first ATT (or whatever network) phone and they did not realize that signal strength for that network is very weak (or nonexistent) where they live or work. I live in a large city, and for some reason, ATT’s signal at my home is poor compared to being very strong for Verizon and Sprint.
Since CR is being so defensive to justify their “can’t recommend even through it’s their best rated mobile phone” and “initially recommended based on real world usage and then suspiciously changed recommendation” positions, they must have gotten a bunch of requests for subscription cancellation.
Years ago Consumer Reports recommended an Apple// app called PowerText.
It was touted as being very powerful. It was.
But, your documents AND the ‘backups’ of your documents were on the same diskette! This made making large documents painful to manage.
CR didn’t mention this in their review. It cost me $400 to find out that CR is useless. And, that the free Appleworks was much easier.
And FWIW, name one Mac that CR hasn’t damned with faint praise? Even if they actually ‘recommended’ it?
By years ago, I mean 1984.
–
Oh BTW, I’m 52. I need the leg support for my RLS.
And, I should be wearing an adult diaper. Because when I read that, I nearly pissed my pants laughing.
But, I’m not going to. ‘Cuz I’ve got some ‘coolness’ mojo I can ride for awhile, because I just returned an unopened crockpot the day after I bought it, last week.
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No shit.
Why CR sucks:
One of the first recommendations Apple published after the ‘problem’ emerged was, in the case of reception problems, to avoid covering the black band on the bottom left-hand side of the phone. Also, a bumper might help. (Sorry, my google-fu left me, and I can’t find a link quickly).
CR then goes on and proudly announces that, yes, covering the little black band does attenuate the signal. And yes, covering the area with a non-conductive material.
No shit, Sherlock. Apple already told us THAT. Tell us something new!
CR has just made a youtube video with some fancy word and some high-price equipment. Nothing more.
Sometimes Consumer Reports can be a bit fussy, but I have to say I am not impressed with the coverage and attitude from MacDailyNews… I think suggesting that people buy a case for their iPhone4 is a piss-poor suggestion when Apple is obviously touting the wonderful industrial design (not to mention the clever new antenna design). I think it is silly to offer as a solution either:
a) Don’t hold it “that way”
b) Buy a case to cover up your cool looking phone
c) If you don’t like it, return it
As a life-long Apple fan, I expect Apple to produce the highest quality products with the best design. This is obviously a flaw, and it should be fixed. I expect that as an Apple customer, fan and stockholder. I don’t think MacDailyNews is doing Apple or anyone else any favors by giving Apple a “pass” on this issue.
Perhaps this issue does not affect that many people, but it would be nice to see a real fix asap — instead of Steve Jobs saying “Don’t hold your phone ‘that way'”.
I look forward to upgrading my original iPhone to an iPhone4, but I think I will wait a few weeks and see if Apple releases a hardware fix or this is simply a software issue. My money is on a slight hardware (case) change.
-D
It’s seems Consumer Reports has risen almost to the top with Microsoft as the most hated by Apple and it’s minions. I meant “minions” in a nice way
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I’ve stood back on this one for a while to see how the story plays out but what appears to have happened is that Apple has released a defective product as witnessed by Steve Jobs’ comment to put the iPhone into a case.
This begs the question why should you have to put a case on a smart phone…any smart phone for the product to work. The product should work outside of the box no matter what otherwise it’s a defective product.
This issue may be seen a conspiracy etc. on this site but in the mainstream market these reports are extremely damaging. I’d be expecting at some point that Apple will have to do a recall or the issue will damage their good name of a company that produces quality hardware with seamless software integration. That’s Apple’s marketing schtick and if this is damaged then what distinguishes Apple from the rest of the pack
What we’re talking about is a product that is aimed squarely at the consumer market NOT the Evangelista market. Ipods worked and worked and just worked and Apple developed “the brand” for music players.
The smart phone market on the other hand is much more competitive and Apple needs to staunch the blood loss before it’s too late. That’s why I think we’ll be seeing a recall fairly soon.
I’d also like to add that as most of these problems are in the US and I’d also be looking at AT&T;as a problem as well but Apple is between a rock and hard place because they made a business decision to link the phone to one carrier. This is like putting your eggs in one basket and if the basket doesn’t work you lose the eggs.
Frankly this is absurd I live in Australia where our population around 20 million. This is less than 10 percent of the US’s population and we have a number of phone carriers that sell iPhones…and they money as well.
Finally, having travelled in the US (and my wife is there at the moment) we both are appalled at low quality and service provided by the US cell phone carriers. It’s crap and you should be demanding much better.
And who the hell is “Consumer Reports” to put demands on Apple to do anything LOL… Who do these guys they think they are. Never even heard of them before this.
Definitely there are many rich sponsors for this report against Apple. Consumer Report has become a gold digger of the highest order.