“Amid increasingly loud complaints about spotty service and reports of potential hardware flaws on the 3G iPhone, Apple had just two words for both its longtime fans and first-time customers: ‘No comment,'” Ashley Phillips “reports” for ABC News.
MacDailyNews Take: “Potential.” “Increasingly loud complaints” = media echo chamber.
Phillips continues, “If there is a problem with a chip, an iPhone recall could be possible, according to Rob Enderle, an independent Silicon Valley analyst. ‘If it’s a chip problem, those are going to need to come back,’ he said. ‘I don’t think they’ll be able to fix the problem’ with a software update.”
MacDailyNews Take: “If.” “I don’t think.”
Phillips continues, “‘It has the feel of a product that was rushed to market and went through testing too quickly,’ he said. ‘They were very concerned about the number of competitive products coming to market so they rushed the phone out. And the end result was it wasn’t done, it wasn’t cooked.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Proof? None.
Phillips continues, “Currently, it’s unclear whether the problem lies with AT&T’s network or Apple’s handset.”
MacDailyNews Take: It’s currently unclear, but that did not stop ABC News from subtitling their article, “Analyst Says That iPhone Recall Could Be Possible.” Said “analyst” being quote-for-hire Rob Enderle who’s got a lot of “ifs” and “i don’t thinks,” of course, but zero facts.
Phillips continues, “Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg characterized the problem as a minor one.”
MacDailyNews Take: After the headline and the opening page have done their job, Phillips finally gets around to reporting the truth from a real analyst on page two. How responsible.
Full article, Think Before You Click™, here.
Jessica Mintz “reports” for The Associated Press, “Spotty wireless broadband connectivity for some of Apple Inc.’s new iPhones most likely results from a hardware problem introduced during mass production, a Swedish technical magazine reported Wednesday. Ny Teknik, Sweden’s foremost engineering weekly, obtained a report on tests conducted by unnamed experts that showed some handsets’ sensitivity to third-generation network signals is well below the level specified in the 3G standard.”
MacDailyNews Take: A fargin “Swedish technical magazine” and cork-soaking “tests conducted by unnamed experts.” This is what passes for “journalism” in the mainstream media nowadays.
Mintz continues, “Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T’s wireless unit, said AT&T has not received a significant number of complaints and that, ‘overall, the new iPhone is performing just great on our 3G network.’ In an interview, Siegel recommended that iPhone 3G users sync the devices with Apple’s iTunes program frequently to take advantage of improvements that may come via updated software.”
MacDailyNews Take: Sprinkle in the actual truth and then get right back to business:
Mintz continues, “Connectivity is just the latest of Apple’s problems with the iPhone 3G.
“Just hours before the new phones were set to go on sale, users of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company’s old data-synching service were locked out of their accounts when it took Apple longer than expected to get the new version, MobileMe, up and running,” Mintz rehashes. “On launch day, Apple’s servers buckled as buyers tried to activate new iPhones in stores, while owners of older iPhones and the iPod Touch were updating and reactivating their devices at home.”
“Francis Sideco, a senior analyst for El Segundo, Calif.-based research group iSuppli Corp., said the connectivity problems described by users – dropped calls and the low number of bars in particular – could be caused by any of a number of parts, from the phone’s antenna and amplifier and the radio frequency transceiver to the baseband that processes the digital signal and sends it to the speaker or screen,” Mintz continues. “Without knowing exactly what is going wrong, Sideco could not say whether software or firmware updates could fix the glitch, or whether Apple could be facing the possibility of a recall.”
MacDailyNews Take: “Without knowing exactly what is going wrong.” But, leave the prospect of “recall” right there as the last word just to make sure that even Zune owners can grasp the message: FUD.
Full article, Think Before You Click™, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention for the heads up.]
Nothing of substance. Massive conjecture. Leaping to conclusions with little or no evidence. Quoting shills who charge to help shape public opinion about products regardless of the facts or lack thereof. These two articles are excellent examples of just how horrible mainstream “news reporting” can be.
Be critical of everything you read, hear, and see, regardless of the subject matter.
From what we hear, and we will state clearly that this is not the official word from Apple, AT&T, Infineon, or any other party that is actually involved, but that it does come from trusted sources and is the best information we have right now: iPhone 3G reception issues most likely can be and will be taken care of via software/firmware and the issue as should not involve a product recall.
Yes, we used “most likely” and “should not” because we do not currently have definitive confirmation from Apple, AT&T, and/or Infineon. Rather than invent things, we’re content to simply report the best information we have at hand.
[UPDATE: 12:14pm EDT: The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that “Apple Inc. is working on a software fix for its new iPhone 3G to remedy dropped phone calls that some users are experiencing” and that “new iPhone software aimed at addressing the problem is expected to be made available in the coming weeks to iPhone 3G users, who will be able to download and install it on their devices through Apple’s iTunes Store.”]
I’ve had my iPhone 3G since day one and still haven’t experienced any of these connectivity issues.
“Most likely” and “should not”… hmmm. Sounds similar to something I read just a few lines earlier.
I just got mine the other day and even sitting here at my desk in Chicago it will bounce between 3G and Edge, and I’m not even moving it. I finally just shut 3G off unless I really need to surf since it sucks so much battery life.
These are wonderful reports. If some small competitor was having the same issues they wouldn’t be important enough to burn 3 minutes of air time over.
But Apple IS important enough, hence the reports.
Further, no one has shown that these reports have slowed iPhone sales. To the contrary The Mac Observer tracking effort shows increasing sales. You can check that out here:
http://tinyurl.com/5e5o7f
as a new 3G owner, if it’s true, it needs to be fixed.
But if reports don’t know, don’t make crap up either.
Still the coolest phone I’ve ever used. Went to a party last night and my girlfriend wanted to show off our vacation pictures so I pulled up her Facebook page and did a little slideshow.
the FUD may cause Apple to lose some money but they have more than enough to lose. in the end I’m not sure whether the so-called mainstream media can do anything to stop Apple’s success… but they are trying… I wonder who we’d find if we followed the money?
You have a problem with Swedes, MDN?
WE’LL KICK YOUR ASS!!!
sigh MDN.
It’s true.
It’s not FUD.
It should be discussed.
If it was anyone els’s product especially Microsoft, you’d report it with glee.
2.0.0 did have problems 2.0.1 is a lot better. 2.0.2 will solve the rest.
Have had my 3G for a week now. I’m pleased.. happy to have it. The integration with mail / iCal / iTunes etc. is flawless, and some of the apps are really handy.
For me however it’s weakest feature by far is the phone component. The reports in the press might be poorly researched and badly written but there is, undeniably, a problem.
I took my iPhone to a family member’s house outside of Rogers official coverage zone in northern Ontario. Nevertheless, I had access to email, web and phone inside the house and on the 45 acre property. Not all the time, but enough. Actually, my iPhone got better reception there than my old RAZR from Motorola.
You are so full of scheisse..you kept chanting that the problems with several vendors like Motorola is due to the iPhone even tho it’s market share was almost zero in the first 6 months (only 1.7+0.7 million sold..).
Now..it might be a diff story from now on with iPhone3G and lot of new carriers, but you hardly ever provide any proof yourself.
This is major egg on the face for Apple. Mistake after mistake = tarnished Apple. I have had numerous 3G problems since I got the iPhone including dropped calls, slow keyboard when typing eMails, and ultra short battery life. If this were a Microsoft problem you would be pointing to how they still have their head up their ass. Apple customers SHOULD be concerned as this is indicative of problems since the company has diversified
I though Sweden was a peaceful and globally neutral country…
I have a friend with an early (purchased second day) iPhone 3G. It does drop calls fairly consistently. I am sure Apple will fix it shortly.
“trusted sources” > “unnamed sources?”
“Be critical of everything you read, hear, and see, regardless of the subject matter.”
I would like to believe everything that MacDailyNews said in this article, but I am highly critical…
I get tired of the FUD and hack jobs used to trash Apple and, in the end, their stock. I believe that Ford, GM and any other car manufacturer would be very proud if they only had 1% to 3% of their cars with a problem.
Apple has a very tuff standard. It is the one they set for them self. We know it as “It just works”! Apple will get to those 1% of the iPhones that are stepping back to a more stable 2G signal as soon as they are ready.
@ roobler
“the FUD may cause Apple to lose some money but they have more than enough to lose. in the end I’m not sure whether the so-called mainstream media can do anything to stop Apple’s success… but they are trying… I wonder who we’d find if we followed the money?”
The article says it right in there, it is Rob Enderle (and his Enderle Group™ consisting of him and his wife). Since we know that Enderle now works for Dell (which he didn’t disclose in his comments there, btw), we can deduce that the money trail ends right there with Enderle. He has money and time invested in Dell, so now he is trying to protect his “investment” in the guise of being and “informed” “technical” “journalist” (*tries to keep sarcasm to a minimum*)
“Apple will get to those 1% of the iPhones that are stepping back to a more stable 2G signal as soon as they are ready.”
That will be just as soon as they complete their regression testing.
The problem here is not that there are problems with the iPhone. The problem is the way the writers of the piece are misleading their readers. Carefully ready the article, and a lot of ‘If there is a problem…’, and ‘Apple could be…’. They have already chosen the conclusion they want and are inventing facts to support it. FUD.
I can’t get any 3G coverage anywhere in Portland, Oregon on my iPhone. Never have since Day 1. I have tried all over the city, which ATT assures me has excellent coverage, but No Signal.
It isn’t the end of the world, as I have Edge to fall back on. But 3G is the whole focus of this revision, yes?
If this had been an M$ product, MDN, you would have tried, convicted and buried them for this major problem. Why so hypocritical?
You guys are unbelievable. Yeah, so this article may not be entirely accurate. But you’ve been dishing the same mainstream-media FUD about Vista as truth and proof that Vista sucks! It’s all FUD!
Vista may not be perfect, but it’s not the crap that the mainstream and you make it seem. Likewise, the iPhone may not have the problems the mainstream points out. I must say, though: one of the claims in this article is amazingly similar to those from Vista, “rushed”. And yet the take is exactly the opposite.
No problems in Baltimore!
1 question … what percent of reported problems are from hacked devices?
Thanx
Hey, I work for ABC and well, we deserve to be ripped, we’re only after mistruths and other misinformation to get ratings!! Leave us alone.
Apple shout set up an online page about the iPhone’s issues the same way they did about the mobileme at http://www.apple.com/mobileme/status/
Real facts will quiet or crush FUD!
Nothing of substance. Massive conjecture. Leaping to conclusions with little or no evidence.
It’s enough to report on Apple, but not enough to report on a [D] Senator campaigning for President, snogging his GF while his wife recovers from Cancer, then relapses.
Nice reporting standards MSM.
Why does anyone pay any attention to that fraud Rob “Never Right” Enderle? Has anyone actually looked at how often he is wrong?
“@Angelus520
Still the coolest phone I’ve ever used. Went to a party last night and my girlfriend wanted to show off our vacation pictures so I pulled up her Facebook page and did a little slideshow.”
That’s what the Windows trolls don’t understand. We ignore the problems and call anyone who points them out as FUD marketers. Who cares if the phone works or not? It’s the “coolest phone” out there!!!! And it’s just so damned sexy and elegant!!
If the chip’s a problem, this will be handled in the Apple Way, which is to drop by the store and hand over the old phone, and receive a new one, with your SIM inside. Then, you plug it into your computer at home, and voila, while it charges, it syncs just like you had done nothing at all. The easiest exchange you ever had. Nothing to get all worked up about.
The only trouble I’ve had was MobileMe, but the last week it has been working perfectly for me. Whatever issues Apple had has been fixed for just about all users out there. Maybe the others having trouble are still using Windows, thats probably their problem.
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Don’t know about any of you, but I am having issues with my 3G. Many times I switch to Edge to conserve battery life and turn on 3G when I need it. But somehow email from my “fetch” accounts do not come through, even when I switch back to 3G. I don’t know if anyone else is having the same problem. Maybe that will be fixed in the next update. 2.0.1 did NOT fix this.
Yes a lot of this is FUD, but there have been issues that should have been worked out before release. Apple is not perfect, although many of us sometimes think they are. In this instance they need to fix some of these issues fast. Nevertheless there will always be the naysayers like Phillips.
Vista may not be perfect, but it’s not the crap that the mainstream and you make it seem.
Except that it is – especially considering that it was late in arrival and has been out almost two years with little improvement.
If there is a problem with some iPhone 3Gs, it is minor at this point considering the phone has only been available for a couple of months.
Why is this surprising? Look how the media treated Ron Paul.
I wonder if the person running MDN has lost his own lithium rx… While I read MDN several times daily and generally chuckle at the MDN responses, it’s getting a bit over the top now.
C’mon MDN, not everyone is out to get Apple. Apple does have some issues here and there that need to be addressed.
Stop overreacting to news that might be negative to Apple, you’re making yourself look a bit nuts.
@Panolo:
Exactly. The ‘media’ is a collection of desperate idiots hired by rich fools who want to control the world.
Like it or not, there is more ‘truth’ on a small Apple-supporting website like MDN than you will ever find in the NYT, or CNN, or Fox, or whoever.
Follow the money and you will find the source.
Ron Paul is the only credible candidate, but he doesnt have the support of the controllers – he was treated so badly by the media that I was surprised not to see lawsuits.
We need a new way – but the rich arent going to let us have it.
‘If voting changed anything, they would make it illegal’ Emma Goldman (and others too)
Why do I mention this political info?
Because THIS is the milieu, the times, the atmosphere we live in, and it affects Apple and it affects YOU, dear reader.
Also because ‘Consuming’ has become the new power of the Citizen. As voting proves to be USELESS, at least we can buy something we believe in.
We buy Apple products because Steve Jobs and his crew seem to tell us some kind of truth, unlike Gates and his creepy Windows cluster fuck.
The iPhone says you might be just a prole, but you have some taste and awareness.
So the unaware and the easily led must attack it, on ANY pretense, led by semi-criminals like Enderle.
(not declaring interests in stock or companies while commenting on another company is a crime, I believe?)
@RobNick
“No problems in Baltimore!”
I’ve seen “The Wire”: don’t give me that!
My iPhone 3G works fine, as does everyone else’s around me. The “media echo-chamber” is an accurate assessment. FUD is a good way to describe all of these reports. Don’t these ‘reporters’ realize that Sweden is the home of Ericsson, one of Sweden’s largest employers. Any Swedish ‘expert’ is bound to be totally biased against an Apple product. FUD, FUD, FUD.
Say what you will, my reception in hills above San Jose CA for 3G is very spotty. ATT coverage map shows I am two miles in from edge of coverage. Should work, huh? Most of the time I cannot get any 3G and when I do average about 2 bars. Have never had 3G for more than a few minutes at a time. About half my calls are dropped. My T-mobil phone works flawlessly here BTW. I upgraded to 3G because my 2G connection was often poor. So now I pay $15 a month extra for the same service I had before.
Where the hell is ZuneTang?? I am awaiting his input
I am in San Jose also. I get 3G at times. I try to see what speed I have with the tinyspeed test via safari and everytime it drops from 3G to edge before I get results. Then shows about 40 kbps. Something is wrong here, FUD or not.
ABC News is a right wing hack organization that’s owned by the AOL-Time Warner Pravda machine. They are only slightly more credible than FAUX News.
Steve 516 you said: “I though Sweden was a peaceful and globally neutral country…”
Absolutely correct, which is more than likely why they received such a comment from MDN. Remember this is coming from the terrorist AENUS (Australia, England “N United States) and they thing that terrorists fear the most are peaceful globally neutral countries.
Now about the articles, well time will tell. I don’t have a problem with people offering opinions and it does look like there is a situation, but face it, if it is 1% of the products, that isn’t out of line with anything.
I do wonder like many about the journalist though. Are they replacing the pulitzer with some sort of “who can make the biggest mountain out of an anthill” award?
@Adolph H. Bush..
“Your ideas intrigue me. I’d like to subscribe to your newsletter.”
ABC news: Hardware issue, say unnamed experts. FUUUUUUUD!!!!!!
WSJ Journal: Software fix prepared by Apple,
according to people familiar with the matter.
TRUUUUUUTH!!!!
MDN Take:
Rather than invent things, we’re content to simply report the best information we have at hand.
Short lesson in source criticism: ‘people familiar with the matter’ are a reliable source of the best information, ‘unnamed experts’ aren’t.
Is an old joke in the News Biz about TV News
(ok, perhaps ‘was’ an old joke – may only apply to the OLD News Biz, since the ‘newer’ News Biz is, well, another story for another day)
(and yes, I was in the News Biz for a time many years ago, Radio Correspondent, and pretty good at it too, tyvm, but that’s also another story for another day, smile)
Once upon a time something happened
CBS showed up with the *Best* people
NBC showed up with the *Most* people
ABC never showed
Ok, damn, guess I just dated myself, cause at time of this joke, FOX didn’t even exist, and the Close to News Network (CNN) was just getting started.
Although – now – I’d put CNN/FOX, et al somewhere in the ranking echelon of NBC/ABC – to be generous. And I’m not so sure, these days, about CBS in some regards, cough couric cough.
Anyway, hope you get the jest of the joke
Poor ABC – in case you folks don’t know – is the leftover, 2nd rung step-child network of NBC as it was ‘split up’ after WWII.
And if you did not know that – well, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_network
And do your own research on Media, Broadcasting, Entertainment, TV, Radio – – collectively is a major moving force in our Nation for past 100 years. Plus, sits in juxtaposition, and at times opposition, to the current rise of the Digital Age. Understanding this History allows greater understanding of many subjects we involve ourselves with as we gather here at MDN.
But, that’s not why you called.
Back to this lame reporter with ABC – if I may.
They might want to be careful what they say, and how they say it, about Apple, Inc.
Seems I remember reading about some computer/movie guy who now sits on the board of Disney, ABC’s parent, and he’s also the single largest stockholder.
But, that could be just a rumor, and doubt ABC covered the story.
Thanks
BC Kelly
Tallahassee Fla
I don’t know if the reception problems are being experienced by the majority of users or not. Most likely not.
But, I’ll repeat over and over again. The media wants to take down Apple any way it can. I would imagine there must be something to the reception problem since it the stories continue to grow, but I wonder if they’re being blown out of proportion.
The iPhone case cracking story seemed to have nearly disappeared, but I’m sure it will be resurrected when the articles point to a listing of all of the iPhones defects. Is it really possible to put out millions of devices and not have any problems with a couple of percent of them? It doesn’t seem likely. As long as Apple is willing to make good on them, I really don’t see how it’s that big a deal.
You know, I am an avid Apple supporter. But it really ticks me off when those who do not experience a particular issue with Apple products determine that those who do are disingenuous. That’s crappy.
To be clear, I have been using Apple products for about six years now. I started with a PowerBook G4, then moved on from there. I finally made the leap from Windows to a Mac desktop as well. I owned a first generation iPhone and have picked up the iPhone 3G.
I was excited to have a phone that finally synchronizes properly with a Mac. Palm has been screwing us Mac users for years. Now, when the iPhone 3G came out and the opportunity for wireless synchronization came about, I was excited. For the first time I did not have withdrawals about giving up my OTA sync with ActiveSync and the Exchange Server.
But the iPhone 3G is fraught with problems. People are not making this up. I sit at my desk, without even touching the thing, and it goes from five bars, to two, then to “No Service.” I guarantee that any call over about 5 minutes will be dropped. I am talking about areas with full 3G and Edge signals. AT&T;replaced my SIM card in hopes that would fix the issue. They told me they received a number of calls about this and are working with Apple engineers to get a fix. In the meantime, I had to turn off 3G. That stabilized the phone. Friends of mine have had the same issue.
The fact is, there is a problem with some of the units. Mine is one of them. Apple should realize that the reason I switched to Mac was to get away from this sort of thing. And for those of you who seem to think that any complaint about an Apple product is FUD, get a freaking life. They are machines and they can be faulty.
Road Warrior (NLI),
I heard a rumor that I hope is untrue. Supposedly, Sweden is taking a clue from Russia and is going to invade Norway just to show MDN how tough they really are. They are mad as hell and they aren’t gonna take it anymore. Scary stuff.
just this week’s FUD; last week it was the hairline cracks
and since the stock back dating issue is behind us; the RIM and
MS fanboys have to fabricate something.
I sure hope that is untrue but on the other hand it is certainly better than taking a clue from the US and saying that they will invade Norway and end up in Argentina.
Mind you Sweden gets a lot of crap from the US. I guess the so called “worlds most generous country” gets their nose out of joint when they find out where they score on a per capita basis (bottom of the barrel) when Sweden comes up on top of them.
Good thing they don’t have much oil, if that were the case all AENUS would have to do is whine “they have nuclear weapons of mass destruction…let’s invade.”
I just got my iPhone in Australia. I noticed the broadband drop outs from day one. Still by far the BEST phone I have ever had but the connectivity is a serious issue. I just can’t use my internet sometimes on the iPhone and have to wait a few minutes until it comes back on.
Have also had short periods of no reception for making phone calls. Usually doesn’t last but is a bit annoying. It does need to be fixed, but the iPhone still absolutely dominates any other phone.
I’m an iPhone owner from day 1 and a Mac user since the Apple IIe.
My 3G phone sucked wind from its first day. 8 dropped calls a day and as many “failed calls.” While friends have 3G iPhones that work perfectly, mine didn’t. And I had it replaced at the Apple store and got the same issues.
I sold it on eBay. Apple will replace or fix it for whomever gets it, or maybe their coverage will be better (though Edge sucked on it too).
I went back to my 1.0 phone and it works like a charm compared to my nightmare experience of the 3G phone.
Typing this on my 17″ MacBook. Love Apple. That phone (or at least those two) blows!
Well, with Apple’s trademarked secrecy, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a reporter doing much more than guessing what’s going to happen. I can only imagine what I’d feel like paying so much money for a 3G iPhone and paying those high monthly charges to AT & T and not be frustrated about the situation.
At least they brought the news out and said that it might be a chip which is what the culprit probably is. There are a lot of 3G iPhone users that are scratching their heads wondering why this isn’t working like it should and Apple and AT & T aren’t telling them (or admitting) anything.
don’t be such a dick mdn. if something’s wrong with the iPhone, let Apple fix it and stop being such a f*kng fanboy.
I like Apple too, but the freaking phone is buggier than hell.
It has the feel of a product that was rushed to market and went through testing too quickly,’ he said. ‘They were very concerned about the number of competitive products coming to market so they rushed the phone out. And the end result was it wasn’t done, it wasn’t cooked..Thanks..All Kit FM transmitter