Paczkowski reports, “The device scored 76 out of 100 points–two points ahead of its closest rivals, the iPhone 3Gs and the HTC Evo 4G.”
Full article, with Consumer Reports’ ratings, here
MacDailyNews Take: The closeness of the score highlights Consumer Reports’ total inability to properly judge and quantify such things as operating systems, user interfaces, etc. Just look at the Consumer reports ratings charts in Paczkowski’s full article. Two measly points difference? Really? Try 20, at least, on a scale of 100. Consumer Reports, your judging criteria needs to be thrown out. It’s an abject failure. It’d be laughable if it weren’t so damn sad.
Seriously, if you haven’t already, try an iPhone 4 vs. the latest Android phone o’ the week. Give them the run through. Copy and paste something. Take a photo. Download an app or two. Try drawing a straight line on the screen (or just look at the difference between the screens). Listen to some music. Make a quick playlist. Shoot a video and edit it. Go ahead.
If you actually do that comparison, you’ll see why we consider Consumer Reports to be nothing more than a bad joke when it comes to computers and electronics, at the very least (we suspect that if they can’t do those two areas correctly, they’re probably screwing up other product areas about which we aren’t so experienced). The fact of the matter is that Consumer Reports is a jack of all trades and a master of none. Even when they manage to get it right (barely, in this case), they get it oh-so-wrong.
The local TV news has been running the CR story and warning people that there is a major flaw in the software. This is a major market and if it is being repeated around the country, it will have devastating effects on consumer sentiment. My wife, who is left handed, wanted one but has now decided against it until the problem is fixed. She does not believe a case should be required for a product as expensive as an iPhone.
I meant to saw “flaw in the hardware.”
I’m an Apple product user for many many years and as good a product that Apples produces the iP4 has a problem. Whether it’s CR, Gizmodo or someone else for many consumers/ customers the reception problem is a reality. Can MDN be less defensive of Apple and more considerate of the buying public. Just let’em fix it.
@ currentinterest
And yet, it is sold out at most locations, and to buy it online at Apple.com, there is a three week wait before it ships. Just imagine how utterly unavailable it would be if there was no “devastating effects on consumer sentiment.”
Well, at least iPad is become reasonably available. They actually have some at the local Apple Store (the most expensive configs), and you only have to wait about a week for shipping if you buy it online.
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“So, obviously they can’t judge a Mac (or PC) correctly, or any other Apple products. If you are going to menstruate your dislike for CR all over these last few articles, then you need to not make them a talking point when they do provide Apple a positive review. Or are you just turning into a Dvorak and looking for hits to your site…”
I don’t think it is as hypocritical as you make out — obviously, there is a qualitative difference between CR writing a technical review and them reporting that most consumers have reported to them that they are satisfied with Apple products.
On the one hand, consumers who bought Apple stuff ARE overwhelmingly positive about their Apple products compared to other products. That can be highlighted. Especially since, at least before the last couple of years, positive news about Apple has received little attention and has gone against the grain of the accepted assumptions of what a consumer needs in a computer.
In-depth product reviews that merely line up spec sheets and don’t know how to account for the whole user experience will no doubt favor PCs, as they always have. It is good that it is finally coming out that this is not the whole story, and consumers are taking note.
Yet, one can still be critical of these same in-depth product reviews when they purport to know the ins and outs but fail to discuss some of the basic facts — such as how many are affected, how hard must you squeeze it, how sweaty must your hand be, how many calls are actually dropped, and that it actually gets better reception than the last iPhone. Especially when the next report says that consumers are still overwhelmingly happy with their iPhone 4’s and it is the most popular phone in its class.
It’s like, EVEN CR, as poor as they are in testing methods and analysis, are showing that consumers love their Apple products: hey, that’s something to shout about!
Really, what we are talking about is analysis — this site is all about analyzing the analysis of others. Sometimes analysts get it wrong, sometimes they get it right. You look at stories on a case by case basis and you either agree or find fault with it. What’s so difficult about that concept? MDN doesn’t have to always agree or always disagree with one source! Do you?
So the antenna accounts for 24points on a smartphone review now. Fu**in morons
Unfortunately, all of the bad buzz hasn’t dampened demand. Still 3 weeks til mine arrives.
WORST CASE I get a case. Not a case fan and somehow I expect I’ll just take Steve Jobs’ advice. If I even notice it in the first place.
No way am I passing up iphone 4 because it’s possible to mess with the antenna. I want it yesterday.
Want want want want want.
For what it’s worth, the UK has its own version of CS called “Which”.
On a par, they also know everything and nothing about everything.
You would be better off spinning coins…
I like this line from a comment above:
“She does not believe a case should be required for a product as expensive as an iPhone.”
If you reversed the criteria I might, just, believe it…
I found years ago that CR tries so hard to be objective that they use no common sense.
Do they still rank Toyotas higher than Jesus?
Most of the people posting on this blog have never seen an iPhone 4 in the wild let alone bought one or had difficulty making phone call.
It just shows you the abject terror that competitors have when it comes to the iPhone. They are trying to turn it into Apple’s next Newton failure. The problem is, millions of iPhone users are not shorting out the external antenna on purpose just to make a problem for Apple. They are avoiding shorting it out by holding the phone in a natural position, like most people hold any phone.
The opposition and their paid bloggers and rabid fans do not outnumber the millions of satisfied iPhone 4 owners. Blog away assholes. You’re not convincing anyone.
CR didn’t convince me but this whole debacle is serious. I’ll wait until a fix is in which I believe is a hardware flaw. Apple recall and rebuild the phone. I shouldn’t have to buy a bumper for my phone to work.
This whole reception issue is a moot point. I’ve had the iPhone 4 since it came out and it’s true the bars drop when held on the left but I have not lost reception or had degraded calls because of it.
I think Consumer Reports as well as others are frustrated that Apple has been sooo arrogant over this issue… At first dismissing it, then lying about it as being a software issue…
Apple still have not explained what left handers are supposed to do other than be totally raped by having to buy a $29 rubber band that costs about 2¢ to make to fix their design flaw
I have been a fanboy since 1984 (wow I’m showing my age!) and it pins me to say it, but Apple is becoming more like Microsoft everyday in terms of not owning up to design flaws & problems..
Here’s a few popular myths for you:
1. Apple needs “competition” in order to continue to produce good innovative products. (In fact Apple’s only true competition is what it produced itself last year.)
2. Apple gives a rats ass what you think. (They don’t. They are entirely focused on making the best product in the category. They realize most people are idiots so why listen to them.)
3. Blog sites like MDN need to be “objective.” (No, sites like MDN need to exist to give balance to all the Apple haters out there – thereby giving those of us who love Apple and all that they produce a place to go to get the other side of the story. May MDN NEVER be objective!)
Wow you apple fans amaze me. I am sorry the iPhone 4 was rushed and is garbage. Defending it would give me a door to defend vista. Just let it go apple has iPhone 4 microsft has vista Sony has ps3 and nintendo had the game cube they all make mistakes let it go!
@Hugh Jass
Prove that the bumper only costs 2 cents to produce. Since you’ve never even seen one, and I own one, I’ll tell you that you are wrong. It is a finely crafted product that employs at least three materials OTHER than rubber!
You suck at being a fanboy by the way.
A cattle call?
@Eric spielberg
“Wow you apple fans amaze me. I am sorry the iPhone 4 was rushed and is garbage.”
Eric, I have to assume you don’t have an iPhone4, because I don’t know anyone who does that would say it is garbage, no matter what their personal experience with the reception issue. This is by far the best phone I’ve owned, and better than the Droids and Evos of friends.
However, MDN’s take is stupid, because if there is any kind of problem, Apple should address it, even if that just means throwing in a bumper for free. No matter what MDN’s opinion of CR, the CR people were on the network morning news shows today showing how to fix the problem with duct tape. Apple does not come out looking good.
People should keep in mind the damage the press did to Audi in the 1980s by reporting on the sudden acceleration problems that were eventually proven to be non-existent. Audi did a lot more damage to themselves by trying to make their argument in the press that it was “driver error” (which it was), instead of just saying “the problem has been fixed”. It would have gone away a lot faster, and customers would have felt that the company had responded to them.
So MDN, te iPhone 4 should be at least 20 points up on the 3GS? That means the absolute highest you would rate the 3GS is 80 (assuming the iPhone 4 is a 100 despite its obvious deficiencies)? I don’t believe it…make up your damn mind. You can’t have it both ways
Maybe Mac Daily New could take five minutes away from rubbing up against Apple’s leg all day and provide some information as to when the Mac Pro Line will be updated. You know, the Mac Pro, for people who actual use Macs to create things!!!
Recall inevitable.
I love this conversation. Time for me to buy an other 100 plus shares.
Now posting where my 3gs could’nt even get a connection and I have not got my bumper yet. Yeah!
Consumer Reports wanted to play and they got their asses kicked by MacDailyNews.
Hahahah..Now that’s funny! And it must be true because MDN is such a media powerhouse!
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The reflexive attacks on CR are hilarious. Especially since MDN is the first to post CR’s praise of other Mac products.
This is a big issue for Apple, and so far, its PR moves have been close to those of BP. They need to make a definitive statement about this and get out in front of it to defuse the situation. That’s PR 101.