“We’re seeing a preview of Apple’s death today with the hardware problem vexing Apple’s new star product, the iPhone 4. Users report drastic signal strength loss if they grip the phone while touching the lower-left edge, so their hands bridge two antennas designed to be separate,” Wagner writes. “How serious is this problem? Hard to say. For some people, it’s very real, and it makes the iPhone unusable. Others love their iPhones, and aren’t experiencing the problem.”
Wagner writes, “I fall in the second camp. I’ve had my iPhone 4 since last week, and I’m very happy with it. I think I’ve been able to reproduce the grip problem, but I’m not sure, which is an indication that it’s inconsequential for me.”
Regardless, “one day Apple will face a real crisis, and when that day comes, the company will remain silent while public opinion — including investors and customers — turns against it,” Wagner writes.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we’ve already written: The iPhone 4 in a proper case has the best reception of any iPhone to date. In fact, it beats Google’s rebranded HTC Nexus One Android phone in tests, for what that’s worth. All cell phones suffer from some attenuation when held in certain ways. The problem, as is often the deal with Apple, is not really the hardware or the software, but the company’s handling mishandling of the situation from a public relations standpoint. All that said, we reiterate: The iPhone 4 is the best smartphone/pocket computer we’ve ever used. We wouldn’t give our units up even if they had to held with salad tongs.
This iPhone 4 is so hot, I hold mine with a silicone kitchen glove.
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The windows/Microsoft/google/linux geek’s wet dream continues…
Apple has $65b in the bank, they will and can not die. Get used to it.
They will always be around to let the geeks know that they have made the wrong choice in basing their careers, life and personality around Windows.
The geeks hate this and constantly dream of the day when Apple is no more.
Ain’t gonna happen- we are the itch you can never scratch, we are the niggling doubt in your minds when you defend Windows again and again.
Apple has already said enough: If you don’t like the way your iPhone 4 works, return it for a full refund. People aren’t doing that. Where’s the issue?
Anyone who claims this is an actual issue is either a troll or mentally deficient. The current ratio is around 10 to 1 trolls, so the thickies are in force.
Actual real life reception is the same or better than any pre-existing iPhone, to demand a recall or a redesign smacks of sour grapes or a distinct lack of grey matter.
I have know how many “Apple is going to die” threads i have seen in the past 2 month. Yet they continue to grow at an alarming rate.
Apple announced that this can be fixed with a software update, is that true? who knows, but we at least need to give them a chance to redeem them selfs people start protesting, making countless threads on how apple fails, or is going to die… common people… If you take your car to a mechanic, and he doesn’t fix the problem 100% the first time… you take it back to him, and make sure he dose it right the 2nd time. you dont higher a lawyer and press charges and slander his name all over the net without letting him have a 2nd look lol. Give apple a chance to make good on their words. Then all you can grab your pitch forks and sticks of fire again if you wish.
“For some people, it’s very real, and it makes the iPhone unusable.”
And for some people a tennis racquet or a set of chopsticks is unusable. Does the problem lie with the tennis racquet or the user?
Apple is keeping silent until they have decided on an intelligent and effective response. This is what they always do.
As for apologizing for what may or may not be a significant problem, I’m reminded of the response of Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana, when confronted with newspaper accusations of drinking, gambling, and womanizing: “I’m single. I like pretty women, fast horses, and good whiskey. None of those were illegal last time I checked”.
This headline is a new low for MDN. Pure, unadulterated garbage.