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.]
By years ago, I mean 1984.
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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.