By SteveJack
Seriously, is it really that difficult to make a white iPhone?
Apple first mentioned the elusive white iPhone 4 on June 7, 2010, promising it would be available “in either black or white” on June 24th.
Then, on June 24th, Apple issues a press release stating, “White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July.”
Okay, I can see that; a bit of a delay is understandable. Break given. Apple has much experience making Macs and iPods in many colors, and even in white, so they’ll correct the issue(s) in no time. They even made white iPhone 3G and 3GS models, so confidence should be high, right?
Uh, no. Next, on July 23rd, Apple released another statement, “White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year.”
Now, we’ve jumped right from understandable straight into ridiculous territory.
But, that’s not all, folks! With “later this year” rapidly running out, Apple didn’t even bother with another press release, they just phoned up select media yesterday with the news that the white iPhone won’t arrive “until spring 2011.”
Yeah, right. Hey, did you enjoy your trip from ridiculous to WTF-land?
Let’s pause to recap:
• June 7, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming June 24th.
• June 24, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “second half of July.”
• July 23, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “later this year.”
• October 26, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “spring 2011.”
Listen, I don’t want a white iPhone. I prefer my iPhones in black (luckily, it turns out). Because I’m a man. But, for you ladies who’ve been waiting patiently for a white iPhone, I simply have to call ’em like I see ’em. So, as I would with any other lesser company, I must point out that Apple has failed miserably here. Who’s in charge of this white iPhone fiasco? Who planned the materials, did the testing, approved the samples, and set up the availability timeline? Steve Ballmer?
There’s no other way to look at it: Microsoftian is what this is; a laughable comedy of errors. Obviously even Apple is embarrassed, and rightfully so, hence the lack of a third press release announcing their inexplicable inability to produce an iPhone 4 in white.
It shouldn’t be this hard, Apple. It really shouldn’t.
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
“Aye, Mr. Starbuck. Aye, my hearties all. It was Moby-Dick that dismantled me, that reaped off my leg like a mower a blade of grass and left me with this dead stump I stand on. For forever and a day I shall chase that white whale. “
problem, apparently, according to Cult Of Mac is that the white plastic is somewhat translucent and causes significant problems with the camera and its exposure capability. The images are basically overexposed because the white case allows light to “leak” in and distort the sensor.
Do you mean “glass?” The front and back of iPhone 4 are glass.
Seriously, isn’t there such a thing as opaque white paint? If it’s opaque, no matter what color it is, light doesn’t leak through it.
problem, apparently, according to Cult Of Mac is that the white plastic is somewhat translucent and causes significant problems with the camera and its exposure capability. The images are basically overexposed because the white case allows light to “leak” in and distort the sensor.
Do you mean “glass?” The front and back of iPhone 4 are glass.
Seriously, isn’t there such a thing as opaque white paint? If it’s opaque, no matter what color it is, light doesn’t leak through it.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot – and white wall-to-wall shag carpet.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot – and white wall-to-wall shag carpet.
I see, your suggestion is for Apple to release something that does not give the customer complete satisfaction. How Microsoftian of you. Review Steve Jobs’ interview at the last All Things Digital conference and note his discussion about “just settling” for less than the best. Stop whining.
I see, your suggestion is for Apple to release something that does not give the customer complete satisfaction. How Microsoftian of you. Review Steve Jobs’ interview at the last All Things Digital conference and note his discussion about “just settling” for less than the best. Stop whining.
Yeah, you’re probably right. It can’t be that hard. I’m sure Apple is capable of doing it and I bet they’re intentionally delaying the release because they DON’T want to sell them….
Yeah, you’re probably right. It can’t be that hard. I’m sure Apple is capable of doing it and I bet they’re intentionally delaying the release because they DON’T want to sell them….
I have seen hundreds of men with white iPhones. I loved my white 3GS, and the only reason I have a black 4 is because I wanted a 4 on day one. Men who need to assert their masculinity in such trivial venues are generally insecure.
I have seen hundreds of men with white iPhones. I loved my white 3GS, and the only reason I have a black 4 is because I wanted a 4 on day one. Men who need to assert their masculinity in such trivial venues are generally insecure.
You mention Apple making other white products, care to mention the previous GLASS products that were made in white? Just wondering…
You mention Apple making other white products, care to mention the previous GLASS products that were made in white? Just wondering…
What irks me so much about this is, I waited and waited for the White iPhone (I’m a man and I prefer white), and now my upgrade cycle is busted. I either have to wait for the iPhone 5, or upgrade now, and I won’t be able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 when it debuts in the summer.
Thanks a lot Apple. This is inexcusable and kind of a big deal to some folks.
What irks me so much about this is, I waited and waited for the White iPhone (I’m a man and I prefer white), and now my upgrade cycle is busted. I either have to wait for the iPhone 5, or upgrade now, and I won’t be able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 when it debuts in the summer.
Thanks a lot Apple. This is inexcusable and kind of a big deal to some folks.
But this white iPhone is going to be whiter than white. That’s why the delay.
But this white iPhone is going to be whiter than white. That’s why the delay.
I’m thinking all the very important thinkers who choose to weigh in on this problem should include references to their engineering degrees and decades of work experience.
The announcement was a mistake. End.
I’m thinking all the very important thinkers who choose to weigh in on this problem should include references to their engineering degrees and decades of work experience.
The announcement was a mistake. End.
SteveJack, sorry man, but for all that you know, there’s alot that you THINK you know.
You sound like a ranter, slinging your rant around with unfounded cause like a monkey flings poo at a zoo window.
This isn’t an Apple issue, it’s a manufacturing issue. Apple is not the manufacturer, they are the client who puts in the order. When you have expectations of perfection, like Apple, manufacturers must do it right! This isn’t an engineering issue, this isn’t a design issue, it’s a color issue.
Does Apple want to work by Apple standards, or by Dell and MS standards? If you have to extend your timeline 10 times, I don’t care as long as the finish product in my hand is what I expect when I purchase an Apple product.
the end.
SteveJack, sorry man, but for all that you know, there’s alot that you THINK you know.
You sound like a ranter, slinging your rant around with unfounded cause like a monkey flings poo at a zoo window.
This isn’t an Apple issue, it’s a manufacturing issue. Apple is not the manufacturer, they are the client who puts in the order. When you have expectations of perfection, like Apple, manufacturers must do it right! This isn’t an engineering issue, this isn’t a design issue, it’s a color issue.
Does Apple want to work by Apple standards, or by Dell and MS standards? If you have to extend your timeline 10 times, I don’t care as long as the finish product in my hand is what I expect when I purchase an Apple product.
the end.
As Henry Ford said about the Model T – “You can have any color you want – so long as it’s black”
As Henry Ford said about the Model T – “You can have any color you want – so long as it’s black”
Black. Because I’m a man. White. Because you’re a woman.
Thinking like that, makes you anything but a man.
This cannot stand. It’s controversial, but in an ignorant, low-hanging-fruit sort of way, and if this piece isn’t sucked up into the blog vortex by noon, then it’s obvious no one really cares, outside of this site, what its self-ordained Apple evangelist thinks.
Of course, I could be wrong and it is just my opinion. Most would tell me to lighten up and that’s fine but, I still think low hanging fruit.
Black. Because I’m a man. White. Because you’re a woman.
Thinking like that, makes you anything but a man.
This cannot stand. It’s controversial, but in an ignorant, low-hanging-fruit sort of way, and if this piece isn’t sucked up into the blog vortex by noon, then it’s obvious no one really cares, outside of this site, what its self-ordained Apple evangelist thinks.
Of course, I could be wrong and it is just my opinion. Most would tell me to lighten up and that’s fine but, I still think low hanging fruit.