as usual, instant problems with new electronic devices, in this case the iPhone 4

[Cory Ander]

people claiming the device's signal weakens when its held a certain way. I often wonder how extensively (and by whom) these devices are tested before going out into the marketplace. 7/1/2010

[BrunoRepublic]

Obviously, the only solution is the elimination of all technology. Back to the good ol' stone age!

[Videoskooter]

At first it was assumed that it was a design/hardware problem but now they think that it's a bug in the IOS4 because 3G users who have installed this OS on their iphone are facing the same problem. Apple is working on it and they advice to use a cover in the meanwhile, so you won't make the famous 2 antenna contact.

[Cory Ander]

the title on Comcast's headline today is "iPhone formula totally wrong!" Those of us who have bought them are already WELL aware of that! Once I was standing in line at the airport and saw a business executive in line on his phone and the call was dropped. He slammed it on the floor as hard as he could and it broke into a dozen pieces. He turned positively red with anger poor guy. 7/2/2010

[Cory Ander]

that's amusing. I recently had to take my iPhone to an Apple store because the screen kept going black and flashing on and off and their employee told me the screen protector was blocking the sensor even though it was perfectly positioned. I have no idea exactly what the problem is with these devices but I sure wish they wouldn't sell them until they're in better working order. 7/6/2101

[Videoskooter]

Apple is in trouble with their iPhone 4. The software update didn't work and Apple will give a press conference tomorrow. Only a bumper case seems to help but that costs 29 dollars. Will they give 'em for free or will they simply call back all the phones? Let's wait for the press meeting.

[BrunoRepublic]

Apple is in trouble with their iPhone 4.

Really? They've already sold over 3 million of them, they can't keep them in stock, and it seems very few people who have them want refunds.

[Videoskooter]

Yes, really! But you know, an apple a day, keeps the doctor away!

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/a...4-this-friday/

[Videoskooter]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/a...phone-4-users/

[Cory Ander]

Really? They've already sold over 3 million of them, they can't keep them in stock, and it seems very few people who have them want refunds.

I can only assume people who don't want refunds may want to retain their "Yes, I already have one!" bragger's rights. If I bought an expensive, poorly functioning piece of electronic crap I'd sure want a refund, but to each their own....whatever makes a person happy! 7/17/2010

[BrunoRepublic]

You make it sound as if the device is completely non-functional, which isn't true at all.

[Bernie]

You make it sound as if the device is completely non-functional, which isn't true at all.

Thank you!

[Cory Ander]

Thank you!

I didn't mean it that way, but if I'd spent a sizeable amount of money on an item like that I'd at least expect it to work as well as advertised. I get dropped calls on my iPhone 3 already, it doesn't seem to hold a charge nearly as long as it should, and just like clockwork, these things began to happen JUST when the warranty expired, and I don't expect I'd have much better luck with a newer model from the same manufacturer. But disappointment with technology seems to be an issue only with me because as Bruno said, few other people seem to be very disappointed with these items and their problems. Unexpected problems seem to be one of the consequences of buying certain items as soon as they hit the market and I still suspect they're often rushed onto the market before they're really ready. Jobs now says in a podcast.."We are not perfect" with a rather defensive and angry tone in his voice, and when he was in San Francisco recently demonstrating the iPhone 4 in front of an audience of thousands, it froze during the demonstration and he was mortified. I decided then and there I'd pass on it, but if people are happy then no problem. If you've ever had one of these items fail at a critical moment that tends to amplify disappointment when they don't live up to expectations. But as a reminder, I said "poorly functioning" not "non functioning".

[BrunoRepublic]

I didn't mean it that way, but if I'd spent a sizeable amount of money on an item like that I'd at least expect it to work as well as advertised.

From what I've seen, it does.

I get dropped calls on my iPhone 3 already,

Trouble is in the US, you don't know whether to blame the handset or the carrier. I know several people with iPhones up here and they tell me that dropped calls are quite rare, and on par with any other phone.

Unexpected problems seem to be one of the consequences of buying certain items as soon as they hit the market

Yet the iPhone hasn't "just hit the market", so I don't see your point here. This is the 4th version of it, which among other things, greatly improves the battery life.

...and when he was in San Francisco recently demonstrating the iPhone 4 in front of an audience of thousands, it froze during the demonstration and he was mortified.

That wasn't a problem with the phone itself though, but due to the fact that the auditorium was filled with people using wi-fi.

If you've ever had one of these items fail at a critical moment that tends to amplify disappointment when they don't live up to expectations. But as a reminder, I said "poorly functioning" not "non functioning".

Yes, but "poorly functioning" is quite an overstatement here. Something which works in all but the most extreme conditions is not what I would call "poorly functioning".

Under certain circumstances (network congestion, interference, weak signal) ALL mobile phones will drop calls. It's not a matter of the product being "rushed to market". 100% reliability with anything is impossible.

Two things to consider:
The media jump on anything Apple because Apple stories sell/get hits/get ratings (admittedly, much of this hype is due to the whole Apple cult which the company themselves have so brilliantly engineered). So, the significance of this issue under real-world circumstances has been hugely blown out of proportion for the sake of inventing a story.

Years ago, I had a Nokia handset which would lose bars if I held it in what I thought was the most comfortable way, but the manual mentioned this and advised me to hold it in a way which I found slightly awkward. Yet despite the fact that Nokia sold millions of these things around the globe, there was never a HUGE MEDIA ISSUE about it... because nobody cared.

Second, if you really expect everything to work 100% of the time, I want to know what planet you came from, because it obviously wasn't Earth. If everyone waited until things were perfect and ready, we'd still be in the stone age trying to build the perfect wheel.

[Cory Ander]

my goodness, I'm certainly not trying to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for these items....different people have different levels of appreciation, excitement and senses of awe about them...no problem. They're important to some people, totally unnecessary to others. I know people who to this day don't own computers or any electronic devices...different strokes.....minor point though: my home phone does indeed work perfectly 100% of the time. My last word on the subject, thanks.

[BrunoRepublic]

my goodness, I'm certainly not trying to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for these items....

You aren't?

Really?

Then just what was the point of this thread?

my home phone does indeed work perfectly 100% of the time. My last word on the subject, thanks.

It also doesn't do half of what any mobile phone can do (never mind a smartphone), so your point is irrelevant. If everyone kept the mobiles in the exact same place, plugged in and charging all the time, and used them for nothing but making calls, and there was zero growth in the industry, maybe they'd be "100% reliable" too.

You've never had someone accidentally hang up on you with a landline? Never got a wrong number? Never heard of PBX fraud? Never got a busy signal? Never had static or echo on the line? I've dealt with all of those problems on landlines, so I know they aren't "100% reliable".

One last thing: in many parts of the world, mobiles are actually more reliable and cheaper than landlines.

[DonaldCleveland]

Listen........NOTHING beats a string and couple of tin cans.
Reliable? YOU BETCHA.
Dropped calls? NEVER! Static? "Dont start none, wont be none"
Quality? Analog superiority~!(because we all know analog everything is better than digital anything)
Now the decay rate may be kinda high but....it's ANALOG!!!!!

(Before TDK comes to the rescue......it's a joke).

Huh? What's that? oops sorry. My Unicorn is calling me....must dish.

[tmob]

You aren't?
Then just what was the point of this thread?

Well put, Bruno. I also have wondered just what the point of this thread is, other than jumping on the over-hyped media bandwagon.

The answer seems simple: You don't like the iPhone 4? You've got 30 days to get your money back. Simple as that.

You haven't had good experiences with Apple products? Then don't buy one. Simple as that.