The Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field
Mikey 8 comments
My heartfelt congratulations to Steve Jobs and Co for what can only be described as a monolithic sales record for any mobile phone, with 1.7 million handset sold in just one day.
But when there's good news there is often bad news, and this past couple of weeks many users have been complaining (and posting videos of the fault - here's a whole bunch of them) of reception and drop-out issues. This isn't just a random few instances either, with high profile tech blogs also confirming the same issue.
In one particular email sent to Steve Jobs where he actually did reply, the Apple CEO said "It's not a big issue".
A Macrumours member also sent Jobs an email complaining of the same issue, where this time his reply was "There are no reception issues. Stay Tuned."
I gotta hand it to Jobs. Nothing makes a problem go away better than outright denial. I do find it curious that he does break the traditional CEO mould by occasionally engaging with his customers, but at the same time he doesn't seem keen to acknowledge any problems despite there being overwhelming evidence to support them.
Jokes aside, Apple isn't the only product to launch with problems (or in this case, 4 generations later and still having problems :-), but it's a shame these legitimate (and seemingly valid) problems are literally being swept under the mat (at least right now).
Jobs' "Stay tuned" remark could indicate there is more to this story than he is willing to let on - for now. That said, there are some things that can't be fixed with a software update, and this problem does seem to be hardware related.
I'm watching with curiosity.
aries
Tuesday 29th June 2010 | 01:43 PMI think it's hilarious how many people have posted frustrated updates on Facebook this week because the iPhone 4 update has completely screwed their phones and or simcards. I must have seen at least 1o such posts in the last week.
I'm still failing to see the appeal. Aussies are suckers for good marketing and media campaigns though... lol
...in response to this comment by Mark. "I bet Steve is cracking that whip behind the scenes and depriving his staff of sleep to sneak out 4.0.1 and make the problems go away"
I concur :-)
TVBIZ(BOB)
Tuesday 29th June 2010 | 06:47 PMGee whiz and I thought the iPhone was a tool from God. What a ridicules problem that was overlooked by everyone at Apple including Jobs. I think they are finally loosing their grip on outputting good products due to rushing, big headiness and plain and simple carelessness.
Mike
Tuesday 29th June 2010 | 09:25 PMAround 40% of iphone 4 users have experienced the problem. There's a petition here... http://m.gizmodo.com/5573177/apple-do-the-right-thing-and-give-away-the-iphone-bumpers
Jake Farr-Wharton
Wednesday 30th June 2010 | 09:14 AMI've got the iPhone 3Gs model and freaking love it! I updated to the new OS released last week and have enjoyed seamless multitasking on a phone which I would only ever use for one thing at a time anyway...
Nonetheless, I'm also the owner of a mac book pro and an iPad and am thoroughly enjoying the switch from 100% PC to 30% PC with the MobileMe computing cloud software.
What I take Jobs' response to mean is that it is not a reception issue but a software issue which will be fixed with an up and coming update.
As with all new technology, there are some bugs that just don't get picked up in the testing phases and at least, being an apple, you (probably) wont need to return the product in order to have your fix applied.
Nokia is having a field day with it: http://www.news.com.au/technology/nokia-pokes-fun-at-iphone-4-reception-issues-with-cheeky-blog/story-fn5sd1vk-1225886040725
Henk V
Friday 2nd July 2010 | 02:17 AM.. I hate mobiles.. I have one for the kids to contact me... but that is it... I personally cannot understand why any employer would put up with staff yabbering away on their mobiles...I tell folk who are having discourse where i am shopping to shut the fuck up and... I will actually turn mobiles off at restaurants.
How is it that folk think that they are so friggen important that they have to be contacted at any given time... trains, bus, movies, eateries, driving...
Folks, if you want to talk on your idiot sets.. do it freely anywhere else than in my earshot... I really don't need the mobile yelling conversation when i am living my own life.
Of course, if you really need to play pacman or space invaders... get the fucking program and play it at home...
lets face it... what idiot uses a white snake song...or worse poo daddy godzila epic as a "ring tone"... idiots... like you actually only need the fucking thing to vibrate so you can go outside and talk to the friggen ether.
Mobile phones are as crude as george bush toilet paper and..just as bloody boring...
Junkies..get a life!
Hand sets rock...well untill the bloody kids put that annoying call waiting on...I am not that important anymore... an engaged signal tells folk... I AM ON THE FUCKING PHONE>>> CALL BACK
Ive never been that important that I could throw down a woman to answer the phone... come on guys... liberate yourselves from the electronic nipples...
the restaurant devotees blow me away.. I literally peak at these morons
whats next...phones with scribble pads, organisers and Mac OS?... spare me the devil in the detail...its grand consumerism and ultimate hubris... Take your phone to a wedding and see what you get!
Mark
Tuesday 29th June 2010 | 01:27 PMApparently the reception problems *might* be partially fixable by software updates - there was evidence that it only affected reception from certain types of cell towers which means it could be configuration related. I bet Steve is cracking that whip behind the scenes and depriving his staff of sleep to sneak out 4.0.1 and make the problems go away. He's admitted to holding the phone "the wrong way" himself!