From the guys who made the “Banned iPhone 4 Promo” video comes yet another one, but this time having to do with the iPhone 4’s antenna problems. The video is really funny (to me at least) and I hope you find it funny too. Here’s the video:
NOTE: This video contains strong language, watch with caution.
Let us know what you think of the video in the comments please.
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Well, seen as how Apple held a press conference just 2 days ago that addressed the iPhone 4’s antenna problem, I though it would be right to create a poll pertaining to that. So, this Poll of the Week is: Did Apple’s Press Conference Convince You? As for me, it didn’t. Why? Well, Apple still hasn’t fixed the real problem, but only offered a temporary fix. Now, don’t get me wrong, a temporary fix is better than nothing, but the real problem still needs to be fixed. Whether or not Apple may fix the real problem? I have no idea, but I hope so. Anyway, did Apple’s press conference convince you? You can either vote above or to the right on the sidebar.
As usual, the results of this week’s Poll of the Week will be posted next week along with a new Poll of the Week. Here’s the results of last week’s Poll of the Week:
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Apple has finally posted a QuickTime stream of their press conference that was held just 2 days ago. This press conference addressed the iPhone 4’s antenna problems along with iPhone 4 owners getting free cases to fix this problem, for more info on this press conference, please check out PocketFullOfApps’ roundup. No word if Apple will make this video available on iTunes, however, they probably will.
Well, yesterday Apple held a press conference, that had to do with the iPhone 4’s antenna problems. First off, Steve Jobs stated many things about the iPhone 4 and its antenna (mostly saying the antenna problems weren’t as bad as they are claimed to be) problems. Steve Jobs did take other phones (BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris (Android), and Samsung Omnia II) to show that they even have problems with the antenna, just not the iPhone 4 its self (see the picture below).
Along with showing that those other phones even have antenna problems, Steve Jobs also showed off their state-of-the-art antenna testing facility. Apple has invested over $100 million in antenna testing facilities over the past 5 years and they have 18 PhD scientists working on antenna design. Yes, that’s right, Apple has invested over $100 million in antenna testing facilities over the past 5 years and they have 18 PhD scientists working on antenna design.
Surprisingly, only 0.55% of iPhone 4 customers have called AppleCare about the antenna issue, which is historically not a large number for Apple. Return rates through AT&T for iPhone 4 are at 1.7%, far below the gold standard iPhone 3GS return rate of 6%.
Apple’s fix to this antenna issue with the iPhone 4? Well, they will be giving out free cases to everyone who bought an iPhone 4 or buys an iPhone 4, however, there’s a catch – to get your free case you have to get it before September 30th. For those who have already bought a case/bumper Apple will give you a refund, however, if you have bought a 3rd-party case you will not get a refund from Apple (obviously). You can apply for a case or a refund on Apple’s website starting sometime late next week.
Now if you’re still not happy, you can return your undamaged iPhone 4 within 30 days for a full refund, no restocking fee. Apple is also tracking proximity sensor problems and will address those in the next software update. Also, the white iPhone 4 will be available July 30th along with the iPhone 4 will be available in 17 more countries.
After the press conference, Apple had a Question & Answer session. So, here’s all the questions and answers:
Q&A with Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Bob Mansfield:
Q: How’s your health, Steve?
A: Fine! I was on vacation in Hawaii, but this was worth coming back for.
Q: Any changes to future antenna design?
A: Steve: We’re still working on this. We’re happy with the design. Maybe our wizards will come up with something better, but we don’t think there’s a problem here.
Q: I can’t get my BlackBerry Bold’s signal to drop like the iPhone 4’s.
A: Steve: You may not see it in certain areas.
Q: Why does this happen with just a single finger? It doesn’t require a full grip.
A: Bob: Your body is a pretty effective signal absorber. So when you touch it, you attenuate the signal. But when you grip it, you can attenuate it even more.
Q: Were you warned about this issue?
A: Steve: I assume you’re talking about the Bloomberg article. It’s a crock. I’ve challenged them to prove it. I’ve talked to Ruben (the antenna engineer who supposedly warned Jobs during the design process) and he agrees it’s bullshit.
Q: Will you apologize for investors?
A: Steve: We are apologizing to our customers. We want investors for the long haul. To those investors who bought the stock and are down $5, I have no apology.
Q: Do Apple customers have to choose between form and function?
A: Steve: No. We try to have our cake and eat it too.
Q: Refunds for AT&T contracts too?
A: Steve: I believe so.
Q: Is there anything you could have said during the iPhone 4 launch keynote to lower expectations?
A: Steve: I’ve thought about that a lot. We didn’t fully understand if there were problems. We might have set the expectations that all smartphones have weak spots. One of the things we’ve learned by being a leader in the smartphone world is that we have to educate. So we needed data, and we’ve got that now. You could make a really big smartphone that doesn’t have this problem, so big you can’t get your hand around it, but no one’s going to buy that. We’re not perfect, and we’re working our asses off.
Q: Why the September 30th deadline for free cases?
A: Steve: It’s so we can re-evaluate. We don’t know what solutions may come up by then. Maybe Eminem will come out with a band-aid that goes over the corner and everyone will want that.
Q: If you bought a third-party case, can you get a refund?
A: Steve: We’re not going to refund third-party cases. It’s a very small number because we didn’t share designs with case makers, but now we wish there were more out there! Case makers have a history of disclosing designs we share with them, so we don’t share. If people know what’s coming, they stop buying the old version.
Q: Do any of you use bumpers on your iPhone 4s?
A: All three executives hold up their phones…no bumpers or cases. Steve: I don’t, and I get better reception. I don’t see the “death grip” issue.
Q: What have you learned here?
A: Steve: One is how much we love our customers and how much we want to take care of them. We were stunned, upset, and embarrassed by the Consumer Reports stuff, but we didn’t know enough to be able to address it. If we’d done this event a week and a half ago, we wouldn’t have had half the data we have today. We’re engineers, and we want to solve real, hard problems. I don’t think we could have done this faster…we’ve had cots in the labs, cars here all night. We’ve been living here. But’s human nature to tear down successful people. I see it happening to Google, a great company. Haven’t we earned the credibility and trust that we’ll take care of our customers? The reaction has been overblown, and we could use your help with this.
Q: Did you consider a recall?
A: Steve: When you love your customers, nothing is off the table. But we want to be data-driven. We sent engineers to people’s homes to test equipment and take logs. And we didn’t bash down any doors!
Q: How about return rates at Apple stores?
A: Tim: Very lower, lower than AT&T’s numbers.
Q: The New York Times says there might be a software fix. Is that true?
A: Steve: We just talked about how the iPhone 4 only drops 1 call per hundred more than the 3GS. Go talk to the Times, because they’re just making this stuff up. Scott Forstall comes on-stage: It’s patently false. We can continue to tune the way the baseband interacts with the network, and we do that all the time, but the Times‘ statement is untrue.
Q: What kind of financial impact do you expect?
A: Tim: We’ll wait for our Q3 financial results conference call next week to discuss that.
Q: I use my iPhone in heavily-congested San Francisco. Does the handset have any role in congestion management?
A: Steve: I’ll let Scott answer that one, but I’ll say this…when AT&T wants to add a tower in Texas, it takes three weeks. When they want to do it in San Francisco, it takes three years. No one wants it in their backyard. AT&T is investing, but it takes time.
Q: A couple of years ago you released an iPhone software update that improved reception. How does that relate?
A: Steve: We came to the realization about 8 years ago that we didn’t want to get into a business unless we controlled the primary technology. And we did that with the iPod, and moved on to the iPhone, where he can frictionlessly distribute software updates because we control it. And now everybody’s copying us. But to answer your question, the formula for calculating the bars has been off since the beginning, so I’m not sure I understand your question.
Q: Well, you supposedly fixed this problem two years ago, and now you say it’s been a problem all along.
A: Steve: They’re probably unrelated. I honestly don’t remember the issue you’re talking about.
Q: You’ve been communicating with customers a lot via email. How has that impacted how you’re dealing with the issues?
A: Steve: I’ve always done that…my address it out there. But I get a lot of email and can’t respond to all of them. People have started posting them on the web, which is a bit rude, but now they’re even making them up. But I want to communicate with our customers.
Q: Regarding free case offer, will it extend outside U.S., and will it be extended past September 30th?
A: Steve: Yes, and we’ll evaluate things as far as any possible extension.
And that wraps up this roundup! If you want more info or to have a better idea of this press conference, head over to our live blog.
