Apple offers free iPhone4 cases

[zappaDPJ]

Mr Jobs also extended an offer to iPhone4 users to give them a full refund if they were still unhappy with the handset's performance. This offer will be available until 30 September.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10665424

[pctech]

I think most might prefer hardware that works?

[zappaDPJ]

To be honest, I think it works, I just think it works a little less than some other popular handsets if that makes sense.

What I do know is that it must be popular, I can't get one and my daughter is going to hate me for life if I don't get one soon 

[pctech]

What about the Apple site

http://www.apple.com/uk

[zappaDPJ]

It was a minimum of a three week turn around from order to delivery earlier in the week. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[pctech]

Just checked and it still is, least you could say you have one on order and show her the mail?

[zappaDPJ]

Only from the refuge of an armoured tank I think

It might be my only option although I'm going to take another crack at it this weekend.

[lozcart]

If you want a phone on O2 their stock checker might help you.

http://stock.o2.co.uk/

[Steve]

The comparison of different hand positions on competitors mobile phones signal strength.


So its not just the iPhone it's a smartphone issue according to Apple

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/live-from-apples-iphone-4-press-conference/

[lozcart]

Some interesting videos of competitors signal strength dropping now on Apples web site.

http://www.apple.com/antenna/

[Simon]

The comparison of different hand positions on competitors mobile phones signal strength.


So its not just the iPhone it's a smartphone issue according to Apple

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/live-from-apples-iphone-4-press-conference/

Am I being thick?  That doesn't make sense, does it?  How can Min be more than Max? 

[Simon]

... and so it continues...

Official statement from Research In Motion in response to Apple's iPhone 4 Antennagate propaganda!

A joint statement from RIM Co-CEOs in response to misleading comments from Apple made Friday by Steve Jobs at the iPhone 4 press conference:

    "Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."

    - Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie

http://crackberry.com/rim-official-statment-response-apples-iphone-4-antenna-propaganda

[Niall]

I was quite confused and surprised to read on the BBC site yesterday that Apple had "fixed" the hardware problem with a software update. Are Apple products made of magic?

[Technical Ben]

Does anyone notice how Apple are NOT on that list? They might be on another one hopefully. But if not, the data means nothing if not compared to Apple.
If your car only worked half the time, the manufacturer could not say "Our design is almost as good as everyone else's. It only stalls a few times." It still has a general standard to achieve to be usable.

However, what is the main problem? Apple have only one device. Why is this a problem to Apple and not other manufactures? Take Mokia for example. So, if the new M2000 (made up for this example) has poor reception, people can still get the M2010, or M2011. Better than that, Mokia have ten phones in the store. So if just one has reception problems, say 10% of their designs, they still keep a success rate of 90%. That means 90% of customers are happy*. To prevent a brand wide failure, they may release new designs on one phone at a time. Or different designs side by side.
This is where Apple comes in and gets a larger risk, from a smaller problem. As if one of their models has a fault, ALL the customers are effected. If only 10% of their designs go wrong, it still effects 100% of the customers. There are only 2 ways for Apple to avoid this. Release a perfect phone that also does everything. This is no small feat, and is probably even beyond the skill and expertise of Apple, as show recently. Or they can open up their product base. When we start to see an Iphone mini, Iphone Shuffle or Iphone pad, we might see less large news stories on small mistakes or problems.

Thinking of that, a Iphone Shuffle could result in some funny calls, but sore wrists if you need to text anyone.

*If we also assume equal purchases across the range. Even without this, it will be less failed handsets than Apple.

[Glenn]

Are they comparing apples and pears?

[Niall]

No, lemons

[pctech]

Am I being thick?  That doesn't make sense, does it?  How can Min be more than Max? 

I agree Simon, does not make sense to me either.

[Rik]

I think someone rushed out the presentation...

[Steve]

Well it's put RIM on edge 

[Rik]

[Steve]

Ta

[Rik]

It is crazy, though, that you need an additional case to make a phone which costs that much work properly...

[Gary]

I was quite confused and surprised to read on the BBC site yesterday that Apple had "fixed" the hardware problem with a software update. Are Apple products made of magic?

You can adjust the baseband of phones to a certain extent with firmware updates so yes you can help issues that some handsets may have.

[Gary]

It is crazy, though, that you need an additional case to make a phone which costs that much work properly...

Thats the thing though Rik, I dont have that issue quite a few people dont have at all  also since the phone is a bit of  beautiful thing putting it in a cases is fine anyway as it protects it from drops and bashes, its a mini computer and as such they all are prone to dying when dropped if you are not careful. The new Samsung S has a huge glass screen, 4" I think, so once again you protect the phone so as to not wreck it.

[Rik]

I'd put it in a harness.