Apple will be giving all iPhone 4 customers a free case to improve consistent signal strength, Steve Jobs announced today. On the heels of some criticisms about the iPhone 4′s antennae problems — including a smackdown from Consumer Reports — Jobs held a press conference at Apple HQ this afternoon. To kick things off with a cheeky song, they played this funny video:
“We’re not perfect. Phones aren’t perfect,” Jobs said. When gripped a certain way, does the iPhone 4 lose signal strength? Yes. But according to the demos in Apple’s presentation, that’s true of all smart phones. “It’s a challenge for the whole industry,” he told reporters. He insisted that very few iPhone 4 owners were actually experiencing problems; only .55 percent have complained to AppleCare about the issue, and only 1.7 percent returned their phones. “Now when we look at this data, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that there is a problem, but that problem is affecting a very small number of users,” he said. To appease the masses, though, he announced that Apple would be giving every iPhone 4 owner a free case and giving refunds to anyone who’d already bought an Apple-released bumper. “We love our users. We try very hard to surprise and delight them.”
You can read liveblogs of the conference here and here. Do you think the free cases are enough to stem the tide of negativity?
So millions of Apple smartphones churned out from Chinese factories will STILL be defective if not gripped the Steve Jobs way but here’s some rubber to make it go away, this exchange never happened, cool enough?
What’s the point in calling out where they’re made? I didn’t realize that only the iPhone was made in China. It was simply a design issue, and one easily remedied. Cry me a river…
You’re an idiot, Rene.
Say what you want about Jobs and Apple, but after buying a Mac after years and years of frustration with PCs, I will never ever buy a PC again. It really is that much better. In general, Apple products are far superior to any similar product by another manufacturer right now. Other companies need to catch up. If I didn’t hate AT&T, I’d have an iPhone too. Even a iPhone 4.
Pointing out the flaws of other phones seems childish.
No. Just showing the facts. The Media has singled out Apple for this problem. It’s fair for them to show it’s not a unique issue
I’ve owned a Blackberry Tour, and a Iphone 3GS. Neither phone had that problem. Did you see where the guy told Steve he couldn’t get his Blackberry to do that? He asked Steve to do it. Steve says…. Well it only happenes in certain areas. I call Bull sh*t on Jobs.
The media has singled out Apple because of it’s demand. People are more interested in reading about the iPhone’s defects because its an iconic product.
Bigger fish deserve to be singled out.
Wrong, even Consumer Reports stated today it is unfair to characterize it like that. No other phone drops like the iPhone 4 does.
That’s because Steve Jobs is a giant douchebag. He basically blackballed Flash because of “design problems”, but he can’t even admit when one of his own products is flawed.
So is this issue a closed case?
Why not? What more would you want?
How about a double rainbow all the way?
That WOULD be good, come to think of it!
Good. He used cold hard facts and numbers to show this is a non-issue. If this were a real problem for most people, the return rate would be much, much higher. People love their iPhone 4′s, period.
That’s not to stop the anti-Apple fanboys from fanning sparks into flames though.
“We love our users. We try very hard to surprise and delight them.”
My friends couch has the apple logo burned into it because of a faulty laptop plug. She is certainly “surprised and delighted” by the lack of resolution and runaround that she is getting from apple.
Whats wrong with an iCouch
Is there an App for it making my life easier to get chips and a soda?
LOL
No, I mean it, I actually LOL’d.
Why did she leave it on the couch to begin with? Has she never heard of a desk?
seriously, does she use the toaster in the bathtub too? i try not to leave electrical equipment on cloth as a rule…
But it’s called “laptop” Laps often have cloth.
you don’t however put your charger on your lap nor do you put it on a couch these things get hot
its like the woman who put a dog in a microwave to dry the dog and blamed it on the microwave. use common sense people!
people that stupid shouldn’t be aloud to buy laptops
i think people need to calm down. i love my iPhone 4. it was such an upgrade from the 3G. I had some issues with the reception because at first i kept covering that “death spot” but seriously i got over it and just hold it slightly different. move your fingers two inches people. god!
but anyways, i think the cases are a great idea. showing that apple does care. WHERE AND WHEN can i get one?
I went on Apple’s website and it said details were coming soon on how to order a free case or bumper.
When did EW become a tech blog?
POPWATCH, meaning POP CULTURE. The iPhone would qualify…
Interesting that I’ve NEVER heard of reception problems with ANY cell phone due to the way you hold it until the iPhone4 and Jobs’speech.
Now that’s one AMAZING coincidence don’t ya think?
Android Phones, hold ‘em any way you like..
Ive got the iphone 4 and i haven’t had any of those issues, perhaps it has more to do with the area or the operator? Sometimes its just easier to blame the big bad corporation for it
Screw Apple, BlackBerry all the way!
If the prob is so minimul then why the article and the free phones ? Steve jobs is a money hungry Monipulizer he must be grinding his teeth.
at least he can spell
LOL andyk
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