Apple’s new iPhone 4 is a hit. And according to Consumer Reports it is also majorly flawed. Now with mounting backlash from its fanbase and a potential tarnishing of the infamous Apple “brand,” Steve Jobs and his band of techies may soon have to do the unthinkable — recall the iPhone 4!
When the iPhone 4 was formally announced 2 months ago, one of its most talked about design features involved the metallic steel band antenna around the outside of the device. Placing the antenna on the outside instead of its traditional location on the inside, was touted by Apple to be revolutionary. The iPhone’s exclusive carrier, AT&T, had come to be known as the leader in dropped calls and other connectivity issues, so Apple believed placing the antenna on the outside would not only free up interior space (for a larger battery), but also make phone calls clearer, crisper, and less susceptible to being dropped. Boy, where they wrong!
Since the iPhone 4 landed in the waiting hands of its anxious customers, the Internet has been bombarded with reports that simply holding the device around its new-fangled antenna slowly reduces service bars to nothing, thereby dropping any call instantly. Some customers even uploaded video proof to the web, showing how they could drop calls at will — all by just holding that exterior metallic antenna.
Apple’s original solution to the problem was laughable — “You’re holding it wrong!” tweeted Steve Jobs, hoping the problem was limited or would simply go away. But it didn’t. Apple then suggested customers buy their rubberized bumper case to cover the antenna, which actually helped but was merely a band-aid for a gaping wound of a problem. Then Apple floated the idea that after all these years they had accidentally designed the service bars to display incorrectly, but quickly back peddled once they realized a planned software update would fail and only make matters worse. And so the chorus of complaints grew larger.
Dr. Richard Gaywood, a Ph.D. expert in wireless network planning, confirmed the antenna design flaw and said he believes “the best scenario is for Apple to coat the antenna and replace all existing phones with a revised model.” But will they? Apple has called a special press conference for tomorrow to address issues involving the iPhone 4, so we’ll have to wait and see what their approach is. Most tech experts agree Apple’s antenna problem is larger than they’d like to admit, so it would be in their best interest to recall the iPhone 4 and reintroduce it with a properly coated antenna. Admittedly, this sort of recall by Apple would be both expensive and unprecedented. But in light of an awful public relations hit of late, a recall would prove that the company is committed to providing products of impeccable quality, while winning back the hearts and minds of Apple fans everywhere.
Your move Apple!
`
Forget a recall. Won't happen.It would cost Apple in the billions, not to mention bad pr from the admission they;re not perfect.Tomorrow expect Apple to give away free bumper cases to anybody who wants it. My case fixes the problem so theirs should too. Aside from that, don't expect much else from Cupertino.