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Apple took a pretty risky approach by pointing the finger at competitors in response to perceived antenna issues on the iPhone 4, and both RIM and Nokia are fighting back. According to Blackberry manufacturer Research In Motion: "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." The strongly worded statement urges Apple to take responsibility for their poor design decisions, and reminds everyone they don't need a case to get the most out of a Blackberry.
Nokia wasn't specifically named by Apple at the press conference, but they still took advantage of the situation to remind everyone that antenna design is the most important design consideration they make. "In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That's why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design." The most damning statement in Nokia's release was "we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict."
Steve Jobs may have believed that he could take the spotlight off the iPhone problems by naming a few competitors with the same issue, but all he did was draw a bullseye on his back attracting the ire of some pretty big names within the wireless industry. Gutsy move.
Comments are closed on this article
cjbriare
July 20, 2010 at 1:09pm
I didnt think Apple was pointing the finger at anybody, but simply proving that ANY phone will lose reception in if you hold it a certain way.
But more importantly, we know now that the media was making the issue a lot worse than it was.
And you have to admit, the hardware in iPhone 4 is still pretty awesome. But since the hardware and OS has everything that people criticized it for, now they criticize the antenna. but when iPhone 5 comes out, they will <hopefully> learn from their mistake.
BuLLg0d
July 20, 2010 at 6:36pm
omg....
don't drink the kool-aid folks....
or
"Wake up Neo" (That one's my favorite)
Caboose
July 20, 2010 at 2:00pm
I can hold my HTC Magic in my left hand, my right hand, sideways, upside down, cover the entire thing, stick it in my pocket in it's sleve, Have it in the centre console of my car, sitting on my desk at home, or the coffee table in my living room. Or even in the bathroom at work, and I do not experience, or have ever experienced, anything like what Steve 'The Almighty' Jobs says happens with everyone!
The media is not to blame (except maybe beating a dead horse) for this. Apple is. Their poor R&D, poor testing, and the fact that all of their "beta units" were in cases so no one knew what was going on (and thought, "Oh, there goes another stuck up snob! Enjoy your latee!") and there were no issues then, WHY? Because there was no contact with the antenna.
I'd hardly call the hardware in the iPhone 4 "amazing". And I'm sure that the Apple is "hard at work" on the next iPhone, out Summer of 2011. This time with a "rubber grip" built in to the body so you don't need a "bumper". And maybe, just maybe, the ability to use facetime with others while on 3G.
Oh! I know! They'll finally have true multitasking between all apps and it'll be the best thing since ever!
Shouldn't you be on MacLife or something, and not trolling here?
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
cjbriare
July 20, 2010 at 8:15pm
Well as a PC and Mac user i come to this site too.
BTW whats wrong with the multitasking?
The thing is, its rare that Apple will offer free ANYTHING, so you can see that having a recall for the 3,000,000 units sold would be a lot more difficult than handing out free cases.
But, FaceTime on 3G would only make AT&T worse. AT&T was the reason why i went with a Droid when they came out.
But when iPhone 4 came out, i got one, and have not experienced any signal loss on it.
Jeez, guess this wouldnt be MPC without everyone thinking everything Apple makes is crap.
Caboose
July 20, 2010 at 8:20pm
"Jeez, guess this wouldnt be MPC without everyone thinking everything
Apple makes is crap"but... they do!
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
cjbriare
July 20, 2010 at 8:24pm
my point exactly....
Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Apple fanboys will be fanboys, and.. PC Fanboys will make fun of them.
Thats just how it is. Oh well.
I love my PC. Don't get me wrong. Im not a total Apple fanboy. :)
Caboose
July 19, 2010 at 3:01pm
Looks like Apple...
*puts on sunglasses*
Has a rotten core!
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
bluetorino1973
July 19, 2010 at 2:37pm
Well I know other phones have some issuess but I never heard of other manufacters blaming the user for holding the damn phone wrong. So Apple stop pointing fingers at other people and just fix your damn shit. Why waste the time of not being productive and do some actual work. I guess Steve Jobs just wants to waste money. Oh well what can you do. And in the picture you can see that three of his fingers are pointing at himself.
Lost_Intelligence
July 19, 2010 at 11:27am
RIM, Motorola, Nokia - be careful with your responses. If you contradict what Lord Jobs says, you can expect the wrath of his minion lawyers on you. Your phones do have problems. Lord Jobs said so. Accept it.
Strongbad536
July 18, 2010 at 7:38pm
i would expect better from the largest tech company in the world
Caboose
July 19, 2010 at 10:09am
You must have low expectations... or maybe high... I don't know...
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
TechJunkie
July 18, 2010 at 7:07pm
YES! He's pointing at the booger hangin' out your nose!
Actually he's pointing and shouting.. "YOU! The guy in the red shirt! How dare you bring that EVO in this apple press conference!.....SECURITY!!!!".....
Caboose
July 19, 2010 at 10:08am
or
YOU! Turn off your damn WiFi! TURN IT OFF!
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
fuzz_64
July 18, 2010 at 1:26pm
A friend of mine is an engineer at RIM and he noted that while the BB 9700 prototypes had the problem that Jobs pointed out at his presentation, the released ones do not. He then proved it to us with the 9700 that he uses.
I have a Samsung Omnia II and can say that I couldn't duplicate the issue with my phone no matter how tightly I held it either. I looked at the one that Jobs was holding and it looks much different than mine... different buttons, silver outline, text/logo locations...
M-ManLA
July 18, 2010 at 11:50am
I think that he didn't make a smart decision by throwing the other companies under the bus during the press event. He needed to explain to customers on what they are doing, not painting the bulls eye on his back .
Electronically charged
Pokedex1010
July 18, 2010 at 11:46am
Just because you say something doesn't mean everyone will go with it. What the hell did he expect, RIM and Nokia would just take his BS?
http://twitpic.com/26kb1z (lol )
Caboose
July 19, 2010 at 10:05am
You don't have to tell him, he already thinks he is one!
I think ol'Steve-o needs another acid trip...
-- Sent from my Desktop running Windows 7 64bit
