If Apple Lied About the iPhone 4, It Could Be Game Over
Apple’s reputation could be in a lot of trouble.
A LOT of trouble.
No, I’m not talking about the antenna issue, the screen issue, or even the issue with the proximity sensor. While each of those are big problems, Apple could have avoided a reputation crisis by simply offering to fix or replace phones that were suffering from any of these issues.
Even a total recall of all iPhone 4s would not be as much trouble as the crisis that is looming on the horizon for Apple. What could possibly be bigger than these hardware issues?
Simple. Did Apple knowingly lie to its customers?
You see, Consumer Reports–an unbiased, neutral observer–just stated that it can’t recommend the iPhone 4 due to the antenna issue. More than that, it is questioning the validity of Apple’s explanation:
Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4’s signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that “mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength.”
Wow! Did Apple lie?
Its official announcement categorically stated that the issue was due to a software glitch. What if it turns out that this is a massive cover-up by Apple? What if it has to admit that there is in fact a hardware issue. It could try and claim that its initial testing missed the defect, but it would be hard for the company to convince anyone after stating:
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same— the iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped.
If Apple now has to admit that there is a hardware issue, it won’t be the cost of the recall that will weigh heavily on the company’s bottom line, it will be the cost of losing the trust and respect of its most loyal customers.
Before you comment, know this: I currently own an iPhone 4, iPad, Macbook Pro, Macbook, Mac Mini, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle. So, no, I am not just another Apple hater. 🙂
Are you kidding me? Apple marketing has lied outrageously to people for years! Most of the people who buy in to Apple marketing do not carefully compare Apple products with Apple’s competitor products, which routinely perform as well or better at a lower price. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard Apple claim as new a feature that Windows users had already been using for years, or that Apple claimed it could do that Windows could not. I am no Apple hater (I run both Apple and Windows boxes in my labs and in my office) but I do resent all the foolish Apple evangelism.
Andy,
While I think this is a serious issue, I question whether the “most loyal” customers will really lose trust and respect. Most of them will probably come to Apple’s defense and just dismiss it as a “one time” thing, especially if Apple gathers itself and makes the situation right. Never underestimate the passion of Mac addicts; it’s like family. You can trash your sister as much as you want, but when someone else does it, you’re ready to take their head off. That’s kind of how I see the loyalists. They’ll complain to each other, but they’ll defend Apple to the death.
Only time will tell…
@Brian – you make a valid point. And I’m sure we’ll see those same loyalists leave comments very shortly. 😉
Brian,
I’ve used Apple products for over 20 years and I’m saddened to see them become Goliath. I am a very loyal customer and I have seen the quality and service devolve over the past decade. I have upgraded less frequently over the years because of it and I am considering multiple non-Apple products for the first time in memory. I didn’t upgrade to iPhone 4 bc I have learned to never get the first new big release from them. These issues are always approached with the typical Marketing department attitude of “Do now and ask for forgiveness later” and it’s disgusting. I know that I am not alone. I love my Mac and will not change to Windows or Linux, but I will probably move away from iOS products, including iPhone and iPad. I just don’t trust them anymore. It’s a real issue they should be worried about!
Hasn’t every big Apple product in recent memory shipped too early?
I bought the iPhone 4, and right off the bat knew it had a lot of problems. The making and receiving calls was the big worry, but even further software issues and glitches have become more frequent. They got this one wrong. But the other products are great. I wont stop using the good products just of one bad one. Returning the iPhone 4 before the 30 days for sure!
Andy,
Kudos for having an open mind to post this as I know you love your Apple devices.
As an Android advocate I’m not going to bash the iPhone but glad people are taking the blinders off in realizing its not magic & there are similar choices that has pluses & minuses.
Comes down to choosing the feature set, design & service provider thats best for you and your needs.
It looks like the testing done by Consumer Reports may have been flawed, according to an experienced radio engineer…
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/13/radio_engineer_consumer_reports_iphone_4_testing_flawed.html
Loyalist found above 🙂
Don’t be naive, Of course Apple lied. The only difference is that they slipped this time. All companies lie, but with Apple it is part of an arrogant corporate culture that has managed to ingeniously amass a very large following of overly excited devotees. It has used that marketing power to simply and blatantly lie to its worshipers who will swallow any hype cooked by the marketing grandmaster, Steve Jobs. This has allowed Apple to hide a lot of their failings such as the coupling of a very good and beautiful media consumption player to what is a mediocre phone and call it the “Iphone.” What an erratic, modern marketing genius that Steve Jobs. Cheers to Apple’s regimented pseudo-aesthetics and to its mastery of the”Reality Distortion Field” processes.