Following the chaos that surrounded the much-anticipated iPhone 4 due to its defective antenna, the executive in charge of the unit has recently left Apple. Apple has tried to protect its image by claiming that antenna problems are something to be expected from most cell phones but this has not stopped consumers from criticizing the giant company. Many are speculating that this is the reason why Mark Papermaster has quit his job after more than a year of providing service.
Bob Mansfeld, who is in charge of the hardware engineering of Mackintosh, will take over for the meantime. According to spokesman Steve Dowling, Mansfeld is already involved in the development of many iPod Touch and iPhone technologies, such as the touch screens and Retina display.
Other than making this statement, the Apple spokesman refused to make any further comment regarding the departure of Papermaster and whether his leaving was caused by the antenna fiasco. Even though the details of Papermaster’s resignation remain withheld, there is no doubt that the defective iPhone 4 antenna has caused a stain in Apple’s otherwise clean reputation for producing high-quality and cutting-edge technology. There is also no doubt that the event caused much internal tension among the members of the company.
Apple has had a tough several weeks what with the issue of a defective signal in the latest iPhone 4. Apple’s solution has basically been the “rubber bumper” that is supposed to insulate the antenna of the handset.
However, corporate crisis experts and public relation professionals believe that Apple is better off announcing a recall of the problematic smartphone. This is because Consumer Reports has already stated that the reception issue of the phone is based on the hardware itself, meaning it cannot be repaired by simple upgrades.
According to crisis communication expert Professor Matthew Seeger, Apple will most likely be forced to recall the iPhone 4 in order to save its image. Chris Lehane also agrees.
Chris Lehane’s opinion is of substantial worth since he worked as the “Master of Disaster” in the White House during the administration of Clinton. Author Dr. Larry Barton also says that Apple faces the choice between proving that Consumer Reports magazine was wrong or replacing the defective handsets. Dr. Bartong thinks that it would be ineffective for Apple to continually claim that the iPhone 4 is just unable to provide an accurate signal strength calculation.
Trying to go against Consumer Reports would certainly prove to be a challenge since the well-known and trusted magazine is known for its fair and impartial information.
If you’re one of the Apple fans who recently purchased the latest iPhone 4 then chances are you are also one of the many consumers who are complaining about its faulty connectivity. Apple has recently released a solution in the form of a bumper made of rubber and is designed to go around the phone. The bumpers are claimed to be able to insulate the antenna of the phone, hence, improving connectivity.
However, at $29 a pop, consumers are considering the purchase unfair since they already paid hundreds of dollars for the unit and the connectivity problem is none of their own fault. A man named Oliver Nelson has come up with a brilliant solution.
Nelson recently bought an iPad charger online and along with his purchase, he got a complimentary rubber bracelet—not unlike those that cyclists wear. He tried fitting the bracelet around the iPhone and voila! He had a rubber bumper that did not cost him a cent. Don’t know where to get these rubber bracelets? Go down to your nearest hobby store and you will likely find one for a buck a piece. That’s an incredibly low price to pay compared to the $29 alternative. Naturally, you will have to make a few adjustments like cutting out small holes to make space for the switch, audio jack and such.
It’s in people’s nature to get tired of the old and move toward the new and latest. If you want proof, just take a look at the numerous buyers and sellers of the old iPhone model now that the latest iPhone 4 has hit the market. Websites like BuyMyTronics.com and Gazelle.com have recently reported that sales used models of the previous iPhone has skyrocketed. Some sellers are even selling their own handsets for a little more than $150. A couple of months ago, no brand-new or used iPhone unit would have sold for less than $300.
The folks over at eBay are having the same observations. Sellers who are looking to sell their old iPhones have more than doubled and the asking prices have plummeted. This goes to show that the latest iPhone 4 is the hottest thing on gadget planet. Its average price on eBay is no lower than a whopping $942.
Environmentalists are worrying about the wastes that these gadget updates are producing. Most gadget companies claim that they ship all used electronics to developing countries to be disposed of properly. However, the recycling programs in these countries remain questionable. Apple has addressed this concern by reminding consumers to return used products that will be recycled domestically.
Texting and driving has been a staple safety crime ever since mobile phones became everyone’s
necessity. Many people believe that this crime is often committed by teenagers. In fact, there is even a TV
commercial for safety that features a group of typical teenagers on about to spend a fun and carefree day.
However, fun turns to tragedy when the driver of the car makes the mistake of texting while drivng. The
next scene is all but the opposite of the earlier image—the car is totaled, blood is on the pavement and the
passengers are all crying and screaming.
This might just be a public service announcement but is it true? Are teenagers really the main perpetrators
of texting and driving? According to studies done by the American Life Project and Pew’s Internet, adults
are just as guilty as teenagers. In fact, it was found that adults are more likely to read messages while
driving as well as send them. It was also found that most of the individuals who talk while driving are
adults. In fact, a lot of adults even admitted that they even have collisions outside a vehicle because of
their mobile phones, and that walking while texting has caused them to bump into other people often.
The world of mobile phone advertisements has always been competitive one, especially in the US where a new handset’s advertisement can directly affect its sales. Whether it’s a star-studded commercial by Apple or an odd clip by Palm Pre, there is no doubt that mobile phone manufacturers use their TV commercials to attract their target consumers.
A recent mobile phone commercial in Korea has become a hit with mobile phone lovers around the world. Instead of resorting to new tricks to make it edgy, the commercial simply used good old fun to make the commercial stand out. The commercial features a high-fashion runway show where the gorgeous models are wearing life-sized cell phones—the Samsung Galaxy S, the HTC Desire and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 among others.
Instead of posing at the end of the catwalk, the models show off the features of the cell phone that they are wearing and the mostly male audience becomes mesmerized. But what takes the cake in this commercial is the adorable little green android that wraps up the show with his groovy shaking moves that are boosted by the cheering crowd.
So if you are tired of the same old commercials that endlessly feature celebrities or pretentiously try to be inspiring then you better check this commercial out for some plain laughs.
If you live in the US then it’s highly improbable that you will see dozens of consumers line up for a Nokia mobile phone product. Nothing against Nokia of course but the fact is that the manufacturing company is simply more popular in other parts of the world than in the US.
This is why it was particularly spectacular to see not tens, not hundreds, but thousands of people in Indonesia gather for the launching of the Nokia C3. Everybody wanted a chance to buy the handset, almost resulting in pandemonium. Prior to the debut of the handset, Nokia held events in about ten cities across the country in order to announce the promotional price of the phone for only a limited time. And it’s not a bad phone either. The new Nokia C3 features a nice QWERTY keyboard, making it resemble the more pricey E series of smartphones that Nokia released earlier. Add a relatively low price tag to this feature and no wonder you’ve got mass hysteria.
Indonesia is actually the first country to experience the Nokia C3 but it won’t be long before the mobile phone becomes internationally available. There is also a high chance of Nokia duplicating this success if they hold the same introductory events in other countries as well.
There is no doubt that the Apple iPhone 4G has been the talk of the techie town for the past several months. This June, Apple fans and gadget lovers get the chance to finally witness the unveiling of the iPhone 4.
Perhaps the most important feature that one will notice with the new iPhone is its new sleeker design. Although the former iPhone generation was already known for its thinness, the new iPhone is as much as 24% thinner than its predecessor—making it the thinnest smartphone in the market. Steve Jobs also boasted about how the front and back panels of the phone are made of glass and framed with stainless steel. Aside from providing protection, the stainless steel also serves as an antenna of the phone.
The new iPhone will also have a front-facing camera with 5MP resolution and flash. The camera will also be able to record HD videos.
Aside from being the thinnest smartphone around, the iPhone 4 will also have the highest screen resolution.
Those of you who have been crossing their fingers for video chatting features will undoubtedly be excited about the FaceTime feature—a video calling app that Jobs promised will work over the mobile network instead of through Wi-Fi only.
It’s no secret that our mobile phones are now being incorporated into our everyday lives like never before. No longer just tools for calling and sending messages, cell phones can now be used for other transactions such as transferring funds or paying bills.
Studies are now currently under way that will possibly result in smart phones also serving as door keys to major hotels around the world. In fact, two branches of the Holiday Inn hotel are currently testing out the system wherein hotel guests gain access to their rooms through the simple use of their mobile phones. The RFID is the latest technology being used in hotel keys today. Mobile phones will likely use similar technology but experts say that replacing the cards with smart phones will definitely be much more convenient since almost every traveler bring their mobile phones along on their trips.
The two Holiday Inn hotels will run the smart phone experiment for roughly three months before proceeding to gather feedback. If the reviews prove to be positive then the other Holiday Inn branches will adopt the new system. If the system is implemented, about 20% of the hotel rooms will have smart phones for keys instead of cards.
Techies and mobile phone buffs who are awaiting the release of the next generation of the iPhone are all buzzing about whether the new model will carry video chat features. However, if you’re a film buff then what you’re probably more concerned about is the fact that director Sam Mendes will be in charge of the commercial.
According to a tipster for Engadget, Apple will be releasing a new line of commercials that will feature the new iPhone generation. According to sources, this new model of iPhone is being dubbed as the Mammoth/N90. Rumor also has it that the new commercial will feature a clip of a mother chatting with her daughter using the phone’s front-facing camera using the video feature. More and more people are starting to believe this bit of rumor especially since there are some people on Twitter tweeting about how they are auditioning for various roles for the said commercial.
Sam Mendes is a known director who recently brought to screen the masterpiece Revolutionary Road which featured then wife Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio—creating a reunion much awaited by movie fans everywhere. Mendes also recently made the headlines due to his recent divorce from wife Winslet.
