Boy, what a bad article.

1. Apple has acknowledged that there are issues with the antenna.
2. The use of the word “appease” goes back far longer than Neville Chamberlain. In fact, the “bloody-minded global dictators” statement is quite insulting. Perhaps you would have been happier had the memo said “mollify” instead?
3. My guess is that Apple is hiring engineers pretty consistently, and this is probably an indication of a ramp-up of the design process for next year's iPhone 5.

Apple's official statement was given to engadget (and I do not mean the Steve Jobs emails; look for the part in italics): http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/apple-respon...

Posted: Apple, if the Antenna is AOK, who are THESE guys? http://bit.ly/9ihKm0

Apple, if the Antenna is AOK, who are THESE guys? http://bit.ly/9C2xZl

Boy, what a bad article.

1. Apple has acknowledged that there are issues with the antenna.
2. The use of the word “appease” goes back far longer than Neville Chamberlain. In fact, the “bloody-minded global dictators” statement is quite insulting. Perhaps you would have been happier had the memo said “mollify” instead?
3. My guess is that Apple is hiring engineers pretty consistently, and this is probably an indication of a ramp-up of the design process for next year's iPhone 5.

Apple's official statement was given to engadget (and I do not mean the Steve Jobs emails; look for the part in italics): http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/apple-respon...

No, they don't acknowledge there are issues with the antenna, they admit there are issues with having people hold the antennas…not the same thing.

Here is what appeared on Engadget that you referenced:

/quote

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.

We know what you're thinking, and we're thinking it too: this sounds crazy.

/Unquote

Next, yes, Mollify would have been a better term since to many people, when they hear appease in a modern context they think of the third definition according to Merriam Webster:

/quote

3 : pacify, conciliate; especially : to buy off (an aggressor) by concessions usually at the sacrifice of principles

/unquote

So no, not the best word…actually, it would have been best if they had simply said they are not offering free covers at this time. Why appease or mollify anything? Both words make them sound like they are feeling a bit defensive.

As for the last…8 engineers specifically experienced in RF and antennas, all at once, while this flap over antennas is going on, to work on the next release in at least a year's time…nothing whatsoever to do with iPhone 4 problems.

Do you really believe that?

I am willing to see this whole thing as being blown out of proportion, if APple would only act like they are concerned with customer service over this issue and not just stonewalling, circling the wagons, and treating their customers like morons. This IS an issue that can be handled, if Apple would stop the damage control and handle it.

As for this being a bad post…I think it's sweet.

3. Don’t forget YOU STILL NEED to probe and troubleshoot. If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held) it is not the metal band.

Riiighhhttt…..So if there are reception problems while you are holding the phone, then it IS due to the metal band? The one that was not a problem?

I read Apple's comment differently, so let me rephrase it a bit. “If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held), we need to fix this as it couldn't be attenuation caused by holding the phone incorrectly.”

I think they're telling their reps not to assume that all reception issues are caused by this issue and that they need to check them out. Regardless of how we think they're handling this issue, I think the reminder is a good thing.

5. We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

APPEASE? Like Neville Chamberlain did? “iPhone Reception in our time…” Nice, really nice. So Apple is equating upset users of their products with bloody-minded global dictators.

I parse words very carefully (if you haven't noticed :D) and I knew who Neville Chamberlain was and what his policy of appeasement was — and I never would have drawn that analogy.

Now consider how many people don't know who Chamberlain was (perhaps young Apple geniuses?) and I think you're overblowing that word. Thie important thing is that they're not going to do anything, even give away little covers.

Beyond all the Customer Support jiggery pokery, if Apple really believes that there is no problem with the antenna, then why are they hiring eight (count em, eight) new Antenna and RF engineers, all the sudden?

Those ads were posted before the iPhone 4 came out. So either Apple knew about the problem (as you contend) or Doogald could be right and they're ramping up for the next iPhone release or they're replacing some team members who moved on after the iPhone 4 project (for whatever reasons). We can make assumptions, of course, but I'm not sure there's any hard evidence here.

But I do think it's an interesting post.

Steve

3. Don’t forget YOU STILL NEED to probe and troubleshoot. If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held) it is not the metal band.

Riiighhhttt…..So if there are reception problems while you are holding the phone, then it IS due to the metal band? The one that was not a problem?

I read Apple's comment differently, so let me rephrase it a bit. “If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held), we need to fix this as it couldn't be attenuation caused by holding the phone incorrectly.”

I think they're telling their reps not to assume that all reception issues are caused by this issue and that they need to check them out. Regardless of how we think they're handling this issue, I think the reminder is a good thing.

5. We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

APPEASE? Like Neville Chamberlain did? “iPhone Reception in our time…” Nice, really nice. So Apple is equating upset users of their products with bloody-minded global dictators.

I parse words very carefully (if you haven't noticed :D) and I knew who Neville Chamberlain was and what his policy of appeasement was — and I never would have drawn that analogy.

Now consider how many people don't know who Chamberlain was (perhaps young Apple geniuses?) and I think you're overblowing that word. Thie important thing is that they're not going to do anything, even give away little covers.

Beyond all the Customer Support jiggery pokery, if Apple really believes that there is no problem with the antenna, then why are they hiring eight (count em, eight) new Antenna and RF engineers, all the sudden?

Those ads were posted before the iPhone 4 came out. So either Apple knew about the problem (as you contend) or Doogald could be right and they're ramping up for the next iPhone release or they're replacing some team members who moved on after the iPhone 4 project (for whatever reasons). We can make assumptions, of course, but I'm not sure there's any hard evidence here.

But I do think it's an interesting post.

Steve

Alright, I may be sensitive to the word Appease…but it was still a silly way for them to look at the situation.

As for the ads, the second set were placed in the midst of the initial discoveries, so I feel it was clearly a reaction to them…which would be great and smart and wise and I would applaud them for being proactive….if they would just be open about it.

I dunno what all the complaint is about. I can hold my hand over the antenna and grip the phone only holding the bottom left corner, and I can't MAKE the thing drop a call. Seriously people, there is not a device in the world that doesn't drop a call. Honestly, this is the highest quality handset I've ever had the privelidge to use, and I will continue to do so happily.

As for the training release that someone leaked, what's wrong with making sure that someone does get troubleshooting assistance for REAL reception issues? The people answering these calls are in a call center, probably taking call after call with no down time, most likely working overtime trying to keep up with all the new users needing help. All that statement says to me is to not get jaded and not think that every call about reception isn't someone complaining and wanting something in return for something that may or may not be a hardware issue.

Are any of the news people reporting on the issue actually using the device? They should go try one and then complain. There isn't a device on the market that comes close on the voice call quality, the camera is unreal, and the battery lives easily twice to 3 times the life of a typical android device using the same variety of programs. All I can say is this thing is worth all the hype it got before release, and probably more.

As for the engineers, maybe Apple is trying to expand a little with how much demand there is for this generation of device and also the iPad, which ALSO uses a 3G data connection. Chill out people. Being reactionary doesn't get anyone anywhere. If there's an issue with the device, neither I nor about 100 other people that I know who have and use the device on a daily basis have NO problems. Don't just look at what the loud people have to say. Listen to the people who are using the device normally and have NO PROBLEMS!!

I dunno what all the complaint is about. I can hold my hand over the antenna and grip the phone only holding the bottom left corner, and I can't MAKE the thing drop a call. Seriously people, there is not a device in the world that doesn't drop a call. Honestly, this is the highest quality handset I've ever had the privelidge to use, and I will continue to do so happily.

As for the training release that someone leaked, what's wrong with making sure that someone does get troubleshooting assistance for REAL reception issues? The people answering these calls are in a call center, probably taking call after call with no down time, most likely working overtime trying to keep up with all the new users needing help. All that statement says to me is to not get jaded and not think that every call about reception isn't someone complaining and wanting something in return for something that may or may not be a hardware issue.

Are any of the news people reporting on the issue actually using the device? They should go try one and then complain. There isn't a device on the market that comes close on the voice call quality, the camera is unreal, and the battery lives easily twice to 3 times the life of a typical android device using the same variety of programs. All I can say is this thing is worth all the hype it got before release, and probably more.

As for the engineers, maybe Apple is trying to expand a little with how much demand there is for this generation of device and also the iPad, which ALSO uses a 3G data connection. Chill out people. Being reactionary doesn't get anyone anywhere. If there's an issue with the device, neither I nor about 100 other people that I know who have and use the device on a daily basis have NO problems. Don't just look at what the loud people have to say. Listen to the people who are using the device normally and have NO PROBLEMS!!