Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: iPhone, 3G, Apple, crack, cracking | Themes: Smartphones, 3GSM
Chicago (IL) - So you spent hours waiting in line to get your hands on an iPhone 3G or you put up with AT&T’s direct fulfillment deal and have been using this elegant phone with its reflective white plastic back that is topped off with a chrome outline and aluminum buttons. Greasy fingerprints are bad enough for the look-at-me factor of your iPhone, but imagine what cracks in the gadget’s plastic back will do.
That is exactly what apparently happened to some iPhone 3G owners. A growing number of users are reporting the issue in Apple’s support forum and other Mac-related sites, such as MacRumors, across the Internet. At this time, the problem seems to affect just only $299 16 GB white iPhone model, but some voices suspect that dirt simply makes cracks more visible on white plastic and that similar cracks are appearing on black models as well, but have not been spotted so far.
Finding cracks on the back of a relatively expensive iPhone may be enough to completely ruin the joy of owning an iPhone, especially if we consider the fact that this is a very emotional product. You always could ask for a replacement product, right? However, that may be easier said than done.
Some users who looked for help at an Apple store have reported that the company is refusing to repair or replace the phone. "I have taken my iPhone 3G into the Apple store and was turned down," claims a user on Apple Discussion forum. Another one suggests "which doesn’t mean that’s what will happen to the OP. Nor does it mean that’s what will happen if you try again. Different day, different genius, different outcome, perhaps."
Others who posted questions on Apple’s forums were disappointed to find out that Apple still isn’t providing information about this problem. Even worse, several users report that Apple deleted their posts about the issue from the Apple Discussion web site. "Apple is deleting posts by the dozens not to mention entire threads on this topic," wrote an angry customer on Apple’s forum. We were able to find several dead posts on Apple’s support site referred to by other posters, such as this one.
While we know that such quality issues happen from time to time, it is clear that Apple is not responding to these issues in a timely and appropriate manner. The fact that Apple is silent on the matter and doesn’t even reply to numerous complaints in its forum suggest that it may still be researching the issue. However, we believe that a brief answer or a statement to its customers would be the right thing for Apple to do.
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Not really news, this is the sort of thing Apple has been doing.
I got the 3g white on day one... no cracks so far... maybe they put pressure on the case (sat on it) and it cracked? It's plastic, like most cell phones...
A very emotional product? Seriously? I guess if you flocked to lines and stood in the heat/cold... maybe.
I really don't "get" the whole iPhone thing. I suppose it's because it's trendy, people have to have it. Cool gadget, I've messed around with one... but... very emotional product?
All of that aside, I find the fact that Apple was deleting posts is pretty disturbing. People should be allowed to complain and have others read their complaints. I know Apple has the right to moderate it's forums, but that's just shady.
Oh this is certainly not the first time Apple has censored people. I can't remember if it was some of the bad LCD panels in some of those all in one desktop macs or maybe something else, but they were freaking going to town deleting their customers posts. I read about it here and numerous other places.
I got the 3g white on day one... no cracks so far... maybe they put pressure on the case (sat on it) and it cracked? It's plastic, like most cell phones...
and thats like saying, "I owned a Ford with Firestone tires and they never blew up! Everyone else must have slashed their own tires while driving down the freeway. They are rubber after all."
Cracks in your phone - quite putting it in your back pants pocket and then parking your lard-butt on the concrete bench. Then again, just bend over and it won't be the crack in the phone people will be noticing.
It's not really news that apple systematically censores it's boards. Reason enough for me to never ever buy such an emotion - laden product...
@GravionGR
Being a treo user for several years and setting up almost every smart phone known to man for my clients, I had the same outlook as you regarding the iPhone being a trendy device. Maybe it is maybe not... At first I thought it was just a phone with a bunch of gimmicks that would fade out like every fad. But after taking the plunge, I can say that I will never go back to using a treo or any other smart phone for that matter.
Yes I was one of the people that stood in line for 6.5 hours. Was it worth it? Yes. It's syncing with my exchange server and it's web browser is years ahead of the competition. That alone is worth the switch. I know that other phones support active sync, but the way the iphone does it is just plain awesome.
Factor in that it's a multimedia device (I'm still getting used to this), and all the apps (that don't crash unlike the treo) and you get one heck of a phone. Are there things that can be improved? Of course, this is the phone/tech market we're talking about here!
I too have the white iphone, and I don't have any cracks. Maybe I'm lucky? I've always had a good experience with Apple's support. I'm also very careful with my iphone, dropping it is never a good idea... Although I'm not suggesting that such a large group of people would do that ;-)
Went to the beach yesterday and put my iphone in my black backpack. It was hot and sunny. I made sure I was careful not to step or sit on my backpack, but I think the black color of my backpack made it hotter inside so my iphone now has 3 cracks! I'm planning to get a cheaper phone so I don't have to bring the iphone along when I go to the beach more often this summer. Sad, but true.