Apple Ending the iPhone 4 Free Case Program

Continuing to downplay the issue. I'm curious if someone is denied a bumper and then can't place an 911 call in a low signal area because of the Antenna...how Apple will handle being sued.

At the end of this month, Apple is going back its normal returns policy – 14 days and a possible 10 percent restocking fee – for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30.

and some lawyers letters from customers ...

"the case program would run until the end of September"
because phone magically fixes itself in October

The first sentence is wrong. It should read:

"Now that we've masked over our catastrophic design blunder with software updates, you needn't worry your pretty little heads anymore."

In the end Apple will reap what it sows... or at least any ordinary business would. Apple is a master of brand perception, even if reality doesn't support the claims.

Just in time for the release of WP7 and a whole slew of new Android phones

Bad business decision, Apple should have done the opposite and extended the program till Xmas, good will is worth ten times it's cost in bad press.

Apple seem to think the appleoids have learned to hold the product "right", doubt it as many appleoids still purchase the defective version. Conclusion - Must ne some kind of flaw in the learning department of the brain! =P

this is mostly fault of the consumers...

they have very short memory so the Apple is taking advantage of fickle consumer awareness...

if you want the antenna to be fixed permanently, you have to CONSTANTLY ask for it...

Apple is such arrogant-*** of a company. No wonder why I don't buy their products.

I thought that after this they were going to be shipping the fixed antenna version? Not that it matters, they still lie about signal strength.

Yeah, i'll buy that now that "magically" fix that antenna. Or i'll just "learn how to hold" my iPhone4.

Ok Apple now tell another joke.

Glad everybody had a chance to rant. I for one think the issue is real, even if it sometimes takes a strong grip to short the antenna. On the other hand, the glass back and front of the phone (Gorilla or not) made me get a case anyway. So I think it's not so much that the technical issue doesn't exist, but a case is almost mandatory anyway. (Yes, the iPhone4 is extremely slippery and not easy to hold.)

I opted for Belkin's clear case followed by Apple's "bumper". I have to admit I didn't expect much from the latter, BUT it turned out to be an excellent case for ergonomics, button access and looks. Further, this is an expensive design (many parts) and the $30 seem much more justified than the $20 - $30 for a single shot case like most others. I'm impressed even if I'm getting flamed for liking the Bumper.

Whats the matter with the guys above? So much hate and cynicism towards Apple? I think Apple has been responsive and supportive of their users in this case.

At first, I thought Apple had slipstreamed an antenna fix. Apparently not.

Now I have even less desire to fork up $200 and a prorated monthly payment.

Thanks Steve!

Apple's cure: cover the side of the phone in needles.

Job's comment: "Now you HAVE to hold it like I told you to. See, I was right all along. You can apologize now."

You won't be flamed for liking the bumper, you'll be flamed for being a mindless sheep. You're the reason Apple gets away with what its doing. Seriously, Apple creates a phone with obvious problems. You buy said phone for $200 + 2-year phone plan. Then, when the phone has problems, what do you do? You give Apple another $30 for 50-cents worth of rubber to "solve" the problems they designed the phone with in the first place.

I think it was decent of Apple to give away cases. What I think is crooked is that they first tried to charge you for those cases hoping enough people wouldn't complain about the problem they must have known about before hand. Yes, lots of companies do this. Recalls on any product are often the result of numerous complaints against the product or company (one counter-example is when Johnson and Johnson recalled all that children's pain relief medicine because it failed internal tests). However, no one should praise a company for the recall. Did people praise those egg producers in Iowa for recalling the eggs? No, people blamed them for shipping contaminated eggs in the first place. Did people praise Toyota for recalling those stuck accelerators? No, they lambasted them for designing death cars for the past 8 years. Yet so many Apple faithful (and this site too) seem to praise Apple for doing the right thing by giving away free cases (but only until Sept. 30th, if you buy a phone after that, its your own stupid fault). The rest of us who realized Apple never should have shipped a phone with such problems in the first place still aren't buying it.

Whatever floats your boat. I take it you actually have an iPhoine4 to be that informed?

@theuerkorn

i take it you brought a toyota to be informed on the stuck accelerator issue.....

when apple outright fails to acknowledge the issue, and by all reckoning there is some kind of issue here, kind of funky to be giving free cases for a non issue (that and the plenty of complaints, although not according to apple....), we can only conjecture as to the probable cause

and really he'll be a stupid bunny if he went out to buy a phone that seems to have unresolved issues, especially and iPhone, thats an expensive exercise in stupidity

They will probably blame AT&T for having cr@ppy service lol.

Are moderators not watching these comments / forums? I understand spammers can make multiple accounts, but at least try to ban by IP address or something. Sheesh.

How about ... I bought one and the issue is real but minor for me. My testing, my usage, my data. So I guess I'm talking to phantom people and draw data out of thin air when you tell me that it doesn't work because you read about it?
This discussion is pointless anyway. It makes you feel good to rant against it, while it makes me feel good that my "investment" works for me. Defensive? Maybe, but not having to buy all the apps again helps my budget. Really, what's wrong with it if it works in my application? (Other than blind opposition.)

Retailers will teach users to hold the iphone the 'right' way after Sept. 30th.

Ok what do you consider a "small percentage?"
Does this include those who ordered the bumper after you offered the free bumpers, or does it also include those who already bought one and need a refund?
My wife's friend had to wait almost 4 weeks by snail mail to get hers... Maybe that is why some people aren't ordering from you Apple...

Heh, a small percentage? Whats that? 2%? 5%?
How many iPhone 4's did you manage to sell, Apple?
Seems like a lot of people might have had (are still having?) issues..

The fact remains.... the iP4 is a defective product that Apple won't fix. Putting a condom on it doesn't change a thing. Apple is sinking AT&T. You know the CDMA verison for Verizon is going to have a new antenna design. I can see the first Verizon ad now "Coming soon to Verizon the iPhone4 with redesigned antenna"

All I want is a refund.

@theuerkorn

It's nice that the iPhone 4 works for you, i dont think thats the issue, the issue here is that there are people out there where the iPhone 4 doesn't work for them, there is a problem with the iPhone 4 and you really can't say there isn't just because someone didn't buy an iPhone 4 and becuase it works perfectly for you (albiet it with a case)

in short the iPhone 4 has a problem, which will still be there after september 30, people are just going have to pay to get the workaround for it

I'm not an apple troll. I went back and forth between the Evo and the IPhone 4 (iP4). I've@ had 2xEvos and am on my. 2nd iP4 (there was nothing wrong with the first one...just wanted to try the Evo).

I don't deny there may be some flaw in the antennae design of the iP4 but I'm right-handed and can't really imagine not putting a case on my phone (I tried, but the thought that it might not stay in new condition because I didn't use a case freaked me out...I'm like that with my stuff).

Apple is not saint of a company...they seem arrogant. ...but I do like their hardware. There, I said it. I actually like the iP4 and iOS more than the Evo and Android/HTC Sense UI ...and the Evo is a nice phone.

I think they blew the antennae thing way out of proportion (only because I don't know anyone who has had the issue)... I guess that makes me a...what are they calling it now? ..."a mindless sheep".

...cheap bast....

I know somebody who does have an iphone 4. And, just like they used to talk about, holding it over the line on the left side of the phone works like a charm... calls will more than likely drop. The gel skin for the side of the phone does its job and does it well. That, and it really makes it feel more solid. Apple should really just make the gel skin a pack in accessory. It can't be all that expensive to provide, but it does make a big difference.