Glassgate Is a Problem for Apple, However You Cut It
Top Technology News 2:52 AM
The use of slip-on cases made for the iPhone 4 can cause scratches on its glass back panel that eventually could lead to cracks and even shattering, Block reported, based on information he received from sources inside and outside of the company.
Particles of debris can get caught between the rear of the phone and the case, causing the scratches that could eventually fracture the glass, he explained.
This account has not been confirmed by Apple, which did not return MacNewsWorld's call seeking comment for this story.
A Stealth Problem?
There apparently have been no complaints about this scenario ever having occurred -- at least none that have been made public.
"I have 30,000 people that listen to my show -- and believe me, they will call in about the littlest issue," Rob Walch, host of Today in iPhone, told MacNewsWorld. "No one has ever mentioned this."
Skepticism seems to be a common reaction to the report.
"I really do think if this were a problem it would have emerged by now, especially after all the troubles that Apple had with its iPhone 4 antenna," Laura DiDio told MacNewsWorld.
A problem such as Block described would have been one of the first things tested while the device was in development, she reasoned.
Of course, one might assume that Apple had thoroughly tested the iPhone 4's antenna, which it acknowledged as a problem only after dragging its feet.
New PR Approach
Indeed, the criticism heaped on Apple over "Antennagate" had at least as much to do with the way the company addressed the problem as with the antenna flaw itself.
Apple eventually acknowledged there could be a problem with reception when the iPhone 4 was held in a certain way by some users. Its ultimate solution was to supply customers with a bumper case that covered the antenna.
However, Apple recently discontinued giving the bumper case to new customers unless they specifically requested it.
Consumer Reports has refused to recommend the iPhone 4 because of the antenna issue -- and the way Apple put the onus of solving the problem onto the customer.
Other problems reported about the iPhone 4 included accounts of yellow spots or bandsappearing on the screen in the first days after its release. This issue never attracted the same attention as the antenna problems did, though.
Presumably Apple learned a lesson from its Antennagate fiasco and is likely to take complaints and the possibility of another wave of bad PR more seriously.
From that perspective, there's something in Block's account that does have the ring of truth. Apple reportedly has moved to block sales of third-party cases to keep glass damage to a minimum. More importantly, it has allegedly created a lab and special test program to investigate this potential problem.
Another hint that scratched glass could be a concern is in the odd design of the bumper that Apple released to mitigate the antenna problem; it doesn't come in contact with the back of the iPhone.
Jinxed Device?
Even if the so-called GlassGate turns out to be nothing, it seems the the iPhone 4 may be jinxed.
The coverage the alleged issue has been getting will grab consumers' attention, DiDio pointed out, and may contribute to the perception that the device is flawed.
If the problem is real, it could hamper any plans Apple has for production of a CDMA device, whether it is with Verizon or another carrier. Even if it isn't true, it could impact sales of a new device if enough people believe it.
Of course, that is assuming there is a CDMA phone in production. Apple has not confirmed those rumors either.
However, they have more of a ring of accuracy than Glassgate, said Azita Arvani of the Arvani Group. "I think we will see one early next year. The rumored glass issue, on the other hand, seems to be a big hype, missing factual evidence."
Source: technewsworld.com
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