🚀 go-pugleaf

On 7/13/10 9:03 AM, John Navas wrote:
>
> While there are some hardware problems that can be worked-around or at
> least alleviated in software, there are also some that cannot, and this
> looks to me to be more likely in the latter category, with only fig leaf
> fixes (e.g., no signal strength meter) possible.
>
> I think the interesting question is whether or not Apple will try to
> slipstream a change to the iPhone 4 hardware, or tough out this design
> for a year until iPhone 5.
>
> The problem of toughing it out is that the problem will continue to grow
> should it ultimately lose in court or in the court of public opinion.
>
> The problem with a slipstream change is that it would throw fuel on the
> fire of the criticism and lawsuits unless Apple is prepared to offer
> free hardware swaps, which would be a huge hit to the bottom line.
>
> I personally think Apple will probably continue to stonewall and push
> fig leaf "solutions", risking its brand, because that's the Steve Jobs
> Way.  How successful that will be only time will tell.

Probably the least costly solution for Apple would be to repackage the 
iPhone 4 with those new "bumpers" that Apple is trying to sell for an 
additional $29.  Those silicon bumpers probably doesn't cost more than 10 
cents to manufacture and they solve the iPhone 4 antenna problem.  They 
could offer this bumper (in basic black) for free to anyone who already had 
bought an iPhone 4.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC597ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0NA&mco=MTM3NTI0ODg

They could still try to sell the bumpers that come in other colors for those 
who are into customizing the look of their iPhones.


- Peter