So is it safe to assume that this problem is limited and is in no way a widespread one? Or do we not even know that yet?
I normally take very good care of my phones and always have them in a case but if it seems the cracks appear even with taking good care of it, that worries me.
The first model had widespread reports of the screen cracking.
It turned out that the specs were off by a tiny amount, basically what I mentioned in my first post a while ago about sizing.
Anyway, it turned out to be from one production run, and affected less that 1% of the phones. Apple replaced them as well.
It's really too early to know how many people have this problem.
It's possible that close to two million phones have been sold already. If this were a truly major problem there would be far more reports of this by now.
Er... I have a few scratches on my iPhone 3G White 16GB, however I do not believe these are "hairline fractures" that will cause my iPhone 3G to explode when I am walking on the street.
Seriously, thanks to the news for informing us about these, but yeah, luckily I may have dodged the bullet on this one. Particularly if you consider how much I paid for this iPhone 3G. *cough* one grand *cough*.
To all of you who think the cracks are associated with only the white iPhones, I have a black iPhone G3 with cracks!!! I handle mine with TLC and there are cracks between the headphone jack and the silver trim. I am a jeweler by trade and used my loop to see them. They are small but you can easily see where the right tension would cause the pieces to fall out. The funny thing is that I have never even plugged my headphones into the jack (I use my bluetooth with the phone and have all my music on my 32 gig iPod Touch). My iPhone looks as new as the day I bought it. There are no other cracks anywhere but around the jack.
I wondered if it's possible that the black color would make the cracks harder to see.
Even if it is harder to see on the black one it still doesnt excuse the fact that it should not be happening. Up until now most people have justified Apples high prices with comments such as "its a premium product". Im not sure if that is still true after this.
I hope it is just a problem with this production line but if its not what might Apple do? Would they begin using other materials instead and replacing all models with cracks?
I will be paying close attention to this as there is no way I will buy one of these if its a major production fault. I hope it's not.
How will we know if its widespread? Shall we start an online poll for anyone affected and then let it pass around?
We just have to wait and see if reports continue for a while longer. At some point, after Apple evaluates the situation, and knows what the problem is, they will say something. The problem with them is that they're often mum for too long, which makes the suspicious minds more suspicious.
I will be paying close attention to this as there is no way I will buy one of these if its a major production fault. I hope it's not.
How will we know if its widespread? Shall we start an online poll for anyone affected and then let it pass around?
They are showing a poll with about the rate of 16% reporting cracks. Even that is a lot for a few week old phone, teckie or not. That % is bound to go up with time I would think.
By the way, is Apple really so insecure as to have to take down the link to the thread about this on their own forum? To me that looks like they are trying to cover this up.
I agree, I was just thinking that might be why owners of the black ones might not be reporting it.
Also, more phones are covered with a case than not, so there could be many cracks going unreported. On my first iphone, the case went on and never came off. Not everyone would even think to check unless reading the forums.
They are showing a poll with about the rate of 16% reporting cracks. Even that is a lot for a few week old phone, teckie or not. That % is bound to go up with time I would think.
By the way, is Apple really so insecure as to have to take down the link to the thread about this on their own forum? To me that looks like they are trying to cover this up.
That's a poll of only people who check in. It's not of random users. It doesn't mean much.
But whether its random people or people who use forums they still have the same phone. There are not 2 versions of iphone, one for techies and one for normal people. There is every possibility that if 16% of people who use the forums are reporting it then 16% of the rest of the iphone population also have this problem.
But whether its random people or people who use forums they still have the same phone. There are not 2 versions of iphone, one for techies and one for normal people. There is every possibility that if 16% of people who use the forums are reporting it then 16% of the rest of the iphone population also have this problem.
That isn't necessarily true. People who go on forums are motivated. They are also more likely to write in either way. But we don't know what the variation is. For all we know, Apple is having more problems than is being reported.
It's going to take more time for those who aren't active on forums to go to their providers, and Apple, about this problem. When we begin to hear about it from more varied sources, we will have a better idea of the extent of the problem, whether it is from one or two batches of phones, or from all batches.
This is like last years screen cracking problem. At first, there were a lot of reports on the forums, and it looked as though the problem was widespread, but it turned out to be from one production run, and affected less than 1% of all users. But because it was from one early run, that run was in the stores everywhere at the same time. Therefore, the people who bought the phone at the same time had the problem. Because of that, it seemed as though it was a major problem everywhere. But, it wasn't. Once that run had sold out, no one else had the problem.
At any rate, Apple found out what the problem was, replaced the units, and the problem went away. but it took a couple of months for it to be resolved.
I'm saying that it's too early to say how much of a problem it is, not that it isn't a problem.
My white 3G is cracked badly. One piece even flaked off. There are cracks all across the top, as well as by the volume button. I took high resolution pictures and tweaked the contrast in Photoshop, and even more show up that are not easily seen by the naked eye. Big problem, especially since mine went beyond hairline cracks to actually flaking off.
I think Apple lowered the QA on this run. I have some small imperfections on my black 8gb iPhone, it looks like there was some dust on the back before they put the finishing coat of paint on it. It's not serious to me, so I won't complain.
I think Apple lowered the QA on this run. I have some small imperfections on my black 8gb iPhone, it looks like there was some dust on the back before they put the finishing coat of paint on it. It's not serious to me, so I won't complain.
Understand the way this works.
Apple isn't manufacturing anything these days.
Apple specs out the product after their design is finished. The manufacturer maintains the QC, which is at some standard value that industry accepts.
If Apple requires the company to raise their production, the company may decide to gloss over some minor aspect of QC without telling the customer (Apple). That's not a happy situation, but it occurs.
Some early adopters of Apple's second-generation iPhone have witnessed thin cracks appear at the edges of the device that damage the phone's look and threaten to pose a larger threat down the road.
Those tracking the issue in an Apple support discussion thread and elsewhere say the hairline fractures most often appear on the plastic shell near the corners of the device, particularly near the headphone jack, ringer switch, and volume controls.
The flaws appear regardless of how gently the user takes care of the phone and can increase in number, according to multiple claims, although there are no known reports of existing cracks growing in size. At least a few users, however, report cracks deep enough to create a visible opening, particularly at the headphone jack.
Most of those noticing the issue are owners of the white model. Nonetheless, some owners of black editions also report the issue and suggest that it's not a matter of the material used for the color but a more general problem. The black shell simply hides the cracks better, these users suggest.
Apple's own response to the problem has been mixed. The company doesn't yet list the problem as common and has largely left exchanges to its in-store technicians. While some affected owners claim to have received little trouble and a quick replacement, others describe being rejected due to the cosmetic nature of the cracks, which to date haven't resulted in an outright device failure.
Those contacting their carriers aren't necessarily so fortunate: in one case, an Ottawa, Canada resident has been turned back at retail and on the phone by Canadian iPhone provider Rogers Wireless, which said it would have to technically rule the flaws "customer abuse" and charge the full replacement cost of the phone.
Hairline cracks on iPhone 3G. | Image credits: Nevin Styre, Apple support discussions.
In all circumstances, though, these customers express frustration at a device that in a short space of time is already appearing to break down, even if the faults are purely superficial.
"I don?t think it is such a big deal but then again, I just got this phone and paid a fortune for it," says one detailed report. "There should not be any problems with it in week one."
I think Apple lowered the QA on this run. I have some small imperfections on my black 8gb iPhone, it looks like there was some dust on the back before they put the finishing coat of paint on it. It's not serious to me, so I won't complain.
I think I know what you mean. I have what looks like a tiny little bubble near the middle back. I don't think most people would notice it, and I'm not going to bother complaining about it.
Comments
So is it safe to assume that this problem is limited and is in no way a widespread one? Or do we not even know that yet?
I normally take very good care of my phones and always have them in a case but if it seems the cracks appear even with taking good care of it, that worries me.
The first model had widespread reports of the screen cracking.
It turned out that the specs were off by a tiny amount, basically what I mentioned in my first post a while ago about sizing.
Anyway, it turned out to be from one production run, and affected less that 1% of the phones. Apple replaced them as well.
It's really too early to know how many people have this problem.
It's possible that close to two million phones have been sold already. If this were a truly major problem there would be far more reports of this by now.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....6295&tstart=30
Thanks for pointing that out but it seems to be a bit more widespread.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....6295&tstart=30
I don't think we can go by that. It's a few very specific tech sites, with the kind of teckie people who would report to it.
We have to see if this is affecting more than a small, but vocal, group.
How will we know if its widespread? Shall we start an online poll for anyone affected and then let it pass around?
Seriously, thanks to the news for informing us about these, but yeah, luckily I may have dodged the bullet on this one. Particularly if you consider how much I paid for this iPhone 3G. *cough* one grand *cough*.
To all of you who think the cracks are associated with only the white iPhones, I have a black iPhone G3 with cracks!!! I handle mine with TLC and there are cracks between the headphone jack and the silver trim. I am a jeweler by trade and used my loop to see them. They are small but you can easily see where the right tension would cause the pieces to fall out. The funny thing is that I have never even plugged my headphones into the jack (I use my bluetooth with the phone and have all my music on my 32 gig iPod Touch). My iPhone looks as new as the day I bought it. There are no other cracks anywhere but around the jack.
I wondered if it's possible that the black color would make the cracks harder to see.
I hope it is just a problem with this production line but if its not what might Apple do? Would they begin using other materials instead and replacing all models with cracks?
I was planning on getting mine this week as well.
Even if it is harder to see on the black one it still doesnt excuse the fact that it should not be happening.
I agree, I was just thinking that might be why owners of the black ones might not be reporting it.
I will be paying close attention to this as there is no way I will buy one of these if its a major production fault. I hope it's not.
How will we know if its widespread? Shall we start an online poll for anyone affected and then let it pass around?
We just have to wait and see if reports continue for a while longer. At some point, after Apple evaluates the situation, and knows what the problem is, they will say something. The problem with them is that they're often mum for too long, which makes the suspicious minds more suspicious.
I will be paying close attention to this as there is no way I will buy one of these if its a major production fault. I hope it's not.
How will we know if its widespread? Shall we start an online poll for anyone affected and then let it pass around?
They are showing a poll with about the rate of 16% reporting cracks. Even that is a lot for a few week old phone, teckie or not. That % is bound to go up with time I would think.
http://forums.macrumors.com/poll.php...ts&pollid=3210
By the way, is Apple really so insecure as to have to take down the link to the thread about this on their own forum? To me that looks like they are trying to cover this up.
I agree, I was just thinking that might be why owners of the black ones might not be reporting it.
Also, more phones are covered with a case than not, so there could be many cracks going unreported. On my first iphone, the case went on and never came off. Not everyone would even think to check unless reading the forums.
They are showing a poll with about the rate of 16% reporting cracks. Even that is a lot for a few week old phone, teckie or not. That % is bound to go up with time I would think.
http://forums.macrumors.com/poll.php...ts&pollid=3210
By the way, is Apple really so insecure as to have to take down the link to the thread about this on their own forum? To me that looks like they are trying to cover this up.
That's a poll of only people who check in. It's not of random users. It doesn't mean much.
But whether its random people or people who use forums they still have the same phone. There are not 2 versions of iphone, one for techies and one for normal people. There is every possibility that if 16% of people who use the forums are reporting it then 16% of the rest of the iphone population also have this problem.
That isn't necessarily true. People who go on forums are motivated. They are also more likely to write in either way. But we don't know what the variation is. For all we know, Apple is having more problems than is being reported.
It's going to take more time for those who aren't active on forums to go to their providers, and Apple, about this problem. When we begin to hear about it from more varied sources, we will have a better idea of the extent of the problem, whether it is from one or two batches of phones, or from all batches.
This is like last years screen cracking problem. At first, there were a lot of reports on the forums, and it looked as though the problem was widespread, but it turned out to be from one production run, and affected less than 1% of all users. But because it was from one early run, that run was in the stores everywhere at the same time. Therefore, the people who bought the phone at the same time had the problem. Because of that, it seemed as though it was a major problem everywhere. But, it wasn't. Once that run had sold out, no one else had the problem.
At any rate, Apple found out what the problem was, replaced the units, and the problem went away. but it took a couple of months for it to be resolved.
I'm saying that it's too early to say how much of a problem it is, not that it isn't a problem.
I think Apple lowered the QA on this run. I have some small imperfections on my black 8gb iPhone, it looks like there was some dust on the back before they put the finishing coat of paint on it. It's not serious to me, so I won't complain.
Understand the way this works.
Apple isn't manufacturing anything these days.
Apple specs out the product after their design is finished. The manufacturer maintains the QC, which is at some standard value that industry accepts.
If Apple requires the company to raise their production, the company may decide to gloss over some minor aspect of QC without telling the customer (Apple). That's not a happy situation, but it occurs.
Some early adopters of Apple's second-generation iPhone have witnessed thin cracks appear at the edges of the device that damage the phone's look and threaten to pose a larger threat down the road.
Those tracking the issue in an Apple support discussion thread and elsewhere say the hairline fractures most often appear on the plastic shell near the corners of the device, particularly near the headphone jack, ringer switch, and volume controls.
The flaws appear regardless of how gently the user takes care of the phone and can increase in number, according to multiple claims, although there are no known reports of existing cracks growing in size. At least a few users, however, report cracks deep enough to create a visible opening, particularly at the headphone jack.
Most of those noticing the issue are owners of the white model. Nonetheless, some owners of black editions also report the issue and suggest that it's not a matter of the material used for the color but a more general problem. The black shell simply hides the cracks better, these users suggest.
Apple's own response to the problem has been mixed. The company doesn't yet list the problem as common and has largely left exchanges to its in-store technicians. While some affected owners claim to have received little trouble and a quick replacement, others describe being rejected due to the cosmetic nature of the cracks, which to date haven't resulted in an outright device failure.
Those contacting their carriers aren't necessarily so fortunate: in one case, an Ottawa, Canada resident has been turned back at retail and on the phone by Canadian iPhone provider Rogers Wireless, which said it would have to technically rule the flaws "customer abuse" and charge the full replacement cost of the phone.
Hairline cracks on iPhone 3G. | Image credits: Nevin Styre, Apple support discussions.
In all circumstances, though, these customers express frustration at a device that in a short space of time is already appearing to break down, even if the faults are purely superficial.
"I don?t think it is such a big deal but then again, I just got this phone and paid a fortune for it," says one detailed report. "There should not be any problems with it in week one."
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
so i found some cracks on my iphone. but they arent as major as those. do i go get a replacement or do i have to deal with em?
so i found some cracks on my iphone. but they arent as major as those. do i go get a replacement or do i have to deal with em?
I would say so. I consider that a defect in the workmanship. You will have to convince them that is is a defect and you didn't cause it.
I think Apple lowered the QA on this run. I have some small imperfections on my black 8gb iPhone, it looks like there was some dust on the back before they put the finishing coat of paint on it. It's not serious to me, so I won't complain.
I think I know what you mean. I have what looks like a tiny little bubble near the middle back. I don't think most people would notice it, and I'm not going to bother complaining about it.