Apple: iPhone News and Discussion Thread
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
Sanest Florida Man
This story is not BS and it is not going away it will continue...
My name is Dan and I had a bent iPhone | The Verge
Video in link
My name is Dan and I had a bent iPhone | The Verge
#Bendgate. In the roughly six weeks that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have been in customers' hands, there have been reports that the devices bend without any provocation from owners. (There has also been plenty of evidence that the new iPhones will bend if you actually try to bend them, but that's besides the point.) Apple's response to the matter was succint: very few customers had complained about their iPhones bending, and if a customer had any issues, they should take their devices to an Apple Store. The company also invited media (including The Verge) to see its testing process for devices, including its various torture and wear tests.
Much of the media noise surrounding bent iPhones has died down since then, but Apple has sold tens of millions of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus smartphones, and it's very likely that more customers have experienced the issue. In fact, I was just one of them.
I purchased an iPhone 6 the first day it was available and have been using it as my main device for the past six weeks. Last night, while sitting on my couch, I noticed that it seemed like the Apple leather case my phone lives in had some obvious curvature to it. Upon removing the case, I realized that the phone itself had a very apparent bend, and it could easily be rocked on a flat surface. I also noticed there was a dent on the back of the phone. Neither issue impaired usability, but neither could have been chalked up to normal wear and tear, either.
I'm fairly careful with my devices. I've kept the iPhone in its case for virtually the entire time I've owned it, and the time between instances where I've actually broken phones can be measured in years — but I also live in the real world. My iPhone is one of my most used gadgets. It's constantly with me, in my pants pockets (front or back, I don't really discriminate), in my jacket pockets, or in my bag. I'm sure there are points where I have dropped my phone during everyday use, but none severe enough that I can pinpoint how this might have happened.
Following Apple's instructions, I used my bent iPhone to schedule an appointment at the Apple Store's Genius Bar for the following morning. I went to the store for my appointment, explained the situation to the employee, who then confirmed that the device was indeed bent without any obvious signs of abuse. I was then given a replacement iPhone and sent on my merry way. The whole process took less than a half an hour. From the time that I discovered my iPhone was bent to having a new phone in my hand was about 12 hours. Apple replaced the damaged phone under warranty at no cost to me, even though I had originally purchased the device from AT&T and not Apple itself. I'd never paid for any extended warranty or AppleCare Plus.
GETTING MY IPHONE REPLACED BY APPLE TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND CAME AT NO COST TO ME
It's important to note that I scheduled the appointment using my personal email address and did not identify as a journalist at the store. It didn't appear that any one at the store recognized me as such, either. By all accounts, it was just a routine Genius Bar appointment and resolution. I asked the particular employee that helped me if they had seen a lot of customers complain of bent devices; they said of the thousands of people they've helped, they'd only seen it a couple of times. (They also noted that the other instances where a phone had come in bent, it had significantly more damage than my device, such as a cracked screen.) Apple PR declined to comment on this story when contacted by The Verge.
I'm not thrilled that my iPhone 6 bent under normal usage, but I can't say I'm unhappy with the resolution. I discovered a problem with my phone late in the evening and had a replacement the very next morning. (I'm fortunate enough to walk past an Apple Store every day on my way to work, so I didn't have to travel far to a store.) The worst part of the whole ordeal was having to reprogram my fingerprints for Touch ID on the replacement device. One of the big reasons that I often recommend iPhones to others is because of Apple's support structure — I can't think of another company that could resolve this kind of problem so quickly and painlessly.
THE WORST PART OF THE WHOLE ORDEAL WAS REPROGRAMMING TOUCH ID ON THE NEW PHONE
So yes, the new iPhone can apparently bend under normal usage. It sucks and could be a flaw in the design or construction of the phone. Of the many other phones I've carried, none have ever bent in my pockets or during normal usage. I was understandably skeptical of the early reports of iPhones bending, but obviously it's a real issue.
But I'm not going to stop using my iPhone 6 — it has a killer camera, great performance, access to the best apps, and the benefit of Apple's support infrastructure — and I'm not likely to stop recommending it to others. If this happens again (or if you also happen to own an iPhone that has bent), I'll go through the same process and hopefully have as good of an experience as I had today. Still, it shouldn't have bent in the first place.
Maybe I shouldn't put it in my back pocket any more.
Much of the media noise surrounding bent iPhones has died down since then, but Apple has sold tens of millions of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus smartphones, and it's very likely that more customers have experienced the issue. In fact, I was just one of them.
I purchased an iPhone 6 the first day it was available and have been using it as my main device for the past six weeks. Last night, while sitting on my couch, I noticed that it seemed like the Apple leather case my phone lives in had some obvious curvature to it. Upon removing the case, I realized that the phone itself had a very apparent bend, and it could easily be rocked on a flat surface. I also noticed there was a dent on the back of the phone. Neither issue impaired usability, but neither could have been chalked up to normal wear and tear, either.
I'm fairly careful with my devices. I've kept the iPhone in its case for virtually the entire time I've owned it, and the time between instances where I've actually broken phones can be measured in years — but I also live in the real world. My iPhone is one of my most used gadgets. It's constantly with me, in my pants pockets (front or back, I don't really discriminate), in my jacket pockets, or in my bag. I'm sure there are points where I have dropped my phone during everyday use, but none severe enough that I can pinpoint how this might have happened.
Following Apple's instructions, I used my bent iPhone to schedule an appointment at the Apple Store's Genius Bar for the following morning. I went to the store for my appointment, explained the situation to the employee, who then confirmed that the device was indeed bent without any obvious signs of abuse. I was then given a replacement iPhone and sent on my merry way. The whole process took less than a half an hour. From the time that I discovered my iPhone was bent to having a new phone in my hand was about 12 hours. Apple replaced the damaged phone under warranty at no cost to me, even though I had originally purchased the device from AT&T and not Apple itself. I'd never paid for any extended warranty or AppleCare Plus.
GETTING MY IPHONE REPLACED BY APPLE TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND CAME AT NO COST TO ME
It's important to note that I scheduled the appointment using my personal email address and did not identify as a journalist at the store. It didn't appear that any one at the store recognized me as such, either. By all accounts, it was just a routine Genius Bar appointment and resolution. I asked the particular employee that helped me if they had seen a lot of customers complain of bent devices; they said of the thousands of people they've helped, they'd only seen it a couple of times. (They also noted that the other instances where a phone had come in bent, it had significantly more damage than my device, such as a cracked screen.) Apple PR declined to comment on this story when contacted by The Verge.
I'm not thrilled that my iPhone 6 bent under normal usage, but I can't say I'm unhappy with the resolution. I discovered a problem with my phone late in the evening and had a replacement the very next morning. (I'm fortunate enough to walk past an Apple Store every day on my way to work, so I didn't have to travel far to a store.) The worst part of the whole ordeal was having to reprogram my fingerprints for Touch ID on the replacement device. One of the big reasons that I often recommend iPhones to others is because of Apple's support structure — I can't think of another company that could resolve this kind of problem so quickly and painlessly.
THE WORST PART OF THE WHOLE ORDEAL WAS REPROGRAMMING TOUCH ID ON THE NEW PHONE
So yes, the new iPhone can apparently bend under normal usage. It sucks and could be a flaw in the design or construction of the phone. Of the many other phones I've carried, none have ever bent in my pockets or during normal usage. I was understandably skeptical of the early reports of iPhones bending, but obviously it's a real issue.
But I'm not going to stop using my iPhone 6 — it has a killer camera, great performance, access to the best apps, and the benefit of Apple's support infrastructure — and I'm not likely to stop recommending it to others. If this happens again (or if you also happen to own an iPhone that has bent), I'll go through the same process and hopefully have as good of an experience as I had today. Still, it shouldn't have bent in the first place.
Maybe I shouldn't put it in my back pocket any more.
Last edited by #1 STUNNA; 11-07-2014 at 08:59 PM.
Sanest Florida Man
It's going to cut into Apple's profits if they have to keep replacing people's phones because they bend every 6 weeks due to a clear design flaw.
Lets see how thin we can make a phone out of a soft metal like aluminum, what could go wrong!?
Lets see how thin we can make a phone out of a soft metal like aluminum, what could go wrong!?
Azine Jabroni
Bendgate is a non-issue. Already, no one cares. Go get your phone replaced. They sold 10 million of them. They're not worried.
So fucking what, if these phaggot hipster stop wearing pant made for 10 yr old boys.
The following 2 users liked this post by jupitersolo:
Devil Dog 21 (11-12-2014),
Majofo (11-08-2014)
Sanest Florida Man
Sanest Florida Man
Reports (like above) are that it happens even with a case so don't think that is guaranteed to save you.
This will slowly grow as more people are affected, it will get more coverage when it happens to more and more members of the media and they write up their experience like above and reach out to Apple. The media and the Verge in particular are going to take this issue seriously now, they bought Apple's distraction initially but now that it's happened to one of their own. Different story now.
Unfortunately for Apple they don't have a real solution, they can give out cases again that'll probably shut people up but won't fix the issue or necessarily prevent it from happening.
I bet the next iPhone won't be made out of a soft metal like aluminum, not if they want to keep making it thinner. Maybe an alloy, back to plastic? I'm curious what metal they could find enough of so fast to take the place of Ai.
Just like the iPhone 4 antenna that they said wasn't flawed and that people were holding it wrong, they fixed it in the 4s even though it was never broken in the 4 and was caused by the user.
Last edited by #1 STUNNA; 11-07-2014 at 09:29 PM.
Go Giants
Get a better case
Sanest Florida Man
What does apple do when it happens to people after their one year warranty is up? Let people walk around with bent but functional iphones? That'll do wonders for their public image.
But I guess it's the users fault for being stupid and not buying Apple Care warranty. They should've known better! User dumb, Apple great! Right Jup?
But I guess it's the users fault for being stupid and not buying Apple Care warranty. They should've known better! User dumb, Apple great! Right Jup?
Go Giants
I have had so many devices with micro USB break on me where the connector separates
Sanest Florida Man
Ok
Team Owner
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
Gtfo
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Team Owner
Comments
Go Giants
?
Team Owner
^Bendgate over the weekend comments and the usual M-F crew to chime in
Go Giants
I see. Well, I went back to the stock keyboard because I got sick of the buggy 3rd party keyboards.
Team Owner
So you can't swipe on the stock 8 keyboard right? They should be able to work out the bugs though?
Go Giants
Right.
Team Owner
It really sucked pathetically swiping on an iOS keyboard (backup phone) while waiting for my Note 4. I can't believe they didn't develop this themselves.
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
The swiping party of swiftkey worked great. It's just all the damn bugs related to it sucked the big one. So I uninstalled it a while back.
After I started swyping years ago I never went back. It just feels more fluid. Hope the iOS update fixes it soon.
I remember JBing my iPhone allowed for 3rd party keyboards, but I don't think swiping worked too well or at all then either. But now that Apple allows for it
I remember JBing my iPhone allowed for 3rd party keyboards, but I don't think swiping worked too well or at all then either. But now that Apple allows for it
The Third Ball
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Age: 45
Posts: 49,437
Received 5,105 Likes
on
2,708 Posts
I thought I liked swiping when I used it on other phones.
Swype is apples current app of the week being offered for free.
After trying to use it for a day...meh, I think I'm going to delete it.
Oh...and the obligatory STUNNA is an idiot.
Swype is apples current app of the week being offered for free.
After trying to use it for a day...meh, I think I'm going to delete it.
Oh...and the obligatory STUNNA is an idiot.
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
Apple Said to Be Stopping Use of TLC NAND Flash in iPhone 6 and 6 Plus After Reported
Apple will switch from using TLC (triple-level cell) NAND flash to MLC (multi-level cell) NAND flash in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus after users have experienced crashing and boot loop issues with the higher capacity versions of both devices, reports BusinessKorea.
iphone6_6plus_laying_down
Sources have told the paper that flash memory firm Anobit, which Apple acquired in 2011, is to blame for the manufacturing defects. Apple will reportedly switch to MLC NAND flash for the 64GB iPhone 6 and the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus, and will also address crashing and boot loop issues with the release of iOS 8.1.1. Apple has used MLC NAND flash before, in previous-generation iPhones.
TLC NAND flash is a type of solid-state NAND flash memory that stores three bits of data per cell. It can store three times as much data as single-level cell (SLC) that stores one bit of data, and 1.5 times as much as multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state flash memory that stores two bits of data. On top of that, TLC flash is more affordable. However, it is also slower than SLC or MLC in reading and writing data.
Apple released its first iOS 8.1.1 beta to developers earlier this week, although the company did not specify whether the included bug fixes addressed boot loop and crashing issues on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Users who are experiencing an unusual amount of boot loops and crashes with their iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus are recommended to bring their devices back to an Apple Retail Store for a replacement.
iphone6_6plus_laying_down
Sources have told the paper that flash memory firm Anobit, which Apple acquired in 2011, is to blame for the manufacturing defects. Apple will reportedly switch to MLC NAND flash for the 64GB iPhone 6 and the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus, and will also address crashing and boot loop issues with the release of iOS 8.1.1. Apple has used MLC NAND flash before, in previous-generation iPhones.
TLC NAND flash is a type of solid-state NAND flash memory that stores three bits of data per cell. It can store three times as much data as single-level cell (SLC) that stores one bit of data, and 1.5 times as much as multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state flash memory that stores two bits of data. On top of that, TLC flash is more affordable. However, it is also slower than SLC or MLC in reading and writing data.
Apple released its first iOS 8.1.1 beta to developers earlier this week, although the company did not specify whether the included bug fixes addressed boot loop and crashing issues on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Users who are experiencing an unusual amount of boot loops and crashes with their iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus are recommended to bring their devices back to an Apple Retail Store for a replacement.
I wonder if this is related to all the lock ups and freezing I'm having issues with
Senior Moderator
Came home from looking at phones a couple days ago with a 6 plus. The fact the Sprint store didn't have a Note 4 in stock to sell and their iphone plan is $10 per month cheaper made it an easy decision, although I was worried for a moment about switching from Android. No regrets, this thing is amazing. I absolutely love the finger print scanner among other things.
Azine Jabroni
Came home from looking at phones a couple days ago with a 6 plus. The fact the Sprint store didn't have a Note 4 in stock to sell and their iphone plan is $10 per month cheaper made it an easy decision, although I was worried for a moment about switching from Android. No regrets, this thing is amazing. I absolutely love the finger print scanner among other things.
teh Senior Instigator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Age: 42
Posts: 44,094
Received 978 Likes
on
330 Posts
and, pulled my 6 out of it's case today...only to find out it's bent....
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
Sanest Florida Man
Some people have had success getting it fixed under warranty, others have not. Since Apple still isn't recognizing this obvious problem there's no official policy on how to handle it.
Last edited by #1 STUNNA; 11-13-2014 at 11:53 AM.
teh Senior Instigator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Age: 42
Posts: 44,094
Received 978 Likes
on
330 Posts
store couldn't see me today, said they were swamped and were only taking dead phones. Have an appt monday at the one in the city if I make it in, or tuesday at the one here in town.
Wonder if I can somehow swing this to get the 6+ I wanted
Wonder if I can somehow swing this to get the 6+ I wanted
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
I thought the 6 wasn't prone to bending, mainly the 6P
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
I recall there was a memo sent out that if there is a bent phone not caused by abuse and intentionally bent that they would cover it under warranty
Sanest Florida Man
Go Giants
Ill just leave mine in the case then....
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts
Meh I've sat on mine and put it in my front.. I mean skinny jean pocket. Still straight.
teh Senior Instigator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Age: 42
Posts: 44,094
Received 978 Likes
on
330 Posts
teh Senior Instigator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Age: 42
Posts: 44,094
Received 978 Likes
on
330 Posts
Go Giants
weird
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
Age: 40
Posts: 63,308
Received 2,811 Likes
on
1,991 Posts