All,
Just a couple of quick comments. If, based on recent comments here, the latest IOS update does not fix the crashing problem, there are some really negative implications. Either Apple does not view the issue as a priority to address – or, more likely, it’s a problem that cannot be fixed by updating the IOS. I am coming to that conclusion based on Apple’s apparent decision to swap out the NAND flash (hopefully soon) in the affected phone models. To make this decision on such an incredibly significant component of the phones just two months after their release in the market says it all (at least to me). If there was a way to update the software that could fix the obvious defect, almost certainly it would have been done already. Clearly it would be an easier and preferable choice for Apple, rather than deciding to make such a significant component change to the existing hardware so soon in its sales cycle.
And there are also a couple of really bad implications with Apple’s continued misleading public position on the issue (for obvious legal and financial reasons) – you know, that very few phones have a defect causing the crash – rather than the apparent truth to all of us that all the phones have a serial/systemic defect, but very few customers undertake an action (downloading a significant number of apps, for example) that will actually trigger its occurrence. What follows comes from firsthand experience:
First, anyone who is starting to think about getting a refund can forget about it. Because its Apple’s contention that very few phones are affected, their resulting position will always be that replacing the defective phone with yet another (defective) new one will solve the problem. Even for those individuals who have already exchanged phones, and regardless how many times they that they have done so - it will always be Apple’s stated position that it is just some incredibly unfortunate and unexplainable coincidence – and they will continue to tell you that the next replacement phone that they give you will work perfectly and be free of any defect.
Second, for 128GB 6+ owners, there is also no option to exchange your iphone for another Apple model (including the regular 6). This is because the 6+ is considered by Apple to be their best, top-tier model, and Apple has a firm, ironclad and inflexible policy against downgrading phones, regardless the reason or circumstances. Which means those owners being victimized by the defect (regardless how many times that they replace one defected phone for another) have no choice to but ride it out until Apple eventually fixes the problem – which I am increasingly coming to believe will not happen until the new NAND flash phones are manufactured and eventually reach the various retail outlets.
In the meantime, I would urge everyone to do all that they can to keep this issue as publicly visible as possible – continue posting about the problem on all the forums that get meaningful traffic, and send emails about the problem to all of the major blogs. There needs to be some counter-balance to all the positive reviews that fail to acknowledge the defect. I remain perplexed that none of these reviewers even attempt to evaluate the validity of the serial defect claims and potentially challenge Apple’s ongoing control of the public narrative on this issue.
Best wishes to all.
