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Bloomberg is reporting that Apple’s iPhone 5 production is slowing, as it attempts to cut the number of devices shipped with nicks and scratches by improving aluminium quality control at Foxconn.
Sources have told Bloomberg that Senior Apple managers insisted at the end of September that Foxconn picked up its game to tighten production standards. The metal cases are now being more closely scrutinised before they make it on to a phone. The knock-on effect: fewer scratches, but fewer iPhone 5s, too.
It’s only natural for aluminium to scuff and scratch, and putting a phone together offers plenty of opportunities for it to happen — but in reality, phones shouldn’t be shipped in a state where they’re already damaged. Clearly Apple realises that.
Currently the quality clampdown means fewer of the phone’s metal housings are being approved for use — to the extent that Foxconn even had to halt production for a day at one factory Shenzhen. Apple will no doubt want to find a middle ground as soon as possible, where damage is minimised but production doesn’t suffer. [Bloomberg]
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If there’s no problem then why are they ‘fixing’ it?
Typical Apple response….deny….blame users…..fix
so if they come up with a fix, i wonder they would replace all the existing handsets out there.
can’t say that would be financially viable.
or will it be a selling point to sell more of the new new improved iPhone 5
Haha replace all existing handsets, you are funny.
Antennagate… did they replace all the devices that didn’t function correctly? no. As JulianT said.
deny…. blame users, “you are holding it wrong”…. fix, eventually giving out a rubber case and not making the same mistake on the 4s.
I do try lol
How will they fix this for existing owners though? Taf had to send 2 back due to this issue. Will Apple say “well you accepted the phone when you got it so it obviously wasn’t a problem for you”?
Haha, I like that response. It’s statistically likely to be said.
It is actually a reasonable response, If you made no effort to return the phone, you obviously didn’t care enough about the scratches, so why are you bitching now? I imagine there are some people for whom showing off the fact they had the iPhone 5 mattered more than having a scratch free iPhone 5, who may, as time passes, regret that decision.
The bigger problem isn’t getting a scuffed and scratched phone that comes from a safe and clean production line. The issue is that even if your phone is perfect six months down the road it is going to look tatty. Designing slim smartphones to be covered in chunky cases is the art of pointlessness. I’d would only ever buy a phone that can live in a real environment without a case.
I have to say having had a Desire in a rubbery scuba case to stop it sliding about etc I have limited interest in the aesthetics of the design beyond practicality. If someone made a slimline phone with a slightly rubbery back then I’d be interested
Darrell that is 3 cosmetically damaged iPhone 5 handsets not 2..
http://s1353.photobucket.com/albums/q679/TAFuk/?action=view¤t=1FE14EA9-7CC2-4922-8AC8-8E12ADD536B0-346-0000002B67F88B60_zps65687c92.jpg
This one is very minor, not sure if to accept or send back. Apple will discuss once the other handset has been sent back. They say they will compensate adequately for all the hassle… Will wait and see on Monday what they offer.
Out of interest how much are you out so far in the return postage? I I have no idea what you do for a living so have no idea how you cost your time, but wouldn’t it just be better to go into store now the rush is over and look the phone over before accepting it?
Tried that approach, store option requested but none in Apple stores available closet to me, that’s 26 miles in one direct and 25 in the other.
The phones just get picked up buy TNT, just need to make sure I’m at home or the mrs is at home when TNT visit. For return its the exact same package, just re-seal the box, driver attaches labels and provides receipt.
Time cost has been the main issue as I work full time as a software tester within the financial sector, I will have to wait and see what apple provide as a way of compensation for this on Monday. Watch this space… .
Cheapo options-iTunes voucher, new earphones, dock adaptor
Medium options large itunes voucher, ipod nano
Generous options – ipod touch
holy shit option – new mac of your choice
Err… I would accept a Apple TV 3rd gen! I got jailbroken 2nd gen at the moment, would connect 3rd to 2nd TV.
That fits well in the medium level. I think you deserve it.
Emailed Tim Cook directly, got a call back from one of his US executive team, the lady exec is going to try and sort things out to a satisfactory level…. Watch this space!
If you email him again, give him my love, tell him I’m loving Apple Maps.
She did say that Tim read my email if that was my aim, I said that’s good because it was sent to Tim, think he has time to read them but not to reply as Steve Jobs would have, perhaps he is very busy planning a launch of a new product.. To be fair she was nice enough on the phone as we’re the other people. May get more joy now though…
And if you ever want tim’s email you just have to look on mac rumours..
Take ur phone to the Apple store and get it replaced and complain about it then. Or don’t buy launch day hardware, there usually is a problem.
This is so true, people queue for 3 days to be the first to blindly test out a new product then get upset because it is shite, I believe this is called, asking for trouble.
But this is all just hype for a relaunch as they messed it up and haven’t got the demand they expected. Don’t forget Apple stated at 5 million over three days that they had sold out, yet experts predicted 8-10 million over 3 days, but Apple was still taking orders and shipping to stores, why would they produce less then experts predicted for? They didn’t, they failed to get the demand so started spinning the message – and hairless apes nod in agreement, lies, lies and more lies.
Apparently they crippled the maps so customers couldn’t find the Apple store to demand their money back
Although with the exception of the one in Sydney, the Apple stores are about the only points of ‘interest’ that are actually where Apple Maps says they are!
Also I may add, those 5 million numbers are false figures as Apple had the launch sales in more countries than usually, so once you account for that it is similar numbers to the 4S opening demand. Yet more untruths from the fruity bastards.
“but in reality, phones shouldn’t be shipped in a state where they’re already damaged. Clearly Apple realises that”
….. and the “Well, duh!” award for 2012 goes to…..
So it’s not just maps that are in beta version.
Looks like this will be fixed by us having to buy the iphone 5S/6.
Can we all stop worshiping “Jony” Ive now? Designing a phone that shatters when you drop it (iPhone 4) and a phone that quickly scratches and looks tatty (iPhone 5) and shuts down a production line for a day is NOT great industrial design – it’s self-indulgence. Anyone can do sh*t that looks great in the box. It’s making stuff that looks great and stays looking great in real life that is great design.