The Apple Core

Jason D. O'Grady & David Morgenstern

CR defends its ‘can’t recommend’ iPhone 4 rating

By Jason D. O'Grady | July 13, 2010, 2:41pm PDT

Summary: Consumer Reports is at it again, this time blogging in defense of its “can’t recommend” rating for the iPhone 4.

After yesterday’s devastating news that Consumer Reports can’t recommend the iPhone 4 because of its well-documented antenna flaw, comes a follow-up post from CR defending its statements.

While the post sounds a little defensive, the almighty CR sticks to its guns about Apple’s antenna flaw, stating “we think it’s the company’s responsibility to provide the fix—at no extra cost to consumers.”

Our tests, conducted in our labs using controlled signals, confirm growing anecdotal indications that the iPhone 4’s problems are anything but illusory. Our tests found that when your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side—an easy thing to do—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. We tested several other AT&T phones the same way, including the iPhone 3G S and the Palm Pre. None of those phones had the significant signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4.

The funniest part of CR’s latest blog post is its stopgap fix for the issue: “applying duct tape to the phone.” I’m sure that the thought of putting a piece of ugly grey duct tape on the perfect i4 might send Jony Ive into a fit of rage. Maybe to the point of actually designing a better antenna scheme next time?

CR throws the dog a bone near the end of its latest missive, stating that the iPhone 4 landed at the top of its Ratings of smart phones, noting that it did not feel comfortable listing a phone with such a problem as “recommended,” and therefore have withheld that tag.

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Apple iPhone, Ear, Review, CR, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O'Grady, iPhone

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

And yet Apple continues to say nothing...

I own an iPhone 4. Its always in a case, so I never touch the antenna. I love this phone, but I'd still like Apple to say something less offensive than 'we were stunned that the bars did not correctly indicate signal strength.' I'm stunned they think we're that stupid!
jbach67
13th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@jbachandouris@...

Let me offer another viewpoint. Have you ever tried coding an algorithm?

It's harder than it looks. You get something that should do what you want, and then you test it.

Maybe you get something that LOOKS like it's working perfectly, but once in a blue moon, gets squirrely and makes mistakes you can't explain.

Apple's admitting they made a mistake breaks with tradition though.

They should have fixed it and covered it up.

It does explain, though, how the phone can go from 4 bars to nothing in a matter of seconds.
Jkirk3279
14th Jul 2010
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I'm stunned that CR felt the need to justify this at all

Has CR ever needed to justify a rating in the past? Does the entire world shudder with fear at the thought of crossing the 8,000lb gorilla that is Apple and its army of astro-turfers?

Folks, something is wrong here.
NonZealot
13th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@NonZealot
I'm letting the all the noise flow before I figure out where I stand on this issue.

Still, "Consumer Reports" is premised on three pillars: one being their tests are made on purchased items, two, they don't take advertising, and, three, they print the ratings from the readers who use the products.

So the engineers say "Don't buy." And the users, I understand, are rating it "#1 best smartphone."

It is a paradox. Possible reconciliations? Maybe Apple folks are, willingly or otherwise, astroturfing. Possible. Engineers got it wrong. Not at all likely. Problem exists but the other aspects of the phone make up for it. That's certainly possible. It's what I hear from blogging and podcasting sources I listen to, with one qualification. If people liked iPhones before, they seem to like the iPhone 4, unless some externality, such as Apple's app store policy, has caused them to sour on Apple in favor of Google. People who didn't like the iPhone or Apple are, of course, making hay with one more reason they don't like what they never were going to like.

Reading the discussions from last night about that Secunia report, I take it as a given that were Apple advocates to discuss the nuances of today's story, you will say that their commenting reflects some sort of nerve being touched. Of course, when there are no comments on the Apple side, the question is posed and answered "Why are the Apple people keeping quiet, it must be true."

As I said, I don't know where I stand on this story. Does CR have to reconcile its subscribers and testers? Yes, no, maybe, do I care?

A response I have to so many, but not all, of the questions I stumble across in the course of my forays into the wit and wisdom of ZDNet, CNet, and their talk backers.
DannyO_0x98
13th Jul 2010
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It's your third point.

The antenna issue is easily resolvable, and consumers like the other features of the phone enough that it's not a deal breaker.

In fact, the only people having a major cow over it are tech pundits.
frgough
14th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@DannyO_0x98

Your post was curiously well reasoned and insightful.

I think you're lost. This IS ZDNET after all.

You keep this up and you'll be banned !
Jkirk3279
14th Jul 2010
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Consumer Reports and Consumers VS Apple and Fanboys

@NonZealot, that's a very good point. In the long run, Consumer Reports have the upper edge as they're in the best position to say whether or not the iPhone 4 works well for consumers or not as a "phone". Apple arrogance has lost them respect and trust from consumers worldwide, not to mention $billions of dollars in losses in the event of a recall.

Also, if you bought the $30 bumper cover...join the class action lawsuits that have already been filed from multiple states around the USA. Analysts have found that they are only worth $1 each but overblown the price 30x higher for a flaw that was Apple's fault to begin with!
zdnetviewer
13th Jul 2010
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Awww.. NonZealot created a new nick.

slurp...slurp...slurp...

Did you enjoy patting yourself on the back Zealot???
i8thecat
14th Jul 2010
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Be stunned

Consumer Reports (CR) publishes data and opinion about products. While the data may be scientifically sound, it is the opinion expressed through the rating that may be open to question. It is perfectly reasonable for people to raise questions about ratings from time to time and for CR to either defend or amend them in response.

The conflict between CR's "can't recommend" rating and consumer's overall high rating indicates to me that the antenna issue is not considered significant by users as it is easily fixed by fitting a case (as most people do anyway).

Given that the antenna is fundamental to the design of the phone, I can't see this issue being fixed until the next generation is released. In the meantime, it would be much better if Apple admitted to the issue and provided helpful workarounds such as ways of holding the phone that avoid the issue and the types of cases or covers that are most effective.
Fred Fredrickson
13th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@Fred Fredrickson
See my comment to NZ. It mirrors your own views.
kenosha77a
13th Jul 2010
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A dirty little secret

@NonZealot
The "8,000 pound gorilla", in this case, is not Apple but Consumer Reports. Let me explain that statement, NZ, for it surely needs an explanation and also what the "dirty little secret" I alluded to is. Oh .. a little personal background first.

I retired from an American Automobile Company recently and, to a person, my associates never felt CR represented or reported on our products in an unbiased manner. I'm sure more than a little bit of "professional pride" influenced our opinion of CR's reports but we also had access to extensive warranty, dealership and customer reviews of our own that were far more comprehensive than any analysis that CR's staff could ever hope to field.

Plus, (and I only cite this as an example and not to pick on Toyota) with CR's continued long standing love affair with Toyota products and CR's glowing reports of our Japanese brother's vehicles simply didn't agree with common Industry analysis and current world knowledge of Toyota's recent and on going quality problems, our negative opinion of CR's proclaimed unbiased reports were justifiably upheld. I actually think that ANY manufacturing company would feel and think the same about CR's objective credibility to accurately assess a particular product. (Please note: I never would or did state that CR can't report an accurate assessment of a particular product's ability to satisfy its consumer owner's expectations. They can, obviously, but people seem to believe that they get their reports or opinions 100 percent correct ALL THE TIME).

And that's the key element of our "dirty little secret". Manufactures know that consumers take CR's reports as gospel even though they can't possibly be. Manufactures want a good CR report of course but we tend to feel that its sort of a "crap shoot" if we get one or not. So, because the media reports CR's opinion as gospel and consumers, to a person, believe that, CR is the 8,000 pound gorilla in this case.

Now .. my opinion on the current issue at hand and ZR, you already know my opinion of the iPhone antenna issue.

I do agree that paying thirty dollars for the Apple iPhone perimeter bumper is idiotic and Apple should give one as standard equipment when an iPhone is purchased. Now, if a consumer wishes a different bumper color, than that consumer should have the right to satisfy his vanity urges and pay that outrageous price to have a customized iPhone colored bumper. (I sort of think a white iPhone with a Green bumper looks cool and would remind me of a Michigan State University memory association .. but I digress)

I'm sure every Apple supporter would wish this issue would "go away" but of course, it won't. At least, not until iPhone 5 is introduced next year by Gizmodo (grin).

As for myself, purchasing an iPhone 4 would still be a viable option although the "CR duck tape" fix would not be. (I do have some engineering pride left!)
Mike
kenosha77a
13th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@kenosha7777 Wait, another person who made his living off of producing American cars is SURE that Consumer Reports is biased against American cars? And don't you think that your statement, "common Industry analysis and current world knowledge of Toyota's recent and on going quality problems, our negative opinion of CR's proclaimed unbiased reports were justifiably upheld." is pretty bold, yet your conclusion is unsupported? I just read the NHTSA summary that concluded that 74 of 75 cases of unintended Toyota acceleration was due to DRIVER ERROR.

FWIW, I have no financial interest in Toyota.
bmgoodman
14th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@kenosha7777

We bought our first Toyota in '71 and bought a lot since then.

But not these days. In the 90s Toyota removed a few thousand dollars of costs from their cars - and it shows. We now drive a Mazda (good car) and are considering a Korean brand as they are delivering more bang for the buck. So on cars CR is pretty much at the bottom of the list for help.

When it comes to Apple, the CR consumer ratings still hold weight, but the magazine never seems to understand Apple, regardless of the product.
Ken_z
14th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@kenosha7777
"I actually think that ANY manufacturing company would feel and think the same about CR's objective credibility to accurately assess a particular product. (Please note: I never would or did state that CR can't report an accurate assessment of a particular product's ability to satisfy its consumer owner's expectations. They can, obviously, but people seem to believe that they get their reports or opinions 100 percent correct ALL THE TIME). "

I think you are mistaken to assume that everyone thinks that CR cannot be wrong... it's just that the manufacturers have a very difficult time refuting something that CR says (even if CR does have to be wrong) because consumers don't trust manufacturers to tell them the truth. There is an entire profession (Advertising) that has turned lying to us into an art form, so when push come to shove many (most?) of us will take the opinion of an amateur with no vested interest, over that of a professional who's livelihood may depend on the answer coming out one way.
wzrobin
15th Jul 2010
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RE: CR defends its 'can't recommend' iPhone 4 rating

@NonZealot

What's wrong is that the other smart phones were worse. The iPhone4 was the highest rated of all smart phones tested. LOL!
Ken_z
14th Jul 2010
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