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Whiter shade beyond the pale.
A while ago we brought you news of the antenna problems with the much-trumpeted new Apple iPhone 4.
Since then, after initially denying or downplaying the problems, Apple has been forced to offer refunds to customers who are dissatisfied with their gleaming new status symbol's reception, and offer a free silicon 'bumper strip' phone attachment to all new purchasers who haven't been put off by the problems.
The initial iPhone 4 has only been available so far in Henry Ford's favourite colour, basic black, but news of a white coloured version presumably got some people excited all over again — except that now it too, has hit a problem.
The white iPhone 4 was expected to go on sale at the end of this month, but now Apple says it won't be released until 'later this year.'
How can a simple change of colour be so hard?
Apparently it's not simple at all, because Apple has patented a super-tricky assembly mechanism for the iPhone designed to enhance the seamless design appearance which incorporates a glass rear panel.
The Apple factory uses ultra-precise positioning techniques and a liquid metal glue for bonding the glass to the phone's metal chassis, and a different type of paint to the black iPhones.
Some pundits have speculated that Apple might be using the quality control problem with the white iPhones to also try and fix the antenna problems with the iPhone generally.
Either way, Apple has released a statement saying that 'White models of Apple's new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected ...'
Too clever by half, perhaps.
(Images courtesy of www.apple.com)
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Since then, after initially denying or downplaying the problems, Apple has been forced to offer refunds to customers who are dissatisfied with their gleaming new status symbol's reception, and offer a free silicon 'bumper strip' phone attachment to all new purchasers who haven't been put off by the problems.
The initial iPhone 4 has only been available so far in Henry Ford's favourite colour, basic black, but news of a white coloured version presumably got some people excited all over again — except that now it too, has hit a problem.
The white iPhone 4 was expected to go on sale at the end of this month, but now Apple says it won't be released until 'later this year.'
How can a simple change of colour be so hard?
Apparently it's not simple at all, because Apple has patented a super-tricky assembly mechanism for the iPhone designed to enhance the seamless design appearance which incorporates a glass rear panel.
The Apple factory uses ultra-precise positioning techniques and a liquid metal glue for bonding the glass to the phone's metal chassis, and a different type of paint to the black iPhones.
Some pundits have speculated that Apple might be using the quality control problem with the white iPhones to also try and fix the antenna problems with the iPhone generally.
Either way, Apple has released a statement saying that 'White models of Apple's new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected ...'
Too clever by half, perhaps.
(Images courtesy of www.apple.com)
Return to the news list
