'Bendgate': Would-be comedians flocked to social media to ridicule Apple's design choices. Photo: fb.com/PhoneDesigner
Reports of the new iPhone 6 Plus bending in people's pockets have thrown into question Apple's status as the style king of consumer tech.
With the iPhone 6 short on specs compared to some rival models, Apple has positioned its new smartphone as 'pushing the edge of design', spruiking its thinnest body yet at 6.9mm (7.1mm for the iPhone 6 Plus).
But the slender new models and choice of aluminium body are testing the company's claim that 'hardware and software function in perfect unison, creating a new generation of iPhone that's better by any measure'.
Apple users reported problems with the iPhone 5 bending as well. Photo: acidcow.com
As some bloggers have put it, thin aluminium bends. It's a matter of physics.
Dr Cathy Foley, chief of materials and science engineering at Australia's chief research body, the CSIRO, said there were complex business decisions, including cost constraints, involved in choosing materials for consumer electronics products.
'Chances are they've [Apple] gone through and done a reduction in thickness in order to make them lighter and cheaper, but in the process they've probably made a compromise on the amount of rigidity.'
A post at xda-developers claimed a Samsung Galaxy S4 screen cracked after it was put in the front pocket of a oair of jeans. Photo: Hendrickson/forum.xda-developers.com
'Different companies are looking at different materials in order to optimise properties important to them in what they want the product to do,' Dr Foley said.
With Apple profiting and estimated 74.1 per cent on the $869 16GB iPhone 6, some buyers might find a cost-reduction excuse a little hard to swallow - especially when cheaper smartphones with comparable specs have sturdier bodies. The OnePlus One is one that has a magnesium body. Magnesium is generally more expensive than aluminium.
Dr Foley said there were 'lots' of other things manufacturers could do from a design perspective to boost product strength, such as internal ridges that acted like a backbone, or extra support around the edges.
After bending his iPhone 6 Plus, Canadian blogger Lewis Hilsenteger broke the screen when trying to bend it back into place, despite the screen sporting chemically strengthened glass. Another of his videos showed the Galaxy Note 3 from main rival Samsung to be sturdier.
The Galaxy Note 4, released in Australia on October 29 with pre-sale from October 15, is made from aluminium, but it is thicker, at 8.5mm.
Other phones from Apple and rivals, have also been bent over the years.
Online publication Cult Of Mac listed the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5s, Sony Xperia Z1, iPhone 5, BlackBerry Q10, HTC EVO, Oppo and iPhone 4s had all suffered from bending. Will Apple replace my bent phone?
Apple would not comment on whether customers whose phones had bent would be eligible for a refund or exchange.
The one-year warranty on all Apple hardware does not cover 'damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause'.
It does however warrant 'against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Apple's published guidelines'.
Whether carrying an expensive phone around in one's pocket is reasonable use of the product or careless 'misuse', is up for debate.
Questions remain as to whether 'bendy' iPhones are an anomaly - perhaps affecting only a small batch of faulty handsets - or a bigger problem with the design in general.
Dr Foley said smartphone manufacturers generally went through 'extraordinary lengths' for testing, planning and design, so it would be unusual for a major issue to arise after release.
'We need to be careful we're not just hearing about one or two noisy people whose iPhones did or didn't live up to their expectations when they pushed boundary that bit further,' she said.
Apple set a new sales record with the iPhone 6, selling 10 million handsets in the weekend immediately following the September 19 launch.
A spokesperson for Consumer Affairs Victoria said suppliers and manufacturers were required under Australian law to guarantee it sold goods of an 'acceptable quality'. This included guaranteeing that that a reasonable consumer would consider the goods were 'durable'.
'If the goods are not of acceptable quality, the consumer may be entitled to a remedy ... for example, repair, replacement or refund,' the spokesperson said.
'The consumer guarantees cannot be excluded by contract and apply regardless of any other warranties provided by the manufacturer or retailer.'
Post By http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apples-design-credentials-questioned-over-iphone-6-bendgate-20140925-10lr5r.html
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