I equate Apple's problems to the Nintendo lawsuit over their wrist straps. Not everyone was throwing their controllers through their TV screens, but the select few who did caused an uproar. It also didn't stop Wii consoles from selling like hotcakes either. It took a class-action lawsuit to get Nintendo to take action. The solution was very simple -- give everyone free wrist straps for each of their controllers.
I think Apple needs to take a similar step to alleviate the problem.
Great analogy. You even had the PS3 (Android) and Xbox (Blackberry/RIM?) fanboys fueling the flames because 1 or 2 people threw their Wiimote through a flat screen (held their phone left handed while completely covering the antenna in a bad signal area).
My prediction: On Friday, they are going to announce that there are free bumpers available to all iPhone 4 customers. Total cost to Apple: about $5 a piece. Total sales lost - absolutely zero because everyone that actually owns the phone realizes it is the best phone they have ever had, and a free fix takes care of the only minor issue that it had.
It's not that they can't do it. It's just that they shouldn't have to, and bloggers are loudmouths. It's also "shock" that Apple, reputed for high-quality, "just works" products, would release something that is so basically flawed as a phone that can't really make phone calls without special effort.
My totally technically illiterate wife will return her iPhone tomorrow. I canceled my order. We will wait for the next iteration.
Interestingly we have owned Toyotas forever but for the next car purchase we will look at other manufacturers as well rather than default to a Toyota. For phones, the same is true. The replacement for my 3GS may or may not come from Apple. Before, it was a given that I would stay with Apple.
How is it my totally technically illiterate wife can use this device to make calls, but internet bloggers cannot?