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iPhone 4 AntennaGate Lawsuit Settled
Users Get $15 for iPhone 4 Design Flaw
by Karl Bode Monday 20-Feb-2012 tags: legal · business · wireless · hardware · consumers · wireless · Apple
As we noted in July of last year, the iPhone 4 has an antenna design flaw that results in users losing signal when the phone is simply held. Given the flaw only rears its head in areas with weak signal, it wasn't a problem noticed by many iPhone 4 users, allowing Apple to brush aside the design flaw as imaginary, irrelevant and/or common to all smartphones. While the flaw was fixed in the design of the iPhone 4S, eighteen different lawsuits related to the iPhone 4 continued, but were only just settled after being consolidated last week. Users who were impacted by the flaw (only if you didn't return the device or get one of the free bumpers Apple was offering at the time) get $15 or a free bumper case. Thus endeth "Antennagate."

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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Uh

A free case? Isn't that what Apple originally offered to begin with?

yupyup

@comcast.net

i wonder

how much the lawyers got....

JohnInSJ
Premium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA
Reviews:
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Re: i wonder

said by yupyup :

how much the lawyers got....

yes, indeed. Class Action Lawsuits, the best thing that ever happened for lawyers.
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50% + ??% Expensive cost

cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27

Antennagate...

"I didn't lie"
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Romney2012
Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe in
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join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4

Users get $15; what did lawyers get?

As is usual in these cases, the lawyers for both sides make out like bandits, and the customers who got a flawed device get next to nothing. But considering they could have gotten the same thing - a $15 case for free from Apple long ago, suing wasn't very smart on their part. But again, these class action lawsuits are never about the customer; they are about the lawyers.

DataRiker
Premium
join:2002-05-19
00000
Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: Users get $15; what did lawyers get?

Indeed. A new trend seems to be small claims court. Honda is about to be in trouble if this trend continues.

They have been over rating their MPG for years. A woman just won 10,000 dollar suit against them by opting out of a class action and perusing them in small claims court. She would have got about 1200 dollar voucher towards a new purchase with the class action.

As much as I like Honda I am with her 100%.

Duramax08
A Challenger Appears
Premium
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX

I got my free bumper case

and sold it on ebay for a few bucks awhile back.
flankspeed8

join:2001-07-20
Saint Paul, MN

Is this only for GSM?

I thought I heard that with the CDMA launch they fixed the antenna yet again.
josiahlo

join:2011-07-22
Saint Louis, MO

Re: Is this only for GSM?

completely agree it's a flawed design but would most people use a case with their iPhone 4 making the design flaw minimal.
BiggA

join:2005-11-23
EARTH

Ridiculous

This is a "flaw" that you can only reproduce at your desk, by taking the phone's case off and touching it a certain way. When you're out and about, the phone would have it's case on, so it would be a total non-issue.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
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Re: Ridiculous

said by BiggA:

This is a "flaw" that you can only reproduce at your desk, by taking the phone's case off and touching it a certain way. When you're out and about, the phone would have it's case on, so it would be a total non-issue.

The iPhone 4 doesn't come with a case. Many people don't buy a case. By using a case, you are actually putting a case on the phone to work around the flaw. If you want to buy a case to fix a flaw in the phone itself, that's your prerogative, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

Personally I have the iPhone 4S which doesn't have the flaw and I don't use a case.
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BiggA

join:2005-11-23
EARTH

Re: Ridiculous

Any sane person would not be carrying an iPhone around without a case, because they don't survive very long without one. They are built to need a case, as are most other phones are iPods and such.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
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Re: Ridiculous

said by BiggA:

Any sane person would not be carrying an iPhone around without a case, because they don't survive very long without one. They are built to need a case, as are most other phones are iPods and such.

Unless you are a klutz and constantly drop the phone on the ground, there's really no need for a case. And truth be told very few cases out there will prevent damage if the phone drops face first on a rock or something. Those flimsy little plastic screen protectors certainly won't do anything.

There's a reason the screen is made of gorilla glass as it's pretty tough stuff.

All those phone damage videos I've seen required multiple drops while holding the phone flat such that it lands squarely on the glass.

I bought a case for my 3GS and for the two years I had it I dropped it once, on the carpet. My iPhone 4S sans case fell off a shelf onto the carpet with no damage as well.
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alg
Passionately apathetic
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Houston, TX
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Re: Ridiculous

I shattered my iPhone 4 glass on like the third day I had it. I was pulling it out of my pocket and it snagged and tumbled out of my hand and it landed just right on the sidewalk. Now, I don't expect something like an iPhone to never get nicked or whatever from a fall but to have it pretty much totally ruined on just one drop from hip level is ridiculous. I now have my replacement in an Otterbox Commuter though I think I'll be switching over to an Otterbox Reflex for easier docking. However, both cases actually provide protection for the front as they feature a lip that project a few mm so that the front glass doesn't directly hit the ground (unless you're on really jagged rocks. Also, I think front screen protectors are useless as though the glass is brittle it's nearly impossible to scratch.
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BiggA

join:2005-11-23
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In normal use, a naked iPhone would be destroyed. An iPhone in a decent case (not even an Otterbox) would be just fine. I have an Incipio case that has a bit of a lip to protect the screen, as well as dual layers of material to help with impact. It is absolutely stupid to own an iPhone and not put a case on it. I learned the hard way with some earlier iPods, phones, and cameras, and now I have a hard requirement that before any of my gadgets are used for anything away from my desk, they have to have a case and screen protector (or screen protector in the case of a camera).

Sure, carpet might be OK, what what about tile or concrete? A naked iPhone is very likely to break, one in a good case most likely won't.

Snuffbox
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Re: Ridiculous

TL:DR people who project their poor usage habits on everyone else.

I have had every generation of the iPhone and I do not use ANY case, or screen protector. I have NEVER broken any of my iPhones and re-sold them ALL on eBay for $250-$300 each time.

My phones get heavy usage (still on the unlimited data plan w00t) and sit in my pocket when not in use with no issues.

Despite being extremely durable phone, they can't fix stupid.

I am not promoting not using a case necessarily. Only stating that the above posters would break any phone given to them.
BiggA

join:2005-11-23
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Re: Ridiculous

That is incredibly dumb. I don't want to have to constantly worry about my iPhone getting broken or scratched, when a simple case will make it far more durable. The likelihood of iPhones getting broken when they are not in a case is very high. That, and they are easier to hold with a case so that they don't take a tumble in the first place. iPhones were not made to be out there naked, they are made for cases.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
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Re: Ridiculous

said by BiggA:

That is incredibly dumb. I don't want to have to constantly worry about my iPhone getting broken or scratched, when a simple case will make it far more durable. The likelihood of iPhones getting broken when they are not in a case is very high. That, and they are easier to hold with a case so that they don't take a tumble in the first place. iPhones were not made to be out there naked, they are made for cases.

If you're worried about breaking your phone, get it insured. The case market is basically a racket to get people to buy pieces of plastic that cost a few dollars for $40 or more. Not to mention cases tend to scratch up the phone more since the cases have to be removed frequently if you want to dock the phone.

If the iPhone was designed to need a case, then Apple would sell one. All they sell is the bumper case which is more about customizing the appearance of the iPhone (and working around the antenna flaw) than protection.

As I've said I don't like cases since they add bulk and weight to the phone. The AT&T store guy tried to push an overpriced case and screen protector on me saying my phone would be scratched up or broken within a week of getting it. That was 5 months ago and the thing doesn't have a scratch on it. I have AppleCare Plus (insurance) anyway so I don't really care if my iPhone 4S breaks anyway.
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BiggA

join:2005-11-23
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Re: Ridiculous

Why on earth would I buy overpriced insurance just so that I can destroy my phone by neglecting it? That makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. If I take proper care of it by just getting a nice case, and it doesn't get broken in the first place. That, and Apple will replace any iPhone for $200 anyways.

The cases in AT&T's store suck. I got an Incase that broke, now I have an Incipio, and I love it. Got it for $13 off of Amazon.

The 4/4S is also too thin, and feels a lot better when it has a case on. Much easier to hold and use.

I DONT treat my phone like &$*%, but any phone will take tumbles off of furniture, out of hands, etc. Mine went onto concrete from my hand the other day. It has a case on it, so it's fine. If it didn't it would be broken. Not taking care of your phone is what you do if you don't put a case on it.

The iPhone absolutely needs a case to be out in the real world.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
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Re: Ridiculous

said by BiggA:

Why on earth would I buy overpriced insurance just so that I can destroy my phone by neglecting it? That makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. If I take proper care of it by just getting a nice case, and it doesn't get broken in the first place. That, and Apple will replace any iPhone for $200 anyways.

Cases don't protect from water damage or other damage. So drop your phone in a puddle (which I'm guessing you'll do eventually since you apparently drop your phone a lot) and your case is useless.

I normally get Apple Care anyway and the Plus feature was simply $30 more. I don't expect I'll even need it since, like I said I've never dropped a phone on anything hard (concrete, sidewalk, street, etc) as I'm careful when removing my phone from my pocket and when holding it.
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BiggA

join:2005-11-23
EARTH

Re: Ridiculous

I don't have any drops when outside. It's when I'm inside and trying to carry 5 things at once, or if it falls off my bed on the floor, etc.

Snuffbox
ir nice irl
Premium
join:2011-04-15
Milwaukee, WI
kudos:3
iPhones aren't made for cases. Infact it's a great looking phone until you put a case on it.

YOU are the problem here, NOT the iPhone. Stop projecting your inability to maintain any phone onto other users.

Companies like Belkin, Otterbox, etc are making millions on cases because people understandably don't want their iPhone to get scratched, etc. Not because it's a poorly built device that breaks easily. By all means, compare stress tests, iPhone is amongst the most durable cell phones.

You simply treat your #$*& like $*(#^. There's no beating around the bush.

A case is personal preference, and I have no problems with people wanting a case for their iPhone. But claiming that an iPhone needs a case is rubbish. You're a joke.

Oh_No
Trogglus normalus

join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL
They should have been forced to swap all defective phones with newer models that fixed the problem.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Re: Ridiculous

I wonder how many people who didn't even know they had a problem until it was pointed out to them.

Oh_No
Trogglus normalus

join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL

Re: Ridiculous

said by Transmaster:

I wonder how many people who didn't even know they had a problem until it was pointed out to them.

They probably just blamed ATT instead of the phone, when it really was the phone all along.
ernliz

join:2001-11-25
Abilene, TX

About that $15....

Silly question, and I may have missed the answer (I'm hard of hearing...), but how/when do I get my $15?

BUGZILLA 57
don't get uranus ablaze
Premium
join:2004-06-10
out there

Re: About that $15....

When you claim it in the form of a case?
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ernliz

join:2001-11-25
Abilene, TX

Re: About that $15....

Gosh.... that helps!? And such a simple question. Thanks everyone! AFO...

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