In the most recent edition, I came across a small article that featured some amusing stories from the past year, and I thought that others would appreciate a moment of entertainment. Be aware that the companies involved in these stories probably didn't find these as funny as we do...
Apple Loses the iPhone 4
An Apple employee accidentally left a prototype iPhone 4 at a bar he had visited, and the device found its way into the hands of an "innocent" patron who claimed to have tried returning the device to its owner. Upon being unable to reach the owner, the patron decided to sell the device to Gizmodo, further resulting in leaked images, rumors as to its arrival in the market, and a chase to retrieve the lost device.
Apple "Antenna-Gate"
It is rather amusing on its own to see that Apple features twice in these stories....but the realization that the side placement of the antenna in the iPhone 4 meant that owners could cover it while talking, had new users up in arms over losing signal strength each time they were on a call. Apple made the suggestion that users should purchase a case to slip their iPhone into - problem solved, right? Apparently not....consumers were unimpressed that they had to make yet another purchase to ensure their already expensive new Smartphone would work. Considering that the cost to replace every handset sold was in the range of $1.5billion, Apple felt that providing customers with a free case was the best, and cheapest, solution for its customers. Not the perfect result, but it seemed to make people happy....
Woman Sues Rogers for Her Infidelity
Many feel that Americans are quick to sue over any and all situations, and that Canadians are far too smart to do anything similar....apparently that is not the case here. In May 2010, a woman decided to sue Rogers because her husband found out about her cheating through a cell phone bill. At first glance, the immediate question is "How is this Rogers' fault?!" Apparently, Rogers consolidated her private cell phone bill with her husband's cable and Internet services (as a money saver) without her authorization. Upon reviewing her bill and seeing multiple calls to one number, the husband chose to leave his wife. As a result, she has chosen to sue Rogers in the amount of $500,000 for her pain and suffering....
The $8,000 Phone Bill
Soon after the Rogers legal incident above, a man from Alberta chose to go after his own wireless carrier, Virgin Mobile, after he received an $8000 phone bill. Many of us would simply assume that an error had been made in the billing system and that he was justified in making a noise about it.
However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that this customer had recently returned from Europe where he had used his phone almost the entire time to do the following tasks:
- Making and receiving calls;
- Navigation to and from various destinations;
- Accessing a digital translator; and (this is the most ridiculous)....
- Listening to a streaming clock radio station from his hometown of Calgary for a total of FIVE hours!
There is no way that someone can claim any kind of innocence for using data to that extent while in another country. And I have to directly quote marketnews for this comment...."if you engage in these acts thinking that through some miracle of the cross-country wireless gods, they're free, the onus is on you. They're called 'smart' phones for a reason. But the device shouldn't have to act more intelligently than it's owner." Enough said!
So, despite the fact that 2010 was a landmark year for smartphones and development in many connected areas, it appears that it wasn't a year for smart actions on the parts of many individuals. Here's hoping 2011 brings some common sense to us all!
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