UPDATE: THERE IS AN UPDATE AND SUMMARY TO THIS POST POSTED ON EXAMINER.COM. Please check there for all the follow-ups in one place.
Where do I start? First I want to thank Lisa France of CNN.com for being an advocate on this. Just to be clear, the reporter from CNN contacted me after seeing my blog, I did not contact her. She was already doing a story on this and was researching on the web. Someone apparently thinks that something could possibly be wrong here to think it worthy of a story.
Now, to all the people that have commented here and on CNN.com i have a few things to say.
1. Didn’t your mother ever teach you to be nice? If you cannot post comments in a dignified manner then why bother? You are only making yourself look bad for not being able to express yourself without acting like a 12 year old. Oh that’s right… it’s the web so we can’t see you. And some even use bogus email addresses. I’ve been called a moron, a bozo, and an idiot so far. Nice!
1a. To those that posted comments here and on CNN.com in a NICE manner, even if you did not agree, thank you!
2. I think that some did not even bother to read the full article and blog post before firing one off to me. I have had several emails and comments regarding the “earphone jack” sensor being tripped and commenting on my causing this myself by putting alcohol on it. The earphone jack sensor is NOT tripped, it never was. It is still white meaning “no water damage”. It is the sensor under the USB port that is red which I have never touched with alcohol or anything else and it has never been wet.
3. Some (including Apple) are saying that the sensor cannot be set off by ‘just a drop’ of water or condensation, that it has been to be submersion. That is BS because my phone has never been submerged as I stated clearly in my post. And also as evidenced by the several other people complaining about this very issue all over the web. Some have clearly stated that their sensors have been tripped just because they live in a humid climate. One person commented that she dunked her phone in liquid and got it out within 5 seconds and the sensor did not change. You got lucky.
4. To those stating that I am trying to “get over” on Apple. Why?? What would my point be? I also clearly stated in my article that my iPhone was paid for by my company, not my own $$. People at work accidentally break phones all the time and get them replaced because things happen. So, what would be my point in getting over? I would have gotten my phone replaced through work anyway, again… not with my own $$. As I said in my post I was willing to just deal with the issue in hopes that the new models coming out this summer or whenever would catch my eye and I would get one. I was encouraged by people higher up than me to pursue getting the phone replaced.
5. The whole point of this ‘investigation’ and me pursuing Apple to get a resolution was that maybe, just maybe the sensors on some of these iPhones are defective. It could happen. No technology is fool-proof.
And to elaborate on #5… Apple now thinks this is possible too. I got my iPhone replaced last night at the Apple Store near me after a corporate rep made a call. My old phone is going to corporate to be examined, picked apart, etc. and they promise to call me and let me know what they find.
Do I think that I won? No, I don’t. My point was not to set out to get a new phone. My point was to set out to show that there could be a problem here with either defective sensors or the fact that they are just in a bad place. I will feel that I won if the Apple rep calls me back in a week or so and says that they did indeed find a defect.
Check out:
Facebook comments:
Powered by Facebook Comments
on my 4th iphone in 4 months.All have suffered from constant crashing and rebooting problems.I was advised to take it to my local apple store tech guy said phone had been submerged and warranty was void.I can say with all honesty my phone has never been submerged,if it had surely it would stop working like any normal phone or show signs ie condensation behind screen
Congrats on getting the phone replaced. I’ve had a similar issue with my work issued Palm Treo. I got caught in the rain and the water damage sensor was tripped.
Even after I explained, and explained my company was charged full replacement cost instead of it being under a warranty replacement.
I love Apple, but I have some perspective that Apple is not the BE ALL END ALL of technology. Things break, things can be defective. I went through 3 iPods that were… *gasp* defective before I got resolution.
People need to realize that you weren’t trying to get a free phone, just get decent customer service.
Good luck to you!
Tanya D’s last blog post..What is Guerilla Gardening?
Congrats on getting the phone replaced. I’ve had a similar issue with my work issued Palm Treo. I got caught in the rain and the water damage sensor was tripped.
Even after I explained, and explained my company was charged full replacement cost instead of it being under a warranty replacement.
I love Apple, but I have some perspective that Apple is not the BE ALL END ALL of technology. Things break, things can be defective. I went through 3 iPods that were… *gasp* defective before I got resolution.
People need to realize that you weren’t trying to get a free phone, just get decent customer service.
Good luck to you!
Tanya D’s last blog post..What is Guerilla Gardening?
My son’s Apple iPod Touch stopped working one week after he bought it, and a store “Genius” told us it was water-damaged (pink thingy in the earbud jack). But it had never been near water, ever. It was raining outside the day it stopped working. It was August, and humid. Very long story short, we mailed it to Apple for replacement, for which we were going to get stuck for several hundred dollars. We used their warranty procedure to mail it back, and it was STOLEN right out of the box in the mail. Apple accused us of mailing them an empty box and refused to honor the insured shipment. This nightmare went on for weeks, and finally after a lot of angst and suffering, they very reluctantly replaced the iPod. It was a horrible experience and I totally agree with you that there’s something amiss with how the moisture sensor works. It defintely is not reliable. I still have heart palpitations when I see an Apple logo.
My son’s Apple iPod Touch stopped working one week after he bought it, and a store “Genius” told us it was water-damaged (pink thingy in the earbud jack). But it had never been near water, ever. It was raining outside the day it stopped working. It was August, and humid. Very long story short, we mailed it to Apple for replacement, for which we were going to get stuck for several hundred dollars. We used their warranty procedure to mail it back, and it was STOLEN right out of the box in the mail. Apple accused us of mailing them an empty box and refused to honor the insured shipment. This nightmare went on for weeks, and finally after a lot of angst and suffering, they very reluctantly replaced the iPod. It was a horrible experience and I totally agree with you that there’s something amiss with how the moisture sensor works. It defintely is not reliable. I still have heart palpitations when I see an Apple logo.
Hi Kristile, Unfortunately more exposure means more exposure to idiots, as well as those who choose to worship corporations and their products, anyone who speaks critically of their beloved trinkets is committing blasphemy in their eyes. Why is it so inconceivable to some people that at least some of these indicators could be defective especially considering the fact that this isn’t an isolated incident.
P.S: See my mom thought me to be nice, some less dignified words come to mind to describe some of the characters you’ve been encountering, but I’ve refrained form using them.
Wardell’s last blog post..Wardell Design WordCamp Chicago Giveaway
Hi Kristile, Unfortunately more exposure means more exposure to idiots, as well as those who choose to worship corporations and their products, anyone who speaks critically of their beloved trinkets is committing blasphemy in their eyes. Why is it so inconceivable to some people that at least some of these indicators could be defective especially considering the fact that this isn’t an isolated incident.
P.S: See my mom thought me to be nice, some less dignified words come to mind to describe some of the characters you’ve been encountering, but I’ve refrained form using them.
Wardell’s last blog post..Wardell Design WordCamp Chicago Giveaway
Bob, just use a flash light and check your sensors. You are right and I suspect that is what Apple will be checking when they receive my phone is to crack it open and see if the other sensors are tripped inside. I completely understand the idea of making sure that consumers are not ripping them off, but really… I would be interested in knowing if any other cell manufacturer has put sensors in such an accessible place.
Way to go LTG!! And welcome to the world of rabid Apple fanboys. An Apple product could explode and it would ALWAYS be the user’s fault or a smart Steve Job’s design feature.
Anyway, your story scared the heck out of me because I…
1) Always have my iPhone on in the bathroom every time I shower.
2) Have it in my chest pocket about 16 hours a day, including when
I am outside in the heat, sweating like mad
I figured the lack of openings and “touch” aspect of the phone would make it better than my many year old Palm Pilot. Now I’m beginning to wonder.
Clearly an immersion as Apple claims can only be confirmed by ALL 4 sensors being tripped. I would think that the process would be to check the headphone and usb sensor and if both are tripped then move to opening the device for further follow-up, but if neither or only one is tripped, then the darned thing didn’t run through the laundry or take a trip into the toilet.
Glad smarter/cooler minds are prevailing now.
Way to go LTG!! And welcome to the world of rabid Apple fanboys. An Apple product could explode and it would ALWAYS be the user’s fault or a smart Steve Job’s design feature.
Anyway, your story scared the heck out of me because I…
1) Always have my iPhone on in the bathroom every time I shower.
2) Have it in my chest pocket about 16 hours a day, including when
I am outside in the heat, sweating like mad
I figured the lack of openings and “touch” aspect of the phone would make it better than my many year old Palm Pilot. Now I’m beginning to wonder.
Clearly an immersion as Apple claims can only be confirmed by ALL 4 sensors being tripped. I would think that the process would be to check the headphone and usb sensor and if both are tripped then move to opening the device for further follow-up, but if neither or only one is tripped, then the darned thing didn’t run through the laundry or take a trip into the toilet.
Glad smarter/cooler minds are prevailing now.
You’re right Patrick. It is something in my nature that I need to get over!
I actually have ignored a fair amount of them. The only ones that I tried to respond to are the ones where the commenter seemed to just not read the post before commenting. I will try to do better. 
Honestly I think you do a disservice to the legit comments and posts by even acknowledging tirades from some people. As I do not own an iPhone I have no knowledge of the usability of them – but I did not think it necessary for you to acknowledge their comments or to use 2/3 of a post to defend yourself against them…there is typically more negative than positive when people can hide behind a screen.
Honestly I think you do a disservice to the legit comments and posts by even acknowledging tirades from some people. As I do not own an iPhone I have no knowledge of the usability of them – but I did not think it necessary for you to acknowledge their comments or to use 2/3 of a post to defend yourself against them…there is typically more negative than positive when people can hide behind a screen.
Im sure nobody is blaming you personally for submerging the phone it in water, but somehow the has been in contact with some form of liquid. If not by you but possibly by someone else that may have been in contact with your phone or in your car cup holder where your drink has been sitting all day and you move it or throw it away and the sweat from the cup collected to the bottom of the cup holder and you stick your phone in the cup holder submerged in half inch of water that you didn’t even know it was there.
Im sure nobody is blaming you personally for submerging the phone it in water, but somehow the has been in contact with some form of liquid. If not by you but possibly by someone else that may have been in contact with your phone or in your car cup holder where your drink has been sitting all day and you move it or throw it away and the sweat from the cup collected to the bottom of the cup holder and you stick your phone in the cup holder submerged in half inch of water that you didn’t even know it was there.
the same thing happened to me. of course i didn’t have a cnn article so i am just out of luck. the phone was never dunked in water. somehow the bottom indicator is active…
the same thing happened to me. of course i didn’t have a cnn article so i am just out of luck. the phone was never dunked in water. somehow the bottom indicator is active…
So Phil, I have said way too many times now that my iPhone has not been submerged. Either you think I’m lying or that my phone ran off and submerged itself when I was not looking. Trust me, I would have noticed.
Why do people find it so hard to believe that there could be a defective filter?
I doubt Apple ran those tests. All you have to do is Google this issue and you will see I am not the only one.
Why don’t you find a sponsor and test 3 or 4 phones on your own and see if you can make the liquid indicator trip.
Put one next the the shower like you do… (would you put your toaster in the bathroom with you and cook toast while you are taking a bath or shower?) and not watch the indicator trip.
why don’t you drop a iphone in a class of water for 5-10 seconds and watch the indicator trip.
Then you can get a medicine drop and drop some water in the headphone jack and watch it not trigger the sensor.
All these test have been done by Apple engineers. I encourage you to try these methods with CNN and you will be surprised on the outcome and you will understand that the phone has to be submerged in water for it to be triggered. The Apple warranty does not cover damage that is beyond the manufactures control.
Why don’t you find a sponsor and test 3 or 4 phones on your own and see if you can make the liquid indicator trip.
Put one next the the shower like you do… (would you put your toaster in the bathroom with you and cook toast while you are taking a bath or shower?) and not watch the indicator trip.
why don’t you drop a iphone in a class of water for 5-10 seconds and watch the indicator trip.
Then you can get a medicine drop and drop some water in the headphone jack and watch it not trigger the sensor.
All these test have been done by Apple engineers. I encourage you to try these methods with CNN and you will be surprised on the outcome and you will understand that the phone has to be submerged in water for it to be triggered. The Apple warranty does not cover damage that is beyond the manufactures control.
Congrats on the CNN pickup – and congrats on getting the spotlight pointed at this very real issue. (And THANK YOU for reiterating the need to be nice online. I wish I knew why so many feel the need to revert to trolldom as soon as they go online.)
The current configuration of the sensor makes it relatively easy for there to be many more cases/experiences like yours. This automatic voiding policy by Apple clearly needs to go. I appreciate that a lot of folks out there often try to pull the wool over the vendor’s eyes. But to assume guilt by default and force well-meaning consumers to jump through hoops is a little much. It would definitely be a dealbreaker for me the next time I’m considering a smartphone purchase.
Please excuse me while I examine my BlackBerry with a fine tooth comb. I guess keeping it on the vanity during a shower and – heavens – answering it when a call comes in is now officially a no-no.
Carmi’s last blog post..Fresh baked bread
Congrats on the CNN pickup – and congrats on getting the spotlight pointed at this very real issue. (And THANK YOU for reiterating the need to be nice online. I wish I knew why so many feel the need to revert to trolldom as soon as they go online.)
The current configuration of the sensor makes it relatively easy for there to be many more cases/experiences like yours. This automatic voiding policy by Apple clearly needs to go. I appreciate that a lot of folks out there often try to pull the wool over the vendor’s eyes. But to assume guilt by default and force well-meaning consumers to jump through hoops is a little much. It would definitely be a dealbreaker for me the next time I’m considering a smartphone purchase.
Please excuse me while I examine my BlackBerry with a fine tooth comb. I guess keeping it on the vanity during a shower and – heavens – answering it when a call comes in is now officially a no-no.
Carmi’s last blog post..Fresh baked bread
Dean, great point! I actually meant to mention that in my update. Apple fans just get downright NASTY when anyone complains about them. I see it time and time again on forums where users go for help on an issue. Instead they get flamed for speaking out against Apple.
This is what happens with Apple products. They become a religion with people and then anything negative that is said about them becomes blasphemous. That’s one reason I won’t by Apple products the biggest being that they are way over priced.
This is what happens with Apple products. They become a religion with people and then anything negative that is said about them becomes blasphemous. That’s one reason I won’t by Apple products the biggest being that they are way over priced.
Dean, great point! I actually meant to mention that in my update. Apple fans just get downright NASTY when anyone complains about them. I see it time and time again on forums where users go for help on an issue. Instead they get flamed for speaking out against Apple.
So Phil, I have said way too many times now that my iPhone has not been submerged. Either you think I’m lying or that my phone ran off and submerged itself when I was not looking. Trust me, I would have noticed.
Why do people find it so hard to believe that there could be a defective filter?
I doubt Apple ran those tests. All you have to do is Google this issue and you will see I am not the only one.
You’re right Patrick. It is something in my nature that I need to get over!
I actually have ignored a fair amount of them. The only ones that I tried to respond to are the ones where the commenter seemed to just not read the post before commenting. I will try to do better. 
Bob, just use a flash light and check your sensors. You are right and I suspect that is what Apple will be checking when they receive my phone is to crack it open and see if the other sensors are tripped inside. I completely understand the idea of making sure that consumers are not ripping them off, but really… I would be interested in knowing if any other cell manufacturer has put sensors in such an accessible place.