Short supply, overheating woes for iPhone 3GS
Although there are no really major, widespread problems, there have been a few snags in Apple’s introduction of the new iPhone 3GS, including short supply and overheating.
The newest member of the iPhone family, the 3GS which became available just last week, is already in short supply. The problems are similar to those experienced during the introduction of the 3G model. So far, the shortage lies primarily in the 3GS 16GB white model, according to a Mobiletor story. As an example, that particular model is sold out in 12 of the 15 Apple stores in Texas. This particular phone may just be extremely attractive to buyers.
This information, by the way, comes directly from the Apple Web site. Prospective buyers can find a tool called the iPhone Availability Widget. This tool allows users to check the availability of the specific model that they want and in the location from which they want to pick it up. The data behind the tool is much more accurate this time than it was for the 3G shortages; it is now driven directly by the Apple point-of-sale system.
Hot sales are not the 3GS model’s only problem with temperature. Apparently, some percentage of the new iPhones are overheating badly enough to do damage to the exterior surface of the phone. Although Apple has not yet responded in any really manner helpful in determining the numbers affected, there seem to be a lot of reports in the wild. Here are a few examples, according to a ChannelWeb story:
My phone became very hot. Very, very hot — not just on the back, but the entire length of the front face, too. Toasty doesn’t even describe how surprisingly hot it got. It was too hot to even put the phone against my face.
I had my iPhone under my pillow playing music through the head phones for a nap; I awoke with a sharp pain on my left arm under the pillow. I had been burned decently from the iPhone getting so hot. The phone seems to function fine though.
Throw out your microwave — simply drop your iPhone on the plate instead.
Some reports seem to indicate that the problem may be the battery, while others seem to involve the entire phone. Regardless, this is certainly not what Apple had in mind when it introduced this hot new product. It will be interesting to see what percentage of the new phones are involved and what procedure Apple comes up with for dealing with the problem.
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June 30th, 2009
Don’t use it smothered under a pillow then …. sheeesh ……