Apple reckons light shines between iPhone customers' ears
Q-tip use will cut off calls
Apple has reportedly advised iPhone 4 customers to leave off the q-tips and matches if they want to prevent the device's proximity sensor nixing their phone calls.
The shocking auricular hygiene advice was apparently given to the Unofficial Apple Weblog's Aron Trimble. He had gone to his local genius bar, after noting the screen illuminate when placed close to his ear, before cutting off the call.
As Trimble reports, "His name will remain redacted but I swear he stifled a laugh when he told me the cause of the problem. Apparently, the re-location of the proximity sensor in iPhone 4 causes the sensor to be more likely to be triggered by light 'bouncing around the ear canal'."
Trimble adds: "My appointed Genius explained that I should try closing the windows because extra ambient light bouncing around my ear will cause the sensor to light up the screen. He said that's all there was to it and sent me on my way."
The detailed if far-fetched explanation didn't sit well with Trimble, who said that if the problem occurs again he'd return and demand a smarter genius.
On the other hand, the answer may simply reflect exactly what Apple believes is between its customers' ears. ®
COMMENTS
TBB Genius
Penny: What are you doing here?
Sheldon: A reasonable question. I asked myself, what is the most mind-numbing, pedestrian job conceivable? And 3 answers came to mind: toll booth attendant, an Apple Store “Genius”, and “What Penny does”. Now, since I don’t like touching other people’s coins, and I refuse to contribute to the devaluation of the word “genius”, here I am.
As an audiologist
I can safely say that explanation is a load of bullshit. Most people's ear canals have a kink in them about halfway along meaning that even when I'm using an otoscope or otolight to view someone's eardrum, I still have to angle it in a very specific way to get a good view. The notion of light being reflected off the skin of the ear canal/pinna/tympanic membrane or anything else is ridiculous, especially since most people position their phone over the concha, which would block any light from reaching the sensor.
/rant over
Ear?
I thought the light shone out of Steves backside not the users ears?
defective by design
With any other brand, the customer would say: Sorry, that's a load of ****, I want my money back.
Apple fanbois can take quite a bit it seems. Maybe Apple is testing to see how far it can go with selling crap before their customers actually notice?
The plot thickens..
Not only were the users holding it wrong, they're also *standing* in the wrong place.
