Just when we thought that the whole #bendage
thing was behind us, here comes Apple to
reignite it all over again. The company has
revoked the press accreditation of German
magazine Computer Bild after it published a
video of its editor-in-chief bending iPhone 6
Plus and then failing to do so with the Galaxy
Note 3.
Now whether or not an €800 phone should
bend like that or if you should apply such force
to it is beyond the point here. What’s important
is Apple’s reaction to the case.
Instead of issuing an official response or
pointing to the video of the test facilities or the
low number of complaints, the company chose
to stop working with the media, ban it from all
its events and deny it review units in the future.
Now we’re fully aware that each and every
manufacturer has the right to chose the media
outlets it works with as you can’t simply fit
everyone wanting to attend in even the biggest
halls.
Yet if Apple is the true consumer-focused
company it claims it is, those decisions should
be based on how the consumers can get more
info about their products. And banning a
magazine that goes out in 9 countries and
having a website among the first 2,500 in the
world (regardless of genre) is going against that
logic.
Here’s the open letter to Tim Cook that
Computer Bild’s Editor-in-Chief published today.
Dear Mr. Tim Cook!
Just like anyone else who is obsessed with digital
technology we have eagerly awaited the new
iPhone. We felt relief when the head of our telecom
department one day shouted “Here we go!”,
presenting an invitation to the great event. And
certainly we took a flight, went all the way to
California, just to tell our readers every detail about
the device that you and your company have worked
on so hard for such a long time.
When the iPhone 6 Plus finally hit the market we
noticed a few reports on a possible problem.
According to them the case seemed to be weak,
“bendable”, to drop the evil word. Being popular for
our tests with utmost scrutiny, we could not leave
the subject without comment. Of course that
required further tests since testing new products
without any prejudice is our obligation to our
readers.
And so we bought an iPhone 6 Plus, just to find out
whether it was a singular problem or some kind of
hoax. The test was quite simple, so we could easily
record it on video. Just to prove that what happens
is nothing but the truth.
To be honest: We were shocked about how easy it
was to bend the device. And so were around
200.000 viewers who watched the video up until
now. We can imagine that you and your colleagues
must have been shocked, too. This might have
been the reason why we got a call from one of your
German colleagues the next morning. He was upset,
and it was a rather short conversation. “From now
on”, he said, “you won’t get any devices for testing
purposes and you will not be invited to Apple
events in the future.”
Dear Mr. Cook: Is this really how your company
wants to deal with media that provide your
customers with profound tests of your products? Do
you really think that a withdrawal of Apple’s love
and affection could have an intimidating effect on
us? Luckily we do not have to rely on devices that
Apple provides us with. Luckily, a lot of readers are
willing to pay money for our magazine to keep us
independent. So we are able to buy devices to do
our tests anyway. Even devices of manufacturers
that seem to fear COMPUTER BILD’s independent
judgment.
Even if we are quite dismayed about Apple’s
reaction, we won’t give up our principles: We will
continue our incorruptible tests that have the same
high reputation in the German media-landscape as
Apple has for its products. So far. We congratulate
you to your fine new generation of iPhones, even if
one of them has a minor weakness with its casing.
But we are deeply disappointed about the lack of
respect of your company.
Best regards,
Axel Telzerow
Editor in Chief COMPUTER BILD-Grou
Obviously Apple is very keen to only supply
review units and grant event accreditation only
to medias that are guaranteed to heap praise
on its products and wouldn’t bother investigating
any potential issues with it.
It becomes rather clear now why early iPhones
and iPads reviews are always going out of their
way to find all the positives about the device –
most recently we learned that a camera that
has only received minor updates for the past 4
years can be called the best in the world and
that a size once laughed at is now perfect for
everyday use.
And while we see how protecting its babies
from critiques early on can help Apple boost its
opening weekend sales (the ones it is so keen
to brag about every year), it may cause some
people to spend a rather large sum of money
on a phone with problems they don’t know
about and end up disappointed. And that’s not
really the way to earn the kind of loyal
customers like the ones Apple built its success
on in the beginning of the decade.
Here’s the video that Apple deemed bad
enough to warrant a ban for the whole media.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-DcUASffHU&feature=youtu.be

[html=http://blog.gsmarena.com/apple-completely-loses-plot-revokes-computer-build-magazine-accreditation-bendgate-video/]SOURCE[/html]

Damn, I didn't read this piece. Too much

Ok...lemme bookspace....

Wow....

Oga OP... How d'u expect someone to start reading all this long story....??

The thing been pain Apple ghan!

@Op, u for stop before the letter na. Is that not why u summarised the whole thing b4 the letter?

What is apple afraid of? What a wrong way to react,
#Apple so childish like its users

@Lordreed, you forgot to send us to the school of German language.

Guys, if these complains persist, would there be a recall of all sold iphone 6+?

Lexusgs430: @Lordreed, you forgot to send us to the school of German language.

Sorry I forgot. Oyah come collect money for school fees.

The isheeps are waking up




Crapple are losing customers




They are getting desperate

Ok Apple

Fulaman198: Ok Apple

LoL!

LO LO LA LA

hahaha.. laughing my skin out... #bendgate giving Apple iFrustration..