HTC fires back at Apple antenna demo with percentage pew-pew

Apple's Friday press conference may have left a bad taste in some rival handset manufacturer's mouths, but not all of them are taking Cupertino's derision of their devices seriously -- HTC's Droid Eris was arguably the most affected by the grip of doom, its bars dropping to zilch when held, but the Taiwanese company's keeping any controversial opinions to itself for now. Instead, it's sharing a simple percentage to help clear the air. Whereas Apple claimed over 0.55 percent of customers called AppleCare with reception-related complaints, HTC's Eric Lin told Pocket-lint the Droid Eris technical support rate was 0.016 percent, nearly thirty-four times lower -- though even with a seven-month head start, we have to wonder if the Eris sold close to three million by the time Verizon brought the axe down.

[Capitano Posted Jul 18th 2010 3:39PM]

I had three HTC smartphones during the last two years. In twenty years of cell phone usage I never had more dropped calls than with all these HTC phones. Apart from being really bad phones the HTC smartphones have quite bad build quality.

[eqc6 Posted Jul 18th 2010 4:01PM]

This is what I LOVE about this whole debacle:
Apple is not used to criticism, especially this big, with the media involved and all. I'm actually glad this happened to Apple, because this will only give them a reality check that they're not invincible, and that from hereon everything they do will be scrutinized. With that said, I am pretty sure that their next iphone will be perfect if not closed to. This is Apple we're talking about, and even if you hate Apple, you can't deny that they release excellent products. Do you really believe they'll let another fuckup like this ever happen again? Especially since they're not the only players in the industry anymore? So yeah, I'm really glad this happened bigtime, and just in time since Android is catching up and MS phones are just around the corner. It will be exciting what Apple can come up with next. So I don't understand why all the Apple hate..In the end, we're all consumers and It's gonna be a great year or two for us all!

[Z3RO COOL Posted Jul 18th 2010 4:46PM]

I see a problem with this picture or maybe it is just me. Since when did Verizon start using 3G to say what network connection the phone has. I am pretty sure they still use EV for EVDO, or am I missing something.

[Hexen302 Posted Jul 18th 2010 6:17PM]

Well guys it looks like we will all have to go back to big external antenna Zack Morris phones that make you look like John Holmes when its in your pocket!!

[Knarf99 Posted Jul 18th 2010 7:30PM]

"Consumer Reports still gives Apple’s iPhone 4 the big thumbs down."
It's strange that Engadget hasn't reported that Consumer Reports still states the iPhone 4 is essentially still a POS and will not give it a buy rating. Is Engadget still sticking to their rating of this device? What's funny is how they dogged out the HTC HD2 (which i bought anyway) and the phone works! It doesn't matter if I hold the phone with my left hand right hand or feet it still gets me great reception.

C'mon you can do it... just admit you were wrong too... Just admit it's a great iPod but not a very good Phone which should be the primary reason for this device. I'm sure you'll be forgiven....

[GtheBarber Posted Jul 18th 2010 9:39PM]

They say Apple is too big to fail.I say the bigger they are...the harder they fall.Either way,let it fail if it shall so we may get a better product next time .

[Xgattz Posted Jul 18th 2010 11:20PM]

Well its one thing to have a phone with a flawed antenna design. But the thing here is Apple only releases a new phone once a year! So HTC may have made this mistake once but they have several other phones for people to fall back on rather than getting stuck with a flawed phone or downgrading.

[Macboy15 Posted Jul 19th 2010 12:39AM]

To the moron with the evo comment. Your phone don't have enough power to show the bars drop when holding it. When it lasts 5 hours on standby. Evo sold 200,000 in other words no one cares about the phone or the third rate carrier it's on.

[Macboy15 Posted Jul 19th 2010 12:45AM]

@xGattz. Tests have been done on the moto droid 4 to 1 bar and to the stup with the evo yes the bars drop too. I had the thing for a week and returned it reception is the least of it problems. But most of htc there phones run shitty choppy slow android os so. Lol Nuffield said.

[toddjy Posted Jul 19th 2010 2:39AM]

The last line of this article is way out of line for what should be an unbiased tech news blog. Mr. Hollister and the editor that allowed this to appear in print need to be appropriately chastised.

(I'll take this chance to remind everybody that the i4 has sold primarily to Apple fanboys and fangirlz. So to have almost two phones for every 100 returned would be equivalent to maybe 10% (one out of ten) for almost every other phone.) (i4 is my new abbreviation for the iPhone 4.)

[geszhu Posted Jul 19th 2010 5:09AM]

"we have to wonder if the Eris sold close to three million by the time Verizon brought the axe down."

You have to wonder only because you have no clue about statistics.
On the other hand, for unknown reason you do not consider the fact that several months of usage gives a lot more chance to discover and report reception issues than a couple of weeks or days.

[syph007 Posted Jul 19th 2010 9:35AM]

Apple makes poser technology. Its all showy and handwaving. Maybe people will all stop believing the arrogant BS that sprews out of jobs mouth.

[cloudtamer Posted Jul 20th 2010 12:42PM]

Only problem with this study is that apple handles all tech support calls that come into AT&T for issues with the iphone. HTC does not actually take calls regarding their phone unless the carrier says to contact the manufacturer. When was the last time you had an issue with your phone and go... Oh I am going to call HTC, Nokia, Samsung.... No most people dail 611 for their carrier to get support on their phone, whereas at&t routes iphone issues directly to apple, I trust apple's number's better then I trust HTC's Numbers.