For an emerging generation of Japanese innovators, the dream isn’t a job for life at a big company. They have new ambitions, and they’re determined to go places. Especially Silicon Valley.FORT WAYNE – Gadgets and glitches.
The two don’t always go together, but when they do consumers become irritated – at least some of them.
After a hyped unveiling last month, Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4 has continued to make headlines, mostly because users are experiencing reception problems.
In fact, the issue resulted in the closely watched Consumer Reports this week not recommending the smart phone, which costs between $199 and $299 with an AT&T phone contract.
Apple has scheduled a news conference today to address iPhone 4 complaints.
Local technology expert Todor Cooklev isn’t taken aback by Apple’s technical difficulties. The founding director of the IPFW Wireless Technology Center says the company’s troubles reveal its inexperience.
“They’re a newcomer to the wireless business, so I’m not surprised,” Cooklev said, “but for some users it’s enough to simply have an Apple iPhone and they’re happy with that, and are willing to forgive Apple.”
When it comes to tech toys, some would argue that glitches occur more often, but that doesn’t stop the “gotta be the first to have it” customers, as Verizon Wireless calls them.
The company Thursday began selling its latest smart phone, the Droid X by Motorola.
Postal worker Dwayne Sims had the day off, so guess where this self-professed techie spent his time.
“I had to get it,” Sims said as customers filled the Verizon store at Jefferson Pointe, which quickly sold out of the 60 phones in stock before noon.
“I just bought the other Droid about two months ago, but I want this one. I’ll give my other one to my girlfriend. The thing is like a hand-held computer.”
Whereas Sims showed up at regular business hours, one patron said he arrived at 3 a.m. to wait outside the Verizon store that opened at 7 a.m., three hours earlier than normal. Similar scenes played out nationwide as hundreds of people stood in lines in hopes of snagging a Droid X.
Some of its features include a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen and a zippy 1-gigahertz processor for high-speed Web browsing. The cost is $199 after a $100 mail-rebate and two-year contract with Verizon.
“I usually don’t just run out and try to be the first one, but I’ve had such good success with them that I’m not worried about it not acting right,” said Sims, 46. “I just have to convince my girlfriend.”
New smart phones are just one type of technology rolled out this year.
Last week, Borders Group Inc. began selling the Kobo e-reader to do battle with Amazon.com’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Nook and Apple’s iPad, although that device has laptop computer features.
Fort Wayne businessman Jerry Rongos recently bought Sprint Nextel Corp.’s EVO smart phone, which he uses to hook to high-def televisions to play big brother and monitor goings-on at his store, George’s International Grocery, and two laundries.
“I love technology,” he said. “Sometimes there are minor glitches, but they’re fixed with updates in no time.”
Cooklev expects Sprint and Verizon to have reliable service “because they’ve been at it longer.”
But Cooklev said he takes exception to Sprint touting its 4G phone when no network to support it exists in northeast Indiana. So, the mobile essentially behaves like a 3G phone.
“They were going to spend billions because they wanted to be in 80 percent of the country a few years ago, but obviously the economy is not like it was in 2007,” Cooklev said.
“That’s marketing, though,” he said, and a reason the buyer should beware.
“I was one of the first to get the new iPhone 4, but I got it for my wife,” Cooklev said.
“She noticed that when she holds it in her left hand the reception goes in and out. I’ve heard putting duct tape on it helps, but that’s not going to make Apple look very good.”
