iPhone ‘Dead Spot’ Discovered Between Analyst’s Ears
by John Paczkowski
Posted on August 10, 2007 at 10:25 AM PT
Reports of dead spots in the iPhone’s touchscreen are migrating from Apple’s support forums to Wall Street.
In a research note to clients today, Nomura International analyst Richard Windsor suggested that the problem could become more widespread. “Windsor explained that the screen of the iPhone uses a chemical deposition to provide touch sensitivity based on heat,” MarketWatch reports. “The international property rights for this technology, he said, were purchased from a bankrupt Finnish company that was trying to make a similar device. But that company encountered the problem that with extensive use, the film would begin to degrade and the screen would lose its sensitivity. Windsor said the problem typically manifested itself within three to six months. While Apple should have been aware and fixed the problem, the broker said, only time will confirm that all is well with that touchscreen.”
An interesting theory, but one that should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt. As some observers have noted, Windsor hasn’t quite gotten his facts straight. “… There’s no film over the iPhone screen glass, and the touchscreen sensor senses capacitance, not heat,” a commenter on the Tech Trader Daily Blog explained. “There’s obviously a manufacturing defect in a small percentage of the screens–not a problem with the phone itself. Nobody who has looked at the iPhone tear down pictures could possibly assert that the phone isn’t built to be durable.”
Said another, “The only ‘dead spot’ is between Richard Windsor’s ears.”
Comments
NOTE TO RICHARD WINDSOR:
Posted by Jim Hillhouse at August 12th, 2007 at 10:33 pmOK, Mr. Windsor, stick with what you know and don’t try to worry your pretty little head about those electronic things like impedance, capacitance, resistance, V=IR, and all that other nerdy stuff. And that means, you should not write analysts reports about subjects you have earthly, heavenly clue about. Otherwise, you end up getting slammed and embarrassed, become the but of jokes up and down the 101, because you don’t know the technology–and you know you don’t–that is a key part to a pivotal product in your research area.
Simply another attempt to manipulate Apple’s stock price. The SEC needs to wake up and smell the apple fritters.
Posted by Eric Welch at August 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am