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IPhone just not cutting it for those with manicures, fat fingers

Apple Inc. has seen some wild complaints, from iFires to widespread outrage over its locking policies.  But complaints about manicures and chubby fingers?  This is truly new territory to Apple.

The Cupertino based corporation is poised to sell the vastly improved 3G version of its popular smartphone for only $199, starting July 11.  Apple also announced it will give all iPhone owners a new software upgrade with improved functionality.  The new 3G phone in particular looks very attractive with GPS, a faster network, a simulated method for running multiple programs, lower cost, and more.

Unsurprisingly, the new iPhone is generating some complaints.  Some are upset about the lack of video, which is common among most camera phones.  Others are angry that Apple isn't offering a means of memory expansion, such as miniSD cards.  Still others complain that Apple is just being lazy by not offering what seems like a simple functionality -- copy and paste for text.

The LA Times reported on a much stranger line of issues encountered largely by the fairer sex.  The iPhone responds to electrical charges from fingertips, allowing its touch functionality to work.  It won't respond to fingernails.

Erica Watson-Currie of Newport Beach, Calif., a consultant and lecturer, is among the women up in arms that the iPhone won't respond to their long fingernails.  She states, "Considering ergonomics and user studies indicating men and women use their fingers and nails differently, why does Apple persist in this misogyny?"

Watson-Currie pegs her average fingernail length for those curious between an eighth and a quarter of an inch. She yearns for a stylus to save her from her iPhone woes.  Unfortunately many have praised the iPhone for not using a stylus, which many feel is a burden and easy to lose.

Jennifer Aaker, professor of marketing at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley says that by trying to fill many shoes -- web machine, music player, and cell phone -- it is bound to run into these kind of complaints.  She states, "Any time you fulfill multiple roles, there are going to be gripes."

There have also reportedly been gripes by users with "fat fingers" having trouble getting the phone to respond.  This problem affects both genders equally.

Despite the dissatisfaction, iPhone sales among women and in general are up.  Since June 2007, Apple has sold 6 million iPhones.  In October only one in four iPhones bought was by a woman; that number has now jumped to one in three, based on information from Nielsen Mobile.

Many people have complained about Apple's virtual keyboard and its lack of tactile feedback.  According to Gavin Lew, managing director of User Centric Inc., which studies the iPhone's reception among users, some users don't like the autocorrect feature, which attempts to guess at words typed wrong.  Many users like the feature though he adds.

Some women are learning ways to live with the iPhone and have pretty fingernails.  Heidi Roizen, a prominent Silicon Valley investor and entrepreneur and long fingernail aficionado, only uses her thumbs on the screen.  She says, "My thumbnail does not hit it" thanks to a shorter thumbnail.

While those with long fingernails or larger fingers may be incensed at Apple's lack of compassion, they seem unlikely to be able to do much to slow down the iPhone juggernaut.  They'll do their best to voice their complaints, though, if the latest reports are any indication.  Windows 7, from Apple rival Microsoft, might be in trouble too, as it looks to implement extensive finger driven capabilities as well.



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By TomCorelis (blog) on 6/25/2008 4:39:39 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
why does Apple persist in this misogyny?


Design flaws are misogyny now? *puke*




RE: .
By masher2 (blog) on 6/25/2008 4:50:13 PM , Rating: 5
I think its far more likely the accuser is herself engaging in misandry...given plenty of men have fingernails at least 1/8" long, why would she feel this issue would be confined to women?


RE: .
By just4U on 6/25/2008 9:30:38 PM , Rating: 5
Probably because Men are unlikely to ever complain about it....


RE: .
By phxfreddy on 6/28/2008 2:09:42 AM , Rating: 2
big fat american women and their chubby fingers!


RE: .
By oab on 6/25/2008 11:25:56 PM , Rating: 2
She could use her nuckle. The iPhone should respond to that right, and if you tilt it slightly to one side, it becomes a very accurate pointing device.

People who have put on so much weight that their fingers are now fat all the way up to the nuckle need not apply. Or people who in hot/humid weather have their fingers "swell" (such as myself) might find there is a loss of precision.

Get over yourself! Seriously. You would have the same problem with ultra-tiny-clicky-button smartphones too most likely.


RE: .
By afkrotch on 6/26/2008 8:34:20 AM , Rating: 5
Play with your nipple until it gets hard. Then use that.


RE: .
By Etern205 on 6/26/2008 8:35:22 PM , Rating: 2
This will give Apple another item to sell.
For those having trouble using the iPhone those with fat fingers or longer finger nails, we sell an
additional item called the iFinger. It's a stylus looks like a finger and looks and feels like a finger.

The item only cost a low price of just $99 dollars.


RE: .
By kyleb2112 on 6/29/2008 6:29:18 AM , Rating: 2
Now you're clearly advocating nipple abuse.


RE: .
By tastyratz on 6/25/2008 4:56:09 PM , Rating: 5
and how is it a design flaw?

This device is sold in massive quantities and to a completely broad audience. If people with fat fingers didn't have a reason to complain someone else would complain the buttons are too big making the phone so much larger.
A stylus would require a different touchscreen setup and for what? a far smaller number of buyers than those who would complain.

They obviously appeal to their target audience with such a highly successful product line and sales rates.

Someone give that lady a jitterbug and tell her to return her iphone.
If 1 phone worked for everyone we would only have 1 model phone.


RE: .
By spluurfg on 6/25/2008 5:31:36 PM , Rating: 5
They could always sell a fat-finger version of the iphone that's the size of a paperback novel. It'd boast a bigger screen and great battery life, and it'd probably fit in their pockets, assuming their pockets are proportional to their pants, and that their pants are proportional to their bodies.


RE: .
By Parhel on 6/25/2008 5:48:10 PM , Rating: 5
What do they do when people with fat fingers and tiny heads complain that they can't make phone calls?


RE: .
By allajunaki on 6/25/2008 11:08:44 PM , Rating: 3
Hail the Triangular iPhones... :P
Fat where it needs to be,
Slim where it ought to be.. ;)


RE: .
By ViroMan on 6/26/2008 3:32:30 AM , Rating: 2
im sure for those fat fingered people a software switch could switch the phone to display 4 buttons instead of the 12 it currently does. As for the people who have fingernails too long to use... you could always buy A stylus for the iPhone as someone below has noted.

Personally I would rather not have a touch phone as I can't seem to keep my cells from getting scratches all over them due to my over using and carelessness. Try forgetting your cell carrier and accidentally putting your cell in your pocket with your change for a half a day (poor thing looked like it came off a grinder)


RE: .
By winterspan on 6/26/08, Rating: -1
RE: .
By Hydrofirex on 6/26/2008 9:11:57 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, I bet it does since it uses high quality glass. I know my Zune 80 skidded across rough blacktop pavement in a parking lot when I got out of the car with it in my lap. Admittedly there is the tiniest of light dinks when you watch in the dark at the right angle, but it did slide almost 3 or 4 feet.

THUD - SKIZZZZZZZZ

(o_o)

HfX


RE: .
By spluurfg on 6/26/2008 7:48:31 AM , Rating: 3
Haha, 4 buttons... that would be funny...

"The fingers you have used to dial are too fat. To obtain a special dialing wand, please mash the keypad with your palm now."

I was under the impression that the Iphone didn't work with a stylus, as mentioned in the article?


RE: .
By Cerberus81 on 6/25/2008 6:16:19 PM , Rating: 3
That's what we get for allowing them to hyphenate their names.

sigh...


RE: .
By lexluthermiester on 6/25/2008 7:45:56 PM , Rating: 5
Oh please, if your fingernails are getting in the way, trim them. If you have fat fingers, lose weight.

Having been in the fatty group myself for a number of years I can tell you it was because I did not use self-control. If your fat, stop eating sugary items & drinks and exercise. Anyone who truly wants to lose weigh, does.

As for the fingernails, if you want to use the iPhone cut them off, or use a different phone...


RE: .
By feraltoad on 6/25/08, Rating: 0