Apple iPhone ranks highest in customer satisfaction for the sixth consecutive year

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise but iPhone users are pretty happy with their devices. In fact, they are so happy that Apple has once again ranked highest in smartphone customer satisfaction among all other manufacturers.

This is the company’s sixth consecutive time winning this prestigious title from J.D. Power and Associates. It’s even more honorable because the first year Apple won was in 2007 when the iPhone made its debut.

Apple received a score of 838 in customer satisfaction. The iPhone specializes particularly in ease of operation and features, though J.D. Power notes it performs well in every area they measure. Next in line is HTC with a score of 808 — not too far behind. After that is Samsung and Motorola with 777 and 775 respectively. For context, the industry average is 788.

While these numbers represent satisfaction for smartphones, Samsung ranks highest for feature phone customer satisfaction. It scored a 718 thanks to high ratings for performance, ease of operation, and features. LG is close, but didn’t quite make the cut with a score of 717.

When Apple released the iPhone 4 in 2010, one of the initial complaints was the 5 MP camera. Though the camera quality is excellent, many other manufacturers at the time were already adding 8 MP shooters. But J.D. Power reported an interesting statistic: devices with 5 MP cameras achieved satisfaction almost on par with those featuring 8 MP cameras. This could be one of the many contributing factors to Apple’s high customer satisfaction rating this year.

So what smartphone manufacturer ranked the lowest in customer satisfaction? If I were to take a guess, I would have said RIM. Alas, I would be incorrect. This year, Nokia shamefully receives the lowest score of 721.

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S Hands-on

The Sony Ericsson Xperia arc was a critically acclaimed turning point for the manufacturer's Xperia line. Delivering a more robust UI than its predecessor, the X10, it also enjoyed one of the slickest designs we've seen on a smartphone, a great camera and a beautiful screen. In spite of all these qualities, Its appeal was tarnished shortly after release, with LG, Samsung and HTC all dropping their dual-core handsets onto the market. So despite no major slowdown on the device itself, in consumers' eyes at least, 1GHz suddenly seemed slow.

So while it's a bit early for an entirely new handset, in a tried and tested mobile industry fashion, Sony Ericsson has released a specced-up stop-gap device and thrown the letter 'S' in for good measure. What you get is the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S, with a 1.4GHz processor as well as 2D and 3D Sweep Panorama functionality for the camera. Suffice to say this adds to the already competent spec sheet, with its 4.2" screen (480 x 854 pixels), 512MB RAM, 8MP AF camera, not to mention Gingerbread under the hood. Needless to say, the bumped up processor results in speedier interaction, most noticeable in camera module which opens 20% faster and web browsing, which handles flash videos that little bit smoother. The 3D Sweep Panorama can be appreciated on any 3D TV that requires glasses, otherwise, the 2D panorama can be outputted via HDMI or viewed on the handset itself.


Having given the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S the once over, it won't come as a shock to anyone that this isn't an entirely new device and won't prompt current Xperia arc users to upgrade. That said, with smooth performance and the same fantastic styling as found on the original, only this time in white, we can see the appeal of this reprise and look forward to getting a review unit so we can give you a full run down. Those who'd want to purchase the handset though, will have to wait at least until the end of the month, which is when some retailers will start shipping it.

HTC May Track Smartphones

HTC's Sensation and Evo 3D may be tracking users, which may expand the location tracking debate that has already put rivals like Apple, Google and Microsoft in the hot seat.

Top News

NUTS: Justice Department Sues AT&T, Samsung Aims High

The Score: AT&T's Merger Plans Blocked, IPhone Left in Bar Again

Mobile Phones Smashed at Hasidim Event

Microsoft Pushes Windows Phone With Renewed Effort

Wisconsin Considers "No Text" List

More News >

HTC Sensation 4G HTC Evo 3D

According to TrevE from InfectedROM, HTC's Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update contains extra, special software in the Carrier IQ, or CIQ, department. In addition to CIQ's regular function of sending carriers necessary information about one's smartphone, TrevE says HTC's version of the component contains a "User Behavior Logging" function that can track phones in great detail.

For example, Phandroid reports this new CIQ can pinpoint users' locations, identify their applications, and even detect whether a phone has been rooted.

In this last case, TrevE suggests HTC monitors the Sensation and Evo 3D to disqualify customers from warranty coverage even if rooting didn't cause whatever problem they seek to fix.

Carriers deny they use the information in this way, however, saying the software only collects limited information.

"It collects enough information to understand the customer experience with devices on our network and how to devise solutions," said Sprint spokesman Jason Gertzen about the role of CIQ. "We do not and cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool."

For now, however, HTC is technically within legal bounds to tamper with CIQ, as it covers this possibility in its terms of service. Those with rooted phones who wish to escape this loophole may download software from TrevE and Team Synergy to remove the code from their devices.

However, given growing sensitivity about location data tracking, this accusation may spark lawsuits against HTC over privacy violations, adding HTC to a list of companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft that have already faced litigation related to location data on their devices.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company and its Mountain View neighbor have been fending off allegations of mobile location-based tracking since this spring. Two researchers in April discovered Apple's iPhone and iPads kept location data for up to one year, sparking investigations into Google and Microsoft's mobile tracking practices as well.

All three companies now face numerous lawsuits from customers, scrutiny from governments worldwide and criticism from organizations like the ACLU.

In order to avoid similar circumstances, HTC may very well address this reported problem early on by altering the code or disabling the advanced function altogether.

For the top stories in mobile, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Philips makes its Fidelio audio docks Android friendly

Philips has decided to make its line of Fidelio iPod audio docks Android friendly. Their trick is to use the so called “adjustable micro USB connector” which can work with various smartphones and tablets. What’s more, the company also unveiled a new Android app to make the docks sing along in harmony with your Android device.

Three products will be available:

• Fidelio for Android AS851 – the high-end model that delivers a superb crystal-clear sound. It comes with Philips Digital sound processing for life-like, distortion-less music and 30W RMS total output power.
• Fidelio for Android AS351 – which can also work with batteries, offering Dynamic Bass Boost to “preserve low tones for deep bass” at any volume level and comes with 10W RMS total output power.
• Fidelio for Android AS111 – although pretty small, it will supposedly produce a “pure balanced sound” so you can “wake up to a great sound” from your Android phone.

And that’s about it… You can download Philips’ Fidelio app for free from the link below.

Apple security team members might have searched home for missing iPhone 5 prototype, not police

A missing iPhone prototype soap unfolded this week, so eerily similar to the one of last year (up to the lost-in-a-bar point), that some were quick to label it a marketing stunt or a hoax, citing no records in SFPD of the incident, which supposedly involved officers searching through one Sergio Calderon's home, car and computer for the missing iPhone.

SFWeekly, however, went further with its investigation on the matter, and it turns out that two members of Apple's security team (possibly the same one that deals with counterfeits) were the actual people on the ground that searched the house. When the Apple employees went to the police department and said they've traced the GPS signal from the iPhone to a home in Bernal Heights, they reportedly just scored four non-uniformed SFPD officers, who escorted them to the address, and then stayed outside during the search, at least that's the SFPD's explanation.

This story gets convoluted from here. Sergio Calderon, 22, claims that what he thought were all six police officers, flashed badges, then two of them entered the house and started the carrot and stick game, while searching the premises. They asked if all members of the household are American citizens, but also promised him $300 to tell them the whereabouts of the phone, and vouched the owner won't be pressing charges.

Anthony Colon's pulled LinkedIn profile revealed he is currently an Apple employee

The thing is that only police officers would have been let in to enter and search his house, and if the two members of Apple's security team have presented themselves as SFPD, that would have been borderline illegal, despite the police escort. 

Moreover, one of the guys who searched his home, left Sergio his phone number, and SFWeekly managed to connect it to Anthony Colon, a retired sergeant from the San Jose Police Department, whose pulled LinkedIn profile reads "recently joined Apple Computer as senior investigator".  

This story gets better by the day, even without any iPhone prototype to show for it. We are not waiting with bated breath for Apple to comment on it, though.

UPDATE: Below is SFPD's official report on the matter:

"September 2, 2011

11-96

SAN FRANCISCO POLICE ASSIST APPLE SECURITY WITH THIER LOST PROPERTY INVESTIGATION

After speaking with Apple representatives, we were given information which helped us determine what occurred. It was discovered that Apple employees called Mission Police station directly, wanting assistance in tracking down a lost item. Apple had tracked the lost item to a house located in the 500 block of Anderson Street. Because the address was in the Ingleside Police district Apple employees were referred to Officers in the Ingleside district. Four SFPD Officers accompanied Apple employees to the Anderson street home. The two Apple employees met with the resident and then went into the house to look for the lost item. The Apple employees did not find the lost item and left the house.