Factual inaccuracies in Matt Warman’s anti-iPhone tirade.
Matt Warman, “Consumer Technology Editor” for The Telegraph, posted an anti-iPhone tirade last Thursday on The Telegraph’s website, which has drawn a lot of criticism. The piece, 10 reasons not to buy Apple’s new iPhone was aimed to be controversial. This is fine. However, apparently Warman’s idea of controversy is to spread misinformation. This is not fine.
Below are the sentences in the article which are objectively false. I’ve quoted 176 words out of the 548-word piece. In other words, I believe one full third of Warman’s piece to be objectively false.
The remainder of the article, which I haven’t quoted, is mostly composed of subjective matter, most of which I think is utter rubbish. There’s very little which is objectively true.
Matt Warman and/or The Telegraph, should either retract or defend each of these statements below, ASAP. The Telegraph should be ashamed of letting this go to print. Telegraph should also be ashamed of the way comments moderation was handled, but that’s another matter altogether.
“Buy the top-of-the-range Blackberry or Android handset and you will still pay a lot less than the extortionate prices Apple charge.”
Factually incorrect.
“… now as other manufacturers announce, for instance, that you can use their phones as shareable wifi hot spots, Apple says no.”
Apple has never made any such statement. This statement was also written before the announcement of the product, when it was not known whether this feature would be included.
“Not because of some spurious “user experience” argument, but because of economics.”
Apple has never commented on this (and it is completely contrary to your first point).
“The iPhone, the phone that promised to put the web into everybody’s pockets, can’t even show you most of it, because it can’t handle Flash graphics.”
Factually incorrect as Flash does not make up “most” of the web.
“Google Android can, in the latest version (OS 2.2), and it’s going to be available free on a lot of budget tariffs.”
The second clause of this statement is extremely dubious and needs supporting evidence.
“4) No multitasking:…”
Factually incorrect, this was announced months ago.
“Tried instant messaging on an iPhone? Oh yes, you have to open the app to see if you’ve got a message.”
Factually incorrect. This functionality has been available for 12 months through the Push notification service.
“If Apple announces multitasking next…”
Again, they already have, months ago.
“5) Its battery life is terrible:…”
Written before the announcement of the product. It was widely believed before the announcement that the battery life would be improved significantly. The announcement confirmed a 40% increase in talk time.
“…look at phones by companies such as HTC – multitasking, better cameras, better screens, all draining their batteries far more – and yet the iPhone, with its undemanding technology, still only offers equal performance.”
Factually incorrect. iPhone 3GS battery life was amongst the best in its class, and significantly better than phones featuring more demanding technology, and iPhone 4 has only improved on this.
“Use the iPhone as a phone and it’s not got great reception,…”
This statement was made before the announcement of the product, which announcement included that the casing of the iPhone 4 would integrate a large steel antenna.
“9) It charges for satnav: In an age when Nokia and Google Android provide completely free mapping and satnav facilities, the cheapest way you can turn your overpriced iPhone into a satnav is with a £19.99 app.”
Disingenuous. Google Maps is free on the iPhone and can be said to be ‘satnav’. This statement was made before the product was announced and it was not known what features would be included.
Controversy is one thing, but misinforming your readers is quite another.
