Gizmodo: smashed

Most Returned Gadgets Actually Work Fine, Only About 1% Are Broken

Jason Chen — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT

According to the consulting firm Accenture, most consumers are idiots and return gadgets not because they're broken, but because they thought they were broken. The overall return rate seems to be hovering around 11% to 20%, with a full 68% of those being returned because they don't "meet customers' expectations for some reason." Another 27% of returns are due to buyer's remorse, which leaves only 5% to malfunctions. Even if you're taking the higher number, that 20% out of all gadgets get returned, 5% out of that would mean only 1% out of all gadget purchases are broken at purchase. Those chances aren't horrible, but they're not spectacular either. [PCWorld via Inquirer]

The Wrong Way to Handle MacBook Repairs

Jason Chen — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:00:21 EDT

Backstory: Some guy sends his MacBook into Apple for under-warranty repair. Apple says there's spill damage. Guy claims there isn't. Apple sends it back. Guy smashes MacBook with a sledgehammer.

Seriously? You think Apple, or any other reputable company, would lie about spill damage? You could have asked for photographic evidence of the damage, and if that was vague enough, worked your way up the support chain until someone gave you the repair for free. To us, it's obvious that this guy actually did spill something on his laptop and tried to lie his way through Apple to get a free repair. – Jason Chen

Man Teaches Apple To Not Repair His Macbook By Smashing It With Sledgehammer [Consumerist]

Rumor Smashed: iPhone Not on Cingular for $299/$399

Jason Chen — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:39:28 EST

Really? We weren't clear enough that the whole iPhone on Cingular subsidized for $299/$399 was a fake that some websites are actually thinking that it's real? Really? C'mon. Really?

Here's the word straight from Cingular:

It's a fake.

RUMOR SMASHED! – Jason Chen

iPhone [Gizmodo]

Rumor Smashed: iTunes Card NOT Free With Zune

Mark Wilson — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 14:30:29 EST

Yesterday we posted a Weird Combo of the Day that offered a $15 iTunes card free with the purchase of a Zune. Later, we even had a "tip" from a CompUSA "employee" with a "screenshot" of an internal "memo" referencing the "incident" about the "deal" and yes I like "quotes".

Zune Insider followed up on the rumor.

I talked to the retail team; this is a hoax. The actual ad that ran offered a $15 iTunes gift card with the purchase of an iPod, and free Zune Premium Earphones w/ the purchase of a Zune... Funny while it lasted, though!

Yeah, it really was. But for now, RUMOR (...that we sorta helped start) SMASHED! – Mark Wilson

UPDATE: Ok...maybe it wasn't smashed. I don't know what to believe anymore But I'm gonna sleep alright tonight nonetheless.

DELETED: Zune Retail Humor [zuneinsider]

Rumor Smashed: Philippine Call Center Not Awarded Zune Contract

Jason Chen — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:30:08 EST

Even though the Zune Phone is all but confirmed (there haven't been any formal announcements yet), we shouldn't be jumping to conclusions every time there's an announcement that somehow ties Microsoft to phones. Case in point, this morning Global Sky, a Philippine-based call center, issued a press release saying they were going to support Wi-Fi enabled Phones from Microsoft. Several sites jumped to the conclusion that this was, in fact, the Zune phone. However, it's actually something different.

We inquired with Global Sky and they said their support is actually for the "One Follow Me" service from Microsoft that lets overseas workers communicate cheaply with their families back home. Microsoft themselves also said there have been no formal announcements about anything to do with Zune phones.

Rumor smashed. – Jason Chen

One Follow Me

Rumor Smashed: Apple has NOT Released The 802.11n Update For Free

Jason Chen — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:15:06 EST

Remember how Apple was going to charge $1.99 for the 802.11n AirPort enabler in Intel macs? Well, Apple released an Airport Extreme firmware update for all Intel-based Macs yesterday, and already sites are claiming Apple's gone and lowered $1.99 to $0.00. Not quite.

An Apple contact confirmed for us that the update is not the AirPort Extreme enabler, and just updates Intel Macs for compatibility with AirPort Extreme base stations. A bit of wishful thinking never hurt anyone, but let's not jump to conclusions unless you have that cool mat from Office Space. – Jason Chen

Firmware Update [Apple]