[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-DcUASffHU&w=580&h=370]
All the people on the planet who have a television or a computer have found out that iPhone 6 bends and that iPhone 6 Plus bends, some important publications demonstrating this in their own TV shows. Computer picture is one of these publications and one of the best-selling technology magazines in Europe, and in the video clip above you have presented a 6 iPhone Plus which bends after applying pressure to its casing at a certain point.
The German PR department of the company reacts in a disturbing way: Instead of answering the questions about why the iPhone 6 Plus is so sensitive, a manager called Computer picture and told us, that Computer picture will not get any testing devices and no invites to official events any more...
Those from Computer picture they tried to inform their readers about the bendgate scandal and this attracted withdrawing the accreditation offered by the Apple company for participating in PR conferences and for testing its products. Computer Bild sent a letter to the CEO Tim Cook in which he criticizes the measure taken by the PR department of the Apple company and the measure seems exaggerated for a popular magazine sold in 9 European countries.
Apple has a very strict policy when it comes to demonstrating problems with its products, it withdrew Gizmodo's accreditation for 4 years for publishing images of an iPhone 4 prototype before it was released, so we know how vindictive it can be. From my point of view, the decision of those in Cupertino is not correct and it demonstrates the fact that objectivity is not part of the mentality of those who run Apple's PR department.
Dear Mr. Tim Cook!
Just like anyone else who is obsessed with digital technology we have eagerly awaited the new iPhone. We felt relief when the head of our telecom department one day shouted "Here we go!", presenting an invitation to the great event. And certainly we took a flight, went all the way to California, just to tell our readers every detail about the device that you and your company have worked on so hard for such a long time.
When the iPhone 6 Plus finally hit the market we noticed a few reports on a possible problem. According to them the case seemed to be weak, "bendable", to drop the evil word. Being popular for our tests with utmost scrutiny, we could not leave the subject without comment. Of course that required further tests since testing new products without any prejudice is our obligation to our readers.
And so we bought an iPhone 6 Plus, just to find out whether it was a singular problem or some kind of hoax. The test was quite simple, so we could easily record it on video. Just to prove that what happens is nothing but the truth.
To be honest: We were shocked about how easy it was to bend the device. And so there were around 200.000 viewers who watched the video up until now. We can imagine that you and your colleagues must have been shocked, too. This might have been the reason why we got a call from one of your German colleagues the next morning. He was upset, and it was a rather short conversation. "From now on", he said, "you won't get any devices for testing purposes and you will not be invited to Apple events in the future."
Dear Mr. Cook: Is this really how your company wants to deal with media that provide your customers with profound tests of your products? Do you really think that a withdrawal of Apple's love and affection could have an intimidating effect on us? Luckily we don't have to rely on devices that Apple provides us with. Luckily, a lot of readers are willing to pay money for our magazine to keep us independent. So we are able to buy devices to do our tests anyway. Even devices of manufacturers that seem to fear COMPUTER BILD's independent judgement.
Even if we are quite dismayed about Apple's reaction, we won't give up our principles: We will continue our incorruptible tests that have the same high reputation in the German media-landscape as Apple has for its products. So lighthouse. We congratulate you on your fine new generation of iPhones, even if one of them has a minor weakness with its casing. But we are deeply disappointed about the lack of respect of your company.
Best Regards,
Axel Telzerow
Editor in Chief COMPUTER BILD-Group
