It seems like only yesterday that an appropriately grumpy Steve Jobs , fresh from a prematurely - interrupted Hawaii vacation , addressed the iPhone 4 feeler problemsthat had been wide reported in the press . Apple ’s response : a program that would let each iPhone 4 owner toreceive a free casefrom a pick provided by the company .
Alas , that was well over two month ago . At the time , Jobs promised that the troupe would re - evaluate the platform at the end of September . And re - assess it has : Apple has announced that the iPhone 4 Case Programwill come to an end , in good order on time , on September 30th .
As the day of reckoning approaches , your faithfulMacworldstaff has put together this FAQ to help you make the most out of your opportunity to score a costless case good manners of our friends from Cupertino .
Does the program really end on September 30th?
September 30th notice the terminal of the flow during which buying an iPhone 4 spend a penny you mechanically eligible for a spare display case . customer have thirty days from the date of purchase to exact their case , so those who purchase an iPhone 4 on September 30th can actuallyordera free case up until October 30th .
So how do I get my free case?
handily enough , you order it using your iPhone 4 . Specifically , you need to go to the App Store and download Apple’siPhone 4 Case Program app . Launch the app on your iPhone 4 — it must be the iPhone 4 for which you want the free case , as the app checks the phone itself for eligibility — and go in your iTunes or Apple ID and password when prompted . You ’ll then be able to opt from among the offered showcase , include Apple ’s Bumper and example from Belkin , Griffin Technology , Incase , and Speck . Shipping clock time depend on the availability of the vitrine you choose .
All these cases look pretty much the same. Any advice on which to choose?
Funny you should require . We ’ve actually reviewed the case usable through the program and bring out a table of review and paygrade to aid you take ..
But I tried to use the iPhone app last week and it said I was no longer eligible. What’s up with that?
Although the program officially ends on September 30 , there are a couple other deadlines that apply . If you purchased your iPhone prior to July 23 , you had until August 22 to order your case . If you purchased your iPhone on or after July 23 , you had 30 solar day to order a caseful .
I bought one of Apple’s Bumpers last week. Can I get a refund?
regrettably , no . Apple ’s Websitestatesthat only hoi polloi who purchased a Bumper before July 23 can get a refund for the price of the case .
Can I still get a free case after September 30th?
Perhaps . Apple has stated that it will continue , even after the destruction of the computer programme , to offer up a barren iPhone 4 Bumper to customers who live antenna - related problems . Presumably , this intend that you ’ll have to contact Apple Care and complain about your iPhone ’s response ( and maybe even explicitly request a spare case ) . Our interpretation of Apple ’s statements is that only Apple ’s Bumper case will be uncommitted for such accommodations .
Looks like I’m out of luck. Got any suggestions for other cases?
Apple ’s syllabus includes just a petite sampling of all the iPhone 4 example available on the market . If you miss out on a detached showcase , or if you ’re front for something more functional or visually appealing than what can be had for costless , it ’s not too former to jibe out one of our caseroundupsto see what the market has to offer . We ’ll also be review a good number of iPhone 4 grammatical case now that the innocent - case program is ending .
What if I’m still unhappy with my iPhone 4, even with a case?
As part of the iPhone 4 Case Program program , Apple made some impermanent change to its store insurance , let unhappy customers to yield an iPhone 4 to the society for a full refund within thirty days of leverage ( ply , of course of instruction , that the French telephone was undamaged ) . As of October 1st , the company is going back to its late insurance policy . These policy variegate calculate on the body politic of purchase , but they loosely include restock fees and other limit .
Does the end of the program mean that Apple is about to release a new iPhone?
You will beshockedto find out that Apple has made no mention whatsoever that an forthcoming iPhone ( presumably sans antenna problem ) is the grounds why the company is force out the free - typesetter’s case program . Instead , the company seems to have simply resolve that the number of people who have been impact by the aerial issues is so small that keeping the program going was no longer necessary .
It would also be strange for Apple to release a fresh French telephone at this time of the year , given the party ’s distinctive product - release cycles .
Macworld senior editor Dan Frakes bring to this report .
