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Why do you think Samsung is not talking about GPS issues yet?

Why do you think Samsung is not talking about GPS issues yet?

  • doesn't know what is causing the problem

    Votes: 7 7.8%
  • knows the problem but it is hardware related

    Votes: 22 24.4%
  • knows the problem but doesn't know how to fix it

    Votes: 11 12.2%
  • knows the problem and are working on a software fix as we speak.

    Votes: 50 55.6%

  • Total voters
    90

thindery

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2010
157
64
Missouri
Remember when everyone found out Apple's phone had those antenna problems? Remember that? It took Apple only 22 days to make an official press conference about the matter. While it's a joke that the phone had problems, I applaud apple for owning up to the issue and talking about it.

Now on to Samsung: If you just consider the At&t Captiate launch it has been 23 days now. If you want to factor in the Europe launch... we are coming up on 2 months and no official word from Samsung.

Something is up and Samsung either:
a) doesn't know what is causing the problem
b) knows the problem but it is hardware related
c) knows the problem but doesn't know how to fix it
d) knows the problem and are working on a software fix as we speak.

If the answer was D, they would have said something by now. That's why I believe that it's either A, B, or C. They aren't talking because those answers are all bad news..

In any case, I do not like how Samsung is handling this issue and I'm at the point that even if this phone could be fixed by Samsung or even XDA I would be returning it. I am so pissed that this has gone on for so long I don't think I want to give them my money now.
 
I think it is D, if not a mixture of A,C, and D. They may not know what is wrong, or how to fix it, but I do believe that they are working on it, and that it isn't hardware related.

The reason they haven't really addressed it too much is because they don't have the same marketing clout that Apple has. Apple could come out and tell people that their phones will spontaneously explode, and sheeple would still HAVE to have them. Samsung is not in that position, so they are trying to dance around the problem a bit more until they can quietly get it fixed.
 
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That is backassward.

Not being Apple is the very reason they should be addressing the issue.

I completely agree. I think Samsung is hurthing themselves even more by not announcing what is going on. And that's why I think if this was an easy fix they definitely would have said so by now. Not saying anything does a few things.

1) People are returning them because they don't know if it can be fixed
2) People aren't buying them because they hear about problems and Samsung won't talk about it
3) People keep the phone and realize it can't be fixed. They are pissed Samsung just ripped them off probably won't consider Samsung in the future.

But if Samsung announces that it is a serious problem and won't be able to fix it... They stop production and offer everyone the opportunity to return them no questions asked or they offer to switch it out with a fully functioning phone in the future.

I think Samsung is trying to figure out the best way to handle this because they know it cannot be fixed. The longer this goes on... the more it hurts them then just coming clean.
 
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I think Samsung is trying to figure out the best way to handle this because they know it cannot be fixed. The longer this goes on... the more it hurts them then just coming clean.

After talking to Samsung I've become to believe it is hardware and they are wishing it will just go away as an issue.
At first I thought it would be solved with a simple software fix but I too am now starting to believe that it is something more major. I think at this point its too late for them to recall the phones. Sometimes the problems from a phone are just from an outspoken few, but in this case it seems to be very widespread...almost every phone. That said, I have not had gps problems. It won't lock on inside my house as fast as my droid incredible would, but it does lock on fairly quickly inside my car but I've only used it twice since i've had this phone. I think they might just take the hit on sales and returns on their first shipment of phones, and just have the hardware issue fixed by the second shipment.
 
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I honestly feel that Samsung knows of the problem and that it's a hardware issue. I suspect they haven't made official announcements because it would draw negative attention to their new flagship Android product. How embarrassing would that be? And issuing a recall would definitely admit there is a hardware issue.

It has taken so long to get a fix, I wonder if they are trying to work through some software workarounds that might fix the problem but are struggling to actually fix the issue. That's probably why all of these "workarounds" that we see online do not actually work reliably for most people.

I think Samsung needs to come clean soon and just acknowledge the cause of the problem whatever the issue really is...
 
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As I wrote on another forum, if you return the phone solely because of the GPS issue - that's nuts. Want a GPS product? Get a TomTom. This is a phone people. Besides, there's an excellent chance that this will be dealt with in an update. Samsung's got too much to lose to ignore this issue (as silly as I think it is).
 
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As I wrote on another forum, if you return the phone solely because of the GPS issue - that's nuts. Want a GPS product? Get a TomTom. This is a phone people. Besides, there's an excellent chance that this will be dealt with in an update. Samsung's got too much to lose to ignore this issue (as silly as I think it is).

But if the feature is available in every other phone, why spend another $100+ for something that should be fully functional?
 
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It costs money to put out a release. I wouldn't be surprised if they know what the issue is but are waiting for the Froyo build to add the fix. This theory makes sense to me as well since the EU Galaxy S has had this problem a while back.

I just wish that people were more careful about posting a GPS "fix". I saw that there was a problem before I bought this phone but read that a "fix" was available. I sold my iPhone, bought this phone thinking I can change the settings and fix the issue. Unfortunatly, the "fix" doesn't correct anything.
 
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As I wrote on another forum, if you return the phone solely because of the GPS issue - that's nuts. Want a GPS product? Get a TomTom. This is a phone people. Besides, there's an excellent chance that this will be dealt with in an update. Samsung's got too much to lose to ignore this issue (as silly as I think it is).

Though I partially agree that returning the phone solely on the GPS issue is a bit extreme, I disagree that the Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S) is just a phone.

It's more than a phone. It's a smart phone. That means that people will use it to send emails, browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, play video games, take pictures, keep tabs on social networks, use the GPS feature as a replacement to their stand-alone GPS units, and of course make phone calls.

If people wanted just a phone, they could get a lower model phone for $50 (or even free) and I'm sure it would work fine for their needs.

But most users here spent at least $200 to get a smart device. We expect the features to just work. Other smart devices have GPS that works. It's not unreasonable for Captivate owners to expect that a listed feature works.
 
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As I wrote on another forum, if you return the phone solely because of the GPS issue - that's nuts. Want a GPS product? Get a TomTom. This is a phone people. Besides, there's an excellent chance that this will be dealt with in an update. Samsung's got too much to lose to ignore this issue (as silly as I think it is).

For a lot of people location based apps and services are half of what make these types of phones fun to use. Google maps with a working GPS is a really fantastic thing to have in your pocket at all times.

My iPhone 3GS had a GPS that just worked. No tweaks, no updates, no frustration.. it just worked and I didn't have to think about it. When I'm using Yelp to find restaurants near my current location it just works.

It's pretty simple - the bar has been set, Samsung isn't meeting it. I really want to believe that this is a software issue but considering the silence from Samsung I'm starting to lean more towards hardware issue that might have no workaround.
 
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I'd also like to point out that the HTC Evo 4G and both the Motorola Droid phones also have a GPS that "just works." I'm not trying to say iPhone is superior, the whole reason I bought a Captivate was to get away from iPhone's shortcomings. It did however set the bar, which the Evo and Droid both meet, Captivate/Galaxy S doesn't.
 
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As I wrote on another forum, if you return the phone solely because of the GPS issue - that's nuts. Want a GPS product? Get a TomTom. This is a phone people. Besides, there's an excellent chance that this will be dealt with in an update. Samsung's got too much to lose to ignore this issue (as silly as I think it is).

No it is not just a phone. A large percentage of the benefits given by a smart phone are derived from the functionality provided by GPS. Many of the claims made to me before purchase are not available because of this defect.

I can't believe anyone would just give a vendor a walk on a $500 device where a primary selling feature is broken.

Do you oversee employees? If so are you this easy on them? Heck, I'd love to have you as a customer.
 
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Maybe there should be, "They know there is a problem, and dont want to fix it" choice.

Its not just the gps, for me anyway. Its the quirky media player, sloppy email and contacts, laggy UI, and all kinds of other random and wildass issues people are reporting with this thing.

I cam from iPhone too and I have to say I love the freedom of Android, and this phone is a very sexy piece of hardware, but it seems just frought with bugs, quirks and issues. I feel like we are PAYING Samsung to beta test their phones. Maybe they will fix all of this. But the ONLY thing we have to go by, is their track record, which isnt so good. Maybe they will just take all these issues and fix them, with their next version of these phones in 6 months or so...

Im just not sure I want to take that gamble.
 
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http://androidforums.com/members/trinhbo.html
@Trinhbo

Though I partially agree that returning the phone solely on the GPS issue is a bit extreme,

My main point

It's more than a phone. It's a smart phone. That means that people will use it to send emails, browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, play video games, take pictures, keep tabs on social networks, use the GPS feature as a replacement to their stand-alone GPS units, and of course make phone calls.

Only one of many features you've listed that have caused issues for some and will likely be fixed.

We expect the features to just work.

Agree

Other smart devices have GPS that works. It's not unreasonable for Captivate owners to expect that a listed feature works.

Agree - and I'm confident it will. Certain? No. Confident? Yes.
 
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