White iPhone 4 finally released in NZ today
After a 10-month delay, the near-mythical handset is finally available in 28 countries. Non-Apple fans, prepare to be disgusted by a tidal wave of stories.
After a 10-month delay, the near-mythical white iPhone 4 is finally available in 28 countries including the US, UK and New Zealand, the company said in a statement today.
Non-Apple fans, pepare to be disgusted by a tidal wave of stories. Starting here.
The white iPhone 4 has duly appeared on Apple's New Zealand's iPhone home page, though not yet as an option on its buying screens (the statement says Thursday April 28 - though possibily it means the US Thursday; that is, NZ Friday).
Apple said the white model would also be available from selected retailers [UPDATE - and NBR employ did manage to buy one at Westfield St Lukes on Thursday night, but it was the last one in stock].
NZ pricing is the same as the black model, which was first released in June last year: $1123 for the 16GB model; $1328 for the 32GB.
Peeling under heat
Apple never gave a detailed reason for the white iPhone delays, saying only " that the handset was "more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected."
But Bloomberg, in an April 15 story that correctly predicted the phone would ship by the end of the month, quoted an insider who said difficulties included paint that peeled under heat.
The LA Times said there were also problems with sensors in the device reacting to the lighter shade circulated online.
iPhone 5 in September
All four previous models of the iPhone (well, at least in one colour) have shipped in June or July.
Fan sites have reported rumours that the iPhone 5 will ship in September; Bloomberg has quoted two people familiar with the matter who say it won't be unveiled at Apple's June developer conference.
The release of the white iPhone 4 now offers further evidence that the iPhone 5 will ship later this year, assuming Apple wants to have a little bit of daylight between the two releases.
NBR staff
Thu, 28 Apr 2011
Thu, 28 Apr 2011
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White iPhone 4 finally released in NZ today
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