Rogers iPhone Repair Problem

Bottom line - go to the Apple store for any problem with your Rogers iPhone

10.07.10 11am update - problem finally resolved. Went back to the Apple store again for another iPhone ... they had given me an AT&T prepped iPhone yesterday ... and said they were sorry.

As trusting as i have become with lack of technical competence, i took my laptop with me to sync the new iPhone with iTunes. It worked!

I was so pleased to have it resolved, I didn't ask for any compensation.

I haven't told Rogers ... will wait until they advise my replacement iPhone is in stock to tell them it is not required.

10.06.10 5pm update - I was successful in replacing my iPhone at the Apple Store ... even though Rogers told me I had to go thru Rogers Technical Support to replace the iPhone.

However, now Apple has created a problem and my iPhone doesn't appear to be mine ... and I need to return to the Apple store with Rogers iPhone proof-of-purchase. One does need a sense of humour when dealing with phone service companies.

I was informed I just needed to restore my apps and everything would be back to normal.

As you might have guessed, the restore didn't work and in addition it appears the SIM card is not valid (I am told it is an AT&T card).

When i called the store, i was advised i had to return to the store and bring my Rogers iPhone proof-of-purchase. Do they think i stole the iPhone from an AT&T customer??

I think they neglected to move my SIM card to the replacement iPhone.

Back to the Apple store tomorrow morning ... what will happen next??

10.06.10 3pm - I am spending approx 5 hours today with Rogers and Apple trying to repair my iPhone 3Gs.

"No Service" appears most of the time, instead of "Rogers", in the upper left corner.

This has to do with the modem not consistently receiving the Rogers 3Gs signal.

It only seems to work when i drive by Rogers' main office on Bloor.

On Sept 24th, I contacted Rogers with this problem and was advised a swap would happen and i would receive a free replacement in 3-5 business days. Being Friday, this meant waiting until the following Friday, without service, for a replacement. I asked them to try hard to deliver it as soon as possible.

Having confidence in Rogers - first mistake - i waiting until the Friday to call them back ... only to discover the replacment order hadn't been placed!

This time, i was advised 3-5 business days once again.

Getting wiser about Rogers infamous service, i escalated from tech support to customer care, when i called on the Monday and was advised of a UPS tracking number. I was advised i should receive the replacement in the next couple of days.

Getting wiser about "Rogers' service", I called this morning and escalated to customer service (from customer care) and then escalated to a manager in customer service and discovered there was no tracking number (even tho they gave me one) and the replacement iPhones were "out of stock" and i would need to wait until they were again in stock.

Getting wiser about the lack of Rogers service, i indicated i wasn't satisfied with "waiting until a replacement was in stock".

The manager, when pressed, indicated i could go to the Rogers store and buy a phone (for less than $100) on an pay-as-you-go service plan and fax the bill to them for a customer credit and use this phone until me iPhone replacement arrives.

Getting even wiser about lack of Rogers customer service, expertise and care, i asked how i would be notified when the replacements were in stock and discovered i would need to check with them daily!

So, to net it out, the iPhone became defective (for no known reason) and I need to go without one until they restock ... but continue to pay for it!

Needless to say, i am getting very proficient in dealing with Rogers by now and demanded a reduction in monthly fees. They agreed to not charge for my data plan for the month ($25). Not being satisfied, once the replacement happens, i will go after more.

As i am stuck with Rogers until the end of the contract, (2.5 years from now), i intend to make life miserable for them, on a continuing basis, for this time period.

Not done yet. I decided to go to the Apple store and am now waiting (1.5 hours) to be served and will try for a replacement from them, as a hardware error situation.

BTW, Rogers advised i could NOT go to the Apple store to resolve the problem, as it was a Rogers technical problem and had to be resolved by the Rogers Technical Support division.

I don't know how i would have proceeded solving this problem, if i was a working person...

RIM has a tough decision to make

08/17/10 - in the Star today.

Is this the beginning of the end for RIM?

Are they giving in to India and allowing government access to user e-mails?
Will it mean every country will have access to user e-mails?
The main reason for gov't access is to screen for terrorist activities... which will happen regardless in "those" countries.
If RIM decides not to concede, it would lose a lot of future sales and this is not the mandate of any profitable corporation.

Somehow, RIM needs to find a middle-ground solution that satisfies everyone.

Talk about gobbledygook ... RIM indicates "maintains a consistent global standard for lawful access requirements that does not include special deals for specific countries".

It will be interesting to see how this concludes ... increased sales of iPhones?

As the financial advisers would say "RIM is not a good buy at this time".

Very helpful and free tool - installer

This is the best free application I have seen for installing free and very useful tools on your PC.

It checks what you have installed and lets you know what else is available (and free) and will automatically install the ones you select.

Try it out and let me know if you have any questions.

where newspapers fit in with the younger generation

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Doonesbury seems to sum it up nicely.

Keeping Your Software Up-to-date

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Not that it is critical to the operation of your computer, but if you like to keep your computer up-to-date, this free TechTracker tool from CNET is very easy to use.

Just sign up and it will install a small app on your taskbar that will automatically (when you start your computer) check your software for non-current versions. It will then direct you to a website that lists the out-of-date software and allows you to click on the update.

As I am not comfortable with apps running on their own, I change the setting to run when I want.

There are other tools that perform the same task but I think this one has less performance impact and better ease-of-use.

If you have any questions about this tool, let me know.

Mini USB Vacuum Cleaner

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Great little tool for cleaning your computer keyboard ond any other small device.

It connects to your computer USB and doesn't use batteries.

It is $5.99 at HomeSense.

iPhone - best apps from the App Store

One thing that enables iPhone to stand apart from other smart phones is the Apple Apps Store and access to it via iTunes for downloading many apps (well over 100,000 now) and a lot of them are free. Just click on the Apps Store icon and download immediately (charge occurs before you buy).

An excellent feature that comes with the iPhone is the ability to manage multiple e-mail accounts from one screen ... no more signing in with userid and password every time you need to see a different e-mail account.

The best two apps i have downloaded so far are:

1. MotionX GPS Drive - This GPS app compares very favourably with Garmin GPS. At a price of $.99 (total initial cost), the GPS manufacturers need to worry NOW! I use it in my car instead of the Garmin (now in Helen's car). At the end of the first month, all users need to pay a $25/year charge for text-to-speech or continue with the app without voice guidance. It is still the best price performer, in my opinion! The only other cost is the Rogers usage charge (very small).

2. GolfCard - This GPS app compares very favourably with the$300-$400 stand-alone golf devices. It cost $9.99 and updates are free ... no additional charges. I have used it at Bushwood and it has helped my game ... won't play without it in future.

Here are a few other FREE apps I am now using:

1. GlobeConvert - currency converter - easy to use anf helpful for cooking recipes

2. weather - from the WeatherChannel - readily shows various cities you set up

3. stock markets - Yahoo Finance - easy view of markets

4. MotionX GPS Lite - great when walking, hiking or nike ridingi

5. Yellow Pages - (from the App Store on your iPhone) always useful

6. Alarm Clock - useful when using the stand charger at night

8. Hipstamatic - $1.99 - std camera doesn't have features

9. Camera Plus - lets you zoom, has a count down timer and more