Saturday, August 17, 2013

A Brand New "The New iPad" has been delivered to me!!

Latching on to my earlier posts with regards to my New iPad which went dead after less than a year of purchase, this is an update of what is going on. 



This will be my final update of the issue. It has been confirmed that my iPad which was purchased nearly a year ago went dead. It was due to hardware component malfunction. This was beyond the service center's ability to repair. 

Therefore, a new one was being delivered. The collection on the 9 Aug 2013 was a bad experience. It was found unable to rotate not matter what. I went to the setting and set the toggle slide for rotational to be unlock. It was unlock and yet it did not rotate. I went back briefing after 10 minutes of collection and I was told that the next time, the iPad which is fully functionally will be sent to me. 

On 12 Aug 2013 at around 10.30 am, the New iPad arrived. I signed for it and I am a happy man. 



I almost forgot to reply to the eServe service survey during the time I am writing this. I guess I will be going to fill it up positively. 

You see, 10 more days, the warranty of one year will be expired. I am so lucky to have component failure in nick of time. This iPad believed to be a refurbished one (That means all the good parts put together to assemble a new one) will enjoy an extended 90-day warranty. 

What do I have to say about Apple product? It is service-oriented and they keep their words. 

I am satisfied even my iPad was a faulty one. It flickers with lighted pixels and went dead after I did a master reset. 

I agree that "Once you go Mac, you never go back!".

Guide to Apple Service Centers in Singapore

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Continue - My New iPad is dead (9 Aug 2013)


On 6 Aug 2013, just one day after my iPad was found "dead", a call was received from Apple Service Center. I was informed that they have replaced a brand new iPad. I will have an extended warranty starting from the day I received the call. I asked what actually happened to my trusted iPad. The staff told me that the internal components is defective. I guess this could be a wear and tear issue. But luckily its defective enough to break down within the warranty period for one year. Lucky for me.

Please refer to the following link to find out how the New iPad went blank.


With further ado, on 7 Aug 2013, I went down to the Service Center at 313 Somerset Basement 3 to collect my New iPad, literally "new".


Being rather excited, I forgot to bring out my SIM from the car when I arrived at 313 Somerset. But I tested the iPad anyway. It was working fine. The packaging is completely new with the transparent plastic cover that is pasted around to protect it. I quickly signed and acknowledged for it and went straight to my car. In my car, I inserted the SIM and test it.

To my horror, the screen was inverted. I tried to tilt it properly, the screen would not rotate. I guess, it could be the setting. So I went to General Setting and then turn the Screen Lock. Toggle the "Mute" to unlock the rotate function. But it was already unlocked. Oh my god, I told myself. Another defective set.

I quickly ran back to eServe and told the staff about the problem. He told me that he will do a master reset and some testing. I patiently waited and after 25 minutes later, I was informed that there is some sensor problem with this iPad. Luckily I did a thorough check.

To make it up to me, the staff told me that the iPad will be delivered to me instead the next time. There is no need for me to proceed to the center to collect it again. That was quite a relief. This because parking in the Central Business District area in Singapore is extremely expensive. Singapore is ranked the 5th City for highest cost of living, if you are wondering.

In conclusion, Apple's customer service is top notch. It honors its warranty and this process is free of charge.

I will provide further update in due course.


Monday, August 5, 2013

My iPad (The New iPad) went dead on 5 Aug 2013!

I have always been a fan of Mac. You know what they say, "Once you go Mac, you never go back!". 

On 5 Aug 2013 about midnight, I was watching some clips on my iPad on the bed, just like any other day, when the screen suddenly flickers. There were like 3 columns of pixel dotes shiny and the screening were flickering like a old TV with poor transmission. 

I quickly did a master reset. 

MASTER RESET

Holding down the HOME and the SLEEP/ON buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds.

The iPad went off as expected. I pressed the SLEEP/ON button and the Apple logo came up. After awhile Apple Logo disappeared and went straight to the Screen Lock Page. As usual, I slide my hand gracefully across the slider and the iPad should have gone to the main page. It did, but only for a brief 5 seconds. It turned blank.

Alright, I told myself, there is got to be an explaination for this. You see, the battery shows 87% charged. It is not normal for my iPad or any iPad in the world to behave this way. So I did another MASTER RESET. The screen remains blank. 

I quickly rushed to the wall socket and where the 10w charger provided by Apple in the iPad box was plugged in, to charge the iPad. This tablet shows no sign of life. 

INVESTIGATION

My investigation over the Internet after reading the Apple Community Forum (Which was not at all helpful) was that there were people like me. In a thread of more than 6 pages, there more very ignorant people who were not facing with the same problem, battery dead issues. Their issues were caused by overcharging, wear and tear of battery. There were times when the iPad goes blank after you leave it alone. The battery gets drained because of the function Apps with all sorts of push notifications from Sports to News. Their problem can be solved by charging the iPad. 

There were also people facing a similar problem, albeit a minor one. The screen hang showing blank screen. They thought that the iPad was dead, but in fact it was showing a black blank screen instead. There are tell tale signs for this, off the light of your room in complete darkness, you will be able to tell that the screen is actually slighted litted and greyish. This can be resolved by doing MASTER RESET over and over again. 

I found two or three persons with the same problem. But nobody was able to address to their issue directly. They kept saying about the MASTER RESET. This annoys me. One of them, went to the Apple Service Center and have his iPad replaced. This is quite encouraging. 

INTERIM - 313 @ SOMERSET



Upon seeing this, I went in search of the New iPad's box. This is always the problem, you will never find the box when you really need it. Anyway, after an hour of hunting, I found it. It was purchased on 23 Aug 2012. Oh my god, I told myself. It is still within one-year-warranty. 

On 5 Aug 2013 at 11 am, I called the Singtel (Service Provider which I bought this iPad from) after sales hotline which is stated on the invoice. I was asked if there was a warranty card. What the hell!. There was no warranty card to begin with. All my life using Apple's product, I have never seen a warranty card before. I told the staff politely there was any. Because if there was, it would have been in the box. I was then advised to go to Apple Service Center at Somerset 313. This is a shopping center at Orchard Road, Singapore I have never been to since it has been built. I believe its more than 10 years already. 

INFORMATION - SINGTEL AFTER SALES HOTLINE

Anyway, I arrived at the center at 12 pm. It was quick. The staff without much knowledge on Apple products could not answer why and what happened. He told me that he will do some testing and if it cannot be repaired, I will be given a brand new iPad. But the further warranty would last 90 days from the date someone called me to inform it is ready for collection. 

Anyway, the Singtel after sales hotline is incorrect. There are actually other branches of Apple Service Center to choose from. There is actually a branch that is quite near to my place. For individuals whom bought their iPads or Mac Books in Singapore, please refer to the following link which I have prepared for people seeking the correct information. I also found out that they do not repair or deal with iPhones. iPhone users, please refer to the entities that sold the phone to you. LOL!





Another post to update the situation will be made in due course.

Community Discussion on The New iPad went dead!