TV Villains Can't Use iPhones

Edward Kirk · November 10th, 2007, 10:20 PM

We found this one pretty humorous. Those of you who watch the NBC show Bionic Woman, you might have caught this. One of the CIA agents on the show owns an iPhone, and later on in one episode a criminal gets his hands on it, and is shown using it. It looks like your average product placement advertising, right? Not quite. Apparently criminals aren't smart enough to figure out how to use it correctly, because he's holding it upside-down.

Here is the criminal shown using the iPhone correctly:

...and here he is listening to the wrong end:

Apple is well-known for having extremely easy-to-use products, so I have to wonder if he wasn't paying attention at all. It does kind of ruin the TV-magic of us believing that he's actually talking on the phone in the show, though.

[via InformIT]

**light?** - November 10th, 2007, 10:55 PM #2

And the fact that the display turns off when in-use, due to the proximity sensor…

**glowing screen** - November 10th, 2007, 11:13 PM #3

not to mention that the screen is glowing is glowing in the first picture, meaning - i think - that he is not actually on a call, otherwise the sensors would turn the screen off when it's up against his head.

dannyschmanny · November 10th, 2007, 11:35 PM #4

i was watching that and was thinking "no, no...something is off...is he?...no...is he actually holding it upside down?!" haha

**i saw dis** - November 10th, 2007, 11:48 PM #5

i wuz watching dis episode and caught that 2! and if u notice in the first pic when hes actually not holdin it right bkuz when u hold the iphone 2 ur ear the screen disappears...clearly hes not talking 2 sum1 or is intentionally holding it far frum his face. i also saw the use of an iphone on NCIS 2 take a picture of a murder victim =]

**TV and iPhone** - November 11th, 2007, 12:08 AM #6

I've seen the iPhone show up a few times on TV shows. The one funny thing I noticed was when a character uses the iPhone the screen doesn't turn off when brought up to talk. So either the proximity sensor is broke or they are not making a call, HA!

Pyromatrix2k2 · November 11th, 2007, 12:31 AM

I would also like to point out that the female spy in "Chuck," Sarah, also has an iPhone. The difference is that when she talks on it, the screen does in fact turn off. I think she calls someone off stage or something. I think that's her actual personal cell phone, LOL!

imagine engine · **funny** - November 11th, 2007, 01:05 AM #8

I wondered if I was the only one that noticed. I laughed seeing this. Obviously the director wasn't paying attention and neither was the actor.

November 11th, 2007, 12:16 PM

this happened already... in Journeyman.... he has an iphone and whenever he uses it.... it is upside down but it still works ...

**intentional** - November 11th, 2007, 03:47 PM #10

They wanted the blue glow on the actors face.

Bernie · November 11th, 2007, 05:45 PM

The iPhone antenna is in the bottom of the phone. If you are getting low signal level, turn it upside down. Oh laff now, but until you try it, and you will, don't knock these highly researched shows. This is the main reason I haven't gotten a Vaja case. How much signal would I loose. I live in the boonies with little or no coverage looking for hotspots and reflections to get the Edge network to pop up.

The next iPhone will correct this problem.

IphoneOWNER Guest Posts: n/a	This happened already - November 11th, 2007, 12:16 PM #9
IphoneOWNER Guest Posts: n/a	this happened already... in Journeyman.... he has an iphone and whenever he uses it.... it is upside down but it still works ...

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Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,085 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	TV Villains Can't Use iPhones - November 10th, 2007, 10:20 PM #1
	We found this one pretty humorous. Those of you who watch the NBC show Bionic Woman, you might have caught this. One of the CIA agents on the show owns an iPhone, and later on in one episode a criminal gets his hands on it, and is shown using it. It looks like your average product placement advertising, right? Not quite. Apparently criminals aren't smart enough to figure out how to use it correctly, because he's holding it upside-down. Here is the criminal shown using the iPhone correctly: ...and here he is listening to the wrong end: Apple is well-known for having extremely easy-to-use products, so I have to wonder if he wasn't paying attention at all. It does kind of ruin the TV-magic of us believing that he's actually talking on the phone in the show, though. [via InformIT] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

neu Guest Posts: n/a	light? - November 10th, 2007, 10:55 PM #2
neu Guest Posts: n/a	And the fact that the display turns off when in-use, due to the proximity sensor…

orion Guest Posts: n/a	glowing screen - November 10th, 2007, 11:13 PM #3
orion Guest Posts: n/a	not to mention that the screen is glowing is glowing in the first picture, meaning - i think - that he is not actually on a call, otherwise the sensors would turn the screen off when it's up against his head.

dannyschmanny Forum Lurker Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	November 10th, 2007, 11:35 PM #4
	i was watching that and was thinking "no, no...something is off...is he?...no...is he actually holding it upside down?!" haha

books Guest Posts: n/a	i saw dis - November 10th, 2007, 11:48 PM #5
books Guest Posts: n/a	i wuz watching dis episode and caught that 2! and if u notice in the first pic when hes actually not holdin it right bkuz when u hold the iphone 2 ur ear the screen disappears...clearly hes not talking 2 sum1 or is intentionally holding it far frum his face. i also saw the use of an iphone on NCIS 2 take a picture of a murder victim =]

*iMosaic Guest Posts: n/a	TV and iPhone - November 11th, 2007, 12:08 AM #6
*iMosaic Guest Posts: n/a	I've seen the iPhone show up a few times on TV shows. The one funny thing I noticed was when a character uses the iPhone the screen doesn't turn off when brought up to talk. So either the proximity sensor is broke or they are not making a call, HA!

Pyromatrix2k2 iPA Regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Another interesting scenario. - November 11th, 2007, 12:31 AM #7
	I would also like to point out that the female spy in "Chuck," Sarah, also has an iPhone. The difference is that when she talks on it, the screen does in fact turn off. I think she calls someone off stage or something. I think that's her actual personal cell phone, LOL!

imagine engine Rocks the Board Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 184 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	funny - November 11th, 2007, 01:05 AM #8
	I wondered if I was the only one that noticed. I laughed seeing this. Obviously the director wasn't paying attention and neither was the actor.

*Lee Guest Posts: n/a	intentional - November 11th, 2007, 03:47 PM #10
*Lee Guest Posts: n/a	They wanted the blue glow on the actors face.

Bernie Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Valley in Virginia Posts: 525 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	I do it all the time. - November 11th, 2007, 05:45 PM #11
	The iPhone antenna is in the bottom of the phone. If you are getting low signal level, turn it upside down. Oh laff now, but until you try it, and you will, don't knock these highly researched shows. This is the main reason I haven't gotten a Vaja case. How much signal would I loose. I live in the boonies with little or no coverage looking for hotspots and reflections to get the Edge network to pop up. The next iPhone will correct this problem. __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: MA712LL w Apple Headset & Vaja case iPhone Version: 2.0 (5G77) Hacks: Been there, done that. Computer & OS: 2 x 2.8 GHZ Quad-Core w 8G &10.5.7 There are cars you drive and cars you work on.