A Look Inside Apple's Wireless Testing Facilities

[Journojulz]

You should have a read through this thread; https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/970140/

The 1% claim as you've interpreted it is rather ambiguous. The claim was 1/100 more dropped calls than the 3GS. Not 1% more dropped calls than the 3GS.

"If we are less ridiculous about the 3GS' performance, and say it performs 2x worse than the average AT&T phone, Then it's 2 dropped call for the 3GS versus 2.5 dropped call for the iPhone 4, a 25% increase, which is still huge."

But only one extra call in 200 that is dropped.

the rise from 2% to 2.5% is a massive increase proportionately, but in reality still unlikely

And now we know about avoiding touching dead spot, free bumpers and the increased sensitivity in low signal areas - this rise looks a lot less significant in the grand scheme of things than has been made out.

 

[Veri]

OH, PLEASE. Now you're just being silly.
You've just entered the retro world equivalent of "Macs are only good for graphics". Apple has absolutely tons of patents, which means they literally invent more than almost any other tech company. They have multiple patents issued literally every day.

Maybe you're not from the US. In the US it is posible to be issued patents on applications of existing inventions to particular scenarios. This is commonly mocked by reference to "on-the-Internet" patents, because a number of tech firms have taken existing processes and applied for a patent to applying that process... but on the Internet.

As for publishing research, the reason they don't is because it's applied science, not theoretical--no reason to give competitors any additional knowledge.

Sorry, what? Applied science isn't published? Again, maybe you're not in the US or even in the West, but it's very common here to have engineering schools with their own journals just like the sciences. Computer science itself is often barely regarded as an "applied science".

IBM and Microsoft, for example, churn out lots of published research.

 

[thirteen1031]

People criticise Apple's BS PR and you go to a suicide hyperbole? Really?

Yes, really, because...

How about: "If you can cope with it, perhaps with a free case, that's cool. Otherwise, please feel free to send it back. We're going to consider how to update the design and we'll get back to you [soon]."

Beause that's what I heard Steve say! Excepting the "re-design" part, which I think is unreasonable for him to promise that they'll do because who knows if it can be done? I sure don't. I wasn't in on any of the engineering meetings, and I don't know how the thing is made or put together or what needs to be where or it won't work at all...so I don't know why it was done this way and if it can be redesigned. So I think it'd be unreasonable to expect him to promise that--what if he can't deliver? He'd and Apple would look worse! "You said you'd update it! You didn't!"

So. He did say what you wanted. He said if you can cope, a free case, and if you can't a refund. So...why aren't you satisfied? This is why I went into suicide mode. Did you want him to come out in sack-cloth and ashes? I'm just trying to understand here. It seems to me that the one thing he didn't say that you want is the one thing he might not be able to say--because it may not be true. And you seem to want him to say the truth.

 

[skipx]

I have played on a HTC hero - I know which i would choose.

I have the HTC hero. I am satisfied, but yes, I do like iPhone specs more
Also the hero has a very clear signal drop to 1 or 0 bars if you hold it in a quite normal way.

I'm not always Apple-fan (sorry ) but who keeps thinking it's a design fault or so, doesn't know anything about radio frequency..

BUT the ones who complaint arranged free bumbers, so you all gotta be happy instead of complaining! I mean, according to the press conference you can even choose, you don't have to take Apple's bumper because they cannot produce enough of them..

And ABC: what a lame report :/

 

[thedoctor9]

Not impressed. Nobody is sitting in such a room making calls from their iPhone. I refuse to let Apple distract me by showing off images of their spiked room with a high chair. Nice try, Apple.

Seems nothing impresses. Again, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

 

[Anuba]

This is the most intelligent post I've read here since the Jobs PC.

Ouch, I hope that's not true since what I wrote was pretty basic stuff á la PR for dummies. I guess Americans simply aren't familiar with the concept of "göra en pudel".

 

[PerfSeeker]

Looks like if you step inside you'll hear the Mortal Kombat voice say "FIGHT"

This. FTW.

 

[bkspero]

Great comparison (not)

According to Apple, the Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and HTC phones have the same problem but people don't pay as much attention.
All smartphones have a weak spot in a place you'd usually hold a phone.

In fact, the HTC Droid did the worst job dropping from 4 bars to 0 bars (iPhone 4 did 5 to 1, same with Windows).

Watch the video for all of your answers.

You're using a 2nd tier obsolete phone running last generation's Android operating system (HTC Droid Eris) to justify the dismal performance of Apple's "Magical" new, "state-of-the-art" flagship product? The "best product that Apple has ever made"? The Eris was selling for $30 even last year, and isn't even listed on the Verizon website today.

We have to have more integrity than that. Admit that Apple screwed up big time, those who want can return theirs, and the rest can pretend that they enjoy redialing.

 

[PerfSeeker]

You're using a 2nd tier obsolete phone running last generation's Android operating system (HTC Droid Eris) to justify the dismal performance of Apple's "Magical" new, "state-of-the-art" flagship product? The "best product that Apple has ever made"? The Eris was selling for $30 even last year, and isn't even listed on the Verizon website today.

We have to have more integrity than that. Admit that Apple screwed up big time, those who want can return theirs, and the rest can pretend that they enjoy redialing.

What about the fact that the death-grip issue applies to the "start of the art" Android phones like N-1, Droid Incredible?

 

[Veri]

Beause that's what I heard Steve say!

Dude, you've edited out a (significant) sentence in quoting me.

Excepting the "re-design" part, which I think is unreasonable for him to promise that they'll do because who knows if it can be done?

I'm going to not go out on a limb and say: the 'phone can be redesigned without two external unshielded antennas which become electrically connected by a left-handed grip.

It'll be done anyway. The only question is whether it'll be done earlier to fix the antenna mistake or later as part of a more comprehensive iPhone 5 revamp. Unfortunately, it seems the question for Jobs has become: how can I fix it without acknowleding the mistake?

 

[twoodcc]

i would love to visit apple's facilities

 

[pdjudd]

i would love to visit apple's facilities

So would I, but I think the chances of it happening are about as good as your’s are... I saw the video. It looks so... Foreign.

 

[METOO999]

Looks like Star Trek Generations with foam walls!

 

[meatballs]

Ouch, I hope that's not true since what I wrote was pretty basic stuff á la PR for dummies. I guess Americans simply aren't familiar with the concept of "göra en pudel".

Too many people seem uncapable of grasping that the Holy can "göra en pudel". The PC was a very crude (typically American?) attempt at PR, I actually laughed a couple of times while I watched it.

 

[vaguely]

Yeah, you know... Steve said something to the effect of "we could have a wall of PR people". Well, maybe they should think about it after this.

A PR consultant would've given him some useful advice. First, stop writing arrogant emails that only serve to tick everyone off. Second, come clean. It worked for Hugh Grant when he was caught with a hooker in a car. It worked for Letterman after he banged every Late Show intern for the last 30 years. When you come clean everyone's completely stumped and the bandwagon stops dead in its tracks.

Steve could've said "Yes, it's true. The iPhone 4 antennas can be bridged and we were aware of it. But it was all in an effort to make the iPhone thin and sexy. Sorry for not putting a warning label on the phones, we'll fix that. Meanwhile, free cases for everyone, or a full refund."

Instead he came out looking like Baghdad Bob, playing the victim card and offering cherry-picked statistics, denials and attempts to drag a bunch of other manufacturers with him in the fall. He could've pixelated the logos and UI graphics and kept the phones nameless, everyone would've figured it out anyway by studying the shapes but it would've at least conveyed an effort to take sole responsibility for the iPhone 4's shortcomings. Apple really needs to stop mentioning their enemies and their products by name, I don't care if it's Google or Adobe or Nokia or Microsoft. It's cheap and petty and beneath Apple.

Another cheap thing he does that's extremely annoying is the way he juxtaposes numbers with insane imaginary numbers to make the real numbers look good. "So how many users have this problem? 50%? 40%? No... only 0.55%". Where have I heard that before? Infomercials! The cheapest and most depraved marketing communication of all. "How much do you think the Super Ab-Flex Trainer costs? $500? $400? $300, surely? No, it's yours for only $99.99!"

This is wrong on almost every point, except Jobs's idiotic email. Do you seriously, for one second, think that Apple doesn't have wall to wall PR? But Jobs ignored it or failed to consult on the email.

PR rule 1: Don't get into a fight with the echo chamber. You will just get drowned out;

PR rule 2: Until you have something worth saying stay quiet, even if it feels a bit rough in the short term;

PR rule 3: Once you have something to say, say it with full back up in a controlled room.

Supplementary tactics: since it is quite clearly a product-class issue (and those who deny this are really deluding themselves), bait the competition.

Nokia and RIM have just taken the bait, broken rule 1 and will regret it.

Apple did not play a good hand - and couldn't thanks to Jobs being a bit of a dick initially (he should have just forwarded the email to engineering), but then it played a bad hand very well.

The only real insoluble issue is that Jobs will not allow the term "trade-off" in his lexicon (see Gruber today), even though these are a fact of engineering life. Any reading of stuff by those who can actually prove they are antenna experts shows that the antenna is not faulty, but a trade-off - high gain, but high sensitivity in edge cases, against lower gain but less sensitivity.

Apple hasn't been caught with a hooker, or screwing Steve Ballmer's wife: it has been targeted by a mob with pitchforks out.

 

[Veri]

shows that the antenna is not faulty, but a trade-off - high gain, but high sensitivity in edge cases, against lower gain but less sensitivity

Are you using an RF definition of "gain" but some layman's definition of "sensitivity"? IOW, could you please explain what you mean by "high sensitivity in edge cases".

 

[vaguely]

I meant sensitivity to interference. Fair point. To use plainer language: more powerful, but less robust at its extremes, versus less powerful, but less easily knocked over (and with less "reach", obv).

A situation not helped by wildly inaccurate reception bars (I now understand why my 3G keeps losing signal in my house because the new bars show me much more clearly where the blind spots are - just outside my bathroom (I know, too much info) and by the window in the spare room where I tend to wander while chatting).

 

[meatballs]

Apple hasn't been caught with a hooker, or screwing Steve Ballmer's wife: it has been targeted by a mob with pitchforks out.

...a victim of its own hype.

But it had to happen sooner or later

 

[Full of Win]

I think the use of the word "many" is not a fair representation of 0.55%.
"Few" is the right word.

You assume all that experience this will call. I've seen the issue but did not waste my time calling in. I'm sure others are the same. Please don't quote the apple tripe without a little critical thinking

 

[pdjudd]

You assume all that experience this will call. I've seen the issue but did not waste my time calling in. I'm sure others are the same. Please don't quote the apple tripe without a little critical thinking

But you don’t know that do you? You don’t have any statistics of people that haven’t called Apple (how anybody can factor them in is beyond me). There is absolutely no proof that can back up your assertion whatsoever. You are trying to state that absence of evidence (the lack of people calling Apple for whatever reason), is evidence of absence (the presence of such people). The problem is that this is not a valid approach. Where are these large number of people. Saying “They must be there since I am part of them” doesn’t mean much. Show me numbers here. Where are they? I am sure Apple would love to hear from them.

You cannot provide any data. Apple’s results may be on the low side, but we can’t know that for sure. We have to consider Apple’s data valid because otherwise, absent of any solid numbers (which nobody can provide), we are stuck proving a negative. Something we all know to be impossible.

So unless you can provide solid numbers that can override Apple’s, we have to take whatever data we have. Simply saying “there must be more people” is pointless unless you can provide them.

You can say “there must be more people who never called Apple” all you want. But if they don’t make their voices heard, we cannot consider them any more than people who never contacted Apple without problems. If they never made their voices heard, that’s their fault.

 

[i.mac]

every one that has an iphone4 and is still 'dissatisfied', gear up... the time is coming when you either return the thing or shut-up (since you had your chance...)



I know, must complaining folks won't return the iphone4, because, come on... it is the best phone out there... you know...

but lamentably, they will still not shut-up as they should...


Also, it is evident that apple is trowing pearls to the swines. After they show off their 100 mil facility, most ignorant bloggers (yes, you CR folks are included) and comments in this site, still cannot comprehend an iota of what has been said...

is there any site left out there is actually apple friendly?

 

[NT1440]

You assume all that experience this will call. I've seen the issue but did not waste my time calling in. I'm sure others are the same. Please don't quote the apple tripe without a little critical thinking

That "tripe" is the only hard facts we have. I'll take facts over speculation any day.

 

[i.mac]

Are you using an RF definition of "gain" but some layman's definition of "sensitivity"? IOW, could you please explain what you mean by "high sensitivity in edge cases".

I'll give it a shot...

a close relative has an iphone4. Today this relative asks me: is there a problem with the phone antenna? My answer: have you experienced a problem? No..., replied the relative. They've heard the noise, but this person does not care. I know many other such cases first hand.

So there... these are the folks that make part of the 3+ mil iphone users. Sensitivity is fine and well...

 

[Darkroom]

all you fanboys need to get a grip on reality. if this epic antenna failure, which is what it is, belonged to Adobe or Microsoft, you would be having a field day.

unfortunately for you, this time it's apple's mess. they can post lame explanations, make shady comparisons with their competitors and give as many tours of their antenna testing facilities as they like, but the fact remains: it's a flawed product. period.

 

[PerfSeeker]

all you fanboys need to get a grip on reality. if this epic antenna failure, which is what it is, belonged to Adobe or Microsoft, you would be having a field day.

unfortunately for you, this time it's apple's mess. they can post lame explanations, make shady comparisons with their competitors and give as many tours of their antenna testing facilities as they like, but the fact remains: it's a flawed product. period.

Even a flawed IP4 scored higher then any other phone according to CR.