Analyst Claims Design Fix for iPhone 4 Signal Issue Being Deployed

[Popeye206]

It's just annoying that they did not come clean from the start and say "yes, some users will experience this issue, we are working on a fix and will provide replacements"

And #2, Apple needs to promise to handle these kind of things better in the future.

There are times for the "downplay the issue" card and this clearly was not one of them.

I agree with most of what you said except how they handled it. You even point out... this is week #3 for the phone even being out there. Seems to me like they did it right... don't worry about the press and worry about finding out what the real problem is and come up with a cost effective fix. Then come back and let us know.

If Apple would have come out in week one and said "oh crap, there's a design flaw and we need to fix it" sure we would have felt better, but phone sales would have come to a screeching halt. Now, if you're not sure if you can fix it with SW updates or have to do a recall, you're going to keep the sales going and focus on the fix.

Remember... most of the negative press has been perpetuated by people that don't even own the darn phone. There's been a lot of humors and false statements floating around.

Personally... I'm just glad to see there is a press conference tomorrow and looks like we'll know soon what our options are. At least they reacted fast to one of the hottest selling products ever.

 

[Tonewheel]

Here's A Hot Tip...

Wait until tomorrow.

Until then, it's all conjecture. All of it.

 

[madrag]

you're recalling it wrong.

sent from my iPhun


jokes aside, tomorrow will be a curious day, if they trully recall it (probably voluntary) it will be a massive recall

 

[circusbass]

If this is true I'm glad Apple may back their product. What about those of us who put a $30.00 invisible shield on our iPhone 4's and then exchange it? Will they give us money back for the shields? Or do you think there could be an in store fix too? That is if there is a voluntary recall and everything.

I'm in that boat as well. Seeing as ZAGG has a limetime warranty I would take the shield off both sides and invoke the lifetime warranty. The only way to invoke the warranty is to mail back the old shield. Otherwise ZAGG charges you for an additional shield. We also might be getting ahead of ourselves. If there is a recall of any kind I plan on phoning ZAGG to see what my options are.

 

[darrenbeige]

If Apple were really clever, they'd offer everyone a trade-in to a newer model...

... but add a comment like, "However, the internal antenna version required using a smaller battery. Your choice: bumper or battery."

I'd love to see that happen, and then the split in what people pick.

I expect a new design going forward with free replacements for those who have already purchased. Apple will be like "the current design is not faulty and overall reception is better on the 4 than previous iPhones (proven), but the new design minimizes the disadvantages in the design".

No one will care about them admitting failure in two weeks.

 

[tjwaggoner]

Just a note

Just a note to people who keep saying things like "You can just make an appointment at your apple store for a replacement" or "Take it to the apple store for them to look at it." Well the nearest apple store to me is 3 hrs away. Thats not like a vacation but its still not insignificant. I live in a fairly populated area as well (a tri-state area) so I can imagine its much farther for other people to get to a apple store. There is a best buy with the little apple store inside it here but thats it for apple retailers (except walmart for ipods and phones) and Im not sure if they have "geniuses" or not. Anybody know?

 

[lostngone]

huh?

What does "more adequately insulates the transceiver" mean?

What is insulating the transceiver going to do other then make the problem 100% worse?

I would think putting something on the parts of the antenna that come in direct contact with human skin would be a better idea.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

Maybe I won't purchase the iPhone 5 on launch day next time around...

Seriously, this could take a lot of time if there is a widespread recall. I'm so used to my iPhone 4 that I don't want to give it up!

 

[WilliamLondon]

Same Dbag who claimed of verizon Ipad in Jan 2010 and t-mobile iphone in July 2010

As for the T-Mobile iPhone in July 2010 prediction, they've announced prices this past week here in the UK, so it's sort of, kind of, a little bit accurate. He *could* have been speaking of the T-Mobile in Europe (where T-Mobile is headquartered).

 

[mouthster]

welcome to macrumors.com

so.....umm...basically, MR is reporting on what some guy has said will happen......and all the other things the same guy has said will happen still haven't happened?

wow.

 

[byulasfjazz]

Does this mean I can get a white one?

 

[hadleydb]

I'm in that boat as well. Seeing as ZAGG has a limetime warranty I would take the shield off both sides and invoke the lifetime warranty. The only way to invoke the warranty is to mail back the old shield. Otherwise ZAGG charges you for an additional shield. We also might be getting ahead of ourselves. If there is a recall of any kind I plan on phoning ZAGG to see what my options are.

Very true. I guess we just need to wait and see what happens tomorrow, and go from there.

 

[SPNarwhal]

so the single best selling device that broke all sale records of any past apple product is being recalled.

that cut my lips coming out of my mouth.

 

[jrbdmb]

My prediction: Free bumpers or Apple store credit for those that have already bought the phone, and they will announce they have engineered a fix for newly produced phones. This would jive with the reports of some people that their replacement phones do not have the signal issues. Free bumpers would be good PR and not cost them very much. They'll also reiterate that if anyone is unhappy with their phone they can return it for a refund.

If it goes down like this them expect LONG LING lines of returned iPhone 4s on Friday and Saturday.

Current iPhone 4 users: keep your defective iPhone, here's a bumper.
New iPhone 4 purchasers: here's your shiny new fixed iPhone 4.5!

IMHO that will *never* happen.

 

[reaborg]

An "internal bumper" is unlikely to fix the issue, unless they disconnect the external antenna entirely. How do you insulate from the inside when the antenna's are outside where you're actually touching them together? If anything, they would have to compensate for the change in impedance characteristics when someone is touching that location. But change it back when they are not. Doesn't sound like its going to be a simple fix using some "internal" bumper. In fact, may make things worse in certain situations.

The idea of chemically treating the antenna sounds better, though you'll still have attenuation issues in weak coverage areas when you touch that location - but not as bad. No getting around that with this design.

 

[oliversl]

If this is true, a voluntary recall should be announced tomorrow.

With a requirement that the user do the backup, otherwise there will be too much genius hours inverted in the recall.

 

[scotland007]

My prediction: Free bumpers or Apple store credit for those that have already bought the phone, and they will announce they have engineered a fix for newly produced phones. .

I totally disagree, many of us have the bumpers and the reception issue is still there. At this point in time i believe Apple will stop fannying around and propose a Fix. They already have seen the media coverage and stock decline that has happened as a result of this. In my opinion they have been pissing in the wind, time to clean up and maintain consumer confidence.

 

[SixPenceRicher]

Internal insulator?

WTF? What's an "internal insulator"?

The antenna problem is very simple -- touching both antennas over the dielectric gap result in signal attenuation due to a detuning (change in effective inductance) of the antenna. I don't care what kind of "insulator" they put in phone, it won't make any difference. The only solution is to insulate the metal antenna from touch by hiding it internally or coating it with a non-conductive coating that prevents anything conductive (fingers, metal, whatever) from detuning the antenna. Very simple Magnetism 101 stuff.

Frankly, I'm surprised that the analysts haven't caught on to this yet, but they continue to spew all sorts of pseudo-science postulations about how to fix this problem.

BTW, an in-store fix is relatively simple -- just tear the phone down and replace the original antenna with the non-conductive coating version. 10 mins max, though your wait times will vary.

 

[Tonewheel]

If it goes down like this them expect LONG LING lines of returned iPhone 4s on Friday and Saturday.

Current iPhone 4 users: keep your defective iPhone, here's a bumper.
New iPhone 4 purchasers: here's your shiny new fixed iPhone 4.5!

IMHO that will *never* happen.

I agree. That would be a nightmare of a solution.

 

[tgildred]

AT&T's new logo??

 

[SixPenceRicher]

What does "more adequately insulates the transceiver" mean?

What is insulating the transceiver going to do other then make the problem 100% worse?

I would think putting something on the parts of the antenna that come in direct contact with human skin would be a better idea.

WORD!

 

[Hovey]

Again, the most logical way to do a recall, if it's a swap out situation, is..
iPhone owners wishing to participate, register online.
Apple sends new phones, as available, along with return packaging to each registered person
Then the defective phone is returned within a set number of days
If not returned in the time frame you are charged the cost of your original phone.

 

[reaborg]

BTW, an in-store fix is relatively simple -- just tear the phone down and replace the original antenna with the non-conductive coating version. 10 mins max, though your wait times will vary.

I highly doubt its a 10 min max replacement, especially with the "genius"es doing it....besides, with this design, the antenna is part of the main frame itself, and they would have to tear it apart to do the replacement. No way do I want those geniuses touching my phone and screwing with the internals.

 

[WilliamLondon]

If Apple had been a bit more forthcoming all along, these types of stories wouldn't be needed.

I'm not sure what they could say that would 1) placate the torch wielding masses, and 2) protect the shareholders value - remember there is a class action lawsuit sitting out there.

Sadly, this is the world we live in - they could (would?) have suffered greater losses in share price if they'd said weeks ago, "yep there's a problem but we have no fix for it" and then a week later, "still no fix".

The media has had a field day with this news, and it's been whipped into a frenzy especially by the techie press where average people don't tread so we see it as a HUGE problem whereas most will not even have heard of it, or not cared one bit.

 

[josephrojas]

antenna fix

someone needs to post a video of the iphone 4 from launch and the newer ones that are being replaced at apple store with the back cover off and see if the insulator is noticable or if its even been shipped yet,