Another non-Iphone 4 antenna signal loss video (plus commentary)

[Phokus]

http://www.androidguys.com/2010/07/18/evo-deathgrip-apple-missing-point/

Steve Jobs either completely missed the point about the antenna issue (it's about the placement of the antenna's weak spot, not the fact that they have them), or he spun the issue and was disingenuous/dishonest (i'm leaning towards this point). Not only that, it's the amount of effort you have to employ in order to attenuate signal. What other phone can you make the signal drop by just using the point of your finger?

Sure, everyone in the tech-world saw Apple's attempt to remedy the iPhone 4's antenna issue with free cases. Sadly though, much of the public has been duped into believing that all smartphones have the same problem.

As my friend pointed out to me over the weekend, what Apple's PR team has done is quite ingenious. The iPhone 4 has a weak spot that, when covered, significantly drops the phone's signal and in many cases causes it to go completely out of reception. People complained, and Apple responded by showing how other smartphones have the same exact problem. But, since Apple loves its customers and wants to make them happy, they'll give everyone free cases to alleviate the issue created by their design flaw. They are essentially saying, "we're the same as everyone else, except we give out free stuff!"

Brilliant.

Seriously.

From a PR standpoint, it was an amazing move by Apple. I commend them. I even agree with their argument to a small degree. However, here's the problem I have with it...

Although Apple didn't display the iPhone 4's issue publicly (if they had, people would have seen that it actually takes far less effort to bring about the issue when compared to other devices), they did manage to show how other popular smartphones have the same issue. Since this public demonstration, videos have been posted to YouTube showcasing other phones and their "deathgrips," or lack thereof.

However, most YouTube-video-making-extraordinaires fail miserably in the logic department. You see, the bottom line is that not all phones have their antennas in the same spots. Using the iPhone "deathgrip" on the HTC EVO, for example, is not an accurate test. The EVO's antenna is placed towards the top of the phone, allowing users to handle their favorite 4G Android device in a normal, uninhibited manner. Apple is right. The iPhone 4's flaw isn't that it has a weak spot. All phones have one. The problem is where they decided to put it.

Below is a video showing the EVO's very own "deathgrip" and why it's silly to compare it to the iPhone 4's. I hope this helps shed some light on the debate.

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVuiwmgsJoY&feature=player_embedded

The HTC EVO: Prints money, turns into a jet, grants 3 wishes and you can hold it in each hand normally without dropping calls

 

[haulis]

I was under the impression that it was the FCC that dictated where the antenna placement should be (towards the bottom of the phone). So I wonder how some of these phones are having antennas toward the top ( EVO, Erris etc. )

 

[scaredpoet]

The FCC doesn't dictate antenna position at all. All they dictate is the characteristics for emissions standards, frequency, etc.

Anyway, one look at the URL, and there's no surprise at all how the article is gonna weigh in.

 

[Phokus]

The FCC doesn't dictate antenna position at all. All they dictate is the characteristics for emissions standards, frequency, etc.

Anyway, one look at the URL, and there's no surprise at all how the article is gonna weigh in.

But is there anything untruthful about it? The big thing about it is the antenna placement which the iphone 4's is terrible.

edit: and also, why do we have to take steve jobs' word on it? His commentary about the competition was one of the worst spin jobs i've ever seen.

 

[sciwizam]

But is there anything untruthful about it? The big thing about it is the antenna placement which the iphone 4's is terrible.

edit: and also, why do we have to take steve jobs' word on it? His commentary about the competition was one of the worst spin jobs i've ever seen.

HTC answers back: 0.016%

Whereas Apple claimed over 0.55 percent of customers called AppleCare with reception-related complaints, HTC's Eric Lin told Pocket-lint the Droid Eris technical support rate was 0.016 percent.

Here's some HTC's cold hard facts to counter the cold hard facts from Apple.

Feel free to replace "facts" to "spin".

 

[Phokus]

HTC answers back: 0.016%



Here's some HTC's cold hard facts to counter the cold hard facts from Apple.

Feel free to replace "facts" to "spin".

I wasn't talking about the .55% (although that was ridiculous spin as well), i was talking about the 'other phones have the same antenna issue' spin.