The gulf oil spill is a real concern. This is a phone with a design....................um............quirk.
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Apple on iPhone 4 Reception: Signal Strength Display Issue Only, Software Update Coming
- Thread starter fruitbat04
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The gulf oil spill is a real concern. This is a phone with a design....................um............quirk.
Not realistic
This is an unfortunate response coming from Apple. Based on the dozen or so anecdotal reports from individuals/bloggers/engineers that I've read, the half-dozen youtube videos I've seen, friends that I know first-hand experiencing the issue, and even quantitative testing from Anandtech.com, this issue does NOT appear to be a simple case of "signal bars" being display incorrectly. While a problem with the visual display of signal strength may account for the perceived loss of "bars" on the screen, it certainly cannot account for the real, detrimental effects people are experiencing.
Many of those affected report dropped calls, major reduction in data transfer speeds, and other immediate signs of actual, severe signal attenuation when holding their iPhones in a way that "bridges" the antennae.
At this point, I'm confused as to whether Apple is acting nefariously to spin and down-play a serious defect in the iPhone design, or if they literally cannot consistently reproduce the issue in testing. I do find the latter explanation hard to believe given the widespread customer reports of this problem. If so, and Apple is intentionally minimizing and confusing this issue to save face (and $$$$ from recalls/repairs), shame on them.
This is an unfortunate response coming from Apple. Based on the dozen or so anecdotal reports from individuals/bloggers/engineers that I've read, the half-dozen youtube videos I've seen, friends that I know first-hand experiencing the issue, and even quantitative testing from Anandtech.com, this issue does NOT appear to be a simple case of "signal bars" being display incorrectly. While a problem with the visual display of signal strength may account for the perceived loss of "bars" on the screen, it certainly cannot account for the real, detrimental effects people are experiencing.
Many of those affected report dropped calls, major reduction in data transfer speeds, and other immediate signs of actual, severe signal attenuation when holding their iPhones in a way that "bridges" the antennae.
At this point, I'm confused as to whether Apple is acting nefariously to spin and down-play a serious defect in the iPhone design, or if they literally cannot consistently reproduce the issue in testing. I do find the latter explanation hard to believe given the widespread customer reports of this problem. If so, and Apple is intentionally minimizing and confusing this issue to save face (and $$$$ from recalls/repairs), shame on them.
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Why are so few people talking about the sim fix? Seems very important to this discussion.
Why are so few people talking about the sim fix? Seems very important to this discussion.
But they say it's affected all iphones.. so you should have the same issue on the last one.
You're absolutely right that there have to be a large number of units exhibiting a flaw for it to be a design issue and not a defect in the unit.
The reason I think it could be hardware related if WiFi being off affects the issue is that If the WiFi antenna is off and the problem goes away, that would suggest it is signal cancellation from the WiFi and 3G signals being bridged by your hand.
I'm just curious about this since I haven't seen anyone answer whether turning off WiFi affects it.
How can you tell?? WTF. Moron.
Agreed. 'Cause thats my damned phone in my damned hand on my WiFi.
Not at all. 1-3 threads on this topic would be great for people to consolidate their gripes. But we have hundreds of new threads on the same issue written by the minority of owners.
Replicated death-grip signal drop on both a 3G and 3G S phone with 4.0. But one has to be a contortionist to get it to happen significantly on those phones.
Yes it's fact: if you interfere with the phone's antenna, signal will drop. This just happens to be very easy to do with iPhone 4 because of the external antenna design. Is software to blame? Definitely not entirely to blame.
According to Apple, the miscalculation of signal strength existed on all previous generations of iPhone, so I don't think installing 4.0 would create any issues. Maybe you didn't notice it on the 3GS because you weren't looking for it
Sure.
I suppose the replacement was the result of people "adapting"...?
I guess the Wikipedia entry on the iPhone in July 2011 will look similar...
"The iPhone 4 antenna design caused significant controversy among users, tech media, mainstream media and critics. Many reviewers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] disapproved of the new antenna design. Criticisms include losing the signal entirely by touching the phone in a particular spot[9], which often occured when the user was holding the phone naturally[10]. Conspicuously, Apple's own advertising videos for the iPhone 4 showed numerous actors and hand models all holding the phone in the non-approved manner [11][12]. The design flaw was particularly detrimental to the phone's functionality for left-handed users. Polls indicated that nearly 60% of iPhone 4 users worldwide were experiencing the problem.
Appendix 1 (submitted by Macfanboy394202):
"But in fact most users had no problem at all and perfect reception all the time, and the perceived problems were entirely imaginary or falsely and maliciously reported. [Citation needed]"
Appendix 2:
"A revamped antenna design was introduced with the iPhone 5 in July, 2011 to address most of the complaints.[13]"
Appendix 3: (submitted by Macfanboy394202):
"The vast majority knows that the problem never existed and that the redesign was merely placebo to address a non-existent problem. [Citation needed]
Wanted to thank everyone that states this is a "non issue". Just made a call from my iPhone 4 to another iPhone 4 in the same house - on a Microcell.
Guess what? I couldn't hear ****! It's not the Microcell since the first one (on my second one) did the same damn thing. Also taking into account that my signal goes from full bars to ZILTCH while on the call, it leads me to believe it's the damn phone.
Yes - thank you all for telling me there is no issue.
Guess what? I couldn't hear ****! It's not the Microcell since the first one (on my second one) did the same damn thing. Also taking into account that my signal goes from full bars to ZILTCH while on the call, it leads me to believe it's the damn phone.
Yes - thank you all for telling me there is no issue.
And you are allowed to post your complaint in an old thread covering the same issue. The "new post" button is not a mandatory selection on every visit to the forum.
Wanted to thank everyone that states this is a "non issue". Just made a call from my iPhone 4 to another iPhone 4 in the same house - on a Microcell.
Guess what? I couldn't hear ****! It's not the Microcell since the first one (on my second one) did the same damn thing. Also taking into account that my signal goes from full bars to ZILTCH while on the call, it leads me to believe it's the damn phone.
Yes - thank you all for telling me there is no issue.
/fanboy rant
just take it back and stop whinning! Gosh you're such a crybaby! OH and I see you have Blu-rays too. Dude you need to get with the times and support iTunes TV/Movie downloads. It's so much better!
/fanboy rant
That sucks man =/
Was that in the MR rules and I missed it?
Common sense shows that the number of postings more easily demonstrates the size of the problem (to Apple and the media)
Just doing our job protecting our investment.
Just tried the following 'deathgrip' tests:
GSM = no loss
GSM + BT = no loss
GSM + BT + WiFi = no loss
3G speed still slower on iPhone4 than 3GS
this doesn't explain why my iPhone 4 has abysmally slow 3G speeds, compared to a 3G or 3GS in the exact same location.
i've tried all the "fixes", with no better results.
there is a 14,000 viewed topic on the apple forum regarding this issue.
this also doesn't address the proximity sensor issue. i've hung up on 7 people already.
there is a 69,000 viewed topic about it here.
this doesn't explain why my iPhone 4 has abysmally slow 3G speeds, compared to a 3G or 3GS in the exact same location.
i've tried all the "fixes", with no better results.
there is a 14,000 viewed topic on the apple forum regarding this issue.
this also doesn't address the proximity sensor issue. i've hung up on 7 people already.
there is a 69,000 viewed topic about it here.
Soeeee, one of you intelligent geek types explain to this non geek type old man what is going to happen with my signal. I routinely get 2 to 3 bars on edge. 3G is not real big in this area. If they change the formula I will be showing at best 1 bar. Apple answer is they are going to make that ONE BAR BIGGER so I can see it.
Antenna
Proximity
dropped calls
I am going back to my 3G and hope the damn 4.0 upgrade did not screw it up. Come on Steve FIX the Friggen thing!!!!! Do Not leave us Apple overs out in the cold!
explain to this non geek type old man what is going to happen with my signal. I routinely get 2 to 3 bars on edge. 3G is not real big in this area. If they change the formula I will be showing at best 1 bar. Apple answer is they are going to make that ONE BAR BIGGER so I can see it. Antenna
Proximity
dropped calls
I am going back to my 3G and hope the damn 4.0 upgrade did not screw it up. Come on Steve FIX the Friggen thing!!!!! Do Not leave us Apple overs out in the cold!
Wanted to thank everyone that states this is a "non issue". Just made a call from my iPhone 4 to another iPhone 4 in the same house - on a Microcell.
Guess what? I couldn't hear ****! It's not the Microcell since the first one (on my second one) did the same damn thing. Also taking into account that my signal goes from full bars to ZILTCH while on the call, it leads me to believe it's the damn phone.
Yes - thank you all for telling me there is no issue.
There is an issue. 100%. Fortunately you are within the return period so please return and go back to the 3G or perhaps the new HTC would be suitable? If you need links on where to buy, let me know. Glad to help.
Showing too many bars? I don't know about that...
My low-end Nokia constantly shows 4 out of 5 bars or more and never dropped a call, my iPhone usually shows 1 Bar, in some cases up to 3, but only for a short period of time.
So if it shows too many bars, the reception has to be very weak for me since it shows few bars already...
My low-end Nokia constantly shows 4 out of 5 bars or more and never dropped a call, my iPhone usually shows 1 Bar, in some cases up to 3, but only for a short period of time.
So if it shows too many bars, the reception has to be very weak for me since it shows few bars already...