Apple on iPhone 4 Reception: Signal Strength Display Issue Only, Software Update Coming

[G5isAlive]

No, my statement is true regardless. There is ALWAYS an antenna detuning. Often it's not enough to affect call quality. It always affects data speed, though not always enough to matter to the user. That's why it's called a "trade off." As I said, the tradeoff is not worth it to me (because I lose calls). It may be worth it to everyone else.

No. There is always a detuning if you :

A) INSIST on holding it a particular way
B) INSIST on not having a case.

What is frustrating to so many of us is that people keep insisting this is a problem for everyone. It isn't. There was an even objective study posted here that shows why it isn't.

I am very happy with my iPhone and recommend it to everyone, if they get a case. It gets better reception than my 3GS. On my way home from work I pass through several dead zones for my 3GS. My iphone 4 has yet to drop a single call driving through them.

That doesn't make me a fan boy. Or stupid. It makes me a happy customer.

 

[one09jason]

"Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G."

Wow, now that's sneaky. Wouldn't want anyone to compare the performance difference between an iPhone 4 and any other iPhone, would you Apple.

They must really think we're dumb. I think Apple is underestimating the degree to which customers are unsatisfied with the iPhone 4 wireless performance. I love how they issued a press release on a "non issue". I don't think the public will be fooled by this attempt to cover up the design flaw.

 

[Ries]

Here's a Nexus One with the same issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g5J4qPp54

Completely blocking the antenna by cupping it is not the same as losing call while holding it normally....

 

[kernkraft]

Irony from a consecutive poster

Now watch the iPhone 4 get flawless reception with a Canadian carrier.



Unnecessarily long thread.

Remove the troll-posts and you'll get about 100 replies.

Trolls and obvious astroturfers need to be banned instantly and for good. There are far too many around here.

You wouldn't dare to name one, would you?

You still haven't got an iPhone or an iPad, have you?

If there are too many unnecessary posts, then stop posting consecutively!

 

[JT314]

WiFi Issue

Why isn't anyone talking about why the "YouTube" application will not download videos when the device is connected to WiFi? Anyone? It just shows the spinning wheel and "Loading Movie" and then a error message appears "Cannot Connect to YouTube" Ironic that Steve Jobs had the same problem at the keynote.

 

[daneoni]

BS! but we'll see

 

[subsonix]

Completely blocking the antenna by cupping it is not the same as losing call while holding it normally....

Did you actually look? He is losing 3g when holding it by the base in his right hand. I'm not saying that there is something wrong with the Nexus One but that the issue 'happens'. Here's a Nokia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi1gHDa7-X0

 

[NT1440]

Why isn't anyone talking about why the "YouTube" application will not download videos when the device is connected to WiFi? Anyone? It just shows the spinning wheel and "Loading Movie" and then a error message appears "Cannot Connect to YouTube" Ironic that Steve Jobs had the same problem at the keynote.

Probably because thats not a widespread problem....

 

[samcraig]

Since it is simply a feedback change, there is no need to rush it. It is not going to physically impact anyone's signal quality or anything else.

I will say again though.. Anyone who thinks this change by Apple will make their dropped calls or download problems go away, it will do neither of those things, so seriously, if you have that kind of problem either take your phone back for an exchange or return it for a full refund to Apple.

Look - I don't disagree with you. And I could be wrong on what I'm about to write but humor me please.

I think a lot of people get that the fix is visual and visual only. And that the visual fix will be a better representation of why a call or data might be impeded.

However Apple's PR engine is creating a, dare I say, straw man "argument." They are (and deliberately so) sending out this release and creating this "fix" in RESPONSE to people having actual issues that transcend trying to lower their signal by holding the phone in an awkward manner. The real issue for some (who knows how many) is that when holding the phone in a normal manner - they drop calls. And lose data. And you're right - this fix isn't going to help.

Apple is creating a smokescreen (and a very good one) to cloud the issue. This way they minimize the damage done by people saying bars are dropping. Bars dropping isn't the issue. People (many) can still make calls and who really cares if I have 1 bar or 5 as long as my data and phone calls work, right? The real issue is that some people (again who knows how many) have a bigger problem.

Some of the press will just report what Apple tells them and a lot of the general public WILL believe the issue has been fixed. But as you have said - no issue REALLY has been fixed. A visual "trick" if you will.

After the new software is released - people will not be visually aware of bars dropping if they are more defined. But some (how many?) will still experience the same exact problems.

So it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will Apple effectively "save" the bad press they have gotten (warranted or not) - or will it backfire.

Sorry - this post is already longer that I intended. I do hope you read it though...

 

[NT1440]

Does anyone here rallying against apple honestly believe that this update will ONLY adjust the signal display?

Come on guys, think a little.

 

[brodie]

No, but we are early in the history of tiny portable devices with powerful microwave antennas. How many years were between the new "magical" Brownie and the public's common use of SLRs and the like?

Umm the SLR preceded the Box Brownie by some 40 years. You really should get off the camera horse, it doesn't look like you know how to ride it.

 

[JT314]

WIFI Issue

Does anyone else have trouble downloading videos from the YouTube application when connected to WiFi?

 

[rwilliams]

Does anyone here rallying against apple honestly believe that this update will ONLY adjust the signal display?

Come on guys, think a little.

Of course not. There are plenty of other problems with 4.0. Like how the volume drops out for no apparent reason, and the only way I can get it to return is to toggle the silent button on the side. Or how pictures in the Camera Roll will stop rotating when you turn the phone sometimes, and the app has to be killed in the multitasking tray for it to behave normally. There are others having problems with car stereos, pictures disappearing, and lots of other quirks. As I said, plenty for Apple to fix in the near future.

 

[Slip Jigs]

Does anyone here rallying against apple honestly believe that this update will ONLY adjust the signal display?

Come on guys, think a little.

So you're saying that the update will also include a secret, real fix? What would be the point in hiding it?

 

[macintoshi]

This is complete bull**** I have 3 iPhone 4 and two of them suffer problems and the otherone dosent so it can't be signal issues. Is hardware issues. Wtf

if is so please make a video and show us this pleaseeeee

 

[ANTAWNM26]

I'm going to hold my opinion of their response until after i see the update. So many of you seem to forget that drivers/firmware are the interface between the hardware and the software. Just like a computer, the iPhone has this same interfacing going on. It's not like it's unheard of that hardware problems have been fixed with drivers/software updates (one comparison could be made to wireless routers and the firmware updates they get)

The thing I don't like about this is that they're only giving a 30 day return window, yet the update might not even be out for 3 more weeks. My window would likely be expired by then, so if the update doesn't fix it, I'm kinda stuck.

Exactly~~~~You will definitely be stuck which is what they are banking on for sure...Just play it smart.....

 

[NT1440]

So you're saying that the update will also include a secret, real fix? What would be the point in hiding it?

Uh, PR. Don't ever take anything a company says at face value, there is always more going on behind the scenes than they want you to know.

 

[cmaier]

In the UK, Apple stands for American phones, they sure are as thick in the tar as British Petroleum!

This is no fix, but seems like the outcome to a meeting like this resulted in that letter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM

Comparing BP to Apple is stupid. Apple's failure didn't kill anyone or destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people.

No. There is always a detuning if you :

A) INSIST on holding it a particular way
B) INSIST on not having a case.

What is frustrating to so many of us is that people keep insisting this is a problem for everyone. It isn't. There was an even objective study posted here that shows why it isn't.

I am very happy with my iPhone and recommend it to everyone, if they get a case. It gets better reception than my 3GS. On my way home from work I pass through several dead zones for my 3GS. My iphone 4 has yet to drop a single call driving through them.

That doesn't make me a fan boy. Or stupid. It makes me a happy customer.

Your point is, again, irrelevant. I've now said it three times, but once more: it's a trade-off because it makes things better in some situations (i.e. for some people some of the time) and worse in other situations (i.e. for some people some of the time). If you touch it, it detunes. If you are missing digits, or use your other hand, or use a case, you are better off. But no matter what, if you touch the metal antenna, you detune it.

 

[murdercitydevil]

I suppose this is a good thing, but like others have said, doesn't do **** to fix dropped calls/loss of data. Good signal representation is always a plus, and it's comforting that 1 bar doesn't necessarily mean you can't make calls, but still...this isn't enough Apple. At least I have a bumper coming in.

 

[Slip Jigs]

Uh, PR. Don't ever take anything a company says at face value, there is always more going on behind the scenes than they want you to know.

Uh, yeah, I know all about PR. But if you're planning on addressing a real issue with a real solution, there's no reason to pretend otherwise.

 

[-aggie-]

The only data are the Macrumors poll which showed roughly 50% of iPhone users were experiencing the problem irrespective of geographic region. With 1.7 MM phones sold, that would equate to 850k phones with problems.

Some criticized the poll by speculating that non-owners may have responded negatively. Others speculated that non-owning Apple fanboys may have voted favorably to keep the percentage that low. Whatever your stance, these are the only numbers available, and they support the existence of 850k people with an iPhone 4 problem.

As for everyone in a poster's circle of friends having no issues, the flaw does not drop calls in very strong signal areas. So if you are in a strong signal area, then you and all your friends in the area would all experience few dropped calls. The flaw would still exist.

You really need to learn the difference between a scientific poll and some random poll on the internet. You don’t seem to realize that besides the problems you already noted with this poll (ones which you seem to want to discount), there is also an obvious skewing of the poll results when most people coming to this site are the ones with problems. Therefore, the error in that poll is probably +/- 50%; it could be almost everyone has the problem, or it could be a very small percentage has the problem.

The plural of antenna is antennas.
Only insects have antennae.

You should start a thread on this.

Holy hell. I'm relatively new around here, so this is about the longest thread I've ever seen here. Is there a magic number that autolocks a thread?

This is nothing. And no, there doesn’t seem to be a magic number, but over 2,000 strains the forums, so usually a mod will start a part 2, part 3, etc.

Now watch the iPhone 4 get flawless reception with a Canadian carrier.

Unnecessarily long thread.

Remove the troll-posts and you'll get about 100 replies.

Trolls and obvious astroturfers need to be banned instantly and for good. There are far too many around here.

As should people who don’t use multi-quote. j/k

delete.

you must not use the phone at all. the first hour I got the phone I could tell there was an issue with the signal. lets stop calling it IPHONE it is not
Its a Mini Pad. I own 1st generation 2G and 3G , did not get the 3GS waiting for 4G got it to only 1 day later take it back to ATT and get my 3G back on line. I feel insulted when Mr Jobs tells me that I am holding the phone incorrectly only to see in many pictures holding the phone the same way I allways do.

Why does everyone assume that you have to have a problem, because someone else has the problem? I use my phone and I’ve tested it in all kinds of locations (ones with very low signal to ones with good signal) and situations (in the office, in my house, outside, etc). I don’t have the problem and consider myself lucky. I’ve covered the special spot. I’ve cupped both hands around my phone. Nothing.

It should also be noted that the network coverage over the last few days has been spotty and varying. I’m sure this has affected some people (but not the ones who lose signal just by touching the phone).

 

[JT314]

YouTube WiFi Problem

Does anyone else have trouble downloading videos from the YouTube application when connected to WiFi?

 

[Jeffacme]

Why isn't anyone talking about why the "YouTube" application will not download videos when the device is connected to WiFi? Anyone? It just shows the spinning wheel and "Loading Movie" and then a error message appears "Cannot Connect to YouTube" Ironic that Steve Jobs had the same problem at the keynote.

watching a youtube movie via wifi while typing this, works great.

 

[spiritlevel]

Anandtech does not support you on this, so why you throwing them in with you?

Anadtech actually says overall the iPhone 4 antenna provides a better experience in a lot of situations.

But Anandtech did support him on his assertion that it was a basic design problem. Sure, they said that the iPhone 4 antenna provides a better experience in a lot of situations, IF AND WHEN A BUMPER IS USED.

They also said:

"Apple should add an insulative coating to the stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases"

Saying that apple should add an insulative coating implies that they believe a recall would be appropriate - which can hardly be described as a positive conclusion.

If you are in a place where you have very poor cell reception, though, holding the phone like that could cause problems. So this doesn't really support anything.

It may not just be in places with "very poor" reception though. It could well be everywhere that reception is not "very strong". I get this problem in London, which is hardly the sticks.

 

[HLdan]

You gotta hand it to Apple PR - most average users just know there is a reception issue. They release a retardo statement, making it sound like what they're doing is going to fix actually problems. Clearly, we know differently but I guess they believe they'll be able to successfully con 95% of the population into buying one.

I am begining to detest Apple, and everything they now seem to stand for. They are a nasty organisation and I for one won't ever be buying a product of theirs again.

Oh really? What do you actually "KNOW", you don't work in Apple's laboratories do you? Are you working along side Jobs and the rest of his design team? I think not, otherwise you wouldn't be here professing that you are some technical know it all.