Just to add another point - people have commented on the poor quality of the line numerous times when I've been speaking on the iP4 (in locations my 3G was always fine in) - so much so that I make sure I'm not touching the black band, this hasn't resulted in any audible improvement though. Maybe I've been holding the band at the top of the phone, not sure, but I can safely say that even without a "deathgrip" the quality of call has dropped - no-one ever mentioned a thing on my 3G, they sounded clear to me too (not so much on the iP4).
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Apple on iPhone 4 Reception: Signal Strength Display Issue Only, Software Update Coming
- Thread starter fruitbat04
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found this very true:
I don't know if any reader/commenter here has an iPhone 3G AND a 4G, but it'd be interesting to put the two devices side-by side on a table (heaven forbid that you'd actually need to HOLD the devices in your hand!) and see if the signal bars show the same reception strength.
Then (seriously) hold the two devices in your hand and see what happens to the signal bars that way. Any signal differences under just these two, informal settings would be interesting, not to say worthy, of analysis...
Also, I tend to agree with some of the other commenters above, regarding the (suspect) objectivity of Pegoraro, Pogue, and even Mossberg, and their articles on Apple products. They tend to come across as fawning, gee-whiz pieces rather than arm's length reports that take Apple to task.
In fact, as many disappointed, if not disillusioned, Apple customers know, Apple cares only about selling products (I wonder now, about the numbers they claim). In contrast, Apple cares not one whit about customer service or satisfaction, as witness their churlish, mendacious, cheap, and offensive treatment of folks who've had the impertinence to actually complain about the 4G.
When will one of these reviewers call out Apple for what it is, purveyors shiny, unreliable baubles that's willing to throw not just AT&T under the bus, but its customers as well?
Posted by: Tambopaxi | July 2, 2010 2:16 PM |
Im thinking you should just call it "Apple Blindness" (from tossing off over an apple product so much you don't realise theres an actual problem). software isnt going to fix the fact that when you hold the iphone 4, you more or less have a short which drops the signal out, hence why the bumpers work
I've been complaining about this for months. I have multiple screenshots of my iPhone showing 5 bars and 3G, and no matter how many times I try to load google.com or yahoo.com, it can't connect to the data network.
I got an iphone 4 and it's just as bad.
I got an iphone 4 and it's just as bad.
Except it will still drop calls in selective places when you touch it with one finger... you are the one who doesn't get the point, Sir.
So you are saying people who live in strong cell coverage areas have fewer problems than those who live in poor cell coverage areas.
Interesting.
Do you work for apple or something?I'm glad you are not having an issue but MANY people are experiencing a problem that is unacceptable. It's a great device overall, but it's still supposed to be a phone at heart. For a phone this expensive, it should not have this issue. There is hard data out there that shows the signal drop off based on grip:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2
All cell phones have their reception impacted by how and where people hold them.
As others have noted it won't. The death grip problem is simply an issue where if you touch an iPhone 4 in a certain spot it will degrade the cell signal. If you are in an area of poor cell coverage when you do this, you will likely have issues transferring data and making calls. Apple has never denied this nor claimed otherwise. They also never said changing the bars would fix this.
But nobody is telling anyone they don't have problems. They are just saying if you continue to have problems with your device take it back. Most people are not having problems, so it is absurd to think Apple should do something drastic when a small percentage of their customers are having an issue. So if you can't make it work for you take it back.
Nobody is claiming you don't have problems with your cell phone dropping calls or not transmitting data. There are reasons for that though, and lots of suggestions and tips out there. So at the end of the day you still can't make it work then return it.
What people are denying is that this is some kind of massive defect or special problem with the iPhone 4. Which is true. Nobody has provided any evidence to indicates this problem is any different than you see with other cell phones. All cellphones are different though.
I could make youtube videos showing other phones failing left and right in the same place where a iPhone 4 would work great. Why? Because each phone handles things differently, and there are a thousand factors that go into making a successful cell phone call or data transmission.
Saying "My 3GS never dropped a call when I sat at my office desk and my iPhone 4 always does" does not prove the iPhone 4 is anyway flawed or defective. It is simply different.
Now if someone wants to go take multiple handsets and do readings and call testings in hundreds of different and geographically distinct locations and compile such a data to say there is a defect in the iPhone 4 go for it. But the evidence presented so far is the same evidence that is present for every cell phone in the world every day.
People have microcells and are reporting an issue. For that matter- Apple can tweak the UI to tell me I always have 0 bars and I will be AMAZED at how well my iPhone works with NO signal.
Again - the press release is a smokescreen to ward off the bad press they have gotten. It's not just a visual indicator issue for some, many, who knows what the # is.
I guess after so many posts we will only find out when Apple releases iPhone 5.
Will it still have the same external antenna manufactured in exactly the same way? Let's see.
Will it still have the same external antenna manufactured in exactly the same way? Let's see.
Does putting a bumper or case on the phone solve the problem? Do the cases have a signal booster in them that allows people to make phone calls in areas with weak signal?
I've used large format view camera's (still have one in storage). 4x5" contact prints look great. Do you know what percentage of the general public even knows what I'm talking about?
Calm down people
Look, the problem only seems to affect some phones. It seems that there may be two issues, one the bars don't accurately reflect the situation and there may be some software issue with connecting to different transmitters at low signal strengths. Apart from some lack of clarity from Apple for a couple of days it is something that will be sorted and they will take back the phone if there is a genuine hardware problem. People stay cool. disappointing but no hassle either...
Look, the problem only seems to affect some phones. It seems that there may be two issues, one the bars don't accurately reflect the situation and there may be some software issue with connecting to different transmitters at low signal strengths. Apart from some lack of clarity from Apple for a couple of days it is something that will be sorted and they will take back the phone if there is a genuine hardware problem. People stay cool. disappointing but no hassle either...
Seems pretty straightforward. Remember when the 3G came out and there were serious reception issues? Apple released an update to alleviate the problem. They made it sound complicated, but they likely did the following.
Now they mention the "incorrect algorithm". Guess they'll remove that old "fix".
John Gruber posted his translation.
Code:
if bars < 3:
bars = bars + 2Now they mention the "incorrect algorithm". Guess they'll remove that old "fix".
John Gruber posted his translation.
1) Actually - you're right. It doesn't PROVE that the iPhone is flawed. But it doesn't indicate the iPhone has BETTER reception as it was advertised. Realistic expectations are that if the 3GS gets 3 bars then my new trusty i4 which has been touted as being improved will get at LEAST 3 bars - not less. And be able to hold a call the SAME if not BETTER. That doesn't seem to be happening for some
2) Yes - someone SHOULD do an empirical data study on many iPhone 4s. As for evidence to the contrary - none exist either way. You can't boast that evidence so far is x and deny y. If you have NO proof that some are defective - you don't have confirmed proof that all ARE.
More testing needs to be done. In the meantime - the press release is a smokescreen and everyone knows it. Doesn't matter what Apple is or is not promising with the fix.
All phones are impacted by this, some people simply may not notice it due to the coverage in their areas.
Seems pretty straightforward. Remember when the 3G came out and there were serious reception issues? Apple released an update to alleviate the problem. They made it sound complicated, but they likely did the following.
Code:if bars < 3: bars = bars + 2
Now they mention the "incorrect algorithm". Guess they'll remove that old "fix".
John Gruber posted his translation.
Anyone with 6 Apple devices in their signature doesn't count in this discussion. Unfortunetly they are unable to understand exactly what is going on.
I've said this before - who cares about every other phone? People care about the phone they own. If I had a droid, I'd worry about what Motorola is up to and what issues there are with a droid. I don't. I have an iPhone.
The evidence for the assertion that 100's of thousands of people won't see an issue with their i4?
How about the percentage of people who use their iPhone in cases. That's the majority of women I know, some percentage of men as well.
How about the percentage of people who have cellular coverage providing greater than -85 or so dBm signal when they make calls. I have no idea what that is.
Then you can also subtract that tiny percentage of people who are intelligent and quick adapting enough to learn how to hold their new cell phone properly.