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Apple on iPhone 4 Reception: Signal Strength Display Issue Only, Software Update Coming
- Thread starter fruitbat04
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Your math is wrong. I'll let you figure out the quantitative equivalent to 300 fold.
You seem to be a master of selective reading. From the CNN report -
"Apple's "explanation" raised more questions than it answered.
Software bug or hardware flaw?
Apple's announcement implied that its upcoming software update will fix all issues related to the iPhone's signal bar and reception issues, but gadget enthusiasts say hardware design choices are also coming into play on the iPhone 4.
The gripes have to do with the iPhone 4's external antenna. When bare skin, which is a strong electrical conductor, comes in contact with a phone's antenna, severe disruption can take place. A detailed technical review at AnandTech illustrates the drop-off; Mobile networking specialist Richard Gaywood created a diagram of the problem."
I'd say this is questioning Apple's position, not supporting it. The BBC article takes a similar stance.
I also find it bizarre, and another case of incredible selective reading skills, that the only thing you take from the Anandtech article is that the IP4 "has the best antenna" ever.
That comment comes with a very important caveat - "WITH A BUMPER CASE ON".
Unfortunately, the IP4 does not include a case. A case is not part of the IP4v product, it is a separate product.
"Inside a case, the iPhone 4 performs slightly better than the Nexus One. However, attenuation gets measurably worse depending how you hold the phone. Squeezing it really tightly, you can drop as much as 24 dB. Holding it naturally, I measured an average drop of 20 dB. "
So out of the box (without a case, which is the only way the IP4 should be judged as a case is not part of the product), the article says that the IP4 suffers from very serious attenuation when held normally (10x worse than the IP3GS). So although the IP4 has great reception when lying on a table, that advantage is lost as soon as you pick it up.
Anandtech go on to say
"The fact of the matter is that either the most sensitive region of the antenna should have an insulative coating, or everyone should use a case. For a company that uses style heavily as a selling point, the latter isn't an option. And the former would require an unprecedented admission of fault on Apple's part.
So Anandtech conclude there is a design fault. Did you just miss that bit of the article or deliberately ignore it because it did not suit your argument?
Edit:
It is also interesting to note that Apple's lawyers have clearly been onto Anandtech as their wording has changed, in a subtle but important way since originally published.
It originally said:
"The fact of the matter is that either, Apple should add an insulative coating to the stainless steel band (which implies a recall), or subsidize bumper cases." (which puts the onus on apple to pay for the cost of the bumper)
Now it says:
"The fact of the matter is that either the most sensitive region of the antenna should have an insulative coating (next time round?), or everyone should use a case. (which puts the onus on the user to buy a bumper)
I see it now, Steve Jobs doing a Jedi mind trick on us..
"These are not the bars you are looking for... move along"
"These are not the bars you are looking for... move along"
Design flaw
Can someone explain why it is both necessary for that black divider bar to be there between the two antennae and yet (according to Apple) it doesn't matter if hold the phone so that you 'bridge' that black divider?
If 'bridging' the divider does not/cannot affect reception, why is there a divider there in the first place?
Can someone explain why it is both necessary for that black divider bar to be there between the two antennae and yet (according to Apple) it doesn't matter if hold the phone so that you 'bridge' that black divider?
If 'bridging' the divider does not/cannot affect reception, why is there a divider there in the first place?
Well most of us didn't pay £600 (official UK price for 32gig) to have to hold the phone like a retard, we expected more from Apple - it's not an "early adopter" issue as this is the iPhone 4, not 1. We were happy with our previous iPhones and expected an upgrade, not a downgrade - in many ways we got what we wanted but not in one absolutely crucial area.
You do not pay the "Apple premium" for bad design and ergonomics - if this was a £50 Nokia most would have just thrown it away or taken it straight back, as it was Apple we were expecting a real fix. If I have to pinch the phone in a special way for it to work then I'm afraid Apple has let me down, this is more like a Windows product unfortunately. They may fix some software but there certainly seems to be a hardware issue too, which will not be fixed unless a recall happens - which it won't. I don't like the fact that in 6 months time this will probably non-issue for new purchasers yet I will have the "duff" version - so I'm returning it.
I still go along the line that if Apple gave out free bumpers (after all this was Steve Job's suggested solution) that cost them very little then most would accept that, even if I personally would prefer the phone "naked".
That's my point - people have lost a lot of respect for Apple in both design and handling of this issue, we expected more but many are very disappointed (not in the product itself - but with it's glaring flaw, the iP4 is undoubtedly the best phone and many would like to keep it, you understand the reluctance to return it? There's no other phone I'd rather have, I just want this one to work as it should). You should not be making excuses for Apple and point to holding it differently than is intended - don't be pedantic either, you're not SUPPOSED to be holding this phone in a special way by design, Apple intended it to be held "normally" but screwed up. Face it. Apple prides itself on user-friendliness over the competition.
Sure it is. Perfectly fit for that purpose if you are in an area with a strong enough signal. Say -85 dBm or better. From the palm of your hand.
And there's a special (some say secret) boost mode. Move your hand up 1 or 2 cm above the bar (or put in down on the table) and you will get a bonus 24 dB better reception! Call from places you never could before. What a wonderful feature!
Perfectly serious here.
Then read my post above yours - we shouldn't have to be making all these allowances, if Apple get away with it they'll just realise people will buy whateer crap they put out and standards will slip.
I wouldn't buy a car that only worked on freeways or if I held my hand out the window... Some people are just willing to put up with crap I guess, which I would if I hadn't just purchased the most expensive mass-market phone available - you get what you pay for doesn't mean much any more.
*oh, and I get poor signal quality calls holding the phone in many places, not just over the black band - my 3G didn't have a problem in these locations.
I'm sure Apple would argue (with some justification) that if you can live with the problem for an indefinite time until the fix comes, then you can live with the problem for the duration of the contract - ie give it back if it ruins the experience, and contemplate getting a completely new one with the bug fix as per the impact of it.
Perfectly serious? So taking your argument to it's logical conclusion, if a phone only worked within a 10m radius of a cell tower, that would be perfectly fine in your view because it would work "if you are in an area with a strong enough signal"
These are supposed to be mobile phones you know.
I genuinely don't believe that Apple will do nothing about this problem. That would damage the brand.
So the question is what will they do to limit the damage.
1) Acknowledge a problem - Tell people a "fix" is on the way.
2) Remove the restocking fee.
3) Halt manufacture - and restart only when the antenna is insulated. (Or some other fix has been implemented)
4) Clear out all existing inventory from the channel
5) Roll out the software "fix" when the manufacturing has been solved.
6) Offer unhappy customers hardware replacements or free bumpers
7) Brace for impact. Turn up the PR to 11.
This will be expensive for Apple. But not as expensive as a full-on recall.
C.
I do hope you're exactly right - I have a feeling they may try to fob people off until an iPhone 4"S" comes out though, I hope I'm wrong. I haven't sent my phone back yet but got all the details from the supplier (O2) who only have a 14 day return policy so Apple's 30 day one doesn't count for much in my case. I am tempted to gamble on Apple doing as you say but it's an expensive risk on a 2 year contract.
I cannot see how Apple (despite what the real truth is) could EVER admit liability in this case.
If it went to a giant court case, then Apple could bring up their technical experts, others could bring up their technical experts and who knows which was it would go.
They cannot admit there is a hardware fault.
With god knows how many production lines and R&D all done.
You can't just change the hardware like that.
Any admission of being fault would mean stopping all production to redesign the phone phone (case/body) from scratch again, going through fresh testing stages and changing manufacturing processes.
Months and months of not selling iPhones, re-working from scratch and scrapping everything that's been made.
I'm not saying it would ruin Apple totally but it would make a hell of a big dent in the company, together with public perception.
Its far far easier and more logical to fiddle with software and just tell people not to hold it that way, and call it a "lesson learned" for the future and the next iPhone.
Expects can counter argue this till the cows come home.
Whilst they SHOULD admit it's a design issue and change it. The way a Giant company such as this, by it's very nature, moves so slowly with such massive sales, I can't see how Apple can do anything else.
If it went to a giant court case, then Apple could bring up their technical experts, others could bring up their technical experts and who knows which was it would go.
They cannot admit there is a hardware fault.
With god knows how many production lines and R&D all done.
You can't just change the hardware like that.
Any admission of being fault would mean stopping all production to redesign the phone phone (case/body) from scratch again, going through fresh testing stages and changing manufacturing processes.
Months and months of not selling iPhones, re-working from scratch and scrapping everything that's been made.
I'm not saying it would ruin Apple totally but it would make a hell of a big dent in the company, together with public perception.
Its far far easier and more logical to fiddle with software and just tell people not to hold it that way, and call it a "lesson learned" for the future and the next iPhone.
Expects can counter argue this till the cows come home.
Whilst they SHOULD admit it's a design issue and change it. The way a Giant company such as this, by it's very nature, moves so slowly with such massive sales, I can't see how Apple can do anything else.
hmm
Yes strangely a friend of mine told me, the apple reseller called apple and they told him to say to the client, towait for 4gs(altought they dont know how it will be called, the next one), then the problem would be surely gone...strange
This is absolute ********! I've had my phone for a year (3GS) and never had reception problems until the new OS update.
Now, I get frequent searching / no signal issues. My only way to override it is to shut off the 3G. It would seem that if the phone has no 3G net work it is not defaulting and instead reports no signal.
I don't care what spin Apple puts on this. If there update fixes the problem then great, they covered their ass but at this point I'm furious that my phone isn't much more than a paper weight!
Now, I get frequent searching / no signal issues. My only way to override it is to shut off the 3G. It would seem that if the phone has no 3G net work it is not defaulting and instead reports no signal.
I don't care what spin Apple puts on this. If there update fixes the problem then great, they covered their ass but at this point I'm furious that my phone isn't much more than a paper weight!
lol
Hmm it looks like the liars are with those part:sim card solved the problem and they don't experience problems, could be, there are some apple fighters here, thats why...but this could be just as a possibility...
I think Rhanley's point is reasonable - I liked the iPhone because it was slim and could be discreet in my pocket (where I have it 90% of the time) so cases aren't my thing - it seems many of us are being told we'll need them to use our phones so they should be free...
Any word on proximity sensor fixes yet? (minor niggle - the vibrate on the iP4 is the weakest I've ever seen (or felt ;p)
Why are people in the UK having dropped calls using a Blackberry?
What's the common denominator?
The iPhone 4.
Simon Pegg (on Twitter) said he had cracked his already!
Then admitted that he had in fact dropped it from the window of a moving vehicle.
C.
No, no. Read it again! There is no issue here. It's only a software issue - the bars are wrong.