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

[wirelessmacuser]

At least someone understands. People whining about this issue shouldn't stop because the fanboys want them to. Generate as much ill will as possible, then return the phone.

Only through word of mouth can we make sure Apple stops selling us premium priced broken gadgets.

Seriously, dim your iPad screens to get better Wifi reception, what a fix.

Excellent post!

I agree, a forum like this is designed for the purpose of conducting a public discussion about Apples various products. This provides users a place to have a voice. It's generally well known that the manufacturer's watch these forums to get a feel for how their products are received.*

Therefore posting our experiences, opinions & preferences serves a very valuable purpose. It sends a message to Apple (in this case) that the iPhone 4, in real world usage has certain problems or characteristics we find unacceptable.*

What does not serve a purpose is the immature name calling or critical & judgmental attacks from the fanboys or other zealots. What I find especially humorous is it's these same insecure juveniles that call other people whiners. Or offer stupid comments like "duh... return it"

 

[Ries]

What about Nexus One? It's 17 dB drop makes it deffective?

its 10db holding it... which makes the iphone4 about 8-10 times worse than the nexus one.

 

[Carniphage]

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.

If Apple do make a small change to their manufacturing process. Perhaps by insulating the antenna. I wonder if that would require the device to be re-submitted to the FCC? How long would that take?

In the UK (or anywhere in the EU) the risk of ownership seems a bit lower. Consumers have a few more rights, so buyers are legally entitled to get replacements or refunds for a much longer period.

C.

 

[Warbrain]

If Apple do make a small change to their manufacturing process. Perhaps by insulating the antenna. I wonder if that would require the device to be re-submitted to the FCC? How long would that take?

In the UK (or anywhere in the EU) the risk of ownership seems a bit lower. Consumers have a few more rights, so buyers are legally entitled to get replacements or refunds for a much longer period.

C.

It shouldn't. They could notify the FCC and say it was a manufacturing change and the FCC would likely not have to test it.

 

[Cybbe]

So they have been misrepresenting the iPhone's already lousy reception for three years, and when it backfires due to poor antenna construction on their latest 'magical' device (certainly can't call it a phone), they backtrack. Nice.

 

[egret]

its phone and it's 2010 ffs stop being an apple apologist and admit apple has ****ed up big time. Jesus Christ apple fans annoy me, you people are going to be the downfall of this company if you keep on accepting every mistake apple makes . In the end they won't give a **** if they keep making **** ups and the quality will just get worse. Just look at the iMac, they are still giving out defective screens and they dint give a crap.

The iP4 gets better reception than any phone Apple has ever made. Thats not just Apple saying but independent experts in the field have stated as such. Are you ignorant? Don't be pissy because you cant seem to make yours work. The vast majority of people have no problem

 

[tatonka]

In the UK (or anywhere in the EU) the risk of ownership seems a bit lower. Consumers have a few more rights, so buyers are legally entitled to get replacements or refunds for a much longer period.

While that is generally true for cases like warranty and such. I don't know that you have general right to return a product within a certain amount of time. It is often possible under the stores policies, but it is not a law (unless you order it online).

In the given case I guess it may actually be rather difficult to return the device, since Apple denies it is an issue, hence the device is in perfect condition. So while you can return a broken device, the definition of broken is often done by the company in the first place. It may be tested in court, but I think it rarely is.

After Apples public statement now it should be possible though ..

T.

 

[Jimrod]

If Apple do make a small change to their manufacturing process. Perhaps by insulating the antenna. I wonder if that would require the device to be re-submitted to the FCC? How long would that take?

In the UK (or anywhere in the EU) the risk of ownership seems a bit lower. Consumers have a few more rights, so buyers are legally entitled to get replacements or refunds for a much longer period.

C.

I doubt they'd have to go back to the FCC for a coating but it would probably have to pass some toxicity tests due to skin/mouth/nose contact - those should be fairly quick to do though.

I'm not sure what rights I'd have in the UK past my 14 day contract cooling off period - surely if I haven't returned it I've deemed it fit for purpose? Apple's tactics scare me because of exactly that - we'll delay long enough until it's a case of "tough luck buddy - you should have sent it back if you weren't happy..." "Hey guys check out the new iPhone 5! It'll change everything again, again - it has a revolutionary internal antenna!"

 

[Yupper3D]

This is pure ********!!!!

The statement from Apple is complete nonsense! Do they think we are that stupid? I have first hand experienced that the iPhone 4 has real reception issues.

I had been waiting for the iPhone 4 like the many of you; I had reserved it, and had gone to my local retail store on the day it was released, ready to be a new proud owner of the iPhone 4. After reading about the possible reception issues that day I decided to come back later that day when there weren't that many people to be able to play with one of the sample iPhone 4's out on display. I was able to and I ran this experiment:

1. I began by turning off the wifi.
2. I cleared Safari's cache and cookies.
3. I navigated to news.bbc.co.uk while resting the phone flat on the display table.
4. Wrote down the number of seconds for the page to load.
5. Closed Safari's tab.
6. Repeated steps 2 to 5, but while holding the phone with my left hand.
7. Repeated the entire process 16 times, alternating holding the phone versus leaving the phone on the table.

The results were stunningly clear: not touching the phone loaded the page in 14 to 16 seconds. Touching the phone loaded the page in 65 to 85 seconds 5 of the eight times and timed out 3 times.

It was enough for me to forgo my reservation and sadly make the decision to not buy the new iPhone 4....

A "bar reporting error" wouldn't cause the above behavior; come on Apple, don't add insult to the injury!

Steve Jobs always says that customers vote with their wallets, and on June 24, 2010 I had to vote "No" :-(

 

[Carniphage]

While that is generally true for cases like warranty and such. I don't know that you have general right to return a product within a certain amount of time. It is often possible under the stores policies, but it is not a law (unless you order it online).

In the given case I guess it may actually be rather difficult to return the device, since Apple denies it is an issue, hence the device is in perfect condition. So while you can return a broken device, the definition of broken is often done by the company in the first place. It may be tested in court, but I think it rarely is.

After Apples public statement now it should be possible though ..

T.

In the UK the customer can return the item if the item is unfit for the purpose for which it is sold. It really would not be difficult to demonstrate unfitness.

C.

 

[smoking monkey]

This is complete ************ 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

Can you post videos to prove that one of them is unaffected?

Are they all the same? Same person using?

IS anybody finding a case/bumper helps? If so what works best?

 

[Lord Vader]

Or offer stupid comments like "duh... return it"

It's a valid option, Sherlock.

 

[Carniphage]

I'm not sure what rights I'd have in the UK past my 14 day contract cooling off period - surely if I haven't returned it I've deemed it fit for purpose? Apple's tactics scare me because of exactly that - we'll delay long enough until it's a case of "tough luck buddy - you should have sent it back if you weren't happy..." "Hey guys check out the new iPhone 5! It'll change everything again, again - it has a revolutionary internal antenna!"

If it is shown to be a design or manufacturing defect, the cooling off period is irrelevant. You are entitled to a replacement. Even after a year.

To be fair to Apple, they are very good in this regard. I got a 13 month old iPhone replaced with a numb-screen. And I hope to get a replacement 3G today - because the case has cracked again.

C.

 

[tatonka]

In the UK the customer can return the item if the item is unfit for the purpose for which it is sold. It really would not be difficult to demonstrate unfitness.

C.

Ah ok, didnt know that .. we dont have such a right in Germany.

T

 

[macintoshi]

Ah ok, didnt know that .. we dont have such a right in Germany.

T

yes, in switzerland we don't have those rights too!

 

[egret]

Wow, I'm sorry but the times when a company can just say 'tought s***' to the consumer is long past.


But putting the antenna so it is unavoidably touched while being used in a normal fashion is a design flaw and with all the dozens of pictures of the iPhone being held precisely that way there will be no recourse in a court - people have a right to non-defective products, and a 24dB drop in signal when holding it normally out of the box is a defect. you can shill for  all you want here but this will be settled in the courts now and knowing what we know  will most likely lose big time. many times.

It is very pretty out of the box though and fortunately Ghost Armor decreases the attenuation enough that it doesn't drop calls at my home (less decrease than duct tape by the way but enough).

Since they won't let me return it without paying $30 I just spent that on Ghost Armor. But I do feel I've been had and stuck with it, those who depend on me for tech advice I have advised to avoid it and even though I own one I sure hope  gets a big paddling over this from as many different courts and venues as possible (and not in the good way).

It doesn't matter how many times you say it Firewood, the facts are clear - a cell phone that has a 24 dB signal drop just from being held normally is defective - just look at the far more minor things that have led to class action settlements makes this one a slam dunk.

LOL! You are not going to get one red cent. There have been so many publications coming out in Apples favor (most recently Consumer Reports and PC World) that this one is going to get laughed out of court. Your hopes will be dashed and the lawyers that suckered you guys into believing in them will go back to being rich guys looking for the next victim. The only people publicly coming down on Apple are morons who cant figure out to use the phone and Techie Blogs like Boy Genius, Gizmodo, etc. Cant wait to see what Apples lawyers do to those guys when your class action lawyers roll them out as "experts". LOL!

This has been so entertaining watching you crybabies I am going to be sad to see the whole thing die down.

 

[Lord Vader]

LOL! You are not going to get one red cent. There have been so many publications coming out in Apples favor (most recently Consumer Reports and PC World) that this one is going to get laughed out of court. Your hopes will be dashed and the lawyers that suckered you guys into believing in them will go back to being rich guys looking for the next victim. The only people publicly coming down on Apple are morons who cant figure out to use the phone and Techie Blogs like Boy Genius, Gizmodo, etc. Cant wait to see what Apples lawyers do to those guys when your class action lawyers roll them out as "experts". LOL!

This has been so entertaining watching you crybabies I am going to be sad to see the whole thing die down.

In other words: too funny.

 

[furi0usbee]

Wait, What?

So the bars we see now are erroneously represented *higher*? Sooo... this means that the person who has 2 bars *with a signal* now will get no bars and no signal after the update? This seems like it will take people with weak signals who *can* talk now, and make their phones paper weights with no chance of reception.

I don't understand Apple's logic. The phone showing more bars results in signal loss and dropped calls? So if you start with 5 bars, and talk, then hold the bottom left, it goes to 1 bar then drops. This is how it works now. Under Apple's new plans, you start with 3 bars, you hold the bottom left, then the bar drops to 1 and you lose the call. What's the difference whether you start with 5 or 3 bars. If the end result is you lose the call because you are touching the band of the phone, you still end up in the same (sinking) boat.

The calculation isn't the problem. It seems with the iPhone, you need the signal bar calculation to be *higher* since we lose bars quickly if we touch the phone. By lowering the starting bars, we will lose calls just that much faster.

Don't get this one. Anyone?

 

[Compile 'em all]

So the bars we see now are erroneously represented *higher*? Sooo... this means that the person who has 2 bars *with a signal* now will get no bars and no signal after the update? This seems like it will take people with weak signals who *can* talk now, and make their phones paper weights with no chance of reception.

I don't understand Apple's logic. The phone showing more bars results in signal loss and dropped calls? So if you start with 5 bars, and talk, then hold the bottom left, it goes to 1 bar then drops. This is how it works now. Under Apple's new plans, you start with 3 bars, you hold the bottom left, then the bar drops to 1 and you lose the call. What's the difference whether you start with 5 or 3 bars. If the end result is you lose the call because you are touching the band of the phone, you still end up in the same (sinking) boat.

The calculation isn't the problem. It seems with the iPhone, you need the signal bar calculation to be *higher* since we lose bars quickly if we touch the phone. By lowering the starting bars, we will lose calls just that much faster.

Don't get this one. Anyone?

The software update has nothing to do with "actual reception", meaning it won't affect your signal. If you had dropped calls before, it will still be the same. It is how the signal strength is represented on your screen that will change.

 

[OllyW]

The calculation isn't the problem. It seems with the iPhone, you need the signal bar calculation to be *higher* since we lose bars quickly if we touch the phone. By lowering the starting bars, we will lose calls just that much faster.

Don't get this one. Anyone?

If the update just changes how the signal is reported then you will lose your calls in exactly the same manner as before.

 

[chatfan]

Yes I get it, it is not so godamn complicated that all this ubernerding needs to take place.

Then again forums are nothing more then gathering grounds for the bored and brainless these days.

Kids, wait for the fix, get a life in between, return it if the death grip destroys you're life and go enjoy the sun.

All the other stuff is pointless posing and trying to look smarter then you really are.If you don't understand it, stop talking until you do.

 

[Lord Vader]

So the bars we see now are erroneously represented *higher*? Sooo... this means that the person who has 2 bars *with a signal* now will get no bars and no signal after the update?

I don't think it's that simple.

 

[Journojulz]

The calculation isn't the problem. It seems with the iPhone, you need the signal bar calculation to be *higher* since we lose bars quickly if we touch the phone. By lowering the starting bars, we will lose calls just that much faster.
Don't get this one. Anyone?

If the fix doesn't make the phone better - apple are going to look silly again.

Can't see SJ wanting that to happen, especially as this is such a hi profile issue!.

I am expecting a few hidden tweaks too that will keep the bench testers happy.

 

[Lord Vader]

Wait for updated baseband.

 

[Lyra]

This is such a BS statement!

Are you kidding me?

IF this was a software based issue, I would be able to walk around town and the display would show NO signal and STILL be able to talk with the person on the other end.

But this is far from what is actually happening. Unless the software also dictates what the phone is allowed to do and what it isn't, then I don't see the logic behind this at all.

I get constant notices that I have to manually remove stating I've lost the signal and asking me to press dismiss.

Also, if this was just a software problem, I wouldn't get cut off during a conversation.

This clearly is a software "FIX" to make the bars go higher but the problem will most certainly still remain.

The FEW weeks isn't good enough, I have 10 days to return from the day of purchase... meaning I can't wait that long. Otherwise I'm stuck with a phone that doesn't work well for 24 months paying £35 a month!

And for those who moan about "NO ONE ASKED YOU TO BUY THE PHONE" bs statement, trust me, that is the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time.

NO ONE ASKED ME, I chose to buy it because it was something I was LEAD ON to believe was the best damn product Apple has made. As such I invested and now I see it's a major issue. Some who don't have this issue should consider them selves lucky.

This is NOT a simple, "If I don't like it, return it situation". People from Vodafone had no stock when they promised me to get one on the day. So they directed me to Phones4U and that means it's a three party situation now.

Phones4U doesn't do returns, Vodafone is freaking out that people returning the iPhone 4 and is actually reconsidering the entire relationship with Apple.

I'm stuck with Phones4U, Vodafone and Apple who all blame each other. However Apple Genius Bar made an official report on a paper that I can hand to Vodafone where it clearly states it's a flaw and it needs to be replaced to returned.

This has gone from a simple happy moment of finally getting an iPhone to I wish I never bought the thing.

Too much hassle and too expensive when you get stuck with the damn contract!

And no I'm not 10 years old or moan about anything other than the fact that this has generated a massive kick in the nuts for me and I wish Apple spent a bit more time testing the damn thing before releasing it into the wild.

To sum up, iPhone 4 (expensive), Contract INSANElY expensive!!!, Phones4U are absolute crooks! and Vodafone is freaking out, Apple don't seem to know what to do and so they are freaking out too. Too much hassle for a phone.

And so I'll just quote Steve Jobs : "Relax it's just a phone..." that's true Stevo, it is, and it's causing too much grief so I'm returning it and ending the contract. Thanks, it was fun looking at the amazing screen but the basic function of the phone just didn't work.

For the rest who have a FUNCTIONAL iPhone 4.... Yeah I'll still envy you... I might get one when this has been cleared up. But for now, it's left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.