Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Support - antenna issues because of missing protective coating
- Thread starter RoboCop001
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
So basically, the emails with Steve Jobs, he wasn't aware of the fault and probably assumed we were complaining about a very small drop in signal; which is normal.
To those who still don't get it, a loss of 20dB is a HUGE drop. If this is a defect with the first batch, then I'll be very happy once my phone is replaced and this will all be water under the bridge.
To those who still don't get it, a loss of 20dB is a HUGE drop. If this is a defect with the first batch, then I'll be very happy once my phone is replaced and this will all be water under the bridge.
I'm not the least bit surprised. Steve Jobs is a very arrogant condescending person. He could care less, & proved it again yesterday. Furthermore he's got a legion of users that worship him, further strengthening his power to dictate what's "best for them".
Several people called it. and, really, if it's a hardware issue and not with all phones, this would be the most likely explanation. I just wonder if the delay in the white iP4 was because of this.
Either way, my new iP4 better not be white. That thing looks like a toy.
Really? I saw other people call the hardware part, but not the coating. Then again, I haven't been following ALL of the threads on this subject? (Why does everybody feel the need to start a new thread?)
Yes, this was a PR blunder.
He papered-over a real problem, revealing in the process that he probably didn't even know about the coating. Probably found out about it himself today. It shows that he just shoots from the hip. His saving grace is that his aim is usually good enough.
Or, perhaps, he knew about the coating, but also knows that it's awfully hard to impossible to make one that will never wear off.
If the coating won't wear off, why tell people not to hold it that way? Why not just say "there was a manufacturing defect in a small number of phones, and we're taking care of it?"
How do you the amount of droppage or whatever? Not sure what a db is but mine drops about two bars but i haven't really had dropped calls because of it...
This is the danger of responding directly to customer e-mails.
I bet his marketing/PR/Legal departments sweat over each and every one of his e-mails.
On the phone with Apple right now. They're sending me to a senior advisor right away.
The guy told me they're putting me with corporate now to get the phone replaced because, and I quote, "This is an unexpected issue. We want you to be able to hold the phone and have it work still."
The guy was really apologetic. So let's see if the senior advisor tells me the same thing and replaces my phone or asks me to buy a bumper lol.
The guy told me they're putting me with corporate now to get the phone replaced because, and I quote, "This is an unexpected issue. We want you to be able to hold the phone and have it work still."
The guy was really apologetic. So let's see if the senior advisor tells me the same thing and replaces my phone or asks me to buy a bumper lol.
I lose all service when I touch the phone. It goes to"No Service" within seconds. It is unusable as a phone.
If Apple does anything, it's likely to be a software patch to cover up the real problem. By all accounts it appears to be a hardware fault due to poor antenna design. Apple would never be honest & do the right thing. They felt the Android army breathing down their necks & rushed this iPhone to market before it was ready. Once Apple releases a product that's it. There's no looking back.
I bet his marketing/PR/Legal departments sweat over each and every one of his e-mails.
Or, the replies are really drafted by employees in Hyderabad who eat grits for breakfast and speak with a southern accent.
AppleCare rocks!! Guy was really cool and said his iPhone 4 does it too. Sending me a BUMPER for free!!I'm calling AppleCare and going to ask for a free Bumper. What are my chances of them sending me one?
That sucks. I was really second-guessing buying this phone yesterday after seeing the vids.
I'm so lucky that mine doesn't suffer from this issue. But I am worried that whatever non-conductive coating is on there, that it'll wear off over time.
My skin seems to corrode things like cheap watches easily. Wouldn't be surprised if it wore the coating off quickly.
I would hope this isn't the case. You'll then have a lot of people with dropped calls while showing full signal strenght. The problem won't go away.
Doesn't the screen have oleophobic coating? Does it wear off? Maybe it bonds better because it's glass?
Also, maybe the problem is being exacerbated because of all the new iPhone users overloading the network?
Or, the replies are really drafted by employees in Hyderabad who eat grits for breakfast and speak with a southern accent.
LOL
My husband and I both have the antenna issue with our phones. We called Apple yesterday and were told to call our local Apple store for a Genius Bar appt. We both have an appt. tomorrow to swap out our phones (we were told the store has extra on hand for replacements). I'll let you guys know how this plays out for us.
This thread just cost me a battery-run to Radio Shack.
A light-bulb went off, and I decided to test the frame with an ohmmeter. Unfortunately, I discovered that I'd last put said meter away with it's switch in the "on" position.
Thus, a trip is required to Radio Shack for Tiny Batteries.
Will report back this afternoon.
In the mean time, people who are/are not having the problem, and also possess an ohmmeter (or multimeter) post your results here!
I'm assuming it's some kind of non-conductive oxide. Problem is, any metal will wear, and the oxide layer would eventually get rubbed-off. will talk this my materials scientist friend this evening.
A light-bulb went off, and I decided to test the frame with an ohmmeter. Unfortunately, I discovered that I'd last put said meter away with it's switch in the "on" position.
Thus, a trip is required to Radio Shack for Tiny Batteries.
Will report back this afternoon.
In the mean time, people who are/are not having the problem, and also possess an ohmmeter (or multimeter) post your results here!
I'm assuming it's some kind of non-conductive oxide. Problem is, any metal will wear, and the oxide layer would eventually get rubbed-off. will talk this my materials scientist friend this evening.
Corporate just sent all tech support, while I was on the phone with the guy, an email telling them to advise us to buy a bumper case. I interrupted the guy and said that's not acceptable. He agreed with me and said he'd relay that to his senior advisor person. He told me it's not right for us to have to buy another $30 to get the phone to do something it's meant to do out of the box.
He also warned me that AT&T is going to be having nationwide scheduled 3G outtages in the coming weeks and that when that happens, it won't be the iPhone causing the "no service" message. I told him I can't wait for the phone to go to Verizon and he chuckled and said, "Yeah, me too."
So, basically, either the OP got fed bad information or not everyone in corporate is aware of the plastic coating deal just yet.
I do find it troubling that all techs are now advised to just tell people to buy a bumper case. That's deplorable.
He also warned me that AT&T is going to be having nationwide scheduled 3G outtages in the coming weeks and that when that happens, it won't be the iPhone causing the "no service" message. I told him I can't wait for the phone to go to Verizon and he chuckled and said, "Yeah, me too."
So, basically, either the OP got fed bad information or not everyone in corporate is aware of the plastic coating deal just yet.
I do find it troubling that all techs are now advised to just tell people to buy a bumper case. That's deplorable.
Wow. Great work; thanks for posting.
I've been on the fence for a couple of weeks now about whether to get the iPhone 4 or perhaps switch to Sprint and get the EVO or Verizon and get the Droid X. As much as I love Apple products, and as many problems I've been having with AT&T service in my area anyway, this is really starting to make me lean away from the iPhone.
It's possible that this coating is something they are thinking up now after the fiasco that has happened and just trying to play it off as "Oops, someone at foxcon for got to turn on the coating machine" It maybe in a couple months they'll be replacing them, like the cracking backs on the 3g and 3gs, and the miss colored palm rests on the old white macbooks.