Apple Takes on Droid X With Latest Smartphone Antenna Video

[aohus]

Apple is acting like your estranged ex girlfriend who won't let the argument die. She wants to end it on her terms.

Apple. Please grow up. Theyre doing the same tactics as what Gizmodo did. Spreading out the antenna issue into multiple days in order to maximize the pain inflicted on their rivals.

This is such a Steve Jobs move. This order came straight from the top I bet.

 

[Statusnone88]

Good call. You nailed it. They made a call then they brought up the dial pad which hides everything. When you make a call 3G is not displayed.

No funny business here.

I did this on my Droid X. I still couldn't get it to drop bars.

Not calling you a liar, but can anyone post an undoc'd picture of their own Droid X in the dialer screen?

 

[marcfogel]

Anyone consider the very awkward way that the person holds the Droid X? Why don't they just hold the phones normally and then test it?

Because it wouldn't drop bars. I held mine like theirs and it didn't drop bars either.

Their phone must be defective

 

[Salacion]

Apple are certainly being disingenuous with their advertising. Sure, gripping any phone causes attenuation.
The intrinsic fault with the iPhone 4 design, however, is actually that you can bridge the antennas with your skin. They're exposed - they're conductive. It's bloody obvious to anybody who has studied basic physics.

Where I live, I only have to touch over the black bar on the bottom left of the phone for it to drop from the 1 or 2 bars that I get to No Service...

Taking it back isn't so simple when you've got so much invested, both time and money, in the general workflow and lifestyle that you've built up in and around iOS. There is also the direct investment in the apps and music that you've purchased.

I also no longer have the 3G that my iPhone 4 replaced...

For me therefore, the phone would not be fit for purpose without a case. As I see it, Apple really had no choice. It would be, in my opinion, wholly unreasonable to expect the cost burden of getting an iPhone 4 to a fit, usable state to be bourn out by the customer.

Can't disagree with you. You're dead on.

As the old saying goes, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. In other words, Apple will learn from this mistake...

 

[Craiglorocks]

Did you SEE the video??? It dropped to 0. Please, try to counter Apple's facts with your facts, not your opinions/estimates.

I have the Eris and tried my best to replicate the video Steve showed in his presentation and could not get that result. 2 hands in a full death grip making sure to completely cover the top where the antenna is supposed to be and I never moved from the 2 bars I had. I held it this way for 3 minutes.

 

[DiScO197]

Either way, it's all very boring now. It's true other phones drop signal by gripping them in a certain fashion. I have my wifes work Blackberry here and by clutching the base of the phone, the bars disappear from full to 0. Wether it drops calls or not I can't say, but most videos of the 4 I have seen are not on a call anyway. I do think however Apple handled it wrong, and they have gone down in my estimation for that. Will that stop me from buying their gear? Unlikely as their software is generally superb. I do think, and hope this is a wake up call for them mind as since they have had the success with the iphone etc, I think they have become a bit complacent. Will they become a target? Viruses?

 

[HLdan]

We're dying? Not according to the mobile market. If anything, we're on the rise. If it's truthful, then what happened to the 3G or 1X in the notifications bar? Why hasn't anyone been able to explain that? Perhaps because it's so mysterious and unnusual that only Apple knows.

A recent survey on the money magazine website indicated 80% of iPhone owners would buy an iPhone again if there is no antenna problem while only 20% of Android buyers would buy an iPhone if their lives depended on it.

... see what I did there? Evidence is necessary.

Did you really have a point to be here? Did you just sign up so you can straighten out the iPhone crowd? You can say this article is about the Droid X but it's only about a video posted by Apple in response to the iPhone, which this forum is about anyway. Since you're a Fandroid and only want to be here to straighten people out then you're wasting your time and you're virtually powerless here.

 

[MisterK]

Fair is Fair

If this is a true video and not some mockup fake, then I'd say Apple has every right to do this.

They've gotten an undue level of pestering for the iPhone 4 problems. They say that a half of a percent of people called to complain about it and then gave iPhone bumpers away less than a month after releasing the new iPhone. I think that's completely fair. You want an apology? Get over yourself! Return your phone if you don't like it. Or you could take the free case that fixes your issues (if you ever had one).

There's been piling-on from every other cell phone company, so Apple's saying "Don't leave us. The other guys have this issue too and here are videos to prove it. Unlike Apple, the others don't have swarms of people cheerleading for them to fail. This issue has clearly been blown out of proportion and here are the facts (supported by numbers)".

That sounds Ok to me. Just waiting for the iPhone 4 to come to Canada. I've never had a dropped call problem with Rogers. If the iPhone 4 has an issue here, I'll put a case, or one of those cute band-aid things on it. If not, I'll use it without a case. I've used Droid phones and I really just don't like them. I get some people might prefer the extra control it gives them, but I'm happy to have Apple take care of the details for me.

 

[marcfogel]

Not calling you a liar, but can anyone post an undoc'd picture of their own Droid X in the dialer screen?

Here you go.

Not the best. I had to use a Blackberry to take the snap

 

[rsocal]

Apple is acting like your estranged ex girlfriend who won't let the argument die. She wants to end it on her terms.

Apple. Please grow up. Theyre doing the same tactics as what Gizmodo did. Spreading out the antenna issue into multiple days in order to maximize the pain inflicted on their rivals.

This is such a Steve Jobs move. This order came straight from the top I bet.

I can’t believe you people, they are just proving their point, they took a lot of unwarranted heat for an industry wide issue that really is not an issue for anybody in normal use. I’m sure anybody can make tests to exploit a phones weeks points! I say Apple should drive it home until the horse is truly dead!!!

 

[QCassidy352]

We can't fix it so we'll attack our competitors.

Apple continues their pettiness--I think maybe it's time for Jobs to leave.

Apple is doing this because of the huge threat of Android.

Android is eating Apple's lunch in the smart phone market and soon the tablet market.

When you are scared and desperate you take desperate measures--just what this is.

I stopped paying attention when you said maybe it's time for Jobs to leave. I can only assume you're not an APPL shareholder or you'd never make such a ridiculous statement.

 

[DiScO197]

Suspicious started when Apple just so happened to release their first Apple-branded "case" (aka, the Bumper) after 4 years of producing phones. And it JUST so happens that this new design was to completely cover the outer stainless steel band that just so happened to be the "minor" flaw in design that started this whole mess.

I can't disagree with you on that, and was always a thought I had. I only wish I had an iPhone 4 to compare notes

 

[jameszjn]

Dear Apple, please post video of other phones DROPPING calls.

 

[Statusnone88]

Here you go.

Not the best. I had to use a Blackberry to take the snap

Much appreciated. Selective reading is a bitch so I figured if people had a second base of reference for knowing the video wasn't doc'd they'd be more inclined to spread the word of "faith", so to speak.

 

[Salacion]

Apple is acting like your estranged ex girlfriend who won't let the argument die. She wants to end it on her terms.

Apple. Please grow up. Theyre doing the same tactics as what Gizmodo did. Spreading out the antenna issue into multiple days in order to maximize the pain inflicted on their rivals.

This is such a Steve Jobs move. This order came straight from the top I bet.

As I see it, this issue is very much prevalent, as opposed to your "estranged" girlfriends.

You're looking at this whole issue from a very shallow perspective. This isn't an act of spite, it's a marketing technique. There's a bigger picture to this. If you knew anything about business, you would think before you speak, bud.

 

[QCassidy352]

Good call. You nailed it. They made a call then they brought up the dial pad which hides everything. When you make a call 3G is not displayed.

No funny business here.

I did this on my Droid X. I still couldn't get it to drop bars.

you can't get the iphone 4 to drop bars in many places either. It only happens if signal strength is already sub-par.

Though there's no doubt many iphone 4s exhibit this behavior more strongly than the other phones apple names.

 

[DMann]

Anyone consider the very awkward way that the person holds the Droid X? Why don't they just hold the phones normally and then test it?

With Droid's ad campaign, why would this be an issue?

'Hold the phone any way you like.'

 

[Frisco]

I can’t believe you people, they are just proving their point, they took a lot of unwarranted heat for an industry wide issue that really is not an issue for anybody in normal use. I’m sure anybody can make tests to exploit a phones weeks points! I say Apple should drive it home until the horse is truly dead!!!

Then why don't previous iPhones have the same problem?

 

[Full of Win]

Dear Apple, please post video of other phones DROPPING calls.

Or the relative loss in signal strength. While you are at it, why not restore the field test mode that was present in iOS 1, iOS2, and iOS3. I doubt any of these will happen, because it would nuke the entire Apple fabrication they have been spinning the past few weeks.

Then why don't previous iPhones have the same problem?

Because the design is not inherently flawed like the iPhone 4.

 

[newagemac]

Why isn't Motorola providing free cases??? And why haven't they extended the their refund period so people have time to try out the phone and decide if they want to keep the Droid X despite it's signal attenuation problems?

I was considering a Droid X but after this video and NO support from Motorola, not anymore.

 

[rsocal]

As I see it, this issue is very much prevalent, as opposed to your "estranged" girlfriends.

You're looking at this whole issue from a very shallow perspective. This isn't an act of spite, it's a marketing technique. There's a bigger picture to this. If you knew anything about business, you would think before you speak, bud.

Amen to that and Apple knows how to run a business!!!!!

 

[griz]

What is Apple trying to show? The iPhone 4 has the same bad signal issues other phones have? This is not a typical Apple move -- they usually showcase the positives of their own products.

Don't get me wrong; I love my iPhone 4. I just want Apple to move on and keep highlighting the positives.

-Aaron-

Basically what they are saying is, if you are intent on complaining about an issue that is present everywhere else, you are just looking for something to complain about. Like the iPhone for all its other features. Don't hate it for a so called "issue" that you will have no matter where else you decide to go.
But if you decide to go, don't let the proverbial door hit you in the a$$.

 

[Salacion]

Why isn't Motorola providing free cases??? And why haven't they extended the their refund period so people have time to try out the phone and decide if they want to keep the Droid X despite it's signal attenuation problems?

I was considering a Droid X but after this video and NO support from Motorola, not anymore.

Hey Apple, it's working!

 

[rsocal]

Then why don't previous iPhones have the same problem?

My iPhone 4 does not have the issue, I have had all three and I can tell you the iPhone 4 has 5x better reception. Final I can get all of them to drop bars by how I hold them!!!

 

[AP_piano295]

Stupid move they've said they're piece and it doesn't looking like they are planning any major changes atm.

Apple will be better off letting this issue slide out of the public eye.