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Apple Takes on Droid X With Latest Smartphone Antenna Video
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Really? I was gonna say the opposite - that despite the phenomenal sales success of the new iPhone there are so many people in these forums whining about it.
That's not entirely true. It won't drop visually because it stays above a certain threshold, but as soon as your signal drops below this threshold still a strong signal the bars will go down just as rapidly, and the RF output power is upped significantly.
Note: I developed a new type of signal bar indicator for the iPhone, which is three times more accurate shows five bars and three colors to differentiate the signal strength and my testing revealed two problems, of which only one has been resolved by iOS 4.0.1
Treating them like? No no, they don't treat them like that, their customers just ARE.
I am more ashamed every day of the infantile way in which they are facing this subject. I have already decided not to buy iPhone 4 and keep using my 2G at least one more year until the new version. All this theater just makes me laugh...
They are educating people. As simple as that.
They didn't say it is a "bad phone". They are simply showing that signal drops are a normal thing even on other popular phones.
It's not finger-pointing, which implies an attempt to pass blame. It's tu quoque.
Did you guys also realize they were testing during a phone call starting at 3 bars? Also even when there were no bars left the phone call still didn't drop. I like to see the iphone do that! lol Was this advertisement for the iPhone 4 or Motorola Droid X? 
Did you guys also realize they were testing during a phone call starting at 3 bars? Also even when there were no bars left the phone call still didn't drop. I like to see the iphone do that! lol Was this advertisement for the iPhone 4 or Motorola Droid X?
You'd like to see any phone on AT&T's network do that.
Wrong on all accounts
Actually it isn't easy. For most it actually takes 2 hands. I suspect Apple searched to find a person with hands the size of Lebron James to make this video. The key is the long index finger up at the top left. The Droid X is a long phone (remember Steve's derisive comment about it being a Hummer). And it has antennas both at the bottom and the top (novel concept...considering function in the design of a product). One has to block both of them to affect the signal. One needn't just hold the phone, one must do it in a way that the long index finger stretches all the way to the top left of the phone, rides over the ridge that Motorola designed into the phone to provide for a good grip without covering the top antenna, and then actually extend over the top of the phone.
And with all that Apple could only show lost bars. Unlike the iP4 where you can find video after video showing calls being dropped with the Death Tickle.
PCMag.com did a pretty even handed comparison of Smartphone signal retention. They still did not focus on dropped calls (I guess it is too difficult to deal with the varying signal strengths in an equitable fashion, and they didn't want to double penalize the iP4 both for its poor design and its poor choice of carrier). They found that the iP4 had big issues, as we all know. Other Android phones were closer (one had as much as -16 dB drop...vs. the Annantech measured -24 dB for the iP4). Most Androids showed less than -10 dB drop. The Droid X took 2 HANDS, and only showed a -11 dB drop! And even with the two handed strangle, the signal was still a very strong -63 dB (most iP4 owners would, I think, give their left arm for that type of signal strength).
"Applying the death grip to the Motorola Droid X can be difficult, as it has antennas at both the top and bottom of the phone. We used two hands on this larger phone and saw the numbers fluctuate quite a bit,going from -52 to -63dbm"
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2366777,00.asp
In comparison to this, Apple's trumped up Droid X video is a new low for even Apple.
No, YouTube videos only count when they are credible. One needs to consider whether or not the source(s) has(have) a vested interest, whether the source has a history of misleading behavior, how many corroborating videos there are, how many contradictory videos there are, etc. In this case Apple has several billion dollars in vested interest...probably more than any video posted on any side. So you have to question its veracity. Second, considering how, by Apple's own admission, for years Apple's software mislead iPhone users to think that their signal strength was stronger than it actually was, one has consider that Apple might not be above "manipulating" a video to slam a competitor that was eating their lunch. Third, as you can see from the link above, there are more credible videos showing the opposite of Apple's. So taken together, Apple's video is less than credible, and deserves to be discounted.
That is a personal experience not shared by me and many other posters on this site and the Apple forums. It is like saying that it is easy to drive around backwards looking out the rear window of your car when you can't see through your windscreen. You can do it. Not very natural. But you can do it.
The key difference between the iP4 and the Droid X is that the iP4 has its Death Spot in a very common location to hold the phone, and the slightest touch can drop a call under not-all-that-rare signal conditions for ATT. And there is no tactile warning that one is touching the Death Spot. In contrast, the Droid X requires that 2 spots be covered to even lose any signal, and it has the ridge at the top that provides a natural location to rest ones finger so that the top antenna isn't covered. That makes it easy to avoid the top antenna. And in cases where touching the top antenna is unavoidable, they also provide a bottom antenna. Droid X = good phone design....iP4 = pretty phone design.
I think he is comparing phones on the Android mobile operating system to phones on iOs. Much like the comparison between OSX and Windows. I think that the Poster is suggesting that, in the long run, Apple's arrogance and disrespect for their customers will relegate them to a niche market share, the same way Apple struggles to get above 5% of the US PC market to Windows ca. 90%, and reach 10% worldwide vs. Window 85%. You can whine all you want about 1 phone on 1 carrier, but that is Apple's choice (well, actually 3 phones tiered by memory size on many different carriers worldwide..just one in the US). Google has decided that their customers are not brain dead. They can make their own decisions. The result is a vibrant technology platform that has already overtaken iOs by many measures, and, the poster is suggesting, will turn the iPhone into a niche boutique product much like Macs.
There will always be Apple fanboys who will buy iOs no matter its flaws. And Apple-bashers who won't buy from the fruit...ever. And the rest of us who will buy Apple products in those (too rare) cases when their price is reasonable and quality is good. In the case of the iPhone4, it doesn't work. No matter how much the good Steve tries to trump up misleading videos against other phones, if you want solid call connections and no dropped calls under anything but the best signal conditions, stay away from the iP4. And if you want solid call quality, great sound quality, on a fast phone with great video quality, the Droid X is a great choice.
This coming from a person who owned and returned an iP4 that would drop 10% of its calls, and who has owned a Droid X for 2 days (covering about 50 phone calls...none dropped).
Actually it isn't easy. For most it actually takes 2 hands. I suspect Apple searched to find a person with hands the size of Lebron James to make this video. The key is the long index finger up at the top left. The Droid X is a long phone (remember Steve's derisive comment about it being a Hummer). And it has antennas both at the bottom and the top (novel concept...considering function in the design of a product). One has to block both of them to affect the signal. One needn't just hold the phone, one must do it in a way that the long index finger stretches all the way to the top left of the phone, rides over the ridge that Motorola designed into the phone to provide for a good grip without covering the top antenna, and then actually extend over the top of the phone.
And with all that Apple could only show lost bars. Unlike the iP4 where you can find video after video showing calls being dropped with the Death Tickle.
PCMag.com did a pretty even handed comparison of Smartphone signal retention. They still did not focus on dropped calls (I guess it is too difficult to deal with the varying signal strengths in an equitable fashion, and they didn't want to double penalize the iP4 both for its poor design and its poor choice of carrier). They found that the iP4 had big issues, as we all know. Other Android phones were closer (one had as much as -16 dB drop...vs. the Annantech measured -24 dB for the iP4). Most Androids showed less than -10 dB drop. The Droid X took 2 HANDS, and only showed a -11 dB drop! And even with the two handed strangle, the signal was still a very strong -63 dB (most iP4 owners would, I think, give their left arm for that type of signal strength).
"Applying the death grip to the Motorola Droid X can be difficult, as it has antennas at both the top and bottom of the phone. We used two hands on this larger phone and saw the numbers fluctuate quite a bit,going from -52 to -63dbm"
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2366777,00.asp
In comparison to this, Apple's trumped up Droid X video is a new low for even Apple.
No, YouTube videos only count when they are credible. One needs to consider whether or not the source(s) has(have) a vested interest, whether the source has a history of misleading behavior, how many corroborating videos there are, how many contradictory videos there are, etc. In this case Apple has several billion dollars in vested interest...probably more than any video posted on any side. So you have to question its veracity. Second, considering how, by Apple's own admission, for years Apple's software mislead iPhone users to think that their signal strength was stronger than it actually was, one has consider that Apple might not be above "manipulating" a video to slam a competitor that was eating their lunch. Third, as you can see from the link above, there are more credible videos showing the opposite of Apple's. So taken together, Apple's video is less than credible, and deserves to be discounted.
That is a personal experience not shared by me and many other posters on this site and the Apple forums. It is like saying that it is easy to drive around backwards looking out the rear window of your car when you can't see through your windscreen. You can do it. Not very natural. But you can do it.
The key difference between the iP4 and the Droid X is that the iP4 has its Death Spot in a very common location to hold the phone, and the slightest touch can drop a call under not-all-that-rare signal conditions for ATT. And there is no tactile warning that one is touching the Death Spot. In contrast, the Droid X requires that 2 spots be covered to even lose any signal, and it has the ridge at the top that provides a natural location to rest ones finger so that the top antenna isn't covered. That makes it easy to avoid the top antenna. And in cases where touching the top antenna is unavoidable, they also provide a bottom antenna. Droid X = good phone design....iP4 = pretty phone design.
Are you really comparing one single phone, on 5 markets, with 30 devices sold worldwide ???
No, you can't be that ingenuous .... or just a fandroid ?
I think he is comparing phones on the Android mobile operating system to phones on iOs. Much like the comparison between OSX and Windows. I think that the Poster is suggesting that, in the long run, Apple's arrogance and disrespect for their customers will relegate them to a niche market share, the same way Apple struggles to get above 5% of the US PC market to Windows ca. 90%, and reach 10% worldwide vs. Window 85%. You can whine all you want about 1 phone on 1 carrier, but that is Apple's choice (well, actually 3 phones tiered by memory size on many different carriers worldwide..just one in the US). Google has decided that their customers are not brain dead. They can make their own decisions. The result is a vibrant technology platform that has already overtaken iOs by many measures, and, the poster is suggesting, will turn the iPhone into a niche boutique product much like Macs.
There will always be Apple fanboys who will buy iOs no matter its flaws. And Apple-bashers who won't buy from the fruit...ever. And the rest of us who will buy Apple products in those (too rare) cases when their price is reasonable and quality is good. In the case of the iPhone4, it doesn't work. No matter how much the good Steve tries to trump up misleading videos against other phones, if you want solid call connections and no dropped calls under anything but the best signal conditions, stay away from the iP4. And if you want solid call quality, great sound quality, on a fast phone with great video quality, the Droid X is a great choice.
This coming from a person who owned and returned an iP4 that would drop 10% of its calls, and who has owned a Droid X for 2 days (covering about 50 phone calls...none dropped).
I have a question, does your tin foil conspiracy hat help or hinder reception on your ip4?
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8A306)
Hey Stevie Boy,
I heard there are some white iPhones that need to be manufactured. Maybe you could work on that problem instead of repairing your fragile ego by posting these lame videos.
Hey Stevie Boy,
I heard there are some white iPhones that need to be manufactured. Maybe you could work on that problem instead of repairing your fragile ego by posting these lame videos.
Not everybody lives in Lewis Carroll's Mind
Here in Portugal people perceive thru the news that the iPhone 4 has a unique flaw.
This Apple move shows otherwise, even so the majority will never click .com.
Why should Apple rely on the european Microsoft, Nokia friendly media for example?
Here in Portugal people perceive thru the news that the iPhone 4 has a unique flaw.
This Apple move shows otherwise, even so the majority will never click .com.
Why should Apple rely on the european Microsoft, Nokia friendly media for example?
Lame is your response.
Are these videos lies?
It is impossible to dispel the wrong perception that iPhone 4 has a unique flaw.
Most people will not see these videos.
And if i remember Moto wanted to cash on Gizmodo lame shot.
Yes, they could use the idea that with their phone it's impossible to be all day speaking and that it allows you to "get a life"...
Death Grip...
I hold my phone with my left hand, and that's just the way I hold my phone. I have never had a phone go from 5 bars of service to "searching" when I hold it naturally, until the iPhone 4. I don't hold my phone tightly either like some of you fools may think, because that would just make my hand hurt, and what's the fun in that???
I hold my phone with my left hand, and that's just the way I hold my phone. I have never had a phone go from 5 bars of service to "searching" when I hold it naturally, until the iPhone 4. I don't hold my phone tightly either like some of you fools may think, because that would just make my hand hurt, and what's the fun in that???
Ok, Apple fanboys who support all this video "evidence" - explain my vid, I'm not clasping the phone, I'm touching it with one finger - show me another smart phone where you can do this, the test is pretty conclusive, look about 3/4 of the way through and you can see I can stop the upload and restart instantly by touching it, with one finger. It's a flaw, other phones don't have it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTtpDo7Mefw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTtpDo7Mefw
Let's face it folks.
Apple's current "solution" (a word I use advisedly, to borrow a British English phrase!) still has not completely solved the problem of sudden reception drops in some instances, as some iPhone 4 users are still experiencing perceivable reception quality drops even with the bumper case installed.
In my humble opinion, Apple essentially blew it because it appears Steve Jobs ignored the advice of Apple's own RF engineers and allowed the continued development of the iPhone 4 despite the fact Apple probably knew the electrical charge from the human body could serious interfere with reception quality if it directly contacted the metal antenna band on the iPhone 4. This is THE type of failure that could attract the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, who views very dimly the sale of a any electronic device with an obvious defect that is NOT software-related. I would not be surprised that the FTC may start inquiries into this matter very soon, and the LAST thing Apple wants is an FTC inquiry into selling a deliberately defective product.
This, in my opinion, explains why Apple delayed the release of the white-back iPhone 4. Don't be surprised you see modified internal electronics and a clear plastic cover over the entire metal antenna structure (along with raised buttons along the sides to compensate for the cover) to correct both the antenna reception issue and the proximity sensor issue.
Apple's current "solution" (a word I use advisedly, to borrow a British English phrase!) still has not completely solved the problem of sudden reception drops in some instances, as some iPhone 4 users are still experiencing perceivable reception quality drops even with the bumper case installed.
In my humble opinion, Apple essentially blew it because it appears Steve Jobs ignored the advice of Apple's own RF engineers and allowed the continued development of the iPhone 4 despite the fact Apple probably knew the electrical charge from the human body could serious interfere with reception quality if it directly contacted the metal antenna band on the iPhone 4. This is THE type of failure that could attract the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, who views very dimly the sale of a any electronic device with an obvious defect that is NOT software-related. I would not be surprised that the FTC may start inquiries into this matter very soon, and the LAST thing Apple wants is an FTC inquiry into selling a deliberately defective product.
This, in my opinion, explains why Apple delayed the release of the white-back iPhone 4. Don't be surprised you see modified internal electronics and a clear plastic cover over the entire metal antenna structure (along with raised buttons along the sides to compensate for the cover) to correct both the antenna reception issue and the proximity sensor issue.
Enough with the facts already
Apple: The facts won't matter, and the facts won't help. You've addressed this issue by allowing anyone who bought one not understanding the issue to simply return the phone and cancel their contract, or get a free bumper which fixes the issue.
The only way to fix the issue in the future is to build a bumper into the product around where the antenna is located. Of course, Apple will be the only company to do this, since no one else apparently has this problem. But even if others did have the problem, the signal issue will go away, because no one actually cares if some Motorola phone loses signal when you hold it.
Apple: The facts won't matter, and the facts won't help. You've addressed this issue by allowing anyone who bought one not understanding the issue to simply return the phone and cancel their contract, or get a free bumper which fixes the issue.
The only way to fix the issue in the future is to build a bumper into the product around where the antenna is located. Of course, Apple will be the only company to do this, since no one else apparently has this problem. But even if others did have the problem, the signal issue will go away, because no one actually cares if some Motorola phone loses signal when you hold it.
Jim
You are in the very small percentage, if you are not happy with it hold it differently, put a case on it or return it. Its that simple.....
sorry for the sarcasm.My phones suffer from the antenna issue. I should it to my brother and he laughed so hard.
Unfortunately, the majority don't suffer from the issue that Steve Jobs says exists or they are willing to overlook the issue because it wil make their beloved idol look bad.
Except there is NO flawed design, in apple's iPhone or in any other phone. It is physic : antennas and human body don't come along very well.
Why is it so hard for apple and its cult fans so hard to admit that the iphone has a major design flaw when its that obvious?
I really don't understand why anyone would stand so firm behind a corporate mogul when most people hate corporations. I wonder, do these followers stand behind their family members just as strongly? Theres nothing to gain from being such a lemming.
I've given a lot of praise to apple over the years, and equally the same amount of criticism, only in the last few years has it gotten more criticism though because of all the control and limitations its imposed on the consumer, and that means the people who praise it. Its like
'The iphone needs a removable battery and would stand better against the competition if it added some divx support.'
'NO! Steve Jobs' decision is the right one, its perfect the way he says it is.'
Well, excuse me for expecting quality and choice (the latter of which does not exist in steve jobs' vocabulary).
Amen. The greatest consumer products marketer and advertiser in history, Apple, is reducing itself to a desperate GOP politico running smarmy attack ads the week before the election. Please Steve, concentrate on ramping up production for phones and pads and let the marketplace demonstrate its feelings for iPhone4's over Droids or any other phones..or not. And watch as Verizon's network becomes as hinky as ATT's when it's overwhelmed with data-crazed kids who have to watch movies all day long on their Droids. It should be great for all the Iphoners as a few million ATT customers become upgrade eligible and decide to switch to Verizon/Droid and free up some bandwidth for those who remain with ATT/Apple.
This has all become such a juvenile distraction. And yes, my wife and I upgraded from 3G's 2-3 weeks ago and couldn't be happier with reception and everything else and have no intention of getting cases or bumpers.
Jim
You are in the very small percentage, if you are not happy with it hold it differently, put a case on it or return it. Its that simple.....
My phones suffer from the antenna issue. I should it to my brother and he laughed so hard.
Unfortunately, the majority don't suffer from the issue that Steve Jobs says exists or they are willing to overlook the issue because it wil make their beloved idol look bad.
Absolutely agree, O2 in the UK have extended their returns until August 6th so it will be going back for a HTC Desire, which should do me fine until an iPhone 5 - I just hope I can get out of the 2 year contract as well!
I believe those still experiencing issues with a bumper in place are just experiencing the usual attenuation issues highlighted by Apple that all phones will exhibit.
To say I'm in a small % I think is a little naive, I'm sure any iPhone 4 used in a weaker signal area will have exactly the same problems I demonstrated, nothing Apple has said has indicated anything to do with differing batches etc.
I still like the phone but I am mainly returning it on principal as I didn't pay top dollar for bad design and Steve Job's arrogance on the return figures and the like annoyed me, I'd like to add to that 0.55% just a little... Doesn't put me off Apple long term, every company has hiccups, I may well be buying a new iMac too - I'm not a hater but not a sheep either.
Agreed. Same thing shown in my sig. I can't believe the ignorance and gullibility - laughable.
Apple says all phones have this problem, but out of dozens of phones, I, nor anyone else remembers returning a phone because of it.