Apple Takes on Droid X With Latest Smartphone Antenna Video

[the editor]

Apple really made a fool out of itself contradicting just about everything they stated the last couple of years...Apple is the best, Apple has better quality research than other brands blabla. All the Iphone4 drama once again proves that Apple is good at 1 thing, > misleading its customers, this video once again proves it, what a desperate attempt at trying to convince your customers that other brands are just as faulty as there latest "magical", "you need to see it to believe it", "unlike any other phone" Iphone4.

Its unlike any other phone alright...never heard of a phone that needed a bumper just to make the damn thing work proparly, not even with a 50$ phone. Apple was well aware of the problem also, why'd you think they started promoting the bumper same day as the release? Again proves how much of a customer unfriendly and thieving company Apple really is.

Jobs should at least have some self respect and retire, he's really making a giant mess this last year. they guy is turning Apple into one big circus.

neglection of MP updates, monitors, crappy iphones and prices whent up on just about every mac model, The MBP's are far from pro machines and use outdated last years hardware...actually every mac out there uses outdated hardware and cheap as* graphic cards, 2010 and macs don't even support watching a blue ray disc...and the list goes on

 

[koobcamuk]

Such a great thread.

 

[bkspero]

They didn't slander...they seem to have been carefully duplicitious

It's illegal to slander. So, apple could easily get sued if this wasn't a real problem. No employee could sign a confidentially agreement to prevent them from reporting a conspiracy. If they were fired for reporting something illegal try could sue for amounts that greatly out weigh their lost salaries.

Also, your second paragraph is completely illogical. How many rabid apple fanboys own Android phones? How were you expecting them to accomplish this?

Go troll somewhere else.

See my note above. Apple didn't say anything other than that bars dropped in their test. No claim that the test was reasonable. No claim that it was predictive of real world performance. So no lie. It is left to the fanboys to take the presentation and build its inference.

Don't see the illogic about iPhone 4 owners (past or present) buying Droid X phones. I am such a person. Returned my iP4 after it couldn't hold calls in anything other than optimum signal conditions. Bought a Droid X. Night and day better with the Droid.

Finally, considering what an Apple fanboy is willing to overspend on most Apple products, and the rabid, reflexive support for everything Apple, I fully expect a few to invest the restocking fee, buy a Droid in an attempt to discredit the phone, and then return it in the first 30 days for a refund (ex. restocking fee). Considering that they will overspend hundreds to thousands of dollars on a computer, spending a few dollars on a restocking fee for the beloved fruit is a pittance.

As for the last comment. I've been a positively contributing member here for a long time. But Apple's behavior in this case is, in my opinion, so low that it deserves to be called out. If that makes me a troll in your eyes, then I will accept that you are wrong about that as well, and move on.

 

[ydaf]

It's amazing how some people defend Apple as if it was their own child. Apple is wrong here, and trying to bring down the competition with it is even more pathetic.

 

[shambolicious]

It's amazing how some people defend Apple as if it was their own child. Apple is wrong here, and trying to bring down the competition with it is even more pathetic.

+100000000 THUMBS UP.

Despite what Apple, Mr Job, and his fanboys repeated post this is not, I repeat for the fanboys at the back, is not an industry wide problem. There are no other phones on the market that drop calls with the tip of a single finger.

Apple and their army of fanboys continue to deflect from this point.

 

[Stratus Fear]

The only thing the [free] bumper does, basically, is to prevent antenna gap bridging. A case on the other hand also helps to reduce normal attenuation.


Correct. With a case. Not with a bumper. You don't need one. That is a difference, isn't it?

How would a bumper not help prevent the usual attenuation as a case does? You also don't *need* a bumper on the iPhone 4, although you may prefer a bumper/case on any phone in a low signal area. Don't get me wrong -- I am not denying the existence of antenna bridging. I merely think it's importance over normal signal attenuation on any phone is overstated.

First. I want to start off with an apology, because I got distracted; There was someone in this forum calling people 'retards' for not returning their iPhones. I thought that it was you. You however are, clearly, a different person. My mistake. Sorry.

Yeah, definitely not calling people retards. This is also a 1200 post thread though. No worries on the mixup.

Not my cup of soup. People should be free to express their opinions here, as long as it is done gracefully.

Anyway. The idea behind my somewhat cocky opening was to trigger a response from him. One that I was clearly expecting, and ready to counter since I am anything but a retard. Thank you very much.

I also find it hard to believe that some people here can get away with such low level posts. Contributing nothing but question marks.

Understood. People here do get a little worked up and high on hysteria, thus my statement about "nerd rage." I wasn't targeting you -- it was intended as a general comment. Apologies if I misled you.

 

[HLdan]

Not condoning trolling but maybe I misread. So your saying that even though people post positive things about macs in these forums if they have anything negative to say or feel that another system might be better or at least put up a competition they should go to a different forum because if its not pro mac it shouldn't be heard here?

Well, I will say yes to a couple of things here. First, MR is a "MAC RUMORS" site, it's not "Tech Rumors" or "PC Rumors", therefore if people are considering other brands of computers they should go to another site that has an even bias towards multiple brands. It is very annoying for someone to come here and start a thread comparing multiple PC's with all the specs listed with a lower price than a comparable Mac, then they have the nerve to complain that the Mac is "overpriced" and lacks features of these cheaper PC's, they say nothing negative about the cheaper PC's they listed and then they expect a Mac forum to offer a fair bias. That's just maddening.

Secondly, it's more than someone just saying something "negative", if that were the case then Apple wouldn't have had to be so defensive about the iPhone 4 debacle. Defamation of character and slander is what forced Apple to be so defensive and that's exactly what goes on here on MR from the trolls. They always seem to be the new registrants on this forum. In my experience here, normally a new registrant comes here for help and they are very humble but when this article about the Android signal test hit MR we have an abundance of new registrants that are defaming Apple's character and it's customers (which are many of us here I presume, less the trolls) and they are very slanderous which makes it difficult to have a fair discussion.

The trolls want to put out as much slander towards Apple on this forum as possible so the news can spread over the internet and bring Apple down. That does make for a fair discussion, that's just malicious intent, and furthermore I'm convinced that they are paid to register here to do this.

 

[FlyinggPenguin]

Answer

I know the answer to this problem: Verizon!

 

[rsocal]

When is this going to end, it’s been clearly shown it’s an industry wide issue and phones will have different levels of sensitivity. Maybe the iPhone 4 is more sensitive, cover the “sweet spot” in a week signal and it can drop down, but how hard is it to move your finger or change your hold for the moment? How often are you in a bad signal area? In my daily use this is a non issue even when getting a bad signal, but still no drop calls or data and I definitely get better overall reception with my iPhone 4 then my other iPhone’s (3GS,3G & original but they were good). I don’t like to use a case even though I have a bumper (ordered it with phone 6/15 prior to issue) that I think is awesome and the best quality of a case that I’ve seen, I just like the quality feel of i4 and I still have no problems with signal. Having said that, the bumper is cool and would solve the signal issue if it’s a problem for some. I really think if this whole thing was not pointed out nobody would have been bothered by it, now that we know it’s there we can’t help but to keep touching it to see what happens just like everyone now monkey gripping their phones (all dif.brands) to see how many bars drop, the ones in bad signal areas will see a drop and the ones in good signal areas will not it’s just a fact! I have done this test so many times it makes me laugh, in 3 different city’s with good and bad signals, with friends phones etc. and all of us can say it’s no big deal! If you need to know the city’s, I live in So.Cal 30min out of LA, I did the “sweet spot” trick of course where I live, down town LA, Vegas and little towns in between. I got to tell you I had a great experience with my iPhone 4 doing this, not one dropped call and the one thing that surprised me was I had a signal all the way to Vegas, at least all the times I looked at it.
I think Apple should have that page to educate, it’s that much more people can look at to make their ultimate decision. After the beating Apple took before anybody really looked at it from both sides, typical of the media spinning it from one side, at least Apple did a little homework before they spoke, I think it was the right thing to do! As an Apple stock holder and a big fan of their products I want them to drive the point home!
My wife and 2 kids have not had any problems with their iPhone 4’s as well. If you have a family FaceTime is really cool even though it’s for dorks, but I can’t help myself when it comes to my kids! It’s also so easy my 10 yr old daughter does it with no problem, thank you Apple and iPhone 4!

 

[FlyinggPenguin]

Lolwut?

. Apple is wrong here, and trying to bring down the competition with it is even more pathetic.

Well, think of it this way. If you were caught in a crime ring and brought to trial, what would you do? They offer you to snitch on the others involved in the crime ring, and you only get five years. But you have the chance of them getting revenge. (I.e.; Apple's Antennagate page) If you don't you have the full 15 years (and lose whatever you've worked towards your whole life). What'd you do? Steve chose option one. So, it may be pathetic, but Apple is a proud company and would rather bring other companies down with it than fall down alone. (While the Android fanboys scream, "Timberrrr!")

 

[shambolicious]

Well, I will say yes to a couple of things here. First, MR is a "MAC RUMORS" site, it's not "Tech Rumors" or "PC Rumors", therefore if people are considering other brands of computers they should go to another site that has an even bias towards multiple brands. It is very annoying for someone to come here and start a thread comparing multiple PC's with all the specs listed with a lower price than a comparable Mac, then they have the nerve to complain that the Mac is "overpriced" and lacks features of these cheaper PC's, they say nothing negative about the cheaper PC's they listed and then they expect a Mac forum to offer a fair bias. That's just maddening.

Secondly, it's more than someone just saying something "negative", if that were the case then Apple wouldn't have had to be so defensive about the iPhone 4 debacle. Defamation of character and slander is what forced Apple to be so defensive and that's exactly what goes on here on MR from the trolls. They always seem to be the new registrants on this forum. In my experience here, normally a new registrant comes here for help and they are very humble but when this article about the Android signal test hit MR we have an abundance of new registrants that are defaming Apple's character and it's customers (which are many of us here I presume, less the trolls) and they are very slanderous which makes it difficult to have a fair discussion.

The trolls want to put out as much slander towards Apple on this forum as possible so the news can spread over the internet and bring Apple down. That does make for a fair discussion, that's just malicious intent, and furthermore I'm convinced that they are paid to register here to do this.

Have you listened to yourself recently? I mean seriously.

 

[FlyinggPenguin]

It's amazing how some people defend Apple as if it was their own child. Apple is wrong here, and trying to bring down the competition with it is even more pathetic.

Have you listened to yourself recently? I mean seriously.

Oh snap. Hold on, I'll get the popcorn.

 

[KnightWRX]

The trolls want to put out as much slander towards Apple on this forum as possible so the news can spread over the internet and bring Apple down. That does make for a fair discussion, that's just malicious intent, and furthermore I'm convinced that they are paid to register here to do this.

You could easily read that as :

The fanboys want to put out as much positive spin towards Apple on this forum as possible so the news can spread over the internet and prop Apple up. That does make for a fair discussion, that's just malicious intent, and furthermore I'm convinced that they are paid to register here to do this.

And it still rings as true as when you said it originally. Seriously, I wish I was getting paid to express my opinion on a forum, that sounds like easy money.

Unfortunately, I've been on both sides. I'm for Apple when I think they do right, I'm critical when I think they do wrong.

That is fair discussion. One sided posters that never ever derail from their holy trail or their holy war are what destroy this forum. There's plenty on both sides.

 

[zYxMa]

It's amazing how some people defend Apple as if it was their own child. Apple is wrong here, and trying to bring down the competition with it is even more pathetic.

It is devastating.

People need to understand that iPhone 4 has "short circuit" issue. It has NOTHING to do with how you hold the phone. End Of!

Average user won't get that, which means apple will get away with it... This world is going down

 

[rsocal]

You could easily read that as :



And it still rings as true as when you said it originally. Seriously, I wish I was getting paid to express my opinion on a forum, that sounds like easy money.

Unfortunately, I've been on both sides. I'm for Apple when I think they do right, I'm critical when I think they do wrong.

That is fair discussion. One sided posters that never ever derail from their holy trail or their holy war are what destroy this forum. There's plenty on both sides.

You are doing the same thing?

 

[John Dillinger]

You could easily read that as :



And it still rings as true as when you said it originally. Seriously, I wish I was getting paid to express my opinion on a forum, that sounds like easy money.

Unfortunately, I've been on both sides. I'm for Apple when I think they do right, I'm critical when I think they do wrong.

That is fair discussion. One sided posters that never ever derail from their holy trail or their holy war are what destroy this forum. There's plenty on both sides.

So so true.

I love the way you put it as holy trail/holy war.

Nobody's infallible. Yet the iPhone 4, despite all the noise, is fricking awesome.

However I think only the blind will disagree that the approach Apple has taken here will make for great case studies in how NOT to do PR. Funny since Apple are pretty much the masters of marketing.

I think why people are jumping all over this is because Apple have gotten so smug with their messaging lately. They could do with being more humble, and racking in theirr billions. No need to constantly bang on about "changing everything. Again." etc.

Also people saying Apple is fighting back- the press and the poeple are those who have been complaining to Apple. HTC, Nokia etc are not the ones who brought this to the forefront. Bringing them into this is so unbelievable pathetic its untrue. I mean- a whole page on their own website going óur incredible iphone suffers from the same problems as droid eris etc?"

Are there many other similar cases of other companies being this weak???

 

[HLdan]

Have you listened to yourself recently? I mean seriously.

I've listened to you very carefully. Why is it that I KNEW that YOU would respond to my post? You're a new registrant, of course, how much is your company paying you to come wreak havoc on Apple and it's customers? I've been checking out your posts and every single one of them have been in defense of the trolls and trying to slander Apple. Be gone, you have no power here.

 

[HLdan]

You could easily read that as :



And it still rings as true as when you said it originally. Seriously, I wish I was getting paid to express my opinion on a forum, that sounds like easy money.

Unfortunately, I've been on both sides. I'm for Apple when I think they do right, I'm critical when I think they do wrong.

That is fair discussion. One sided posters that never ever derail from their holy trail or their holy war are what destroy this forum. There's plenty on both sides.

Make sure, that when you quote me and change the words I wrote that you have the decency to highlight what you changed and say "FIXED". You made it look like I wrote 2 different things. Well, now I understand that you're just another troll attacking Apple's customers.

 

[KnightWRX]

You are doing the same thing?

What same thing ? I find their PR in this instance was wrong. This thread is about this PR. I should start posting about how positive the Mac Mini refresh is (it was and read my posts in that thread) ? No, that's off topic. I should post about how I love the minimalist upgrade Snow Leopard was and that concentrating on the under the hood feature was great ? Or about how their pricing is very consumer friendly ?

Or maybe I should post about how my 3GS is an enjoyable device ?

All of that is off topic here. If you base your opinion of me on 1 thread, you're being very narrow-minded and disingenuous. This is the problem with this forum, the "black or white" polarising of every poster. You post 1 negative thing about Apple, boom, paid shill, troll, "Get out of our forum!".

Make sure, that when you quote me and change the words I wrote that you have the decency to highlight what you changed and say "FIXED". You made it look like I wrote 2 different things. Well, now I understand that you're just another troll attacking Apple's customers.

Did you read my post ? Because if you did, you would have noticed this quip before the edited quote :

You could easily read that as :

Which makes it painfully clear to anyone that the second quote is edited. Of course, you'd rather just jump straight to ad hominems, call me a troll while ignoring the very definition of the word (ie, it doesn't mean someone who doesn't agree with you 100% of the time).

No need for the "FIXED" crap which is just about as clever as the "+1" thing. Seriously, I miss the Internet of the 90s, where quoting somebody just to say "I agree" was not just frowned upon, but seriously critiqued and ridiculed as being an "AOLer" trait.

A few people really need to read up on RFC 1855. Basic rules of the Internet right there.

You are just as bad as the people you are trying to denounce.

Nobody's infallible. Yet the iPhone 4, despite all the noise, is fricking awesome.

You know what, it is awesome. Apple had dropped the ball with the 3GS. It was a nice device, but it felt kind of weak compared to what was in the pipeline for fall '09 on the competition's side. Things like the Nokia N900, Motorola Milestone and then Xperia X3 (which became the X10 and shipped late, in winter '10) were promising high resolution screens, expandable storage and had great things on the software side.

The iPhone 4, when announced, was refreshing. Very high resolution screen without a compromise on the original aspect ratio, finally a LED flash (which was ridiculed as useless by Apple fans before iPhone had it, and lauded as a great Apple innovation after they did... funny how that words), 720p video recording and not to mention iOS 4 finally catching up on some much needed features like wallpapers, folders, and multi-tasking (which ended up being weak, but that's a discussion for another topic).

However, the device itself is not what we are discussing here. It's woes are well known, Apple issued a statement and a fix about it. That's settled. It really is. Owners know what to expect (except the few that still cling to hopes that September 30th brings anything besides just pulling the Free bumper program) and can now make an informed decision.

Like you said, and what is at issue here, is their PR tactics. "Let it go" echoes from the mouths of many posters who want to see this thing buried, but it's Apple that isn't letting go. They decided instead of owning up, they were going to make sure to deflect the issue on something else. That is wrong and I feel it is wrong. As long as Apple keeps trumping about this and not letting go, I don't see how anyone can tell people with a straight face to just "let it go".

 

[Journojulz]

However I think only the blind will disagree that the approach Apple has taken here will make for great case studies in how NOT to do PR.

Not to techies no - but most of apples customers aren't techies, and for them this is quite clever PR.

I think why people are jumping all over this is because Apple have gotten so smug with their messaging lately. They could do with being more humble....

How could they do that I wonder?

 

[cmaier]

The led flash is still worthless. There. I'm consistent.

Very high resolution screen without a compromise on the original aspect ratio, finally a LED flash (which was ridiculed as useless by Apple fans before iPhone had it, and lauded as a great Apple innovation after they did... funny how that words.

 

[Droid13]

A Simple Solution

The threads covering AntennaGate/DethTouch or whatever the current trending name is are extremely polarised and I don't see the discussions settling any time soon - while the issue is making for some interesting reading, things are being pushed way too far.

Instead, I propose a simple solution:

To decide if the iPhone 4 is worth buying or will cause a problem, people should field test one and see if their usage pattern will be affected by the flaw.

Or in other words, if the way you normally hold any phone (which may include a finger placed over one tiny little spot or gripping the phone extremely tightly) will affect the signal in a way that is unacceptable to you and you do not want to change the way you hold it, do not buy it. Marketing forces will then decide which products succeed or fail and the market will change accordingly.

 

[KnightWRX]

The led flash is still worthless. There. I'm consistent.

Used it all the time on my SE w810. It's about the only feature I miss. "Flashlights app" with the 3GS screen just don't cut it.

 

[mrochester]

The threads covering AntennaGate/DethTouch or whatever the current trending name is are extremely polarised and I don't see the discussions settling any time soon - while the issue is making for some interesting reading, things are being pushed way too far.

Instead, I propose a simple solution:



Or in other words, if the way you normally hold any phone (which may include a finger placed over one tiny little spot or gripping the phone extremely tightly) will affect the signal in a way that is unacceptable to you and you do not want to change the way you hold it, do not buy it. Marketing forces will then decide which products succeed or fail and the market will change accordingly.

I agree with this. It's even better since you can take the device back for a full refund if you aren't satisfied. That basically means you can buy the device, try it out for a while, and if the issue affects you, take it back for a full refund. Then, either wait for Apple to fix it, buy something else, or wait for the iPhone 5.

 

[-aggie-]

Anyway, suing is just giving Apple more credibility than they deserve. Ignoring them is best for now, let them play their games. Outside Mac blogs, everyone pretty sees it for what it is, a poor attempt at deflection.

Outside Mac blogs, everyone has moved on from this issue. There have been no national network news stories in over a week, ever since the press conference. Even the threads about this have reduced, and had Apple not put out this new video, there would be even less to gripe about.

Again, where are the long lines returning the iPhone 4?