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Looks like the antenna is no problem for the teens around here.

Apple's greatest success is its ability to market Cool to IWOOT teens of well-off parents, wide-eyed consumers-to-be with no expectations and pedestrian requirements. From iPod in the playground to Macbook in the freshman's backpack, Apple know where the easy money is.
 
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 :(
What is devastating is you basic (un)knowledge about rf principles, if you speak about "short circuit" ...

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 ?
better for you don't go down that path.
Is stupid easy to do a little research on your post on the forum and show to the people what is your attitude against Jobs (personally), the iPhone and apple policies.
It's an Holy Crusade on your part.
And, as I told you once, putting a Mac on your signature doesn't change things much.
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!".


ONE THREAD ?!? lol .... :D
The real problem with this forum are people like you, keep posting about a phone you dont have, you don't want, you don't know, just to piss off happy customers.
 
It's a perfectly valid point to make, there is no reason why Apple should have been singled out for this issue. Other companies have not been made to feel compelled to give away free cases like Apple has.


I don't know why so many people keep missing the point. It is not that the 4 is the only phone that has this issue, it is the only phone that has the problem with such a large magnitude. This has been demonstrated by CS and Anandtech. And yes, I own the phone and get dropped calls where my 3G had no problem.
 
Wife and son just got iPhone 4s. No death grip or spot touch problems here. Son has several friends with iP4s and no one has a complaint. (They are having great fun using FaceTime at parties.) I asked about the dropped call problems; he said everyone thinks Apple showed it happens to other phones more than the iPhone. Looks like Apple is winning the PR battle with the public.

A couple of friends who have Droids were apologetic, and feel left out, saying their parents wouldn't change their contracts to AT&T so they could have an iPhone. They said as soon as Apple phones were available on their carriers, they would switch. Looks like the antenna is no problem for the teens around here.

I have the same experience!:cool:
:apple::apple::apple:
 
Nokia, RIM and Htc just gave us PR's bs.
Not a single demonstration of their phones to be "death grip free".
Nokia and RIM, in particular, responded with a single statement each (no on-going smear campaign as Apple is currently doing) of essentially "This is your own self-made problem, leave us out of it.". This is not Apple defending themselves against the horrors of other manufacturers attacking them -- not a single manufacturer was commenting on or using Apple's antenna problem to make themselves look superior. This is solely Apple lashing out against anyone near them in an extremely immature, egotistical (hi sjobs) attempt to make themselves look better.

All these companies need to do, in my mind, was to issues their single response each -- "Leave us out of your problems, Apple." They don't have anything to prove, they probably don't even have to do anything to 'fix' their reputations except let Apple throw this little tantrum, making Apple look like a toddler who didn't get ice cream.

As far as the comparisons between phones and holding them, yes, phones will change signal strengths based on what is obscuring the antenna. The best signal will come with a fully unobstructed line-of-sight to the cell tower. The amount (and how difficult it is to cause) is what varies significantly.

The iPhone 4 is reported to be extremely easy to cause in any location with a weaker (even though it may still be 5-bars) signal, with as little as a single finger in the right place. This drop will not be visible for everyone since you cannot read the actual dBm level on a non-jailbroken phone, and the drop in signal is not large enough to drop from completely 'full' 5-bars to less than 5-bars. Yes, the word "visible" does imply that it should occur (visible or not) on every iPhone 4, since it's a design flaw, not a manufacturing flaw.

Similarly, for other manufacturers, it depends on how strong the signal is, how the signal is mapped into bars, and how sensitive the antennas are to being blocked. However, all the discussions I've seen point towards the problem occurring in mostly absurd manners (such as near-crushing the phone, covering the entire phone with two hands, etc.), and only in very specific signal conditions (similar to the conditions that cause the drop in iPhone 4 signal display -- being at the lower-end of a bar range).

The problem is not that phone antennas are perfect, or that the iPhone 4's signal drops when zomg no other phone does. The problem is how easy it is to cause (as little as one finger in the right place), the cause of the problem ('bridging' the antenna, which entirely changes the properties of it -- this is most comparable to taking your other smartphone apart and manually grasping the bare antenna), the severity of the problem (larger raw signal drop than other phones -- ~25 dBm -- as well as significant dropped calls/data connections), and Apple's reaction (TEMPER TANTRUM).

Unfortunately, this little temper tantrum may also be caused by a different problem with the world -- profits and lawsuits. If they manned up and said "yes, we screwed up" they'd be opening themselves up to massive class-action lawsuits and serious drops in stocks. Which could get them sued (again!) by shareholders for not maximising profits. So they instead have to be as noisy, obnoxious, and vocal as they can about how their phone is perfect (at least compared to other phones), no matter if they know there's a major design flaw or not.

Perhaps the most telling result will be the design of the iPhone 5. If they keep the external, uninsulated antennas, then they actually believe their design isn't a problem. If they don't keep them, then they know the design was a failure.
 
N97 Mini in video has a flat battery

The battery in the N97 mini is a 1 bar, so it's practically flat, Who wouldn't expect the phone to have problems in reception under such circumstances. I think that videos is bogus.
 
How come I feel that "ANDROID" users and "Windows Phone 7" users are coming here to rile shxt up? Maybe cause they're jealous they're stuck with a POS, and can't afford a real phone . :D

Looking at the join date and post count of many of the posters complaining about the iPhone 4 and the Apple response, it seems many have been here for years.

The iPhone 4 is reported to be extremely easy to cause in any location with a weaker (even though it may still be 5-bars) signal, with as little as a single finger in the right place. This drop will not be visible for everyone since you cannot read the actual dBm level on a non-jailbroken phone, and the drop in signal is not large enough to drop from completely 'full' 5-bars to less than 5-bars. Yes, the word "visible" does imply that it should occur (visible or not) on every iPhone 4, since it's a design flaw, not a manufacturing flaw.

Odd that Apple removed the field test from iOS 4 that shows dBm amounts.... just at the time that it could be used to show how utterly flawed their design is. I wonder why they did that? Gee, I really wonder.
 
The best signal will come with a fully unobstructed line-of-sight to the cell tower.
How can we factor in the attenuation caused by tinfoil hats worn by those who think there is an anti-Apple media conspiracy? Should that be considered a consequential signal loss?

wescravn said:
Maybe cause they're jealous they're stuck with a POS, and can't afford a real phone
Turns out I joined the same month as you, Wes. Also, I think you mean envious - some of the Apple fanatics are displaying a textbook correct definition of jealousy. Also part two, I once had a very bumpy 'plane ride in an otherwise sturdy beast. Behaviour was typical for that old hunk of aluminium, and many others criticised the model too. Or maybe I was just envious of the airline because, unlike the environmentally conscious Brin & Page, I can't afford to buy my own personal aircraft, nor hire one out when essential replacement body parts become available. Yes, on second thoughts, all aircraft are perfect and I'm just envious of the billionaires who can afford them.
 
I don't know why so many people keep missing the point. It is not that the 4 is the only phone that has this issue, it is the only phone that has the problem with such a large magnitude.

And magnitudes are simply product trade-offs.

My car is faster and can carry a lot more, but gets lower MPG. My friends car gets much higher MPG, but is slower and has a much smaller trunk.

My i4 can get a signal in locations where my 3GS could not. But my 3GS can connect during funny finger touches where my i4 might disconnect.

Buy the car (cell phone) that fits your needs.
 
Online coverage suggests that the response to a fault in an otherwise good 'phone is causing as much PR damage as the original fault.

Really? With this massive amount of free publicity, I would not be surprised if demand for the i4 goes up, and it takes even longer before the backlog is completely cleared. Money in the bank for Apple.

And what might all this publicity do about the percentage of Nokia/Motorola/BB owner's going back to their store with complaints?
 
I don't know why so many people keep missing the point. It is not that the 4 is the only phone that has this issue, it is the only phone that has the problem with such a large magnitude. This has been demonstrated by CS and Anandtech. And yes, I own the phone and get dropped calls where my 3G had no problem.

You’re missing the point actually. Most people don’t have the problem. If they did, you’d see massive returns. You should return yours. I would if I had the problems you do,
 
As far as the comparisons between phones and holding them, yes, phones will change signal strengths based on what is obscuring the antenna. The best signal will come with a fully unobstructed line-of-sight to the cell tower. The amount (and how difficult it is to cause) is what varies significantly.

It's a lot worse than that. Reflections from buildings, metal appliances, passing trucks, absorption from raindrops, fog, etc. can also severely affect a microwave signal. The exact angle you hold the phone, how tall you are, and the height of the cell tower can also make a difference. Then there's interference from other cell phones, nearby electronics, power lines, etc. The load on a cell tower can affect whether you are really connected to it or some other farther cell. There's more than one 3G frequency band, each with its own different RF propagation characteristics. All this can change your signal level even if you are line-of-sight from some cell tower.
 
Really? With this massive amount of free publicity, I would not be surprised if demand for the i4 goes up
In the short term, it's possible that more people will be talking about the iPhone and this may prompt a few extra purchases. But the lasting message is a kick in the reputationads. Apple will adjust by being more about mainstream and less about sophistication and quality, finding an average consumer with lower expectations.

Contrast the Apple Computer of the '80s to observe the pattern.

And what might all this publicity do about the percentage of Nokia/Motorola/BB owner's going back to their store with complaints?

"If I squeeze my 'phone unnaturally tightly on low battery (watch the video) then I get a slight loss of signal strength - this behaviour is unacceptable!" Apple have declared that every mobile 'phone user is an idiot with not even the slightest conception of radio despite such devices being mainstream for more than a decade. Apple are wrong.

Apple are currently the laughing stock of the tech world as far as the antenna fault. The sooner Jobs stops behaving like a god blasphemed, the sooner people will stop laughing.

You’re missing the point actually. Most people don’t have the problem. If they did, you’d see massive returns.
Have you paid any attention to AT&T call drop stats recently? Its subscribers already tolerate poor performance vs the US industry average. Then there's Apple promising fixes (software, hardware, every-phone-suffers-this-problem-try-it-and-see lie) which people haven't had the time to try out yet. And consumers in general tend to accept that most things just don't work as well as they'd hoped: the iPhone is still "good enough" for those with low requirements, despite one obvious and serious fault.
 
It's extremely likely that the other phone manufacturers couldn't refute it even if they really wanted to... If Apple can find these weak spots ... these other cell phone manufacturers also have found them ... and that knowledge would likely come out in any legal action for defamation, and make the competition look even worse.

Apple knows this, which is why they aren't afraid to post these videos in plain view of their competition's huge legal departments.

The other phone manufacturers are just more clever about not publicizing their antenna issues, whereas Steve pointed to the magic spot on the i4 during a major keynote.

That is the clever bit.

Self confessional - let out the industry secret - point to the spot to be avoided - give away 5 million freebies.

Oh yes - the phreaks and nerds will moan - but then they always do.
No change there.

For the punter in the street however - :apple: fesses up to "not being perfect - but we do love you", hands out pressies and case closed = business as usual.

For those that doubt the PR wisdom here - you are probably looking at it though the eyes of the wrong P.
 
Visit any Apple Store and you'll see them. I have been to 2 stores and was amazed at the number of people returning and complaining. :rolleyes:
Ok, now you just give us evidence of your propaganda. Your statement is just PLAIN FALSE, and you know it.
The crowd in the apple store is people trying to BUY ONE.

No, it affects upload instantly, but does affect download after a few more seconds... Here's my initial vid demonstrating that better (but wrong orientation and in darker part of room so I could place the phone so I'd only have to touch it with one finger) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff6RBiClfEI
And here is mine demonstrating you have to blame your network:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EfawQj-Rto&feature=youtube_gdata

Then it's a shame you were forced to post that.

iPhone 4: Loses lots of db when touched. 1 antenna per radio.
Other phones: Loses less db when squeezed tight. 2 antennas per radio.

Everyone else seems to have grasped this (in the right location too).

Other phones do exactly the same.
iPhone 4 has a bigger dB drop just because antenna is external, but it manages to keep conversation/data exchange at a level (around -120 dB) where other phones show "no signal".
Why you keep ignoring that is beyond my comprehension ...
 
"If I squeeze my 'phone unnaturally tightly on low battery (watch the video) then I get a slight loss of signal strength - this behaviour is unacceptable!" Apple have declared that every mobile 'phone user is an idiot with not even the slightest conception of radio despite such devices being mainstream for more than a decade. Apple are wrong.

Apple are currently the laughing stock of the tech world as far as the antenna fault. The sooner Jobs stops behaving like a god blasphemed, the sooner people will stop laughing.


Have you paid any attention to AT&T call drop stats recently? Its subscribers already tolerate poor performance vs the US industry average. Then there's Apple promising fixes (software, hardware, every-phone-suffers-this-problem-try-it-and-see lie) which people haven't had the time to try out yet. And consumers in general tend to accept that most things just don't work as well as they'd hoped: the iPhone is still "good enough" for those with low requirements, despite one obvious and serious fault.

You are becoming ridiculous: there is NO SQUEEZING IN THOSE VIDEOS!
the phones are held in the SAME "NORMAL" WAY you haters/bashers initially described as "absolutely normal for an human being".
Now that Apple demonstrated it could affect every phone, it suddenly changes in "squeezing the phone". :cool:
 
Its sick watching people take bullets for corp.

Bottom line is Apple has a problem and instead of fixing it (giving away bumpers isn't fixing it) they are pointing the finger.

I wish Apple was still the company that made amazing computers and great operating systems.
 
But you CAN'T take back the 2 year contract you sign.. which is what is so stupid with phones.
I would love to try a phone out if i could buy it without the contract. because honestly a $700 phone is a lot cheaper then a $200 one with a 2 year contract that will cost me 2400 over the 2 years :p

But you can't, so your stuck with it if you buy it...

Not true - AT&T offers a 30 day opt-out period without penalty.

Try out the iPhone 4 for 30 days, risk free.
 
Not true - AT&T offers a 30 day opt-out period without penalty.

Try out the iPhone 4 for 30 days, risk free.

Ah, you changed the 14 while I was posting. :D

The only “penalty” is you still have to pay two months usage (or at least one….I never paid much attention…I just know there were lots of threads complaining about it). They don’t just let you not pay your bill. Plenty of threads about that though, and plenty of complaints about having to pay even that.

Bottom line is you’re not stuck with the 4 or AT&T if you don’t want to be.
 
iPhone 4 has a bigger dB drop just because antenna is external,
Only for values of "just" which ignore the complete lack of shielding, the position of the antenna on a handgrip and the juxtaposition of another antenna.

but it manages to keep conversation/data exchange at a level (around -120 dB) where other phones show "no signal".
Why you keep ignoring that is beyond my comprehension ...

There are one ginger and three pepper plants on my window sill. That's four plants in total. On a chair next to that is a submerged broad leaf Anubias which I am treating for algae. Why are you ignoring them?

That's right, because they're irrelevant to the problem.

And no matter the joy every time the slow-growing but stoic Anubias produces new leaves, the data transfer rate of an iPhone 4G can still be halved by holding the 'phone in the manner what 'phones are held. Even though the ginger was grown from an old piece of root left in the kitchen and shot up several centimetres per day in its youth, in a weak signal area the 4G's connection is lost entirely. And even though I call it the 4G incorrectly to poke fun at the silly naming scheme, Apple still designed an antenna which is not fit for purpose.

Now that Apple demonstrated it could affect every phone
Assuming similar frequencies and power outputs, an internal antenna simply will not be affected as much as an external unshielded external antenna being directly touched and bridged to another antenna. The facts that Apple have demonstrated what everyone knows even intuitively - obstacles between A and B block the path of stuff trying to get from A to B - and that they have demonstrated this in the most unscientific way possible give us no new technical information at all.
 
Bottom line is Apple has a problem and instead of fixing it (giving away bumpers isn't fixing it) they are pointing the finger.

What if they don't know how they will fix it?

Giving away a case and telling you how not to hold it is the best we have.
Take the offer or take the refund

I wish Apple was still the company that made amazing computers and great operating systems.

iP4 IS a great computer.

Its the best computer i have ever lost in a trouser pocket.
 
Only for values of "just" which ignore the complete lack of shielding, the position of the antenna on a handgrip and the juxtaposition of another antenna.



There are one ginger and three pepper plants on my window sill. That's four plants in total. On a chair next to that is a submerged broad leaf Anubias which I am treating for algae. Why are you ignoring them?

That's right, because they're irrelevant to the problem.

And no matter the joy every time the slow-growing but stoic Anubias produces new leaves, the data transfer rate of an iPhone 4G can still be halved by holding the 'phone in the manner what 'phones are held. Even though the ginger was grown from an old piece of root left in the kitchen and shot up several centimetres per day in its youth, in a weak signal area the 4G's connection is lost entirely. And even though I call it the 4G incorrectly to poke fun at the silly naming scheme, Apple still designed an antenna which is not fit for purpose.

Have you mentioned whether you own or owned an iPhone 4?
 
Have you mentioned whether you own or owned an iPhone 4?

On this thread, I haven't mentioned. Are you trying to set up for an ad hominem? ;-)

During a previous thread some Apple fanboys went even further, asking for details about my personal usage habits and call drop rates in various locations. I even answered some of the questions for amusement, all the while pointing out that my anecdote is irrelevant in the face of theory, logic, empirical evidence and (finally) statistics.

Especially the one slipped in by Jobs doing the antennanote pointing out that 20-50% more calls are dropping on the 4G.

I'm not part of that statistic, though - I haven't been in the US since the 4G came out, and I'd be roaming anyway if I were there so I wouldn't necessarily connect to AT&T.
 
The online jihad taken up against the iPhone by the android fanatics is rather interesting, almost as if it were organized.

dude, but can't you see? Android is soooo beautiful! So much thought went into designing the UX and UI...have a look man!

droid-x-truncation-44892c9d7c4946d3351633282062d17e.jpg
 
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