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This is a hardware issue, not software. They should have just put the seam at the top of the unit.
 
I don't see any fix coming either. Maybe some software update to change how the iPhone looks for signal, but don't touch the bottom left still, because that's a HARDWARE problem. It's just stupid they put it on the bottom left where I'd guess 90% of their customers hold the phone. Hell - look at all the official iPhone photos Apple posted.
 
Wish they'd just get this stupid thing fixed. The inability to make and handle phone calls with this thing is unbelievable. I'd hate to lose the newer screen and cameras, but my darn 3GS handle phone calls with ease and I wonder if best to return it and just wait for all these problems to be resolved and then upgrade again.
 
What I don't understand is, why not put the break on the top of the phone instead of the bottom? Who holds their phone from the top? Even on the right side would be better as most people are right handed and hold the phone in their left hand so they can tap with their right hand fingers.

But anyway yeah, this is starting to look really bad for Apple. It definitely seems to be a design flaw that is widespread in who it effects and that amazingly no one caught before it was released.
 
How do you fix a hardware issue with a software fix...

Seriously, learn how to hold it differently, or use a case...

Really how many of us do not use a case?
 
THis is a hardware issue and clearly unfixable with firmware/softwore.

^^^^ This.


I'm thinking I'll be OK with a bumper though.

Not happy, but sure not angry either. So far, I can't find anything else to complain about. Damn fine phone overall.
 
Glass on both sides, and slippery as hell, but you're forced to hold it in an uncomfortable and unnatural position (at least I am), with glass known to be very prone to shattering after just a few drops, but broken glass not covered by warranty, and the replacement of which also necessitates the replacement of the screen, with a gyro that may be leading the phone towards a fall if it's not on a completely level surface, and the uglyass bumper not giving proper access to the mute switch or the headphone jack -- FLUNK (the new FAIL)
 
The evidence that this is a legitimate hardware design flaw continues to mount.

Waiting for a potential LTE Verizon iPhone is looking like better and better.
 
It amazes me that early adopters are shocked, shocked to find something wrong with a new product. It comes with the territory. I'm with Apple on this one. They'll fix it eventually, but let's not forget the most important thing: You have an iPhone 4 and 308 million people in the country don't.

Yay, you!
 
It's pretty bad that they say they will not "appease" the customer with a free bumper. Appease is a word that has a pretty heavy handed message of saying that the customer is the enemy and you're giving in against principle to make peace. The customer is not an enemy by being upset that a phone they paid $600-700 with subsidies won't work properly.
 
I don't think software can fix it--it is a physical problem. Bridging the antennas with a conductive surface (i.e. skin) will change the effective length of the antenna. The antenna lengths are exactly determined in order to resonant. When that length is changed, it loses resonance and is no longer as sensitive. It would also affect the transmission effectiveness of the phone.

Probably an invisible non-conductive coating would've solved the problem. But there's no way to fix it without physical modification.

Not really a big deal in my opinion. I guess people can sound real upset and get their $10 from the class action suit while making a rich man of some lawyer and hurting the value of their Apple stock by 30 cents.
 

elaborate. this is a phyiscal issue. if it was fixable by software, Apple would have said something. They always let us know that software fixes are on the way, especially for a problem as loud as this. Software will not make my hands touching the phone makes my signal disintegrate problem go away.

THis is a problem because this will directly hurt my resale value of my phone when it's time to pony up for iPhone 5.
 
it doesnt work

The iphone 4 just doesnt work. I got mine yesterday, i miss calls when i hold it. The rest of the device is amazing, speed, resolution features etc, but it is just unusable for right handed and left handed people.

I love the iphone and have had one since they were released. I hope Apple are prepared to admit something is wrong.
 
this is pathetic...there is a problem a big one.

it is not convinient to change the position of the phone in your hand all the time.

...and the bumper solution LOL!!

If that's the case, then Apple should be giving the bumpers away free of charge.

I am finding it amazing that some people continue to deny there is a problem, Apple's answers and actions so far clearly show there is a problem, how can die hard fanbois even not deny this. It's poor.
 
Same issue even with bumper ON

I had the same issue and WITH the bumper on! In some locations not a problem. Yet in one location with 4 bars on signal I sat and held the bottom corner as I usually do when making a call, the signal went down to almost nothing within about a minute.
 
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