AppleCare Training Document on iPhone 4 Signal Issues Revealed

[Glideslope]

this is such a load of crap. I still want one though. I am pathetic

No, just honest.

 

[BeSweeet]

Umm... I'm left handed, and I hold my iPhone 3G in my left hand just as you've seen in all of these videos of people holding their iPhone 4 and losing signal reception. If this is something that isn't fixed through a software update by the time I get my white iPhone 4, then, well, I guess I'll stick with my iPhone 3G.

 

[rhanley]

That is an absurd statement to make and likely 100% untrue.

For this to be true, you would likely have to have NEVER had a single dropped call on any phone you ever owned.

The more I read these threads the more I think people don't fudamentally know how cell phones work.

Clearly most of the people doing the most complaining must be very young, because back in the early days of cellphones you often had to stand on a chair balancing on one leg with an arm out the window while holding a tennis racket to complete a cell phone call.

For people to not fundamentally understand that minor changes in position, even moving the phone a few inches can potentially have a massive impact on the signal received is very ignorant.

Your whole post is an absurd statement - This is a real issue - I sit on my couch in the same seat that I've made 100's of calls on with my iphone 3G, holding it the exact same way I hold my phone now and I NEVER had a dropped call -- I would get choppy reception here in there, but never a dropped call.

Let me say that again, I NEVER had a dropped call!

With the iPhone4, I have had tons of dropped calls and a lot more choppiness, so I can say with 100% confidence that this is an issue with the phone and not with me.

I shouldn't have to change the way I hold a phone because Apple messed up. And changing something you have done for a long time isn't something as trivial as you make it sound.

 

[heavy2healthy]

So if the exact same thing happens with the 3GS and the 3G:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywloTorTF8g

And on other phones, like the Nexus One:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1SKm9NWDGE

And some Nokia phones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zsuxbd0L0g

Why is there so much bad press (and public panic) about the iPhone 4? Would most people even realize there was such a problem if they hadn't read about it and tried holding the phone as demonstrated to replicate the problem? Probably not.

Is there an uproar because Apple customers have exceedingly high standards? Is there an uproar because the tech blogs can generate loads of page hits by posting about Apple flaws (vs. flaws in other products)? Are competitors' PR departments helping fan the flames of FUD?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I love the nokia they use has to be at least 5 yrs lol . I had a nokia before my beloved 3gs it never dropped a call.It had signal where my iphone flatlines. Apple is held to a higher standard because that's always been their marketing. It works both ways.

 

[scwinsett]

I agree that Apple needs to look into a fix, if possible, but I also think this issue is being blown way out of proportion.

Maybe some people are exaggerating their problems, but I am dropping about 90% of my calls... I am not doing anything unusual with the phone, I'm just holding it normally like I have held every phone I've ever owned... I paid way too much money for this phone to not work properly..
I understand some people are in denial about their precious Apple God failing them, but the product has issues. Sorry to burst the bubble.

I purchase all of Apple's products.. I love Apple, but this is a major fail.

 

[madmax_2069]

The FCC allows it. Think about the rabbit ears on old TV sets.

Humm yeah just think about that for a second.

old rabbit ears was for receiving signals only, not transmitting them. Huge difference there

 

[bartolo5]

To Apple

Just admit there maybe a problem for some people and send free bumper cases for those who want them. How much do they cost you, 10 cents each?

 

[Darwing]

That is an absurd statement to make and likely 100% untrue.

.

not nessesarily, he said due to the way he held the phone... i'm fairly certain that Ive never dropped a call on my 3gs because of how I was holding the phone... i dropped call cause of my location...

anyways this is completely outrageous that they are claiming nothing is wrong... you can litterally have an iphone 3gs and an Iphone4 side by side... touch them in the same place on each phone and the 4 will lose signal completely... you can hold the 3gs with two hands cover ing the whole thing completely and you may lose 2 bars... MAYBE 3 but I've never really seen it go into "no service" becuse of how I handle it

 

[rhanley]

Is Steve Jobs a normal person? Because he's holding it wrong...

hahahahaha... AWEsome!

 

[Steviejobz]

May I ask when you called in, when it was shipped and then when it ultimately arrived?

Trying to gauge when to expect mine.

Called Thursday, Shipped priority yesterday, received it this evening.

Came in a plastic bag (inside shipping box). I guess to avoid returning it for value at an Apple store?

Also, I find the on/off switch on the bumper sticks to the phone's on/off switch and i dont get that feedback click when pressing it.

 

[Anuba]

So if the exact same thing happens with the 3GS and the 3G

It's not the exact same thing, not by a long shot.

What those guys in the videos do is wrap their hands tightly around the antenna area to create a big fat signal reception muffler. They are muffling the signal.

The problem with the iPhone 4 has nothing to do with muffling the signal, it has to do with making the antenna go haywire by bridging the two antennas. You can do it with a fingertip, a coin, a drop of water, anything reasonably conducive really.

The former is only a problem if you're hell bent on holding your cellphone with boxing gloves on.
The latter is a problem if you have hands.

 

[Ubuntu]

Where is the statement about Vista?

Apple work differently - they fix problems instead of apologising

Be patient, see that happens.

Where did Microsoft say "you're using it the wrong way" or something like that?

 

[jeff33702]

True but touching the phone in that spot absolutely freezes 3G transmission in many areas. At my work, I have no problem but at my home and many other places, it causes instant freeze of 3G. It's partially to do with location, apparently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzn8QhrYIvI

 

[macjunk(ie)]

I can't wait to upgrade to the 4 because this 3G is painfully slow and it is annoying not being able to run Pandora in the background. Plus iOS 4 has absolutely ruined most of my app's functionality on the 3G.

Downgrade to 3.1.3 ....I did and I am happy.
I think Apple really screwed us 3G owners and I have to say it was intentional.
A company like Apple pays so much importance to smooth transitions and speed....how the hell did iOS 4 get approved for 3G??? I think it is just Apple's way of frustrating the user....

DON'T buy the current iPhone 4....it has got reception issues, proximity sensor issues....and more importantly...it is covered in freaking glass!!! One drop and you are out!!

Good Reception and durability...this phone lacks both!

 

[bushbaby]

Exactly. When this story first hit the internet, I was concerned.

Then I picked up my current iPhone (3G) and realized that I don't hold the phone in any way that would bridge that gap. Even when I'm texting or surfing the internet I don't touch that area.

I don't really understand why people are palming their phones like Lebron going in for a dunk in the first place.

I can't wait to upgrade to the 4 because this 3G is painfully slow and it is annoying not being able to run Pandora in the background. Plus iOS 4 has absolutely ruined most of my app's functionality on the 3G.

I can't wait for you to get the 4 as well. Then you'll see it's possible to have connectivity issues without holding their phones in any unusual manner.

This is evidence that some people having reception problems hold the phone in a very unusual and abnormal manner.

No. It's not evidence of that at all.

 

[BC2009]

I hope apple get owned by the impending lawsuit.

Not likely since everybody has the option of returning their phones to Apple.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

I have one of the new slippery Apple bumpers, and I experience worse cell reception (if that was possible with AT&T), and worse Bluetooth reception on my iPhone 4 than on my iPhone 3GS.

True ! My experience mirrors yours.

 

[lilo777]

Bzzt. Incorrect. See any number of YouTube videos demonstrating the exact same behavior on other phones (both from Apple and from others).



Um, doesn't the exact same result make it the same issue?



I bet 90% of iPhone users would never have held the phone (while talking) in the way demonstrated to cause the problem until they read about it. Seriously, who buries the corner of the phone in the palm when the phone is up to your ear? I don't. It makes a weird angle.

I agree that Apple needs to look into a fix, if possible, but I also think this issue is being blown way out of proportion.

And that is why on all Apple commercials people hold the phone the wrong way? The artists were probably forewarned by Apple

 

[phillipjfry]

Hurry up and return your faulty products. My 3+ week shipping date isn't going to move itself up

FORUM FAIL

Meme use FAIL!

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

So i am having this reception issue when holding the phone to use the internet. I called tech support about it and the guy's advice was...

"Yeah, i'm going to use mine as an ipod touch and not going to worry about the phone part because AT&T sucks and the reception issue."

I'm not making this up. My name is .............. i called at 4:19 pm today. Then he put me through to a Tier 2 person who just said.. "Don't hold it that way." and "Use a case."

I've purchased all 4 iphones so far and waited in line for two of them. I have apple computers at my house and 8 at the music studio i work at. Honestly that's the worst customer service i've ever heard. I'm not going to return the phone, but i'm surprised at how i was treated. I love the way the phone looks and don't want to use a case but if i have to i guess i have to. Just hate that now i have go spend 30 more dollars on a ********* piece of rubber.


Your loyal apple customer,
......

Don't be foolish, vote by taking back your dollars. If you don't return it this time you have no hope.

 

[kevinkt]

IM sorry Apple ive defended you for too long (fortunately Hawaii does not have this prob). Apple should just give out free bumpers to those who have prob at the very least. or make them half off!!! they are just making more trouble for themselves

 

[LagunaSol]

I don't really understand why people are palming their phones like Lebron going in for a dunk in the first place.

Because the Internet told them to.

It's like the old, common sense joke:

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I press right here."

Doctor: "So don't press right there."

It's funny because it's true.

Heck, I can find a lot of spots on my body that hurt if I press them just right. I doesn't mean there's something wrong with me or that I'm dying.

But Steve Jobs comes out and tells people not to bury the corner of their phone in the palm of their hands (which is unnatural for most people anyway when holding a phone up to the ear) and everyone screams "WHY NOT??? OMG, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY PHONE???"

Weird.

 

[firewood]

Is Steve Jobs a normal person? Because he's holding it wrong...

You don't have to "hold different" if you have a decent signal. Many places have a signal 100's to 1000's of times stronger than needed for an indicated 5 bars.

It's only if you barely have 5 bars, or less, that you might need to hold the phone properly for the RF conditions.

Or use a bumper.

 

[alent1234]

They are probably not offering free bumpers and going with the wait and see approach because they ARE working on a software fix... It could Very Well be fixed by software. If they offered the free bumpers then everyone and their brother/mother/father/sister/step.... would go to get one and they probably can't keep them in stock as it is. FW fix will come. They probably sold the bumpers because as is the issue with me... it feels better in the hand to the average person. If you are like me then going from the 3Gs to 4 didn't feel too comfortable. I like it with the bumper. It also lets you see the beautiful back. Call me gullible but that I believe this to be the case... no pun intended. Guess we will see. I also believe that apple is waiting for the Jailbreak community to release pwnagetool for iPHone 4 and unlock so they can break it... pretty good strategy.

More like apple is under pressure to keep growing earnings and bumpers are a bye profit machine.

Personnaly I think the 3GS was a much better upgrade

 

[Darwing]

. I also believe that apple is waiting for the Jailbreak community to release pwnagetool for iPHone 4 and unlock so they can break it... pretty good strategy.

not likely at all, we (the JB community) wait till apple releases their updates then take those updates and jb them, there is no point in releasing a JB until they release the final update its a waste of time and effort for 1000 apple employees to figure out how to stop it in one day.