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For those saying that memos like this is Apple just being Apple, that's BS. Apple used to be a company that did anything for their core users and used to put out products that "just work". As Apple grows as a company, they have become more arrogant and corporate and as an Apple user from the 80's, I truly wish that their excellent customer service would come into play now and admit that they have problems and offer a solution to them.

Buying a case should not be a solution. We shouldn't have to spend money to get a $700 product working (which is what I paid for a 32GB since I didn't have an upgrade). By forcing us to purchase a case, they are turning their prided external antenna into an internal one and killing the beautiful design of the product. Holding it a certain way or buying a case was never a condition when I bought the phone on launch and now that 1.7 million people have one....surprise! Learn to use a phone all over again.
 
Newsflash. Your IP4 is just as ****ed as everybody else's. You just haven't been in a location that causes the symptoms to show yet. Unless you are rooted to the spot, it's just a matter of time.

Or he will learn how to hold his i4 properly and never see any symptoms even in weak signal areas (potentially even weaker than would allow a successful call on a 3G/3GS).
 
i went to an apple store for fun and did the death grip to each one on display. they all lost some bars.
I tried that this weekend and couldn't replicate the issue. One of the Apple Store employees, however, claimed that it was because the store had an AT&T microcell in the back that was keeping the signal strong. He said every time he takes his own iPhone 4 over to the other end of the mall, he can kill his reception every time he puts his hand on it.

I'm of the belief that this is why some people have the issue and others don't. It depends on the signal in their area -- maybe not just saturation, but also frequency or other atmospheric factors.
 
I don't know what to say...

I have tried to get my phone to loose signal but can't replicate this issue. I am left handed and hold my phone in my left hand. My iPhone 4 doesn't even loose 1 bar. It a lot gets better signal than my old 3G. I don't think that all the phones have this issue. Maybe inconsistently manufactured batches.?.?.?
 
Buying a case should not be a solution. We shouldn't have to spend money to get a $700 product working (which is what I paid for a 32GB since I didn't have an upgrade). By forcing us to purchase a case, they are turning their prided external antenna into an internal one and killing the beautiful design of the product.

You don't have to buy a case. That's only 1 out of 4 or more flexible options. You could also either (1) use the phone only in strong signal areas, (2) hold the phone properly in weak signal areas, or (4) use an uglier cell phone.

I do all 4. (Have bumper. One side of the house has a strong signal. I know how not to block the antenna at work where the cell signal is really weak, even when I'm showing off the i4 bare metal. I have an Android phone in my gym bag that I prefer not to use too often.)
 
Not to troll..... But when will people on these forums learn the difference between "lose" as in "losing signal", and "loose" as in "a loose knot"
:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sorry to be the grammar nazi.
 
Grounded or shorted antennae

How do you fix a grounded or shorted antennae with a software fix. Putting your hand across the sides of the antennae changes its impedence which changes it reception. Move your hand or put on a bumper. It does not seem that difficult to me. I would much rather have all of the great things the iphone does and move my hand a little bit.
 
Newsflash. Your IP4 is just as ****ed as everybody else's. You just haven't been in a location that causes the symptoms to show yet. Unless you are rooted to the spot, it's just a matter of time.
It must really be pissing you off to know that some of us (probably the majority) are not experiencing any of these problems, or certainly to the degree the hysterical ones are.

Most people, when they have no problem, don't spend time on forums such as these.

I am only here for the laughs.

p.s. All you have to do is not cover one tiny area. How complicated is that?
 
Really? If you order an i4 today, what's the wait time?

Sure there was a ton of initial sales of the iPhone 4. But most all of these were pre-ordered BEFORE this issue unfolded. And it doesn't help that Apple is having production problems with them, further causing a backlog. It was a successful launch in sales. No doubt. But as this issue unfolds further, it's guaranteed to affect sales. How much ? It all depends how Apple continues to respond or not respond to this issue.
 
I tried that this weekend and couldn't replicate the issue. One of the Apple Store employees, however, claimed that it was because the store had an AT&T microcell in the back that was keeping the signal strong. He said every time he takes his own iPhone 4 over to the other end of the mall, he can kill his reception every time he puts his hand on it.

I'm of the belief that this is why some people have the issue and others don't. It depends on the signal in their area -- maybe not just saturation, but also frequency or other atmospheric factors.

Could this be a combination of Apple testing the iPhone 4 units in iPhone 3GS cases outside Cupertino which may have acted as cases (confirmed by the stolen/missing iPhone fiasco from months ago) as well as AT&T's history of poor cellular coverage? Perhaps it wasn't an issue during testing coupled with poor mobile coverage, resulting in an unfortunate unforeseen situation.

Regardless, Apple, Inc.'s public relations with regards to this matter are horrendous. I wonder how Apple's main public relations guru Katie Cotton is handling this situation...
 
In all seriousness, and I'm not trolling here...

1. If you are that upset, bring back the phone.

2. If you love the phone, don't cover up the antenna with your hand.

3. If you can't re-adjust your grip, buy a bumper or a case.

My friend has the HTC incredible and he has to avoid holding it a certain way or he loses signal too on Verizon. My other friend has the Nexus One, and tries not to cover the antenna. On my 3GS, I had signal issues too holding it certain ways.

While I did not like how Steve Jobs responded to the initial questions about reception issues, I agree with him. This isn't an issue, and I don't believe it's a flaw either. This is the design, take it or leave it. I have much better reception with my iPhone 4 than I did with my 3GS. Personally I'm happy with the redesign. If I wasn't, I'd take it back and not just b*tch about it.
 
Not to troll..... But when will people on these forums learn the difference between "lose" as in "losing signal", and "loose" as in "a loose knot"
:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sorry to be the grammar nazi.

Lol. I'm with you on this one, see this mistake too often.
 
I had the signal issue. I ordered a Belkin case for the iPhone. Im happy with the case and the signal issue is no longer a problem. If you can buy an iPhone, then you should be able to DO WHAT YOU CAN, buy a case. Mine was under $20. Don't sit around waiting for something to be resolved.
 
It must really be pissing you off to know that some of us (probably the majority) are not experiencing any of these problems, or certainly to the degree the hysterical ones are.

Most people, when they have no problem, don't spend time on forums such as these.

I am only here for the laughs.

p.s. All you have to do is not cover one tiny area. How complicated is that?

I think it's funny that because it doesn't affect you, at least right now in the locations you tested, then everything is ok. Well, lol, it's not ok. I suppose if it's sunny at your location, then weather must be fine everywhere, ehh ? I think it's weird that people that don't have an issue harass the people that do have issues. Like they are making it up, or that it's normal for a phone to have severe issues by just touching it with one fingertip in the wrong spot.
 
Why should Apple decide how you hold a phone? Everyone is different. I think it is an issue, and I hope the people who are having issues get their money back..
 
Newsflash. Your IP4 is just as ****ed as everybody else's. You just haven't been in a location that causes the symptoms to show yet. Unless you are rooted to the spot, it's just a matter of time.

Cell phone service varies by location?

The outrage. This should be on the front page of Drudge!

Is that what people have discovered?
 
No, but is there reason to doubt what Mossberg said? They don't need to publicly state a software update is coming if their official line is that there is no physical reception issue.

for what it's worth, we don't know what problems mossberg experienced with the iphone 4. it's vague enough that it could be construed in a few ways. what seems to be the case, given what seems to be the current hardware antenna issue, is that he experienced two separate problems:
1) the phone incorrectly displays fewer bars than it should given reception. apple says this is a software issue and they're going to send out an update.
2) mossberg says he held the iphone 4 in one hand and it was reporting 'no service', while he held the 3gs (? he says 'the old one', so probably 3gs) in his other hand showing a few bars. apple couldn't explain this.

this symptoms of this second issue seem to match up pretty well with what people are describing happening when they 'bridge' the two antennas. he seemed to be in an area with decent but not great reception (the old iphone showed a few bars, not full bars), and while holding the new iphone, he had no service. this corresponds to how people at the apple store can't cause this problem because reception is exceptionally good, but when they get some distance away they can replicate this antenna issue.

that said, this second problem he experienced is described too vaguely to make any real qualification or judgement about, but there do seem to be two separate issues in his review alone.
 
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