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what about the faulty proximity sensor?! my reception is fine and i love the phone otherwise but please Apple, fix the sensor!


I get this issue only when holding it up to my left ear, never my right. Steve would say I'm holding it wrong (but it feels weird if held to my left ear and natural to my right anyway).
 
It also depends on how exactly you hold the phone - many users won't have any problems even in areas with low signal strength. You may be unable to get a connection, hand the phone to me, and suddenly it works fine, or the other way round.

EXACTLY! I took my case off and held it firmly in my hand and yes, the signal started to drop but hey, you know what? I usually don't hold my phone in that way. I actually did that on purpose so I'm good lol. I rock my iPhone 4 naked in the house and throw a case on it when I'm out. No issue for me. So good point my friend. Each person is different and I guess some have the death grip. But I think alot of people just looked for the trouble over and over knowing that's not the actual way they hold it.
 
Sounds like 100% of iPhones are "affected", but whether it is actually a problem in your day-to-day use depends on your regional signal strength.

arn

I honestly can't replicate this issue with my iPhone 4. In fact when I try to the signal appears to improve!!
 
So far it seems that ALL iP4's exhibit this problem with signal in many areas when held normally in the left hand or right hand in certain positions - that's a design fault as no-one has been able to show an iP4 working fine next to one that doesn't - I'll accept there are "good ones" and "bad ones" when it is proved there are differences. It doesn't mean everyone will experience the problem in day to day use depending on their location, cases, how they hold the phone etc but so many people keep saying "I must have a good one" when, judging on the facts presented they don't, they are just in an area where it's not a problem for them... There is definitely a problem with the phone's design (or possibly software) and the denial of many is what annoys those of us that use logic.

Bravo, best post on this subject. Everyone up to now who says it works have had the following in common :

1- Strong signal area.
2- Case
3- "Don't hold it that way".

It doesn't mean their phone doesn't have the issue, quite the contrary, none of them have come forward with evidence it doesn't, it just means the issue doesn't affect them because of one of the 3 factors above. And that's fine, but don't go saying that it isn't 100% of iPhone 4s that are affected unless you have evidence of it (weak signal area, cover the gap in the lower left with your finger, film, post to youtube).

Blame Apple for me not having an iPhone 4, I was considering it as we don't have any viable Android alternatives in Canada (the best we get on Rogers is the Acer Liquid E). I'm not anymore. I'll keep my 3GS around until Apple fixes this or until Sony Ericsson ships Android 2.2 for the Xperia X10 or a better phone comes along (Samsung Galaxy S on Rogers please!).
 
EXACTLY! I took my case off and held it firmly in my hand and yes, the signal started to drop but hey, you know what? I usually don't hold my phone in that way. I actually did that on purpose so I'm good lol. I rock my iPhone 4 naked in the house and throw a case on it when I'm out. No issue for me. So good point my friend. Each person is different and I guess some have the death grip. But I think alot of people just looked for the trouble over and over knowing that's not the actual way they hold it.

Really? It's something I noticed within the first hour of use. I've never had an iPhone before, and I noticed signal dropping where it shouldn't be. (since I've never completely lost coverage in my room before)

The issue is because I let the phone "rest" in my left hand... because I hold it with one hand, almost like my hand's a cradle for the phone. Seems like a pretty natural way to hold it, to me. I poke at it with my right hand, because I'm right handed.

I can't really imagine comfortably holding it any differently with my left hand... And holding it with my right hand just seems awkward for me.
 
lshaner said:
In the "Multimedia" or WebBrowsing category, how did the not ding them even a LITTLE bit for lack of FLASH?

HTML5 vs. FLASH vs. battery life arguments aside, lack of flash is one reason I continue to return to my desktop for the REAL internet, so it deserves at least a SMALL acknowledgment that for the TIME-BEING, lack of flash is an issue.

The real internet? You clearly have no clue. Flash is not an official web standard. Web sites that rely on flash and provide no alternative (due to laziness, cluelessness or budgetary reasons - cuz they spent all the budget on the wizbang flash) are the ones that should be dinged.
 
Really? It's something I noticed within the first hour of use. I've never had an iPhone before, and I noticed signal dropping where it shouldn't be. (since I've never completely lost coverage in my room before)

The issue is because I let the phone "rest" in my left hand... because I hold it with one hand, almost like my hand's a cradle for the phone. Seems like a pretty natural way to hold it, to me. I poke at it with my right hand, because I'm right handed.

I can't really imagine comfortably holding it any differently with my left hand... And holding it with my right hand just seems awkward for me.

To each it's own, I can't explain the way I hold it but the way I do, doesn't give me any problems. When I'm on the phone I can hold it in either hand and no problem and most of the time now I use a Bluetooth because I hate holding it to my face anyway.
And honestly I don't wanna find out the death grip so sorry for you luck but you can keep it and hopefully Apple fixes this issue but for me, I'm happy with it and like I said above, I'm not sayin there isn't a issue with my phone but I don't go looking for it either. It either works for people or it doesn't and if not, they can exchange
 
Translation: It's a great phone, when it works. It doesn't always work.

Mine works all the time. You have to power it on for it to work. And besides, does anyone still read consumer reports? I haven't ever taken that publication seriously for anything.
 
Mine works all the time. You have to power it on for it to work. And besides, does anyone still read consumer reports? I haven't ever taken that publication seriously for anything.

Apparently 8 million of their subscribers, news outlets, and tech blogs all do. Because it's all over the interwebs now. ;)
 
If your phone always shows 5 bars, you are still having and reproducing the issue. It's just you're never getting low enough a signal to see it on the bars. You'd need the numerical signal level.

If your phone shows 2-3 bars and you can't reproduce the issue by putting your finger on the gap on the lower left, post and video and prove us wrong. We've been asking for this very simple gesture since this whole thing began.

Until then, 100% of iPhone 4s, wether you like it or not.

Well, I've tried this and see no dropped at 4-5 or 2-3 bars, I've even seen it go up a bar in weak areas.

I have no time or inclination to post a video, because all it proves is on my phone at a specific location I see no signal drop. Until someone with the right test rig checks actual signal drop and analyzes the effect on reception no one knows the actual extent of the issue.
 
Mine works all the time. You have to power it on for it to work. And besides, does anyone still read consumer reports? I haven't ever taken that publication seriously for anything.

Yes and it has some high powered sway with consumers. I mean it was on the front page of one of the newspapers this morning.

The worst thing apple can do at this stage is bury its head in the sand and ignore the problem, or at least give the perception that they're ignoring the problem.

They (like any company) need to be open and upfront about dealing with this. Companies that are open, upfront and attack a problem head on always fare better then those that try to sweep it under the rug.

Apple's arrogant we know better approach to things is only make matters worse.
 
Bravo, best post on this subject. Everyone up to now who says it works have had the following in common :

1- Strong signal area.
2- Case
3- "Don't hold it that way".

It doesn't mean their phone doesn't have the issue, quite the contrary, none of them have come forward with evidence it doesn't, it just means the issue doesn't affect them because of one of the 3 factors above. And that's fine, but don't go saying that it isn't 100% of iPhone 4s that are affected unless you have evidence of it (weak signal area, cover the gap in the lower left with your finger, film, post to youtube).

Blame Apple for me not having an iPhone 4, I was considering it as we don't have any viable Android alternatives in Canada (the best we get on Rogers is the Acer Liquid E). I'm not anymore. I'll keep my 3GS around until Apple fixes this or until Sony Ericsson ships Android 2.2 for the Xperia X10 or a better phone comes along (Samsung Galaxy S on Rogers please!).

So, you are finally now admitting, that you don't actually have an iPhone4! Yet, you still somehow know more about them than people who do... What are you on? Cos, I don't want any.
 
Well I have been using my iPhone4 since release day, I have had no problems at all, I find the reception to be fantastic, I get a much better signal than on my 3gs, I did some tests yesterday holding the phone on that seam and I did see a little loss in signal, but it didn't effect the quality of the call, also I just don't hold the phone in a way that covers that seam and all is well, I find the voice quality to be better and I still get a buzz just holding it, it really is a beautiful thing, I am baffled by all of this?

I have traveled around the Southwest (bad signal area's) in the UK and also all around London and I am totally happy with the phone, I don't use any case at all and its been a joy to use, I understand there may be a genuine issue and I admit that this is a bit of a design flaw but I really think its been pumped up to ridiculous levels.

I do hope for the unhappy people that Apple find a way to fix it, but honestly if they can't then for me it would make no difference at all, and those that just cannot hold the phone without pressing hard in that area (I can't imagine why anyone would find this hard) then just get a case or bumper, and if this is not acceptable then take the phone back to Apple and get something else, there is absolutely no justification for all the attacking, so Apple made a mistake, give them a break, if it Wasn't for them we wouldn't even have these devices, its Apple thats making everyone else lift the game and have to use some imagination, I am sure Apple will learn from all this and only good will come from that.
 
And this means what? What do you expect the media to do with a story that shows problems for the iPhone 4?

It means I answered ctt1's question which was:

And besides, does anyone still read consumer reports?

It also means in my opinion that Apple basically has no choice but to come up with a solution to this problem. Which is a win for all of us users that are having issues. :cool:
 
The smartphone that Consumer Reports says it can’t recommend, is also the one ranked highest in its latest ratings.

Even when Apple "loses" they still win. Just goes to show the strength of this product.
 
I finally got my iPhone last week and sure enough I have the reception problem. I can live with the problem. I don't like using the bumper, but I'm just being very careful how I hold the phone. Sometimes I forget and have had calls drop. The problem I have with all this isn't that there is a reception problem but Apple's attitude that there isn't a significant problem and just use a case or hold it a certain way. That is absurd, that I HAVE to do that to use my phone. I would feel a whole lot better if I knew Apple was going to come up with a permanent fix, but I have a feeling they just wish the problem would go away and people will forget about it. They will have a fix but in iPhone 5. In the meantime all of us that purchased the 4 will just be stuck with it. This is all my opinion of course and I'm not going to get rid of my 4 because of the issue. I'll just put up with it. But I sure am disappointed in Apple's response. They have always been so good with customer service.
 
Well I have been using my iPhone4 since release day, I have had no problems at all, I find the reception to be fantastic, I get a much better signal than on my 3gs, I did some tests yesterday holding the phone on that seam and I did see a little loss in signal, but it didn't effect the quality of the call, also I just don't hold the phone in a way that covers that seam and all is well, I find the voice quality to be better and I still get a buzz just holding it, it really is a beautiful thing, I am baffled by all of this?

I have traveled around the Southwest (bad signal area's) in the UK and also all around London and I am totally happy with the phone, I don't use any case at all and its been a joy to use, I understand there may be a genuine issue and I admit that this is a bit of a design flaw but I really think its been pumped up to ridiculous levels.

I do hope for the unhappy people that Apple find a way to fix it, but honestly if they can't then for me it would make no difference at all, and those that just cannot hold the phone without pressing hard in that area (I can't imagine why anyone would find this hard) then just get a case or bumper, and if this is not acceptable then take the phone back to Apple and get something else, there is absolutely no justification for all the attacking, so Apple made a mistake, give them a break, if it Wasn't for them we wouldn't even have these devices, its Apple thats making everyone else lift the game and have to use some imagination, I am sure Apple will learn from all this and only good will come from that.

Great post! Some people like to complicate things that really are so simple.
 
As much as I consider the recpetion issues a design flaw, it's kind of ridiculous how much attention it's received when it can be solved by a bumper, case, or piece of tape. Most people use them anyways and it makes the problem disappear. Still the best phone on the market.

No, that doesn't always work. I've had a bumper on mine since a few days after release, and 3 phones have had this issue. I drop calls constantly, and people say I sound like I'm talking on speakerphone in a cave. Most people get off the phone with me in frustration of not being able to clearly hear me.

Never had these issues in 3 years of iPhones.

The only time this is all corrected is with the headset, but that's not always available.... and don't get me started on the proximity sensor issue... ugh...
 
The smartphone that Consumer Reports says it can’t recommend, is also the one ranked highest in its latest ratings.

Even when Apple "loses" they still win. Just goes to show the strength of this product.

Popularity != quality product

Otherwise we'd all be saying windows is fantastic, the best thing since slice bread or the round wheel.
 
I have to agree this is a very strange response from Consumer Reports and no doubt done to generate discussion.

I'd question the timing of this release however. Apple are working on a software fix and for those few phones that may or may not have issues, a plastic bumper or case can cure it.

This is why I am sceptical as CR could really have held off for a few days until after the fix is issued before passing judgement
 
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