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Consumer Reports 'Can't Recommend' iPhone 4 Due to Signal Issues

res1233 said:
I don't think you understand what software can do. The signal IS reaching the signal processor, it's just garbled. It's possible that a software update can help to filter out the noise so the phone can "workaround" this hardware bug. Also, those bumpers are cheap... I'll be getting an iPhone 4 soon, and if I see the same signal problems, I'll just hop on the bumper wagon, no big deal as far as I'm concerned. :D:cool::apple:
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But you shouldn't have to use a bumper. Many smart phone users (like myself) like to show off the design of the phone itself...not wrap it in a rubber suit. The iPhone is the thinnest smart phone you can buy and a bumper or case makes that no longer the case (no pun intended). If I am going to fatten up an iPhone4 - then why not consider another smart phone that also serves as a wi-fi hot spot?
 
QCassidy352 said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A293 Safari/6531.22.7)

There will not be a recall. 3 weeks after launch and
I still can't get one. So I'd say these problems are not hurting sales too much.
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you MIGHT not be able to get one since they are working on a fix.
 
Reminder

1. The problems at launch
2. Why design a bumper, it's an odd product, arguably ineffective as a protective skin
3. Apple knew of this fault before launch
 
Steve and apple should hire someone to come hold the phone properly for me while I make a call, since I obviously can't hold the phone correctly. :mad:
 
aristobrat said:
Seriously, all bets are that Apple is not going to redesign the iPhone 4 and replace all of the millions of existing ones.

If they do anything, it's most likely to be a free retrofit for the existing phones, like a bumper or a case.
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They have already offered to take the phone back...that removes them from having to replace iPhones down the road. Throwing in a free bumper is a no brainer. Clearly - they need to fix the design and it would be better that they do that prior to June of 2011. WWDC schedule be damned. Fix the design and get it out as soon as possible so this negative PR can be stopped.
 
I still don't get why some people would just be satisfied with a free bumper. I don't know about them, but I believe the iPhone 4 was advertised for its new industrial design...oh wait, let's cover it with a free bumper that kind of makes it work, doesn't fix the problem and makes it look like an old iPhone in the process. I didn't pay for that.
 
supercaliber said:
my droid-loving friends are having the time of their lives bashing on me and my iphone 4 antenna.

The problem is, i can't argue with them, it really does suck.

What is worse is that Apple treats us like the fool.
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:D: Wow! Apple refuses replacement or full refund for defect iPhone 4?
Bad Apple, bad.
 
ARF900 said:
There is theory that there is supposed to be clear coating around the band and that some arent getting it.
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This is probably true. As I have been looking at electrical lacquer for fixing the issue. All electric motors have a thin coating of varnish around the conductors to keep them from shorting out. And it seems like this is what is wrong with the antennas. As they are electrically isolated within the phone, but it seems like a pretty big oversite had they left the metal uncoated on the outside of the phone, especially knowing how well the human body conducts. :rolleyes:
 
Hikkadwa said:
1. The problems at launch
2. Why design a bumper, it's an odd product, arguably ineffective as a protective skin
3. Apple knew of this fault before launch
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Agreed, the apple store person when I bought my phone tried to sell me a bumper right away too. I thought that was odd.
 
dudemac said:
This is probably true. As I have been looking at electrical lacquer for fixing the issue. All electric motors have a thin coating of varnish around the conductors to keep them from shorting out. And it seems like this is what is wrong with the antennas. As they are electrically isolated within the phone, but it seems like a pretty big oversite had they left the metal uncoated on the outside of the phone, especially knowing how well the human body conducts. :rolleyes:
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Try clear nail polish.
 
Loosing bars with bumper

Just put a bumper on my iPhone4 to protect it from my butterfinger'ed dropping mainly. I work in a practical faraday cage of an office and believe Apple when they say it's displaying 5 bars when it should be less. All AT&T phones in this area of my office drop calls all of the time.

With the bumper off, holding the phone in the "bad" position drops me to 1 or 0 bars. With the bumper on, I drop to 2 bars.

There's no way I should be seeing 5 bars when it's out of my hand. I welcome their fix.

Better, yes, but no better than my 3G was.

As for CR - I trust actual RF engineers like the guy from AntennaSys and Anandtech's real-world tests before them.
 
tripjammer said:
If your phone drops signal...then take it back. You have a defective model and you need to get it back to the apple store for a replacement. Most people do not have this problem. But some do so they need to take theirs back.
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I think this may be the case. I can't replicate the issue at all on either of our two phones. Maybe it's my body type (I have dry skin so not as conductive). Or maybe some phones didn't get the proper coating on the aluminum antenna band.

I am starting to get annoyed though that the proximity sensor randomly turns the display back on when I'm talking, causing my face to push the mute button all the time.
 
byron_hinson said:
I don't want credit towards a bumper at all though or a case. I simply want the phone to work as is, I don't want money back, I want it to work full stop.
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You are correct. However, that would mean Apple would need to replace your iPhone 4 with a newly designed one--which would be extremely expensive.

The best they can do now is try to cover that area with something. Othewise, I'd advise you to take advantage of their return policy. I'm thinking about it myself but will probably keep it in the end. I have never used an iPhone without a case anyway.
 
techincally

callmemike20 said:
Nope. If you look at the chart for the day, the stock was actually up a little more than $1 until the news broke. Then it went negative.
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technically the stock dropped more than 7$ AFTER the news hit the AP wire, which I got around 06:55. It took the rest of the media about two hours to release/respond to the information.

I shorted at 260$ in the AM then covered at 255$
 
byron_hinson said:
Was going to say the same - for actually making calls, nearly every phone under the sun is better than the iPhone 4.
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Oh Byron. Don't you read the posts here on MR?? The phone is just so "Elegant", "Gorgeous" and it's the Thinnest smart-phone of the market. Not to mention that I have 5 really cool flashlight apps!!!!!!!!!

People here don't care about features and usability. The iPhone looks "delicious".. That makes it the best!!!

Go "watch porn" on your droid. We're skating to where the puck is going to be!!! Woooo Hooo I love you Steve!!!
 
takufu01 said:
people who want the phone will continue to buy it....people who have it already will keep it....people who are upset about the antenna will continue to complain and return it....I think people who are unhappy should just return the unit and get something different....if you can live with the signal drop than fine and if you can't than just return it....just my thoughts....
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Totally agree

Steviejobz said:
The Genius I spoke to could not have been more rude, denying he ever heard of a signal issue, said I should call AT&T, did not know what Speedtest was, etc. I was never rude but said I found it hard to believe that he never heard of this antenna/signal issue.
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Props for you for keeping your cool, maybe you should print this CR article and take it to them lol
 
Stockholm syndrome?

What's even more interesting, is that -despite the obvious flaws that come with the iPhone 4- people are still massively signing up for a 2-year, multi-thousand dollar contract. Whilst it is absurd that Apple is not even acknowledging that there is an issue (quote: "It's an optical issue"), it is even more dubious that people are willing to put up with this attitude from Apple; something we've seen from the past as well with other cases.

Although Apple is clearly wrong here, it's ridiculous that people are still buying the device (or any other products, for that instance). It is those people who are actually giving Apple a reason not to give a flying *****. Why support an product that will be (massively) purchased anyway?
 
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