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Consumer Reports 'Can't Recommend' iPhone 4 Due to Signal Issues
- Thread starter callmemike20
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Yet, there are some that have no issues and enjoy their phones fully.
...and 100% of those that complain and still do not return their phone(s) must enjoy their phone also, or are such folks thugs and masochist? I'm confused...
or went over the return date if they signed a contract with a phone company such as I in the UK. We only get 7 or 14 days to return it.
Grain of salt
Not denying the issue, since I haven't gotten a 4G (yet), but ever since I read a CR review of ski bindings in the 70's, in which Cubco, a fringe brand, was recommended best over LOOK, etc, just because it released in more directions. No self-respecting skier in those days would be caught dead with them. In that case the market was the best indicator of quality.
Not denying the issue, since I haven't gotten a 4G (yet), but ever since I read a CR review of ski bindings in the 70's, in which Cubco, a fringe brand, was recommended best over LOOK, etc, just because it released in more directions. No self-respecting skier in those days would be caught dead with them. In that case the market was the best indicator of quality.
No problems with my iPhone 4. I was able to replicate this issue once, in another part of town, by burying the corner of my phone in my palm as the Internetz taught me to ("Now squeeze real tight, hold, and watch the signal bars!"). But holding it as I normally would I have no problems.
Is it really that hard to rotate the phone in your fingers by 2mm or so to prevent the corner from being covered by your fleshy palm? Really?
And while most (all?) phones have their antenna-killing sensitive spots, it seems only the iPhone's deserves front-page attention.
And is CR going to do this type of test with all smartphones (seek out the magical death grip/touch of death) from now on? I doubt it.
Seems like a tempest in a teapot to me. Had this not made the evening news, I doubt 90% of the iPhone users who are currently complaining would have even experienced a problem had they not been shown how to replicate it.
In related news, my iPhone camera won't take a decent picture when my finger is covering the lens. WHY CAN'T APPLE DESIGN A CAMERA PHONE THAT WORKS THE WAY I WANT TO HOLD IT???
I'm also waiting for a golf club that will give me a good swing no matter how I hold it. Because I deserve it.
Apple should just give out free bumpers (a complete rip-off at $30 anyway) and put out the PR fire (surely being fueled in part by its competitors). It's not that hard.
Is it really that hard to rotate the phone in your fingers by 2mm or so to prevent the corner from being covered by your fleshy palm? Really?
And while most (all?) phones have their antenna-killing sensitive spots, it seems only the iPhone's deserves front-page attention.
And is CR going to do this type of test with all smartphones (seek out the magical death grip/touch of death) from now on? I doubt it.Seems like a tempest in a teapot to me. Had this not made the evening news, I doubt 90% of the iPhone users who are currently complaining would have even experienced a problem had they not been shown how to replicate it.
In related news, my iPhone camera won't take a decent picture when my finger is covering the lens. WHY CAN'T APPLE DESIGN A CAMERA PHONE THAT WORKS THE WAY I WANT TO HOLD IT???
I'm also waiting for a golf club that will give me a good swing no matter how I hold it. Because I deserve it.
Apple should just give out free bumpers (a complete rip-off at $30 anyway) and put out the PR fire (surely being fueled in part by its competitors). It's not that hard.
This whole thing has gotten blown way out of proportion, and people are now worried about what Consumer Reports says? You have to be kidding. Consumer Reports is a has been organization that is trying to milk their past success in a new world that they can't compete in. I stopped caring what they had to say about 5 years ago as did most people that really care much about anything to do with technology. I am a pretty serious photographer and you can find the same ridiculous reviews on DSLR cameras. Maybe they can do a good job with refrigerators and microwave ovens, but not with much else.
I've been using integrated PDAPhones since they first started out back in the early Palm and Windows CE days. The iPhone 4 is the best phone I've ever had, and really is a home run product as far as I'm concerned. It has a design issue with the antenna, which is EASILY circumvented by a number of work arounds. Put it in a case or hold it so you don't create the problem. Anyone that can't handle this simple issue has a lot bigger issues than the iPhone and should just return it. There are other phones. I guarantee you that they all have issues, so go have at it. The iPhone 4 is the cleanest and most stable one out there.
I've been using integrated PDAPhones since they first started out back in the early Palm and Windows CE days. The iPhone 4 is the best phone I've ever had, and really is a home run product as far as I'm concerned. It has a design issue with the antenna, which is EASILY circumvented by a number of work arounds. Put it in a case or hold it so you don't create the problem. Anyone that can't handle this simple issue has a lot bigger issues than the iPhone and should just return it. There are other phones. I guarantee you that they all have issues, so go have at it. The iPhone 4 is the cleanest and most stable one out there.
That's because Toyota admitted to making a defective product and took the initiative to issue a free recall. I'd still buy a Toyota. Apple has yet to admit that there is anything at all wrong with the phone.
I do not experience the reception issues, but I do experience problems with the proximity sensor. Let me tell you, I'd rather have a dropped call because I bridged the antenna than to be talking to my girlfriend when all of a sudden the side of my face merges the call with my very strange, very alcoholic former downstairs neighbor.
All I can say is...
If this were a Microsoft product, the FANBOYS would be screaming from the tree tops about poor quality, etc.
For the record, my IP4 definitely has the death-grip issue. Yes, duct tape works. And,Yes, I get the 'no SIM card' message from time to time. In addition, I have had the the phone lock up on me as well. Only way to get it back is to do a hard reset, aka, the control-alt-delete of the iphone world.
Apple needs to learn one thing from Microsoft: have a more comprehensive beta testing phase to eliminate some of the low-hang issues. IOS4 is complicated, the phone is complicated, the environment is 'mobile', so you have to test the hell out of the device to make it ready for the real world.
On a positive note, the battery life is terrific, facetime is really good, and the unit is much faster than my old 3G model.
If this were a Microsoft product, the FANBOYS would be screaming from the tree tops about poor quality, etc.
For the record, my IP4 definitely has the death-grip issue. Yes, duct tape works. And,Yes, I get the 'no SIM card' message from time to time. In addition, I have had the the phone lock up on me as well. Only way to get it back is to do a hard reset, aka, the control-alt-delete of the iphone world.
Apple needs to learn one thing from Microsoft: have a more comprehensive beta testing phase to eliminate some of the low-hang issues. IOS4 is complicated, the phone is complicated, the environment is 'mobile', so you have to test the hell out of the device to make it ready for the real world.
On a positive note, the battery life is terrific, facetime is really good, and the unit is much faster than my old 3G model.
IMO, the biggest group of Delusional Fanboys are the ones that have purchased the iPhone 4, are having reception issues, and haven't returned the iPhone 4 for a refund.
There isn't anything more delusional than thinking Apple is going to address this issue. There isn't anything more fanboy than not returning a product that doesn't work for you.
It's Real
...at least for some (seemingly large) group of people. Never really happens to me using the phone right handed, but holding it in the left where the palm covers that corner my phone drops all the way to Edge. Not sure what they could do outside of admit it. Recall would be disaster. Maybe finish up that iPhone 5 and offer an exchange? lol.
...at least for some (seemingly large) group of people. Never really happens to me using the phone right handed, but holding it in the left where the palm covers that corner my phone drops all the way to Edge. Not sure what they could do outside of admit it. Recall would be disaster. Maybe finish up that iPhone 5 and offer an exchange? lol.
it seems to be that LEFTIES are the LEAST affected.
i call ******** consumer reports.
and i still don't see how "move your pinky one freaking centimeter" is not a good solution. it works perfectly for me.
i call ******** consumer reports.
and i still don't see how "move your pinky one freaking centimeter" is not a good solution. it works perfectly for me.
As far as Apple is concerned, you purchased an iPhone4, and as of now you still have it. Therefore, you love it and are satisfied with it. End of story.
If you really want it to "just work" then return it. I know it is hard because you won't have your shiny Apple crack to play around with and ogle and dream about at night, but when companies put out defective POS's like this, the only way to send them a message is to vote with your pocketbook. The bottom line is the only thing that ultimately matters to Apple (and any other company).
If you buy an iPhone4 and complain about it not working right, then don't bother to return it, you really have nothing to complain about and no one to blame but yourself.
That's just it. Why is it so hard to believe that people's phones ARE working?
No problems with my iPhone 4. I was able to replicate this issue once, in another part of town, by burying the corner of my phone in my palm as the Internetz taught me to ("Now squeeze real tight, hold, and watch the signal bars!"). But holding it as I normally would I have no problems.
Is it really that hard to rotate the phone in your fingers by 2mm or so to prevent the corner from being covered by your fleshy palm? Really?
And while most (all?) phones have their antenna-killing sensitive spots, it seems only the iPhone's deserves front-page attention.
Seems like a tempest in a teapot to me. Had this not made the evening news, I doubt 90% of the iPhone users who are currently complaining would have even experienced a problem had they not been shown how to replicate it.
In related news, my iPhone camera won't take a decent picture when my finger is covering the lens. WHY CAN'T APPLE DESIGN A CAMERA PHONE THAT WORKS THE WAY I WANT TO HOLD IT???
I'm also waiting for a golf club that will give me a good swing no matter how I hold it. Because I deserve it.
Apple should just give out free bumpers (a complete rip-off at $30 anyway) and put out the PR fire (surely being fueled in part by its competitors). It's not that hard.
Hey Apple,
Can I just get an iPhone that works ? (I do not need anything free just for what I paid for)
a lot of parents who decide what phones their teenage kids can have.
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. Don't worry, be happy.
LOL. I have a fair amount of experience, both in software and hardware. Think about it for a minute - the purpose of an antenna is to collect signal. When you bridge the antennas, the issue is NOT that signal from the wifi/bluetooth is being sent to the 3g antenna. The issue is you have changed the effective size of the 3g antenna. It no longer functions properly as an antenna. Therefore the signal-to-noise ratio of what the antenna can send on to the circuitry drops substantially - there is nothing there for the signal processor to work with.
I don't disagree with you at all, mine will be returned in three days if I drop another call. I dropped one so far but that could have been the other person for all I know - though they didn't have an iPhone 4 so I doubt it ;o)
Probably the reason is, they can't admit there is a design flaw
If they do give away bumpers they are admitting there is a fault (else why give away free bumpers?)
And the moment they do publicly announce its a design flaw (and not just a software tweak) all hell will be let lose.
They are just hoping it will all die down and be forgotten about, problem is, it's not looking that way yet and they are probably watching this build up and up and having panic board meetings on the best way to handle it publicly.
Go buy another phone (the latest Android Galaxy S is outstanding, the Pre Plus has free wifi-hotspot - it's just a shame that ATM the platform is dead) then if it bothers you. You have 30 days to return your iPhone. Go do it.
It's obvious Apple are impervious to user complaints about this issue. Go and get a refund to show them instead.
There you have it. People have been voting with their wallets, and the stores can't supply the demand. This of course validates my first post in this thread that no one gives a rats rear-end about Consumer Reports, reports.
If you hold the phone in your left hand it's not your pinky that's the issue. It's your palm. And your palm is the thing that is keeping the mostly-fragile-glass phone from crashing to the floor.