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Consumer Reports Still Not Recommending iPhone 4
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Apple is getting what they deserve. No other phone experiences this problem to this degree. They may lose a few bars, but they don't drop the call. iPhone 4 does. BTW, if the iPhone 4 is better than the 3GS, why can't I replicate the issue on my 3GS or the ones at the Apple Store, yeti can replicate it on 18 of the iPhone 4s. Same location two different phones. Ones a POS, an one works. 
While I agree with Consumer Report's conclusion, I suspect part of their decision may have been influenced by the potential limelight to be gained from this non-recomendation, such that it may be wise to regard this announcement with a grain of salt.
You can indeed get a "full body" Invisible Shield that will cover the antenna. In my non-scientific tests it pretty much solves the problem.
Before we blow on the fire, a Consumer Reports recommendation would be nice, but note: Consumer Reports is not recommending any smartphone. Also, iPhone 4 is top ranked among rated features.
No, it does not cover the spot, it cuts away at each of the breaks. Top Apple Execs including SJ said today that it is a HARDWARE issue, not a SOFTWARE issue. They even blasted NYtimes a little for saying that a software update was coming to fix it. Back off, you look like an idiot yelling at me when you're the one who's wrong. Dang.
CR is the same all over the globe
I can remember a test of cassette decks done by the equivalent of CR in my country.
The most expensive deck they tested was a Nakamichi, which I owned as well. It got absolute top marks on all aspects that had to do with recording and playback. They also had nothing but praise for the manual, that was more like a comprehensive textbook on 'how to record on magnetic media'.
But the Nakamichi deck didn't auto-select the kind of tape you were using with it. Even though the reason for that was explained in the manual (offering more control) the CR faulted them for it. They applied a rigid rule: no auto-selection of tape = no higher overall score than "reasonable".
The results table read like the iPhone 4 results in CR: top marks on everything for the Nakamichi, but overall score 'reasonable'. Bureaucrats.
I can remember a test of cassette decks done by the equivalent of CR in my country.
The most expensive deck they tested was a Nakamichi, which I owned as well. It got absolute top marks on all aspects that had to do with recording and playback. They also had nothing but praise for the manual, that was more like a comprehensive textbook on 'how to record on magnetic media'.
But the Nakamichi deck didn't auto-select the kind of tape you were using with it. Even though the reason for that was explained in the manual (offering more control) the CR faulted them for it. They applied a rigid rule: no auto-selection of tape = no higher overall score than "reasonable".
The results table read like the iPhone 4 results in CR: top marks on everything for the Nakamichi, but overall score 'reasonable'. Bureaucrats.
I'm saying that there are very obvious variables when it comes to this issue. I'm not looking as much of an idiot as someone who runs around screaming that it needs to be fixed when it's an issue that, hey, can be remedied a bit by reporting signal strength properly.
follow the money
its time that we begin to focus on from where consumer reports is backed and begin to follow where they get their money from.
apple's press conference today gave us the facts, the data, the mea culpa, and the passion behind apple's dedication to provide us with great technology.
and to top it off, who else would start the press conference with a music video like that other than apple.
think differently.
its time that we begin to focus on from where consumer reports is backed and begin to follow where they get their money from.
apple's press conference today gave us the facts, the data, the mea culpa, and the passion behind apple's dedication to provide us with great technology.
and to top it off, who else would start the press conference with a music video like that other than apple.
think differently.
CR is right up there with them political clowns the FDA.
They are so bought and sold it ain't funny.
3 million iphone sold and more to come.
Sc** CR!
They are so bought and sold it ain't funny.
3 million iphone sold and more to come.
Sc** CR!
I don't need a case for my iPhone 4. I can receive calls and make outgoing calls just fine. I can however duplicate the issue by holding my finger on the antenna line but why would I do that? I could also do something dumb like block the IR on my TV Remote, but I don't.
Let me tell you something. The invisible shield, and Ghost Armor and all those other films do something. Yes, they protect the phone from scratches. BUT Notice when you put it on the touch screen on an iPhone, the touch screen still works! Notice how the iPhone has a captive touch screen? The Invisible shield is thin enough to allow the electricity to flow through the shield, and into the glass to work. When applied to the side on the iPhone 4, its still thin enough to allow the hand to bridge the antennas.
Seriously, does it really matter if they recommend it or not? Apple cannot keep the iphone in stock, even with all of the negative publicity. I'm not saying that some people haven't experienced a problem(I personally, nor anyone that I know that has the phone has had an issue), but the Iphone has been nothing less than a cultural phenomenon that has few historical comparisons.
And I think it is incredibly generous for Apple to give away free bumpers for suck a limited number of overall problems.
And I think it is incredibly generous for Apple to give away free bumpers for suck a limited number of overall problems.
You don't *need* a case for the iPhone 4 either. The only reason that Apple is even giving the cases away is to shut the complainers up. And now it won't even do that.
Not recommending the device, even though they say it's the best device of all the ones out there, is asinine.
Beforehand? And *after* as well! Unless it's Fruit Stripe.. that stuff loses flavor before it gets into my mouth..
CR is great for stat and data collection, but their opinion/editorial judgements (and even specs/facts in their reviews) are often highly questionable.
This is the best phone, by their own ratings; the supposedly-unique antenna “problems” have been clearly shown to be little more than empty hysteria; and now it comes with a free case added to its mile-long feature list! (A solution CR themselves called for, in the endless back-and-forth during which they can’t decide if actual real-word call-drop problems are widespread or not. Hint: they’re not.)
Yet they won’t recommend that you buy it.
Why? Because some people who already bought it, and bought a NON-Apple case, won’t get reimbursed by Apple for that non-Apple case—even though Apple WILL give them an additional free case, Apple or non. AND because, in 3 months, Apple MIGHT stop giving out the free cases. Or might continue. Or might have some other fix.
For these reasons—one past, one future, neither affecting buyers now—CR would have you choose a lower-rated phone with a worse OS and poor battery life?
This is the best phone, by their own ratings; the supposedly-unique antenna “problems” have been clearly shown to be little more than empty hysteria; and now it comes with a free case added to its mile-long feature list! (A solution CR themselves called for, in the endless back-and-forth during which they can’t decide if actual real-word call-drop problems are widespread or not. Hint: they’re not.)
Yet they won’t recommend that you buy it.
Why? Because some people who already bought it, and bought a NON-Apple case, won’t get reimbursed by Apple for that non-Apple case—even though Apple WILL give them an additional free case, Apple or non. AND because, in 3 months, Apple MIGHT stop giving out the free cases. Or might continue. Or might have some other fix.
For these reasons—one past, one future, neither affecting buyers now—CR would have you choose a lower-rated phone with a worse OS and poor battery life?
Funny, how in empirical testing, the iPhone 4 comes out on top and does most everything BETTER than the competition. So Apple address the main complaint from the magazine and does offer a "better than duct tape" fix, but they still wont recommend it, or change their view of it?
So, let me get this straight... it's like stating that altho it is a better built, better user experience and better than it's previous generations of phones AND it still bests the next best phone on the list which is LAST YEARS' model of the same phone which was STILL BETTER than the top 'o the line current generation of comparable phone from the competition (Android OS phones), DONT BUY IT and settle for a measurably inferior product from an Apple Competitor?!?!?!
Sounds to me that Consumer Reports doesn't want to embarrass themselves with a published retraction of their review and their poor attempt at humor for even suggesting that Duct Tape was a good fix for the problem.
So, let me get this straight... it's like stating that altho it is a better built, better user experience and better than it's previous generations of phones AND it still bests the next best phone on the list which is LAST YEARS' model of the same phone which was STILL BETTER than the top 'o the line current generation of comparable phone from the competition (Android OS phones), DONT BUY IT and settle for a measurably inferior product from an Apple Competitor?!?!?!
Sounds to me that Consumer Reports doesn't want to embarrass themselves with a published retraction of their review and their poor attempt at humor for even suggesting that Duct Tape was a good fix for the problem.
free cases? apple is so scraping the bottom of the barrel. Of course CR shouldn't change their recommendation. If you have to get an accessory for the product to work like it is "supposed to" in the first place, then I don't see why that would change their recommendation. Say what you will about the whole issue of this being something for smartphones and whatever unavoidable problems, that still does not make it relevant for the people reviewing it. If it is something unavoidable in the way it's designed, then of course they shouldn't recommend it!
