Consumer Reports Still Not Recommending iPhone 4

[SeniorGato1]

+1 Says he won't do it!

Won't waste my with this, but feel free to look at my other posts.

 

[BobVB]

Well written response, Steve said the dropped call rate on the iP4, was worse than on the 3GS but by less than 1 additional dropped call per 100. Agreed that you can really conclude that it could be up by a smaller margin, or that it could be up by a substantial margin.

Correct if people living in affected areas are just 10% of the total (I know if I lived just 4 miles to the north I can't get below 5 bars if I put the phone in a can), then that 1% is 10%+ of dropped calls over before, since the national average is 1.5% dropped calls that would mean that 10% was getting 11 or 12% dropped calls, not counting all the ones that just didn't connect and went straight to voicemail as many are complaining. Yesterday was Deceit with Statistics 101 - take a smaller group significant problem and dilute it over a much larger group to trivialize it.

However it makes no sense to rate the iP4 the best smart phone while not being able to actually recommend it. If other phones are suffering from the same antenna attenuation as Steve claims and as seen on YouTube, what makes those phones any different from the iPhone.

Well because none of those other phones suffer the problem with a single touch of a fingertip. Again, Lying 101 - erect a strawman (this is just normal antenna attenuation) and stick with it no matter what the truth is. Tell the Big Lie often enough and people accept it as true.

The 'fingertip' antenna problem could have been prevented with NO significant loss of reception by the unit by merely coating the stainless steel band in a thin layer of clear polymer. They messed up and are lying, prevaricating, and selling their souls rather than just be honest, fess up to the error, and really fixing it.

I mean look on the website - they sell the bumpers with neither promise of better reception or better protection - they are being sold as 'fashion statements'.

Again, the Romans thought that the soul resided in the liver, obviously Steve's new one is a bad one.

 

[mackhydr4]

Fact: 1.77 % return rate


this is a non issue for 99% of iPhone 4 owners

Unfortunately, even a fraction of 1% (plus the non-legit iPhone users) are the most vocal and easily manipulated by the media hype.

More of the 99% should post their experiences. But I suspect most don't care and are simply enjoying their phones. It's not like they're missing anything anyway.

 

[vlug]

Good move! At least this is honest-

I was already aware of the issue before I bought mine (iPhone 4) and my father in law's. We are lucky enough to have good coverage and we don't have the issues.

My beef with other users is where to draw the line. Does the dog still need to be kicked repeatedly while it's down? This is becoming the Baby Jessica/Elian Gonzales/Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill of 2010.

But of course, I don't expect anything less. Someone will take a spin on this comment and paint their own reality distortion field.

There is a problem, yes. But a farce is a farce.

The real issue I have is my mobile network is o2 and the mobile mast is 400 meters up the road on the edge of a roundabout. I get full 3G speeds on my 3GS and I did get full 3G speeds on my iPhone 4. But as soon as I pick the phone up on the iP4 the 3G drops to edge and then nothing and my web browsing is non existent.

I have had no dropped calls with the iP4 but I have had people say the line is bad. But I am literally meters from the mobile phone mast and my 3GS doesn't have any issues at all.

It was clear to me it was hardware related straight away due to my circumstances. I have emailed this to Apple and got no response.

 

[BobVB]

Fact: 1.77 % return rate

this is a non issue for 99% of iPhone 4 owners

HA! Then I guess that 1% more dropped calls for the entire group means that 1% is getting more than 100% dropped calls.

 

[ntrigue]

1-800-my-iphone

I encourage anyone that experiences reception drop or hasn't seen more than three bars since 4.0.1 to use the above number.

Their data stating 0.55% of users call into AppleCare may be accurate, but it is not precise.

 

[drbroom]

CR Knows a lot about a lot but...

Consumer Reports knows a lot about a lot but "high" tech is not one of them... I read CR, I use there website when ever I am going to purchase an appliance or need good details on recalls or TVs. However when it comes to "high end" items like expensive anything their default position is "don't buy it".

I am also a huge sports car fan and a bit of an audiophile... If you ever read one story about good cars where they have recommend any of the Audis or Porches as a "Good Buy"? Show me one story on well designed home automation like what SAVANT offers (as to Crestron they would be correct them BTW (personal crack)).

I will also leave you with this last bit of data... CR's readership is down! People are not re-uping their subscriptions. If they do not create news for themselves how will anyone still think them relevant? I do think they are BTW just not when it come to HIGH END items! And let's face it the iPhone IS! The iphone is not your cheap **** blackberry that you have to reboot 3 to 5 times a day, and use as many keystrokes to get anything done...

Just my $0.02

 

[mackhydr4]

The real issue I have is my mobile network is o2 and the mobile mast is 400 meters up the road on the edge of a roundabout. I get full 3G speeds on my 3GS and I did get full 3G speeds on my iPhone 4. But as soon as I pick the phone up on the iP4 the 3G drops to edge and then nothing and my web browsing is non existent.

I have had no dropped calls with the iP4 but I have had people say the line is bad. But I am literally meters from the mobile phone mast and my 3GS doesn't have any issues at all.

It was clear to me it was hardware related straight away due to my circumstances. I have emailed this to Apple and got no response.

This is one of the few intelligent response I have heard so far- and it is not because you are saying something I want to hear.

Apple is not perfect. Current proposed solutions have not addressed the problem to many people's satisfaction. I do hope they come out on top by September.

I am sorry for the non response from Apple. I rarely call tech support for any gadgets I own because of the frustration of wait times and lack of response. I just return the offending product (truth be told, I probably have more luck with electronics, so that makes me the dream customer I guess).

 

[kallisti]

Already made I have returned it and I'm using my 3GS again. It's not like I'm a Android fan here to bash Apple. My first iPhone was the 3GS and I love it hence why I purchased my iPhone 4 on launch day and queued for about 7 hours.

I would love to purchase the iPhone 4 again if Apple revised the hardware which is what they should of announced yesterday in my opinion. Giving free bumpers is just a band aid.

Just out of curiosity. Did you return it because you were actually dropping calls or did you return it because "it's flawed?"

 

[vlug]

Just out of curiosity. Did you return it because you were actually dropping calls or did you return it because "it's flawed?"

I returned it because when its held I cant use the internet/3G. EDIT* I had 0 dropped calls but I did have bad reception at the recipients end not mine.

I literally have to hold it with the tips of my fingers at the top of the phone when using twitter/IM progs or browsing websites or my hand stops the 3G working.

I use my iPhone a lot for internet usage and even with the bumper it doesn't help. Yet if I lye the phone on the desk and use the internet it works fine.

 

[Dracula8726]

Who's lying? Consumer Reports or Apple

If Apple states that the 3 other big smart phones has the same exact issues with the antenna then why does Consumer Reports support these phones?

Can someone please confirm that these (BB Bold, Driod Eris & Omnia II) are recommended on CR site. Somebody is lying to us? Either CR is trying to get more subscribers or the Apple testing facility is fictious and was created for this 'antennagate'.

 

[fkntotalkaos]

waiting list for my iphone 4 going on 3 weeks, NJ apple sore

 

[mackhydr4]

waiting list for my iphone 4 going on 3 weeks, NJ apple sore

Reserving from an Apple Store seems much faster (got mine within 4 days) than from online. I was skeptical at first, so I also ordered from AT&T (arrived within 8 days). I couldn't back out of the AT&T preorder because of their processing method (their RMA is a dirty process and would have resulted in more furstration). So I gave the Apple Store version to my father-in-law (he expressed interest in my 3GS) and kept the AT&T one.

I would check out an Apple Store and see if they have one in stock. They also seem to be more able to cancel the online order (at least from what the sales rep told me) if they can get you one sooner.

 

[BobVB]

If Apple states that the 3 other big smart phones has the same exact issues with the antenna then why does Consumer Reports support these phones?

Because  lied - not a single one of those phones loses signal like that from the touch of a single finger.

Apple testing facility is fictious and was created for this 'antennagate'.

OR what  showed wasn't what CR was talking about, which is indeed the case.

 

[mackhydr4]

Because  lied - not a single one of those phones loses signal like that from the touch of a single finger.


OR what  showed wasn't what CR was talking about, which is indeed the case.

Apple could have waited until the phone was perfect (or didn't drop phone calls), but this would have resulted in vaporware (delay).

Faced with potential non-issue from the 99% (or whatever actual percent it is- we can even make this 50/50) and deliver the phone as is,

or

wait until the phone is perfect to please the other 1% percent (I highly doubt everyone can be pleased).

Which business decision would you make?

 

[bearboy]

What I don't understand is why people continue to ignore the part of his press conference where it shows the same bar dropping problem across multiple types of smart phones. People are being so stupid about ignoring that and aiming their guns at the iPhone. It seems as if people are acting as if no other phone drops calls, and no other service allows for dropped calls. Give me a freaking break. How about consumers stop complaining about a problem that is found on all phones and simply understand that mobile phone technology is still an imperfect, black magic concept where lots of work needs to happen before they even come close to being mostly reliable. Take also a good look at the fact that Apple is still trying to fix a problem that is happening to all other phones while being willing to take a multi-million dollar hit to give all the whiny babies out there a free case. Stop attacking the company as if they make faulty products for a problem that is more apparent with this revision of the phone than the previous model and is (as seen in the press conference) still prevelant in the competitors phones.

I have this mysterious problem on my iPhone 4. But, it has never happened when I hold the phone with my mere pinky down there on "the spot." I have to hold it with a "death grip" in either hand, without my case, for it to happen. But here's the kicker: the damn phone still makes calls when I am gripping it like that. Lastly, don't forget that it is the "i"Phone implying that while the primary function is still as a phone (which still clearly works), it is interactive in so many more ways. Be grateful that a company like Apple is working on this problem and that they clearly care to make it work better, even though it isn't just them that has this problem.

To the self-righteous complainers complaining about this "issue": Get over yourselves.

Yes you are right almost all smart phones have reception issues. But I think what is pissing people off is that after Jobs did his song and dance about how great and innovative the new phone is he does an about-face and says "well it's innovative but not innovative enough to keep people from dropping calls, and yes it drops more calls than the previous model". Then has the stones to show us that video of a couple of Apple's competitors dropping bars as well (which if I was one of those companies would be royally pissed).

I've seen the Youtube videos of the Droid X, EVO and Nexus when held a certain way drop bars, but with a majority of those phones you have to grip in a very peculiar way in order to get them to drop.

 

[BobVB]

Apple could have waited until the phone was perfect (or didn't drop phone calls), but this would have resulted in vaporware (delay)…

…Which business decision would you make?

or just coated the stainless steel with plastic - your choice is a false one.

 

[fifthworld]

Seems that philosophy works in politics.

You are talking manipulation, not communication.

 

[Treefu]

Whoever said that fanboyism was a mental illness should win some sort of "best post of the year" award.

Even *Steve* said that the IP4 consistently has more dropped calls than the 3GS. Is Steve a "hater," too? Are his numbers bogus?

Of course, all Steve told us was that it dropped one more call in a 100 over the 3GS, without the context to allow us to know how much worse it was. If the 3GS drops 1 call in a 100, the IP4's reception is 100% worse. Twice as bad.

If the 3GS drops 2 calls in a 100, the IP4 is only 50% worse. 10 calls in 100, then it's 10% worse. (Although if you are dropping that many calls, you probably should get another phone).

These are Steve's numbers, not CRs.

And the problem with all of the mindless fanboy bashing of CR is that you miss how good, and how balanced, the CR review actually was. (And of course conveniently ignore that this purportedly biased source has *always* rated the iPhone as the best phone, and has - in the past 4-5 years, anyway, always recommended a mac and reported on the fact that it has the highest customer satisfaction rating of all computers.

CR tested the phone and found that, in general, it was the best phone on the market. But they also found a significant drop off in reception when you touched the antenna gap, enough to cause you to drop a call in a weak area. This was replicated on three phones, but didn't show up on a 3GS or a Palm Pre.

So notwithstanding the fact that the IP4 is *generally* the best phone on the market, because the antenna defect will affect some non-trivial number of users, CR decided that they wouldn't recommend the IP4. CR also noted that you could alleviate the problem by using a bumper.

This is completely balanced and reasonable. If you don't have the antenna problem and believe that the IP4 is the best phone on the market - congratulations, CR agrees with you. If you don't mind using a case with your phone, CR agrees that you will have the best phone on the market.

So the CR bashing is really just sort of mindless. CR has found that a certain consumer product has a flaw that will affect some users, so they won't recommend it. It's not like they are saying that you have a flaw.

Bra-vo! Post like yours make it worth trudging through all of the whining about the whining. Not that I know why anyone with a working product is so eager to tell the world about it - is it that unexpected?

 

[Treefu]

Apple could have waited until the phone was perfect (or didn't drop phone calls), but this would have resulted in vaporware (delay).

Faced with potential non-issue from the 99% (or whatever actual percent it is- we can even make this 50/50) and deliver the phone as is,

or

wait until the phone is perfect to please the other 1% percent (I highly doubt everyone can be pleased).

Which business decision would you make?

Heaven forbid we should have to wait until fall to have new, working iPhones. It's not like Apple isn't making money fast enough any way...

Gimme more, gimme more... gimme, gimme...

 

[mackhydr4]

or just coated the stainless steel with plastic - your choice is a false one.

But what if the plastic doesn't resolve it? What then? Someone here just mentioned that adding a bumper didn't resolve his issue with the phone.

 

[fifthworld]

I dare you to post your return receipt on here... or a proof of purchase of your iPhone 4 in the first place.

Yep. He sounds completely fake.

 

[mackhydr4]

Heaven forbid we should have to wait until fall to have new, working iPhones. It's not like Apple isn't making money fast enough any way...

Gimme more, gimme more... gimme, gimme...

People have this illusion that if only Apple listened to their opinions, all will be well-

Even if Apple could ever deliver 100% perfection, there is no accounting for trolls and media lemmings(I think the worst comments are from "loyal" Apple fans with entitlement issues). There will always be something to complain about.

Apple scerewed up. Boo-effin-hoo.

 

[Office Hours]

What a joke most of the posters in this thread are.

Consumer Reports doesn't hate the iPhone 4. In fact, they think it's the best phone on the market. But once they thoroughly tested the antenna problem they found it to have a serious enough hardware flaw to not recommend it until Apple fixed the problem.

They and Anandtech both did testing that found all phones suffer from some level of attenuation, nobody doubts this, but that isn't the problem. The problem is that the iPhone 4's external antenna design causes their attenuation problems to be more severe than the norm. Bare contact with the antenna is bad (making it worse than other phones) but combine it with the fact that you don't need a death grip (like other phones) but only 1 finger to create the problem, and you have a major flaw that Apple should address.

What Apple did yesterday was nothing short of straight propaganda.

They said: All phones suffer attenuation.
The truth: the iPhone 4 suffers more from attenuation.

They ignored the core issue completely and are now spewing PR propaganda and guess what? The other companies are now fighting back with statements. Apple F'd up on this and I expect RIM, HTC and others to now do thorough testing that will expose raw data showing the truth.

I'm not going to act like the iPhone 4 is completely unusable but I have no doubt that Apple crossed an acceptable threshold when they chose this antenna design. Watch the next iPhone not even have an external antenna.

 

[BobVB]

But what if the plastic doesn't resolve it? What then? Someone here just mentioned that adding a bumper didn't resolve his issue with the phone.

Then his issue with the phone isn't the one that CR is talking about. That any coating that prevents the 2 antennas greatly helps has been known since the first day it was discovered. You want to remove the problem CR is talking about and THEN be REALLY down to the issue of mass attenuation of the signal you'd coat the edge in continuous plastic.

If the gap is covered the huge attenuation experienced by touching a single finger to the naked gap doesn't occur, i.e. the problem that CR says prevents them from recommending the phone doesn't occur.

This convenient meandering from topic to topic trying to 'win' rather than arguing for what's true is what makes people resort to the term 'fanboy'.

Quit being an advocate for  and become one for truth and you would be much more convincing.