Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Consumer Reports Still Not Recommending iPhone 4

Robert M. said:
Be careful what you wish for! What if they tested them and found no problems? Then Apple would be in worse shape...

I just want everybody to move on. Apple screwed up, CR is doing nothing wrong. They said other then that issue, it's the best smartphone ever! Sounds like a win to me.

If all of you guys don't care then stop talking about it! Obviously you all do care...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

If they tested and found no problems... I like that too. I definite answer would be nice. I'm almost positive consumer reports doing the exact same tests would find the signal would attenuate.
 
Robert M. said:
Be careful what you wish for! What if they tested them and found no problems? Then Apple would be in worse shape...

I just want everybody to move on. Apple screwed up, CR is doing nothing wrong. They said other then that issue, it's the best smartphone ever! Sounds like a win to me.

If all of you guys don't care then stop talking about it! Obviously you all do care...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Ok. How about this? Have consumer reports test several iPhone 4 units in different markets with varying levels of service to determine if it is the phone, a specific set of units or the network.
 
Since Apple was able to demonstrate the same thing happening on at least three other phones I wonder if CR will pull their recommendations for those phones as well.

This problem has entirely to do with internal antennas, not just with the design of the iPhone 4. There are no smart phones with internal antennas that do not have this problem when someone holds their hand over where the antenna is.

Apple maybe made a mistake by targeting where not to hold the phone, but it also serves as a very accurate reminder of exactly where not to put your hand. If you don't place your hand there you won't have any problems.

If Consumer Reports wants to be taken seriously then they should pull their recommendations for all smart phones because all smart phones have internal antennas that will have this problem when held a certain way.

I used to be a subscriber to CR but this seems to have been done more for publicity than anything else.
 
Based on 1.7 million sales on launch day, you'd think Apple would have sold more than 3 million in 3 weeks unless sales have slowed down.
 
SiskoKid said:
It is an issue with ALL phones whether you like it or not. Your old phones DID have the issue, you probably didn't notice it. Here are other non-iPhone examples since you asked for proof.


* Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LROTHrTR92k

* HTC Evo Signal Attenuation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj2YBYTbag

* Samsung Galaxy 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

* Samsung Galaxy 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPCQdYtPihg

* Droid Incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaDE941PzQk

* Droid Incredible (With Network Extender in Room): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEQH9_A5jw&feature=related

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIA_lMwqJA

* Nexus One vs. iPhone (start at 1:29): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMoV4_C4aA

* Nexus One: http://posterous.com/getfile/files.p...n_-_iPhone.m4v

* Nexus One (after Google's update to correct): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g5J4qPp54

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deCkjeHYT-g

* Android G1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CDaxhjUs9M

* "Major signal degradation when Nexus One is picked up" (N1 Thread on On this Problem): http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en
Click to expand...

You should make a template with that. Very useful.
 
triceretops said:
My blackberry drops bars depending on how I hold it too. Either hand, normal grip, loses bars.

I wish I had an iPhone, but my contract doesn't expire for another year.
Click to expand...

In case people give you gruff about the iPhone 4, mention your Blackberry and these other phones too ;)

* Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LROTHrTR92k

* HTC Evo Signal Attenuation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj2YBYTbag

* Samsung Galaxy 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

* Samsung Galaxy 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPCQdYtPihg

* Droid Incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaDE941PzQk

* Droid Incredible (With Network Extender in Room): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEQH9_A5jw&feature=related

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIA_lMwqJA

* Nexus One vs. iPhone (start at 1:29): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMoV4_C4aA

* Nexus One: http://posterous.com/getfile/files.p...n_-_iPhone.m4v

* Nexus One (after Google's update to correct): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g5J4qPp54

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deCkjeHYT-g

* Android G1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CDaxhjUs9M

* "Major signal degradation when Nexus One is picked up" (N1 Thread on On this Problem): http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en
 
heavy2healthy said:
what will be interesting is today jobs trashed all the other cell phone companies. It will be interesting to see what their response will be.
Click to expand...

It didn't come off to me as a trashing. I don't think he was trying to take the other cellphone manufacturers "down with him." He kept repeating that these "are perfectly good phones."

His point, to me at least, was that ALL smartphones have this issue. It's because the iPhone 4's "death grip" could be so easily replicated ("X marks the spot") that it's become a hot topic. So, now that we know about it, Apple is "dedicated" to resolve cellphone antenna problems that are shared by everyone.

Honestly, Jobs didn't seem arrogant, and he wasn't casting blame. They took responsibility for the problems within their control, and laid out the facts. Simple, easy.
 
rhanley said:
I never had a case on my Iphone 2G or 3G (just bodyguardz which doesn't resolve the iphone 4 issue).

I had an iphone4 and returned it 2 days ago.

I didn't really expect a fix, but I also didn't expect Apple to say, "Everyone other smart phone is having this problem, so it's ok if we have it too"... Not to mention it is very clear this issue is worse on the iphone4 when compared to others.. I'm not talking about a drop in bars.. I'm talking about being on a call, and the reception going choppy and dropping a call within a few seconds of barely touching the antenna separator.

Apple was very condescending, at least that's how I felt... Originally I stated that I would settle for a free bumper, but I'm now glad that I returned my phone because I didn't like how they handled the press conference.
Click to expand...

THey didn't say it is ok. They just said it's a difficult to avoid this problem, that every phone right now has some weak spot and that they are constantly working on making things better, but for now this is the best they can do.
 
itsmenyc said:
So you returned the highest rated smart phone because you didn't like the press conference? I'm sorry, I don't follow the logic...
Click to expand...

Nope, I returned it for dropped calls at my house when I held the phone comfortably. As soon as I would touch the spot on the phone, the person on the other end couldn't hear me, and after several seconds (if I didn't move my finger), the call would drop.

I don't use a case and I never have, but I was willing to use a case because I loved the phone, but got tired of waiting for Apple to announce something.

I returned my phone and then they announced the press conference, so I was a little concerned I jumped the gun. However, after watching/listening, I felt I made the appropriate choice. I think Apple tried to make the issue seem less significant than it is.

Is there something wrong with that logic??

And the only phone rating I care about is my own. If you are willing to purchase a phone based strictly off of others reviews, then I don't follow your logic :p
 
Did you guys not read the CR report???
They tested other phones as well as 3 iPhone 4. iPhone 4 was the only one that failed their test.
You guys really need to read the article before making comments about it.

From CR:
"We reached this conclusion after testing all three of our iPhone 4s (purchased at three separate retailers in the New York area) in the controlled environment of CU's radio frequency (RF) isolation chamber. In this room, which is impervious to outside radio signals, our test engineers connected the phones to our base-station emulator, a device that simulates carrier cell towers (see video: IPhone 4 Design Defect Confirmed). We also tested several other AT&T phones the same way, including the iPhone 3G S and the Palm Pre. None of those phones had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4."
 
grassfeeder said:
go figure, I never listen to consumer reports anyway......grandma's and 50+ yr olds do.
Click to expand...

Hey, I resemble that remark :)

CU is good for a few things ... and I do mean a FEW. The problem is that they do get some basic stuff wrong and then utterly fail to acknowledge it...classical stonewall.

I dropped my subscription in disgust after they condemned one automobile for having a crooked gate on the automatic transmission shifter .. and then like 3 months later, praised another car for the exact same feature! Nah, they weren't biased against the first auto company.

I'm sure that if that point I would have asked CU for a "full refund" (years of subscriptions) they would have told me to go pound sand ... and thus their hypocrisy here is revealed.


-hh
 
SiskoKid said:
It is an issue with ALL phones whether you like it or not. Your old phones DID have the issue, you probably didn't notice it. Here are other non-iPhone examples since you asked for proof.


* Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LROTHrTR92k

* HTC Evo Signal Attenuation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj2YBYTbag

* Samsung Galaxy 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

* Samsung Galaxy 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPCQdYtPihg

* Droid Incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaDE941PzQk

* Droid Incredible (With Network Extender in Room): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEQH9_A5jw&feature=related

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIA_lMwqJA

* Nexus One vs. iPhone (start at 1:29): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMoV4_C4aA

* Nexus One: http://posterous.com/getfile/files.p...n_-_iPhone.m4v

* Nexus One (after Google's update to correct): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g5J4qPp54

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deCkjeHYT-g

* Android G1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CDaxhjUs9M

* "Major signal degradation when Nexus One is picked up" (N1 Thread on On this Problem): http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en
Click to expand...

this is awesome. thanks for posting this.
 
WiiDSmoker said:
Good for Consumer Reports. The bumper is nothing but a band-aid. I don't/didn't need a bumper or a case for my 3GS, 3G, 2G. Why for the iPhone 4?
Click to expand...

good news, you don't need a bumper for iphone 4. Stop being an idiot.
 
SiskoKid said:
In case people give you gruff about the iPhone 4, mention your Blackberry and these other phones too ;)

* Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LROTHrTR92k

* HTC Evo Signal Attenuation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj2YBYTbag

* Samsung Galaxy 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

* Samsung Galaxy 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPCQdYtPihg

* Droid Incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaDE941PzQk

* Droid Incredible (With Network Extender in Room): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEQH9_A5jw&feature=related

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIA_lMwqJA

* Nexus One vs. iPhone (start at 1:29): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMoV4_C4aA

* Nexus One: http://posterous.com/getfile/files.p...n_-_iPhone.m4v

* Nexus One (after Google's update to correct): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2g5J4qPp54

* Nexus One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deCkjeHYT-g

* Android G1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CDaxhjUs9M

* "Major signal degradation when Nexus One is picked up" (N1 Thread on On this Problem): http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en
Click to expand...

spam.jpg


We got it the first time.
 
nagromme said:
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?
Click to expand...

CR has always rated Apple notebooks very highly. If you say that they have bizarre judgment then you must disregard their high praise for Apple products in the past as well.
 
I don't see why they shouldn't recommend the iFraud.

In the past they've recommended *rap Time Capsules, MacBooks with time bomb 8600s,
iMacs with yellow screens, Ipads with barely functioning wi-fi,
G5s with radiator leaks, aluminum MacBooks with poor wi-fi
and MacBooks with flaming Magsafes....

Comsumer Reports needs to stop hating on the iBumperPhone and drink some more koolaid.:apple:
 
rhanley said:
I returned my phone and then they announced the press conference, so I was a little concerned I jumped the gun. However, after watching/listening, I felt I made the appropriate choice. I think Apple tried to make the issue seem less significant than it is.
Click to expand...

No, the distractors of this forum/media hysteria are making the issue more significant than it is.
 
I canceled my subscription to CR about 5 years ago when I noticed they were not being fair toward Mac, when they were appraising computers. And now during this antenna incident on the new iphone, CR comes out as extremely prejudicial the way they see something which is so easy to correct.

CR lost its luster a long time ago.
 
rhanley said:
azzurri4life -- I'll trust my own testing over both -- It's an issue and Apple can't convince me otherwise. I have seen it over and over and over again in my own house, with my own phone.

Apple bragging about their testing facilities doesn't mean there testing is better than real-world testing.. I'll take real-world any day!

But it looks like them bragging about their facilities made some people feel good -- "Oh, maybe my phone doesn't really have an issue -- Look at how amazing and futuristic the room looks that Apple tests in! That must mean it is better than my own testing"

Get real!
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%. That spiked blue room with a high chair does not impress me, nor can they use it to distract me.
 
SiskoKid said:
In case people give you gruff about the iPhone 4, mention your Blackberry and these other phones too ;)

* Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LROTHrTR92k

* HTC Evo Signal Attenuation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj2YBYTbag

...........

[/url]
Click to expand...

I'm not watching all of those, but do any actually show dropped calls or a lack of data transfer when gripping it a certain way?

I don't care about bars dropping -- What I do care about is people not hearing me as soon as I touch a spot on my iphone 4 and the call dropping in under 10 seconds (everytime, and I tested dozens of times).

I just don't feel like watching the bars is a good representation of this issue... If I drop 4 bars and my call stays connected, I could care less.

I think a lot of people are underestimating how big of an issue this is for some. I understand many people may just have some bars drop when holding it like a gorilla, but for a lot of us, it is/was much worse.
 
kingofwale said:
it's fantastic for someone to stand up to Apple for once to actually point out flaws.

Too often when reviewers be smitten by the design of Apple products and forgot what is really important sometimes.

GOOD FOR YOU! Consumer Report,
Click to expand...

Exactly. Steve Jobs came out and didn't say anything new. He is offering free bumpers which should have come with the phone in the first place. They are cheap pieces of rubber that do not provide any protection what so ever. He didn't come out and apologize but instead said every phone can be crippled by using your pinky finger in the wrong place. Yeah, I believe that...Anyways, CR stand up for yourself you're doing great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back