Do you think that Apple made a calculated risk with it's new antenna design?
Let's take the 3G/3GS.....the antenna is on the inside of the phone behind essentially an outer plastic shell. So a naked iPhone 3GS the antenna signal goes through 1 layer (the plastic back).
Do you think Apple had enough research and statistics to show that the majority of users put an iPhone in some sort of case, whether that case is plastic or silicone? So now on a 3GS, the antenna has to go through the plastic back, then a plastic/silicone case....now it's going through 2 layers. Do you think they determined that this combo caused a lower/weaker signal?
Now the iPhone 4....antenna on the outside. Do you think Apple took a calculated risk in knowing that most people put it in a case anyway (heck even Steve in one of his emails suggested using a case) and the fact they came out with the bumper....that they knew since most people would put a case on it....that the antenna being on the outside would provide a stronger signal?
Yes, the people who choose to go caseless with their phones are more easily affected by the issue, but since that may be the minority of users, Apple is ok with saying "Hold it differently"? We all know Apple does things based on what they "think" the majority of users will do....ie: no firewire on low end Macbooks.
I don't know anything about antenna signals, so I'm just guessing here.....but if an antenna's signal is degraded behind each layer of plastic etc, then by moving the antenna outside, Apple is giving it a better chance at getting a stronger signal, even though there is a side effect of direct contact with skin that can cause the signal to degrade significantly.
Tests I would like to see are the difference in signal strength in a 3GS with the back on and the back off.
Just my thoughts.
-Kevin
Let's take the 3G/3GS.....the antenna is on the inside of the phone behind essentially an outer plastic shell. So a naked iPhone 3GS the antenna signal goes through 1 layer (the plastic back).
Do you think Apple had enough research and statistics to show that the majority of users put an iPhone in some sort of case, whether that case is plastic or silicone? So now on a 3GS, the antenna has to go through the plastic back, then a plastic/silicone case....now it's going through 2 layers. Do you think they determined that this combo caused a lower/weaker signal?
Now the iPhone 4....antenna on the outside. Do you think Apple took a calculated risk in knowing that most people put it in a case anyway (heck even Steve in one of his emails suggested using a case) and the fact they came out with the bumper....that they knew since most people would put a case on it....that the antenna being on the outside would provide a stronger signal?
Yes, the people who choose to go caseless with their phones are more easily affected by the issue, but since that may be the minority of users, Apple is ok with saying "Hold it differently"? We all know Apple does things based on what they "think" the majority of users will do....ie: no firewire on low end Macbooks.
I don't know anything about antenna signals, so I'm just guessing here.....but if an antenna's signal is degraded behind each layer of plastic etc, then by moving the antenna outside, Apple is giving it a better chance at getting a stronger signal, even though there is a side effect of direct contact with skin that can cause the signal to degrade significantly.
Tests I would like to see are the difference in signal strength in a 3GS with the back on and the back off.
Just my thoughts.
-Kevin