funny how the complaints can drown out folks that do not have a problem.
You have multiple people stating that we have no problem, yet multiple people are insistent on panicing that every iPhone needs to be recalled. The sky is falling!!!
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iPhone 3G Connection Issues Related to Software or Hardware?
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funny how the complaints can drown out folks that do not have a problem.
You have multiple people stating that we have no problem, yet multiple people are insistent on panicing that every iPhone needs to be recalled. The sky is falling!!!
it is probably just a software update that is needed. i get 5 bars of 3g on the main ave in my town, which is like 2 blocks away from my house and i get like 3 bars of 3g in my house. if it was the chip i would barely get 3g.
Even if it's a small percentage of calls that have problems, a few annecdotes I've seen may suggest that those drops are concentrated on certain phones (or in certain areas): so most people get AT&Ts usual connection reliability, while a few get much worse. Of course, forum postings aren't evidence of how widespread the problem is, but I'd rather see Apple pay needless attention to a NON-issue (and address the few problem cases individually) than overlook a real problem!
Note, according to Daring Fireball, "Nomura analyst Richard Windsor," who started this media storm (and seems to be the source of fears that only an internal hardware change might help), is the same guy who started a blatantly fictitious report of hardware problems with the FIRST iPhone: an "increasing" wave of dead spots on Apple touch screens.
Like Windsor's 3G/Infineon report, his iPhone scare last year was packed with convincing-sounding technical and business details--which were entirely false. He said that iPhones use a chemical film on top of the glass that senses heat to detect touch, using technology from a Finnish company,and that this film breaks down several months after purchase. Awfully detailed and convincing! Better not buy an iPhone!
Of course, iPhones have NOTHING on top of the glass to break down, and don't use heat at all, and it takes no effort at all to uncover those facts. Windsor's FUD re touchscreens had to have been intentional--it's hard to imagine mere incompetence leading to such detailed false info.
See:
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20070810/iphone-deadspot/
So, I take Windsor's latest claim with salt. A problem exists, at least for some small number. How many? Who knows--it's only natural to post when you have a problem and not when you don't. But fears that it needs a hardware change seem to come from Windsor, so that's the detail should not be taken too seriously without more evidence.
I hold out hope for a software fix, and will watch the issue with interest before I buy my 3G.
Note, according to Daring Fireball, "Nomura analyst Richard Windsor," who started this media storm (and seems to be the source of fears that only an internal hardware change might help), is the same guy who started a blatantly fictitious report of hardware problems with the FIRST iPhone: an "increasing" wave of dead spots on Apple touch screens.
Like Windsor's 3G/Infineon report, his iPhone scare last year was packed with convincing-sounding technical and business details--which were entirely false. He said that iPhones use a chemical film on top of the glass that senses heat to detect touch, using technology from a Finnish company,and that this film breaks down several months after purchase. Awfully detailed and convincing! Better not buy an iPhone!
Of course, iPhones have NOTHING on top of the glass to break down, and don't use heat at all, and it takes no effort at all to uncover those facts. Windsor's FUD re touchscreens had to have been intentional--it's hard to imagine mere incompetence leading to such detailed false info.
See:
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20070810/iphone-deadspot/
So, I take Windsor's latest claim with salt. A problem exists, at least for some small number. How many? Who knows--it's only natural to post when you have a problem and not when you don't. But fears that it needs a hardware change seem to come from Windsor, so that's the detail should not be taken too seriously without more evidence.
I hold out hope for a software fix, and will watch the issue with interest before I buy my 3G.
Alas a beautiful mac has fallen . .
I am ashamed to have to admit I am having a bunch of little issues, but issues none the less with the iphone 3G. The reason for the shame . . I was firm against purchasing the new iphone because I love the original and did not plan to switch up by any means. I feel it is perfect and besides the whole overhyped 3G thing and GPS it doesn't add anything to the pot. The form factor of and the materials used on the original were better and looked classier; it even felt good in the hand. I love my phone and took it everywhere, sigh. I was shaving and had a bottle of rubbing alcohol on the little shelf next to me . . . and my phone. The bottle was open because I was going to use it soon. It must have tipped over and it soaked my iphone through and through and when I say through I mean through. I am so not in love with the iphone 3G and the following comment is not biased. I was not and am still not moved by the iphone 3G network or GPS and it is hype as I thought it would be. If you have the original iphone, stick with it; you have a great thing in it. The GPS is cool I guess but the 3G network hardly ever gets a connection to work anyway so I use edge all the time. Talk about defeating the purpose . . Take care everyone. Hope this helps someone.
I am ashamed to have to admit I am having a bunch of little issues, but issues none the less with the iphone 3G. The reason for the shame . . I was firm against purchasing the new iphone because I love the original and did not plan to switch up by any means. I feel it is perfect and besides the whole overhyped 3G thing and GPS it doesn't add anything to the pot. The form factor of and the materials used on the original were better and looked classier; it even felt good in the hand. I love my phone and took it everywhere, sigh. I was shaving and had a bottle of rubbing alcohol on the little shelf next to me . . . and my phone. The bottle was open because I was going to use it soon. It must have tipped over and it soaked my iphone through and through and when I say through I mean through. I am so not in love with the iphone 3G and the following comment is not biased. I was not and am still not moved by the iphone 3G network or GPS and it is hype as I thought it would be. If you have the original iphone, stick with it; you have a great thing in it. The GPS is cool I guess but the 3G network hardly ever gets a connection to work anyway so I use edge all the time. Talk about defeating the purpose . . Take care everyone. Hope this helps someone.
There's a contradiction between these two paragraphs. Do you want them to make a tradeoff towards battery life or away from it? The first paragraph suggests you want the latter, and the second suggests that you want the former.
My battery life is awesome on my 1st gen. Do people who complain about battery life keep their brightness cranked all the up? Do they keep wifi on all the time, even when they know they don't need it? It's not hard to save a little juice, in my experience.
Combination and Timing
I have been obsessed with 3G iPhone "issue" news over the past month and have read everything, everywhere about the reception/dropped calls/bad handover to EDGE problems that SOME 3G iPhone users are experiencing.
My conclusion to date is that there are a combination of things going on: please note, I still have my first gen. iPhone and have been/continue to be happy with it.
In Australia (where there is much discussion going on) users seem to have narrowed down the issue to one of MHz from the carrier - iPhone problems ONLY seem to happen on the 2100 MHz networks, Optus and Voda. Almost no complaints have come from Telstra users (850 MHz).
In Oregon, a manager (or regional manager) at an AT&T store shared with a dissatisfied customer that he believes Apple "went cheap on their chips" thus creating reception issues, so in an effort to "fix what Apple did" they are switching over to all 850 MHz. They weren't sure if it was going to be dual 1900/850 or just 850. They just knew, without a doubt that come September 30Th, 3G signals on the west side of Portland Oregon "would be booming."
As this whole 3G iPhone story gets more exposure on major web sites, what is starting to bubble up are cooberating reports that point to the following:
1. Networks using 2100 MHz cause issues.
2. The 3G iPhone "chipset" exacerbates those issues.
3. An eventual update will "fix" the alleged "chipset issue."
Which brings up a fascinating scenario: As Apple and various carriers work behind the scenes to address the MHz "issue," Apple is also working on "updates" to provide an eventual "fix." Apple may also have noticed this issue early on, and has since "retooled" 3G iPhones physically in some way to provide better reception. Or not.
I just think as all of the above come together at one magical moment, thousands of customers will experience the higher level of performance that they are currently not. I might even go so far as to say that, taking the Oregon case above, that while AT&T is furiously changing over the MHz coverage, Apple will time that with an update - and the update will be seen as the "fix" for the reception issue.
With no actual admission from Apple, it's all speculation. But due to the diligence of Apple enthusiasts worldwide, it seems the community itself is hearing of and coming up with some pretty fascinating stuff - and the field is narrowing greatly as to causation.
It's been an interesting situation to watch, to say the least.
(Credit where credit is due: http://www.fixmy3giphone.com/ )
I have been obsessed with 3G iPhone "issue" news over the past month and have read everything, everywhere about the reception/dropped calls/bad handover to EDGE problems that SOME 3G iPhone users are experiencing.
My conclusion to date is that there are a combination of things going on: please note, I still have my first gen. iPhone and have been/continue to be happy with it.
In Australia (where there is much discussion going on) users seem to have narrowed down the issue to one of MHz from the carrier - iPhone problems ONLY seem to happen on the 2100 MHz networks, Optus and Voda. Almost no complaints have come from Telstra users (850 MHz).
In Oregon, a manager (or regional manager) at an AT&T store shared with a dissatisfied customer that he believes Apple "went cheap on their chips" thus creating reception issues, so in an effort to "fix what Apple did" they are switching over to all 850 MHz. They weren't sure if it was going to be dual 1900/850 or just 850. They just knew, without a doubt that come September 30Th, 3G signals on the west side of Portland Oregon "would be booming."
As this whole 3G iPhone story gets more exposure on major web sites, what is starting to bubble up are cooberating reports that point to the following:
1. Networks using 2100 MHz cause issues.
2. The 3G iPhone "chipset" exacerbates those issues.
3. An eventual update will "fix" the alleged "chipset issue."
Which brings up a fascinating scenario: As Apple and various carriers work behind the scenes to address the MHz "issue," Apple is also working on "updates" to provide an eventual "fix." Apple may also have noticed this issue early on, and has since "retooled" 3G iPhones physically in some way to provide better reception. Or not.
I just think as all of the above come together at one magical moment, thousands of customers will experience the higher level of performance that they are currently not. I might even go so far as to say that, taking the Oregon case above, that while AT&T is furiously changing over the MHz coverage, Apple will time that with an update - and the update will be seen as the "fix" for the reception issue.
With no actual admission from Apple, it's all speculation. But due to the diligence of Apple enthusiasts worldwide, it seems the community itself is hearing of and coming up with some pretty fascinating stuff - and the field is narrowing greatly as to causation.
It's been an interesting situation to watch, to say the least.
(Credit where credit is due: http://www.fixmy3giphone.com/ )
I think there will be a lot more problems like this as Apple continues to create new products and software in the secrecy that their accustomed. They can't have a lot of beta testers for fear of leaks so they have no clue how a product will work under various conditions. Take Google for example. They don't hide the existence of this new Android product so they are free to test it, delay it and test it some more.
You aren't serious right? Google? Android? Whatever. All the announcement of that nonsense was in comparison like a jealous kid trying to act as if he could do what the other kid could do well and "naturally" and doing it all wrong and not caring just cause they prefer negative attention as opposed to none. That announcement came right after the announcement of the iphone and dude was all sweating and nervous and you could tell he was wishing he thought of creating something so well thought out and promising. The same thing with this clown rick rubin and the ipod/iphone thing. He was saying "Oh I thought of something, we could make like a music player thingy that can be taken with you and plugged in to things when you arrive places.." What the heck? people need to stop being sore loosers. It's no wonder Steve keeps things under wraps, I would too, because the level of immaturity that surfaces when others succeed is appalling.
Oh wow, that wouldn't be good for Apple to have that air. I hope they really start looking into this to get it solved. I am hoping all it is is a software issue.
Well, I think the software solution is most likely. I can understand the huge load placed on networks with the rapid addition of these 3G phones.
I live in one of New York's smaller cities with at&t 3G. On the drive in there is an exact point where the phone goes from Edge to 3G.
During the week as I pass through this area I will get about a minute of lower quality reception, sometimes static, then back to a nice connection on 3G.
If I drive into the city on a Sunday none of the above happens in this area. I have tested many times.
So, IMO if your in a very busy Metro Area the phone could easily say, "not enough bandwidth, time to drop."
Lets not forget we are on at&t's network. We ain't talking BMW here.
Anyway, just MO. I'm not an EE.
I live in one of New York's smaller cities with at&t 3G. On the drive in there is an exact point where the phone goes from Edge to 3G.
During the week as I pass through this area I will get about a minute of lower quality reception, sometimes static, then back to a nice connection on 3G.
If I drive into the city on a Sunday none of the above happens in this area. I have tested many times.
So, IMO if your in a very busy Metro Area the phone could easily say, "not enough bandwidth, time to drop."
Lets not forget we are on at&t's network. We ain't talking BMW here.
Anyway, just MO. I'm not an EE.
I smell recall,
Oh my, that will be really bad for Apple.
My iPhone is OK, but lately, I have calls being dropped. Not sure why. Since I am in huge metropolitan areas.
Oh my, that will be really bad for Apple.
My iPhone is OK, but lately, I have calls being dropped. Not sure why. Since I am in huge metropolitan areas.
I posted this when everyone was clamoring about the 7 series screens not being good. I'm not saying that there aren't signal issues with the new 3G iPhone, but interesting nonetheless as more and more people claim to have problems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Windshield_Pitting_Epidemic
OMG, I'VE GOT PITS ON MY WINDSHIELD TOO!!!
(they've always been there)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Windshield_Pitting_Epidemic
OMG, I'VE GOT PITS ON MY WINDSHIELD TOO!!!
(they've always been there)
Some of the speed test results on wifi is caused by the lower horsepower of the iPhone CPU versus your laptop (desktop, whatever)... But I routinely clock 4mb/s on iPhone wifi over my 10mb/s connection. The best I've seen on 3G here (California, USA) is 1.5mb/s. More typically I get the same 400 - 500kb/s you report, which is a darn sight better than the maximum 170kb/s I would get on the older EDGE network. My chief complaint is the wildly fluctuating signal strength, but I am in a major metropolitan area, so their explanation makes sense.This is good news. I have been getting speeds of around 400-500kb/s on O2 3G, but I wasn't sure if this was good or not. My home broadband Wi-Fi was giving a reading of around 600 even though I thought it was supposed to be 8Mbit*, so I trust those speed tests with a pinch of salt.
I've never had any cracking issues or problems with my iPhone 3G. The battery could be better.
* yes I know that the actual throughput is way lower than that but still...!
What a great comparison of T-MOBILE.
Seriously...
Until AT&T buys T-Mobile there is no authorized use of T-Mobile and the 3G iPhone. Dido is clearly missing an i and a t from his name.
It takes 5 seconds to see he is breaking any reasonable troubleshooting methodology in existance. IE whatever he is up to is a waste of time and is certainly not worthy of any consideration.
I went to the Telia Store (the cell provider in Sweden that sells the iPhone) today and showed them how my phone just tried to connect whenever I tried to surf. They sent it off to their service center or whatever for repairs, he said it would most likely be replaced instead of repaired If thats the case I will try to convince them to give me the 16 Gb one with a little money inbetween. Since my data been bad for the better part of a month
If thats the case I will try to convince them to give me the 16 Gb one with a little money inbetween. Since my data been bad for the better part of a month 
Thank for that. There may indeed be some software problems with how the iPhone hands off from 3G to Edge but given that Canadians and UK users are generally having a good experience and given that there were issues in Canada that were fixed by the provider directly, I would tend to believe that AT&T and T-mobile (Netherlands) are partly to blame here in how they configured their towers.
We should be careful to take the word of a known fraud at face value. I believe this Richard Windsor is an opportunist and shyster.
I see a lot of talk about lawsuits. If this Richard guy turns out to be a fraud again, people should be suing him for causing a panic.
The only place I have had a dropped call was in an underground hospital parking lot in Calgary, Alberta, and somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the Rocky Mountains. No dropped calls elsewhere in Alberta or British Columbia. 3G in all cities I have visited in Alberta and British Columbia, Edge in smaller towns.
You really made a fool of yourself
There are other authorized carriers outside of the United States. T-Mobile is certainly one of them.
"Doug" of Discussion Thread to be Interviewed
Doug Clements, the originator of "the thread that started it all" over at the Apple discussion board, seemingly will be interviewed by ABC regarding the 3G iPhone reception issue:
"Hello All,
I was contacted by ABC to do an interview regarding the iPhones 3G reception issues. I accepted to do the interview. I will be discussing how "we" (my family & others) were able to fix the issue. And we now have a great product in our hands!
However, a lot of people are still having problems. I will talk about how Apple deletes my posts (ones that are not pro Apple or that question reliability)... and why is Apple still remaining so silent?
As I was typing this, I received the call...
Look for my interview with ABC!!
Thanks,
Doug"
His thread discussion is titled "iPhone 3G Reception Problems? You're Not Alone" and has attracted so many viewers and comments that the thread has already been broken up twice due to length.
Share your own thoughts with ABC news:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/story?id=5578646
Doug Clements, the originator of "the thread that started it all" over at the Apple discussion board, seemingly will be interviewed by ABC regarding the 3G iPhone reception issue:
"Hello All,
I was contacted by ABC to do an interview regarding the iPhones 3G reception issues. I accepted to do the interview. I will be discussing how "we" (my family & others) were able to fix the issue. And we now have a great product in our hands!
However, a lot of people are still having problems. I will talk about how Apple deletes my posts (ones that are not pro Apple or that question reliability)... and why is Apple still remaining so silent?
As I was typing this, I received the call...
Look for my interview with ABC!!
Thanks,
Doug"
His thread discussion is titled "iPhone 3G Reception Problems? You're Not Alone" and has attracted so many viewers and comments that the thread has already been broken up twice due to length.
Share your own thoughts with ABC news:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/story?id=5578646
i've been lucky so far. Only time I had a dropped call was in the stairwell of my office building, always known to have poor reception there. I don't make enough phone calls to really say my iphone has issues. I will however note this observation, my internet stops loading pages on the train when it's switching between edge and 3G.
My iPhone 3G is just over a week old, I'll definitely be aware of it whenever my iphone starts dropping calls.
My iPhone 3G is just over a week old, I'll definitely be aware of it whenever my iphone starts dropping calls.