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iPhone 3G Connectivity Affecting 2% of Customers? Software Fix Soon?
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Well it might be an NVidia-style software fix.
Exactly what I was thinking. Of course I have a MBP with the allegedly affected NVidia chips and an iPhone 3G...great :S
2%, my butt.
Most aren't complaining because this is the first data plan they have gotten, and just think it is supposed to be crappy. I for one started out as one of them, but now that I am reading this, it fully explains why I am almost never on the 3G network for very long even though I am in the middle of a major metro area (Atlanta).
My butt, indeed.
Most aren't complaining because this is the first data plan they have gotten, and just think it is supposed to be crappy. I for one started out as one of them, but now that I am reading this, it fully explains why I am almost never on the 3G network for very long even though I am in the middle of a major metro area (Atlanta).
My butt, indeed.
iPhone cell density
For what I have been reading the problem seems to effect users in areas where the density of phones on the mobile phone cell is very high. So most likely if you in a major city centre the problem shows up.
It would be intersting for users with the problem to indicate where they are geographically.
For what I have been reading the problem seems to effect users in areas where the density of phones on the mobile phone cell is very high. So most likely if you in a major city centre the problem shows up.
It would be intersting for users with the problem to indicate where they are geographically.
100% Gone gone gone
This weekend, just before my 30th day, I returned my 3G and reverted back to my original iphone. The connectivity issues are gone...call strength on EDGE is fine, and the email function actually works... I am regularly receiving emails again ! I'm also realizing how well built and solid the original was. Anyway, as much as I wanted the 3G that was advertised, what I got was a piece of garbage so I got rid of it. Yes, the gps oriented apps are slower on the 2g but...at least the way they work is consistent. If in the coming months I read that they fixed the hardware issues I'll rebuy it but for now it was just too much trouble. After numerous great Apple experiences, this was a disaster - not only with the device, but also the denial on the part of Apple that anything was wrong, despite numerous calls and a 45 minute visit with a "genius" (haha).
This weekend, just before my 30th day, I returned my 3G and reverted back to my original iphone. The connectivity issues are gone...call strength on EDGE is fine, and the email function actually works... I am regularly receiving emails again ! I'm also realizing how well built and solid the original was. Anyway, as much as I wanted the 3G that was advertised, what I got was a piece of garbage so I got rid of it. Yes, the gps oriented apps are slower on the 2g but...at least the way they work is consistent. If in the coming months I read that they fixed the hardware issues I'll rebuy it but for now it was just too much trouble. After numerous great Apple experiences, this was a disaster - not only with the device, but also the denial on the part of Apple that anything was wrong, despite numerous calls and a 45 minute visit with a "genius" (haha).
Assuming it's real... why would "Steve" have to be Steve Jobs? I mean, Apple was founded by two people named Steve. Whose to say Steve Jobs doesn't keep a close circle of friends all named Steve?
I'm not inclined to believe this piece of rumor, there's no sources quoted, no evidence presented, no attempt at verification even with un-official sources. Anyone can say they got an email.
I'm not saying there isn't a problem, just saying this article is pretty sloppy.
bah
I'm not saying there isn't a problem, just saying this article is pretty sloppy.
bah
I wonder if this 2% of affected iPhone users is similar to the 1% of affected Mobile Me users (which seemed to be a lot more than 1%).
It depends on the numbers:
1. if the sold 1million 1phones, then 2% is 20,000 people. they are saying 60,000 = which means 3million iphone sold. The higher number of units sold the more units effected. So even at just 2%, that is a high number.
Considering .mac has been around for ages and with the number of iphones that were sold, plus the new .mac adopters...
3million iphones, 2million old .mac users (just a number, as I have no true idea), 1 million new mobileme adopters (again just a number, as I have no idea) = 6million moble me. 1 % = 60,000. 60,000 can make a lot of noise.
Of course, I am sure there are more than 6million considering all the iphones and old .macs, and new mobile me subscribers.
My point is that even if % looks low, if there are a lot of units that low % could still add up to a lot of effected units.
Seems odd that a software issue would help something that affects only 2% of phones (and isn't system-wide).
I'm calling this one BS. For a couple of reasons:
1) No included email headers (these can be faked, but it is something)
2) There's no way Steve responds with a number. He would say, "a few customers are affected" or "a very small percentage of phones are affected". There is no way he is going to state publicly that 2% of all iPhones are defective.
3) It is WAY too similar to recent rumor site posts.
Pubb
1) No included email headers (these can be faked, but it is something)
2) There's no way Steve responds with a number. He would say, "a few customers are affected" or "a very small percentage of phones are affected". There is no way he is going to state publicly that 2% of all iPhones are defective.
3) It is WAY too similar to recent rumor site posts.
Pubb
The email headers are in another thread in the iphone rumors forum.
I'll see what I can dig up if I remember what thread it was in.
And that's probably the software fix that "Steve" is talking about. I wouldn't be surprised if the problem is a combination of 3G service providers plus the iPhone's 3G chipset. Maybe there was a valid reason Steve originally wanted to stick with EDGE, besides battery life.
Actually, it sounds like it could easily be a bug in the radio firmware. Something in the tower handoff and selection code.
That's particularly evident in the reports like "i was driving down x and my call dropped 10 times" and even the "i was standing in one spot and my call kept dropping". You could easily be standing in a place your phone doesn't know which of two towers to pick and if there are bugs in the selection and handoff logic you could be dropped. This is particularly a problem in large cities where the buildings bounce the signal all over the place and is a multi-path nightmare.
The instance where 3g signals need to basically disappear before the phone will fall back to EDGE shows there's at least one tuning issue/bug in the tower selection logic.
I'm not saying it's entirely firmware, but a lot of it can probably be cleared up that way.
http://chuqui.typepad.com/chuqui_30/2008/08/two-little-tidb.html
this is an interesting read, re the iphone chipset drivers. about half way down.
this is an interesting read, re the iphone chipset drivers. about half way down.
Agreed
Totally agree. Don't think Stevie would actually reveal numbers. Just not smart, and from what i've heard, he is pretty smart.
Totally agree. Don't think Stevie would actually reveal numbers. Just not smart, and from what i've heard, he is pretty smart.
i agree and disagree with n8236.
i agree that they wouldn't be "fixing" anything unless it was a much greater margin than 2%.
i disagree with the number of 5% though.
there was a much larger adoption of the 3G as compared to the 2G. follow me on this one. even with the 2G, i had numerous people around me that barely even understood the full functionality of the iphone much less knew how to work it. now pop the 3G into the hands of more than 3 times the amount of the first version. i'm betting that most people with problems don't even realize they are having them. they are of the masses that are not using it to the full functionality. they might just be consolidating a phone and ipod into one device especially considering it's cheaper.
so i'm thinking the number is much larger than we could stand to believe especially for apple to exert efforts to correct it. at the very least, i would think it's affecting 50% of everything that has been shipped.
think about it, you are going to have a LOT more average people that aren't going to be running to forums to complain about there iphone.
trust me.......the number of "defective" iphones is VERY high. the question is whether they will halt production to correct the issue. maybe someone should be investigating that.
i agree that they wouldn't be "fixing" anything unless it was a much greater margin than 2%.
i disagree with the number of 5% though.
there was a much larger adoption of the 3G as compared to the 2G. follow me on this one. even with the 2G, i had numerous people around me that barely even understood the full functionality of the iphone much less knew how to work it. now pop the 3G into the hands of more than 3 times the amount of the first version. i'm betting that most people with problems don't even realize they are having them. they are of the masses that are not using it to the full functionality. they might just be consolidating a phone and ipod into one device especially considering it's cheaper.
so i'm thinking the number is much larger than we could stand to believe especially for apple to exert efforts to correct it. at the very least, i would think it's affecting 50% of everything that has been shipped.
think about it, you are going to have a LOT more average people that aren't going to be running to forums to complain about there iphone.
trust me.......the number of "defective" iphones is VERY high. the question is whether they will halt production to correct the issue. maybe someone should be investigating that.
2% of Units is wrong figure, it is not specific to unit!
2% mentioned do not relate to a specific iPhones sold. Any iPhone is vulnerable if it happened to wonder in the twilight zone.
So you cannot rest on assumption "I am not affected". If issue is not addressed you will certainly will at some point.
2% mentioned do not relate to a specific iPhones sold. Any iPhone is vulnerable if it happened to wonder in the twilight zone.
So you cannot rest on assumption "I am not affected". If issue is not addressed you will certainly will at some point.
7 phones? What could have possibly happened? I have never heard of thing in my life!
Its funney that the only way to get Apple to admit there is a problem is to out the issues in the mass media. If you call support- they will tell you they have NEVER heard of the problem.
I know 8 different people that have the new iPhones and we ALL have the 3G / call drop problems.
I know 8 different people that have the new iPhones and we ALL have the 3G / call drop problems.
It's 2% or something but not everybody. I got my 3G last week and it's been a noticeable improvement over my original iPhone. I get 3G in places where I couldn't get edge. Paired fine with my car and no echo. It's real for the people that have the problem but I didn't.
Ralph
Birmingham, AL
Ralph
Birmingham, AL