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iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched
- Thread starter dagomike
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Remember that iPhone 4 prototype that was left in the bar? It was reported that it had this plastic thing around it so it would look like an normal iPhone 3GS.
That was their field test and maybe they didn't even notice the issue because the phone was always hidden in that plastic-camouflage thing and nobody came to touch the metal underneath it.
Just my 2 cents...
That was their field test and maybe they didn't even notice the issue because the phone was always hidden in that plastic-camouflage thing and nobody came to touch the metal underneath it.
Just my 2 cents...
I'm just thinking out loud here, but perhaps this can be fixed by applying some invisible foil over the side, so that your skin never actually bridges the 2 antennae...
But, I can't imagine that there wasn't a single field tester out there, that didn't hold the phone in the manner which causes this problem. I checked, and per automatism, my palm also completely touches the side of my phone when I hold it. Very strange...
But, I can't imagine that there wasn't a single field tester out there, that didn't hold the phone in the manner which causes this problem. I checked, and per automatism, my palm also completely touches the side of my phone when I hold it. Very strange...
Anyone tried 3GS?
I just tried this on my 3GS and sure enough my bars dropped from full strength 5 right down to 2 in the space of about 15 seconds. (Held the phone around all edges with the bottom corner nestled in my palm.)
Put the phone down on the table and full bars returned almost immediately.
But wait for it.... I can only get it to do this using my RIGHT HAND!
I am in the UK on O2 by the way....
More 3G/3GS owners should try this out...
I just tried this on my 3GS and sure enough my bars dropped from full strength 5 right down to 2 in the space of about 15 seconds. (Held the phone around all edges with the bottom corner nestled in my palm.)
Put the phone down on the table and full bars returned almost immediately.
But wait for it.... I can only get it to do this using my RIGHT HAND!
I am in the UK on O2 by the way....
More 3G/3GS owners should try this out...
Most probably yeah... But I wouldn't be happy bunny with this...
Will be interesting to see is this "feature" is present on all units or not - this is the key issue I think...
If it is present on all units then Apple will be forced to recall.
Probably fix it. It sounds like the antenna is making a circuit with your body and you become a (not very good) antenna. A bit of plastic around it would fix it in this case.
Thanks for the information. I'm be looking forward to trying this out myself tomorrow.
If Apple purposely designed the iPhone4 such that it can't make calls when holding it with your left hand then they really have gone insane. This is unintended and is not supposed to happen. It is ludicrous to assume that Apple should have told everyone not to touch the left corner when making a call. This is a flaw.
It's not about that particular corner... it's about connecting both antennas with your hands; that corner is the place where if you hold the phone with your left hand, it will be more likely to make that connection possible... if they try holding the phone with the right hand and then use the fingers to connect the antennas on the other side, that is the left bottom corner... it should do the same thing.
I just tried this on my 3GS and sure enough my bars dropped from full strength 5 right down to 2 in the space of about 15 seconds. (Held the phone around all edges with the bottom corner nestled in my palm.)
Put the phone down on the table and full bars returned almost immediately.
But wait for it.... I can only get it to do this using my RIGHT HAND!
I am in the UK on O2 by the way....
More 3G/3GS owners should try this out...
Will test mine when I get it this morning. I'm thinking of getting an HTC now, after all of these production defects. Makes you wonder how many more could be waiting?
Yet just a few stories dwon, some of you hypocritical fanboys shred Gizmodo for also pointing this out. Talk about sour grapes and deflection. Apple screwed up, so of course some here shoot the messenger. lol Only in Appleland...
Not necessarily. Capacitive interaction occurs even if the the body is electrically isolated from the source. And besides, who wants a plastic barrier to tack on to their new iPhone? Think about how ugly that would be.
aha!
quote:
Update: A couple of commenters have said they have been unable to replicate on their iPhone 4, while others have, so it may not affect every device.
this is good news (kind of) since it appears to be the case only with some percentage of units shipped...
it might not be all that bad after all
quote:
Update: A couple of commenters have said they have been unable to replicate on their iPhone 4, while others have, so it may not affect every device.
this is good news (kind of) since it appears to be the case only with some percentage of units shipped...
it might not be all that bad after all
maybe apple can issue an update so the iPhone will pump up the juice on the 3G radio and hold the connection
that's why i suggested masking the slit, so that you mitigate connecting both antennae in the most obvious spot.
All my older nokias has this "feature", you touch the zone where the antenna is and you lost service
PS: Steve Jobs hates lefties
Actually, just go out and buy those bumps.
Not only do they protect the phone in an unobstructive fashion, but they also solve the conductivity issue -provided there is one (I am still reluctant to believe something like this slipped engineering testing. We will know for sure, if we hear cuts in Apple's personnel)- in one go
Not only do they protect the phone in an unobstructive fashion, but they also solve the conductivity issue -provided there is one (I am still reluctant to believe something like this slipped engineering testing. We will know for sure, if we hear cuts in Apple's personnel
)- in one go
so basicly its hands free all the way then or will there be issues with headphones blocking the signal. I am in the market for a new phone i was hoping to get the iphone but with whats happening for signal issues screen issues scratches and such things dont bother me but the fact i cant make or receive a call without the phone been on a table puts me in a situation of well if they cant get it to pick up a signal when in your hand then its not much use. What also gets my attention is the fact that apple knew about this and still went ahead with releasing this product without addressing this. A software fix is it not a hardware issue not a software issue. Last i knew software and hardware are not the same.
Actually, just go out and buy those bumps.
Not only do they protect the phone in an unobstructive fashion, but they also solve the conductivity issue -provided there is one (I am still reluctant to believe something like this slipped engineering testing. We will know for sure, if we hear cuts in Apple's personnel
I'm sure there a lot of people like me that prefer their iPhone without a case, both for its aesthetics and the slimness. After all, apple is touting the fact that this iPhone is thinner than most smart phones. I'm assuming the bumper adds some bulk, no? I really don't want that stupid bumper.
I just tried this on my 3GS and sure enough my bars dropped from full strength 5 right down to 2 in the space of about 15 seconds. (Held the phone around all edges with the bottom corner nestled in my palm.)
Put the phone down on the table and full bars returned almost immediately.
But wait for it.... I can only get it to do this using my RIGHT HAND!
I am in the UK on O2 by the way....
More 3G/3GS owners should try this out...
Was able to reproduce this just fine on my 3G and my fiancé's 3G S. On both phones, on AT&T, bars dropped from 5 to 1 -- using my right hand. This is normal behavior when intentionally obstructing the cell antenna. Trouble with iPhone 4 is this is extremely easy to do given the antenna is external and the core structure onto which we are meant to hold.
The question is: "Which antenna are they using?" The new iPhone has two one for GSM and one for UMTS (that is also why I asked to disable 3G under Network settings)?aha!
quote:
Update: A couple of commenters have said they have been unable to replicate on their iPhone 4, while others have, so it may not affect every device.
this is good news (kind of) since it appears to be the case only with some percentage of units shipped...
it might not be all that bad after all
Oh my Apple...
If this is true and without any solution - Apple managed to create a piece of crap and we are witnessing this... Absolutely outstanding.
As far as I know Apple ´s got some money to survive this - at least a pricedrop and bumpers for all could be a beginning.
If this is true and without any solution - Apple managed to create a piece of crap and we are witnessing this... Absolutely outstanding.
As far as I know Apple ´s got some money to survive this - at least a pricedrop and bumpers for all could be a beginning.
Easy to reproduce on a 3GS running iOS4 on O2 network in the UK. From five bars to 1 or 2.