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iPhone 4 Signal Issue Can Be Fixed With a Software Update?

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Apr 12, 2001
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Despite the fact that today's release of iOS 4.0.1 addressed only the display of signal strength on the iPhone and not actual signal attenuation issues caused by touching the antenna in the side of the iPhone 4, a software fix may yet still be possible.

According to The New York Times, the signal attenuation issue is the result of an interaction between communication software within the device's operating system and the antenna, an issue that could presumably be addressed with a software update.
One person with direct knowledge of the phone's design said Thursday that the iPhone 4 exposed a longstanding weakness in the basic communications software inside Apple's phones and that the reception problems were not caused by an isolated hardware flaw.

Instead, the problems emerged in the complex interaction between specialized communications software and the antenna, said the person, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
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The source also indicates that Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not learn of the signal issue until after the iPhone 4 began shipping, seemingly refuting a report from Bloomberg earlier today claiming that Jobs had been tipped off early in the design process that the antenna design could cause a problem.
The person said the problems were longstanding but had been exposed by the design of the iPhone 4. All cellphones can be affected by the way a hand grips the phone, but well-designed communications software compensates for a variety of external factors and prevents calls from dropping, the person said.
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The issue is reportedly unrelated to the signal display issue already addressed by Apple in iOS 4.0.1.

If the source's claims are true, the information could shed some light on recent comments made by Jobs in an email to a customer claiming that the "facts are different" than has been portrayed by blogs and the media, which have positioned the issue as a hardware problem possibly necessitating a recall.

Apple has scheduled a press conference for tomorrow at 10:00 AM Pacific Time to address the iPhone 4, and the company is widely expected to discuss the signal issues. Sources indicated earlier today, however, that Apple is not planning a recall of the device.

Article Link: iPhone 4 Signal Issue Can Be Fixed With a Software Update?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/15/iphone-4-signal-issue-can-be-fixed-with-a-software-update/
WTF!? Pleeeaaaase let the press conference begin and have Apple explain everything, otherwise this speculation madness will never end!
 
I highly doubt this as some users on this board reported by exchanging the iPhone 4, their reception issue went away. We'll see tomorrow....
 
If this is indeed true (and I will only believe it until I see it) this is good. However I still predict people will still call Apple a bunch of liars no matter what Apple says here. I can see it already.
 
As long as forums are full of people who believe anything they read on the internet, reports like this one are going to continue to pour out until an official statement is made by Apple.

Even then, the forums will speculate what Apple really meant during their conference. It will never end.
 
I hope there's a software update that helps us move onto other subjects that don't revolve around signal issues.
 
wongster41 said:
I highly doubt this as some users on this board reported by exchanging the iPhone 4, their reception issue went away. We'll see tomorrow....
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I don’t know. Lots of people have said that is only due to the fact that the iPhone is reconfiguring it’s network connection. It’s not permanent.

Then again, there have been lots of claims.
 
wongster41 said:
I highly doubt this as some users on this board reported by exchanging the iPhone 4, their reception issue went away. We'll see tomorrow....
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Could you please direct me to this? I haven't heard such a thing. Even if true, sometimes software works better on some devices better than others for no apparent reason. For example the proximity sensor is almost definitely a software issue. But only maybe a quarter of all ip4 owners are reporting it

This would really save Apple if a software solution is possible... Plus it would be a lot easier on us. Please let this be the case!
 
So, does this mean that they have been trying to solve the problem for years, more than one generation, and still haven't figured it out? I figured apple could pool the talent to solve something as important as the connection to the "mobile device" since they are supposedly the industry leader in mobile computers. I don't doubt that the problem will get better after some time looking into though. ??What are they doing with all that money??? It's like ATT saying they don't have the resources to build out their network.
 
I call BS, Jobs knows every little detail he had to know about the signal issues.
 
dontworry said:
So, does this mean that they have been trying to solve the problem for years, more than one generation, and still haven't figured it out?
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The article says the bug has been around for years but only the iPhone 4's hardware brought the bug out to be apparent.

arn
 
I predict good news tomorrow. It's very un-apple-like to come out and parade themselves around when they don't have good news.

Bad news comes in the form of press releases. Good news comes in the form of executives strutting around on stage.

Of course, it's not a hard rule. I could be wrong. But based on history I'm voting for 'good news' for tomorrow.
 
And now we see Apple desperately refuting the claim reported by Bloomberg this morning that Steve Jobs was warned about the antenna design.

They know that leak would be lethal in a legal battle, so they're definitely going to continue to spin that it's not a hardware flaw.

Just keep digging deeper Apple. That's never ended up being a horrible idea for any other companies in a similar situation.
 
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