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

[SactoGuy18]

If the fix can be implemented in software, one thing I'd like to see Apple do is offer a limited "open beta" to maybe at most 10,000 iPhone 4 users around the world to test the software fix in beta form in different cellphone tower arrangements around the world.

 

[bawbag]

The signal issue is a hardware design flaw. Unless they coat the metal with something, many people will hold it so the antenna is shorted with the ground, like Sith Lord Jobs did during the dog and pony show.

The only way a software update is going to fix this is if it makes the iPhone send a subliminal message of Jobs whispering "don't hold it that way" over and over.

Just wait and see what Apple says in the press conference today. They will give their take on the flaw, and may describe a hardwear fix that doesn't involve coating the metal strip i.e. an internal insulator.

 

[tomccabe]

"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."

I say *********.

"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."

I say ********* again.

It's a design issue, thats what happens when the antenna is on the outside of the phone.

Wow, it's amazing how many cellular engineers are in this forum these days. I'll ask you too, please give us some technical data and reasoning for your conclusions, ie what phones or carriers you have worked for in the past and what solutions you or others have implemented there. Please post your resume (in PDF format please) so that we can all see your immense qualifications in the cellular hardware or software industry that leads you to such informed opinions.

If your response is similar to other experts on the topic "I say *********."

 

[ChrisTX]

This is a crazy mess but Apple needs to come out and acknowledge that some iPhones are experiencing problems and offer a fix. However granted not everyone is being troubled by this, myself included you can't just lump everyone into the problem side of things and offer a recall. Because then that assumes all are affected or will be. It is morning time now, so let's see what Apple has to say in a few hours.

 

[tomccabe]

The signal issue is a hardware design flaw. Unless they coat the metal with something, many people will hold it so the antenna is shorted with the ground, like Sith Lord Jobs did during the dog and pony show.

The only way a software update is going to fix this is if it makes the iPhone send a subliminal message of Jobs whispering "don't hold it that way" over and over.

------
Sent from my Apple IIe, featuring the mighty MOS 6502

Wow! Another poster with a degree in mobile engineering that just happened to join in the last month! I can't believe the odds. I'd ask for your specific knowledge o the technology too but the fact is we all know anyone posting definitive answers (on either side) is full of BS. Tomorrow if the display went wrong we'd have 10,000 display "experts" posting their "findings." This board has gotten to be a real joke of Hollywood Upstairs Medical College experts in the sat few weeks.

 

[clownie]

Random thoughts...

First, why not coat the outside edge of that frame with a clear dielectric, maybe something like matte polyurethane or Power Support film... Probably adds about $2 per phone, more if frame must be minutely resized to allow for coating...
Second, as an older person, I would never hear Steve Jobs whispering "Don't hold it that way" as a subliminal message, so that is a silly idea...
Third, we are talking about a cell phone here. Unless you are Bruce Willis trying to stop a "Fire Sale" in Die Hard XXI, is any given cell call life or death? Even Bruce had trouble getting a good signal. When my college age kids have cell problems (with their Verizon phones), they call me as if their car is on fire and they need someone to help extinguish the flames..... I figure if a call drops, I call someone back or they will call me back. If I miss a call, it goes to voice mail... If it was a bogus call, I escaped...
Having said all that, I cancelled my 7/2 4g phone, and reordered a 7/20 phone. I will save about $20/month with new data/text plan so that is my price for waiting... Will wait and see today's facts and tone as to whether I cancel again.... I saw two iPhone 4s last weekend and their owners were happy. We couldn't show the death grip phenomenon. Until I cruise around with my 4.0.1 3GS, I won't know, but I suspect I live and work in a cell rich environment, so iPhone 4G owners here are happy...
Use things and value people....

 

[JoJoCal19]

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.

I agree. I think Apple will either release good news or they will atleast get out infront of the issue and announce minor hardware changes and the opportunity for anyone affected to exchange their device for a new one.

I definitely think Apple should and will take advantage of this opportunity to fix the current public perception of them. I certainly hope so because I want to restore my faith in Apple that they will always take care of their customers and stand behind their products.

 

[ChrisNM]

Fan Boy Extreme

Tomccabe is the ultimate fanboy. If Steve Jobs tells everyone later today that the best way to fix the signal problem is to find a big pile of steaming dog s*** and dip your shiney new phone in it, Tomccabe will call him a genius.

 

[BruiserBear]

I think Consumer Reports does a great job at valuing products, but does their testing process loose credibility if the signal loss can be remedied by a software fix? Granted, the signal loss is triggered by a hardware phenomenon. However, knowing that the hardware and software interact to conduct calls, shouldn't thorough testing or at least logical deduction bring up the possibility of a software flaw/bug?

Posts like this make me want to avoid this site forever. To know there are people who think this way disturbs me on some level.

 

[JoJoCal19]

Wow, it's amazing how many cellular engineers are in this forum these days. I'll ask you too, please give us some technical data and reasoning for your conclusions, ie what phones or carriers you have worked for in the past and what solutions you or others have implemented there. Please post your resume (in PDF format please) so that we can all see your immense qualifications in the cellular hardware or software industry that leads you to such informed opinions.

If your response is similar to other experts on the topic "I say *********."

What he said.

It's amazing that every time a technical or legal thread pops up, all of the forum engineers and lawyers come out. I know there are very few people here that actually do have such experience, and they are the ones that make their point and back that up with some sort of explanation, facts, or data.

 

[SPUY767]

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....

A software update is perfectly valid as a means to fix the issue, only problem is, one would have to greatly reduce the sensitivity of the antenna to do so. Apple isn't going to reduce their phone's stellar reception, so like I said in another thread. The SS ring can be relatively easily removed in about a minute. So I'm picturing affected users bringing in their phones, having the antennas removed and replaced with an antenna that has been coated with a non-conductive film of some sort, and then the old antennas will be sent to be retrofitted with the coating. This way, Apple doesn't burn through the money spent on manufacturing the uncoated antennas for the first three million phones.

 

[tomccabe]

Tomccabe is the ultimate fanboy. If Steve Jobs tells everyone later today that the best way to fix the signal problem is to find a big pile of steaming dog s*** and dip your shiney new phone in it, Tomccabe will call him a genius.

You know, the problem with the world is that you can't take out a restraining order on low intelligence. Unfortunately this post falls into that category. If you can show me where I am being a "fanboy" (is that like a backstreet boy?) please do. All I've asked is for each and every "expert" that has showed up today to post their qualifications. Not surprisingly I have gotten ZERO responses that don't resemble yours and none who were so sure about what it was or wasn't to give me their technical, "expert" opinion for saying such. Your extremely weak insult aside (sorry I won't be up crying later), not one if these people with so called definitive answers has uttered ONE SINGLE WORD to back up their points.

And then we have your kind of post which, sadly, makes me feel bad for you as a person.

 

[BruiserBear]

What he said.

It's amazing that every time a technical or legal thread pops up, all of the forum engineers and lawyers come out. I know there are very few people here that actually do have such experience, and they are the ones that make their point and back that up with some sort of explanation, facts, or data.

If someone said to me they could levitate, my response would be "I'll believe it when I see it". My very strong hunch would be that it's impossible.

Likewise, if someone tells me this iPhone antenna problem can be fixed with a software update, my response would be the exact same. I'll believe it when I see it. It would be the first time in my life that a very observable hardware flaw was fixed by some sort of a software update.

The fact that so many people here think it's very possible this could be done is why so many of us are laughing at you. Wishful thinking can be amusing.

I'm an iPhone 4 owner, so I have every reason to hope this is a software problem, but I think it's so unlikely I'm going to be very skeptical until I see it with my own eyes.

 

[tomccabe]

What he said.

It's amazing that every time a technical or legal thread pops up, all of the forum engineers and lawyers come out. I know there are very few people here that actually do have such experience, and they are the ones that make their point and back that up with some sort of explanation, facts, or data.

Honestly the legal threads are far more maddening because everyone fancies themselves an expert on the law. 99% of them use playground law but at least technology scares away some of the idiots. This topic however...

 

[aughsum]

Wow.. if Apple fixes it with software.. you will all need to find something new to bitch about.

 

[Intarweb]

*************. Flat out *************. People have upgraded and the problem is still there. 4.1 does nothing but mask the issue, not fix it.

 

[tomccabe]

If someone said to me they could levitate, my response would be "I'll believe it when I see it". My very strong hunch would be that it's impossible.

Likewise, if someone tells me this iPhone antenna problem can be fixed with a software update, my response would be the exact same. I'll believe it when I see it. It would be the first time in my life that a very observable hardware flaw was fixed by some sort of a software update.

The fact that so many people here think it's very possible this could be done is why so many of us are laughing at you. Wishful thinking can be amusing.

I'm an iPhone 4 owner, so I have every reason to hope this is a software problem, but I think it's so unlikely I'm going to be very skeptical until I see it with my own eyes.

Hardware problems have been fixed by software for like...20 ****ing years now. It's not anyone else's problem that you've been living in a box. I don't pretend to know what this issue is (that my iPhone 4 does and has never exhibited), but I've been programming for 20 years and my dad has been doing it for 10 more. What I do know is that hardware and software are indelibly linked and that anyone who claims hardware doesn't effect software or vice versa has no frigging clue about modern technology.

 

[Oh-es-Ten]

This board has gotten to be a real joke of Hollywood Upstairs Medical College experts in the sat few weeks.

Quite! (like the Simpsons quote)

There is a lot of Dr Nick Rivieras (in Mobile RF Telephony) about...

 

[tomccabe]

*************. Flat out *************. People have upgraded and the problem is still there. 4.1 does nothing but mask the issue, not fix it.

That would be an amazing FU to Apple if it weren't for 2 things:

1) 4.1 hasn't been released to the public.
2) it's in it's first beta release.

Do you get mad when you go to the car show and the cars don't even drive?

 

[ChrisNM]

You know, the problem with the world is that you can't take out a restraining order on low intelligence. Unfortunately this post falls into that category. If you can show me where I am being a "fanboy" (is that like a backstreet boy?) please do. All I've asked is for each and every "expert" that has showed up today to post their qualifications. Not surprisingly I have gotten ZERO responses that don't resemble yours and none who were so sure about what it was or wasn't to give me their technical, "expert" opinion for saying such. Your extremely weak insult aside (sorry I won't be up crying later), not one if these people with so called definitive answers has uttered ONE SINGLE WORD to back up their points.

And then we have your kind of post which, sadly, makes me feel bad for you as a person.

If that was all you were doing, I wouldn't have an issue with it - but you go beyond that. You act like a total a$$. I got sick and tired of you attacking people personally and making moronic comments about them working as waiters or bar backs. So I gave you a taste of your own medicine and clearly you didn't like it. Why don't you try showing others a little respect and perhaps you'll get some yourself.

 

[Clown Boy]

Hardware problems have been fixed by software for like...20 ****ing years now. It's not anyone else's problem that you've been living in a box. I don't pretend to know what this issue is (that my iPhone 4 does and has never exhibited), but I've been programming for 20 years and my dad has been doing it for 10 more. What I do know is that hardware and software are indelibly linked and that anyone who claims hardware doesn't effect software or vice versa has no frigging clue about modern technology.

Do you have pictures of Steve Jobs on your cell wall?

Silly 'lil fanboi fool.

 

[tomccabe]

If that was all you were doing, I wouldn't have an issue with it - but you go beyond that. You act like a total a$$. I got sick and tired of you attacking people personally and making moronic comments about them working as waiters or bar backs. So I gave you a taste of your own medicine and clearly you didn't like it. Why don't you try showing others a little respect and perhaps you'll get some yourself.

But I don't work as a waiter or a barback nor do I make definitive statements about something I'm not knowledgeable about. When people earn respect they get it. When they fly off the handle and pretend to be experts on complex issues they don't. Sorry I'm immune to your doses of "medicine". If you have something interesting to say that will further the board's knowledge on the topic by all means have at it and you will get respect. If you show up with some stupid "stevehasnojobs" screenname and spout a bunch of uninformed garbage you will get exactly what you asked for. Just like life. When you graduate from high school you'll realize that people are going to question you when you make an ass of yourself.

 

[tomccabe]

Do you have pictures of Steve Jobs on your cell wall?

Silly 'lil fanboi fool.

Do you have pictures of Bozo?

 

[ChrisNM]

I've been programming for 20 years and my dad has been doing it for 10 more.

And I am willing to bet that you still live with your dad. I have this image of a 400 pound guy sitting in a lazy boy covered in duct tape with a dozen empty cans from the last known case of Jolt soda typing away all night on macrumors under the user name of tomccabe, angry at the world because he has no life.

Scary how accurate that is, isn't it?

 

[tomccabe]

And I am willing to bet that you still live with your dad. I have this image of a 400 pound guy sitting in an lazy boy covered in duct tape with a dozen empty cans from the last known case of Jolt soda typing away all night on macrumors under the user name of tomccabe, angry at the world because he has no life.

Scary how accurate that is, isn't it.

Not really but keep telling yourself you k ow something about me. I'll call my dad an let him know some loser with no opinion or facts totally "served" me in an online forum. We'll both get a real kick out of that (he has to deal with retarded users too)!