It could be fixed with a software or firmware repair by a certified apple repair store, or at an apple store. Most people live near one or the other. I'm not saying this is what will occur, but it is a possibility. Instead of sending a blanket update, direct those with a problem to a local center where they accurately level the phone and then adjust the coding in the software or firmware.
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iPhone 5s accelerometer/gyroscope/compass values incorrect
- Thread starter tharepairguy
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iPhone 5s accelerometer/gyroscope/compass values incorrect
The IHandy Level test failed on my iPhone 5S. If I reset to 0 and flip the phone over it reads -3.5. If I reset and flip over again to the original side it reads -3.5 again. So the left and right side sensors are 3.5 degrees out of alignment.
Likewise standing the phone upside down (home button at top) reads 0 degrees, but standing it rightside up reads 3 degrees.
This means the level is correct when I hold the phone with the home button of the left or top, but incorrect when I hold the phone with the home button on the right or bottom. So a blanket fix won't work on my phone.
Lying on its back is always wrong by 2 or 3 degrees.
The IHandy Level test failed on my iPhone 5S. If I reset to 0 and flip the phone over it reads -3.5. If I reset and flip over again to the original side it reads -3.5 again. So the left and right side sensors are 3.5 degrees out of alignment.
Likewise standing the phone upside down (home button at top) reads 0 degrees, but standing it rightside up reads 3 degrees.
This means the level is correct when I hold the phone with the home button of the left or top, but incorrect when I hold the phone with the home button on the right or bottom. So a blanket fix won't work on my phone.
Lying on its back is always wrong by 2 or 3 degrees.
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it's gonna be a long wait mate I am "almost certain"
also this is a members forum where one can state an opinion if you think my opinion is wrong then correct me. dont bloody preach.
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Could be: the point is no-one knows. If your previous post was your opinion you shouldn't have stated it as if it was fact IMHO.
Just to add my story here as well: just got back from the Apple Store. No Genius Bar appointment, but I can confirm every single floor model iPhone 5s was miscalibrated. As if we needed more proof, I took a few photos (can only upload one for some reason, and no idea why it's inverted...it's not on my phone). Please don't mind the skewed angle if the images, they were taken with my 5s 
I then spoke with AppleCare support, and they escalated the issue and put in "a ticket". The support dude hadn't heard of the issue, tried to get me to do the 90 min reset, and finally just told me he would contact the higher ups and give me a personal call back on Wednesday at 1:30pm. No word on whether it's hardware or software, but he said we should have an answer by Wednesday.
News to come...
I then spoke with AppleCare support, and they escalated the issue and put in "a ticket". The support dude hadn't heard of the issue, tried to get me to do the 90 min reset, and finally just told me he would contact the higher ups and give me a personal call back on Wednesday at 1:30pm. No word on whether it's hardware or software, but he said we should have an answer by Wednesday.
News to come...
Attachments
OK, so the iHandy calibration perhaps only works if:
1) the error is small (mine is +1 degree on short edge, -1 degree when flat)
2) and/or there is no error on one edge (my long edge is 0).
I'm booked in for a Genius appointment on Friday (after a senior Apple advisor told me it is a hardware problem so need a replacement), but I suspect they won't have one better than mine (at the moment).
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Problem !!
Well, you may indeed have a hardware issue that can't be corrected by software. However, I'm no pro with this stuff so I would wait for an update or some action on this before exchanging it. I informed the Apple Tech Supervisor the other night that I will wait for two firmware updates and if it doesn't fix it, I'm going to keep doing an exchange until I get a fully function unit. He totally agreed with me and even stated that I contact him to do so instead of going into an Apple Store. I personally don't use the compass or level but this also affects game performance and besides, Apple stuck those features into this iphone and I paid big bucks for it so it must be working correctly. If Apple doesn't correct this by a software fix or exchange, I can see the court papers. I was told this is most likely software and should be fixed soon. It's in their best interest to get it fixed ASAP.
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Yelp, these pictures prove nothing to me since I'm already totally aware of the issue but it may help some of those people that aren't aware of the issue or refuse to believe that Apple could make such a mistake. Thanks for the pictures and your time. We and mostly Apple, indeed does have a serious problem here. They should fix or take some action soon. We all paid big bucks for this so called "Smartphone of the year" and only a couple weeks ago at the WWDC Apple told us how great this M7 chip was going to be for games and other apps. Gosh, I can't even play a race car game without the car going off the road.
Well, you may indeed have a hardware issue that can't be corrected by software. However, I'm no pro with this stuff so I would wait for an update or some action on this before exchanging it. I informed the Apple Tech Supervisor the other night that I will wait for two firmware updates and if it doesn't fix it, I'm going to keep doing an exchange until I get a fully function unit. He totally agreed with me and even stated that I contact him to do so instead of going into an Apple Store. I personally don't use the compass or level but this also affects game performance and besides, Apple stuck those features into this iphone and I paid big bucks for it so it must be working correctly. If Apple doesn't correct this by a software fix or exchange, I can see the court papers. I was told this is most likely software and should be fixed soon. It's in their best interest to get it fixed ASAP.
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Yelp, these pictures prove nothing to me since I'm already totally aware of the issue but it may help some of those people that aren't aware of the issue or refuse to believe that Apple could make such a mistake. Thanks for the pictures and your time. We and mostly Apple, indeed does have a serious problem here. They should fix or take some action soon. We all paid big bucks for this so called "Smartphone of the year" and only a couple weeks ago at the WWDC Apple told us how great this M7 chip was going to be for games and other apps. Gosh, I can't even play a race car game without the car going off the road.
Apple Support: The return of the "ignorance"
AHHHH!
Apple support just frustrated me immensely. I was transferred almost immediately to a more senior advisor due to previous case history. They "hadn't heard of the issue"!
They were quite insistent that I replace it quietly and quickly though, hmm...
I did my best to keep calm but when they say things along the lines of (not going to repeat exactly):
"You're asking one of the most secretive companies in the world to discuss an ongoing investigation..."
People who buy my apps are going to want to know why they don't work from me so I need to be able to give them an answer!!!
They're calling me tomorrow for diagnostic information from my phone.
I'm leaning more and more towards hardware
/endrant
AHHHH!
Apple support just frustrated me immensely. I was transferred almost immediately to a more senior advisor due to previous case history. They "hadn't heard of the issue"!
They were quite insistent that I replace it quietly and quickly though, hmm...
I did my best to keep calm but when they say things along the lines of (not going to repeat exactly):
"You're asking one of the most secretive companies in the world to discuss an ongoing investigation..."
People who buy my apps are going to want to know why they don't work from me so I need to be able to give them an answer!!!
They're calling me tomorrow for diagnostic information from my phone.
I'm leaning more and more towards hardware
/endrant
My 5s (Verizon 32 gb; week 39; factory C3) is only about 2 degrees out, and only across its long axis. To level it, I lift bottom, home button edge up about 3/16". The phone does seem to be level across its short axis: In Temple Run (portrait layout only), and with phone on its back, the dude runs straight. In a driving app (landscape mode only), however, the car consistently pulls toward whichever edge the home button is on.
Using Navy's idea, I downloaded and calibrated the iHandy level and this app shows level on both axes and along all four edges. iHandy maintains its calibration even after closing and relaunching the app.
The compass seems to be reasonably close in comparison to my Suunto pocket compass. It does, however, appear to be very sensitive to adjacent magnetic and electrical devices (another iPhone and a Suunto pocket, for example).
Using Navy's idea, I downloaded and calibrated the iHandy level and this app shows level on both axes and along all four edges. iHandy maintains its calibration even after closing and relaunching the app.
The compass seems to be reasonably close in comparison to my Suunto pocket compass. It does, however, appear to be very sensitive to adjacent magnetic and electrical devices (another iPhone and a Suunto pocket, for example).
Don't like that option of driving 40 miles to fix something no fault of my own.
Gyro-gate
All kinds of tweets on this subject calling it Gyro-gate as well as many other things.
Hopefully we will have a resolution soon
All kinds of tweets on this subject calling it Gyro-gate as well as many other things.
Hopefully we will have a resolution soon
1st, what are you the opinion police?
2nd, it sounded like his opinion to me, and you know what tipped me off? The fact that its buried 30 pages deep within a thread and not on the MR homepage.
I think that Apple staff have been instructed to plead ignorance whenever the problem is reported.
They want to keep it as quiet as possible to avoid too much bad publicity whilst they work on a fix.
It would be interesting if the mainstream media such as national television picked up the story and demanded a response from Apple
They want to keep it as quiet as possible to avoid too much bad publicity whilst they work on a fix.
It would be interesting if the mainstream media such as national television picked up the story and demanded a response from Apple
I think apple will just replace the thousands that know about it and release a semi fix via a software/firmware update. It's unlikely they would do a recall or even admit there is a serious issue. Most of the tech websites have asked for a formal response and heard nothing to date. I suppose Apple are desperately trying to come up with a soultion.
I actually tried to sell mine to CEX (as I would have made a £64 profit) and they responded by saying "we are currently not taking any 5S's in" which was odd because they normally buy everything and I even had a gold one which is quite rare ! It shows that they these issues are are definitely being exposed on a bigger leve!
Mercenary,
Please let me know what your white box replacement's like when you receive it tomorrow and if it's any better? I'm currently on holiday in Morocco at the moment but will still have 5 calendar days to exchange/return my current one when I'm back in the uk later this week.
Just wish this issue was sorted, really has taken the excitement of a new apple device away! Although I did just get a space grey iPod touch from NYC as my uncle was their on business! Very nice device and colour if anyone is looking to get a standalone media player!
I actually tried to sell mine to CEX (as I would have made a £64 profit) and they responded by saying "we are currently not taking any 5S's in" which was odd because they normally buy everything and I even had a gold one which is quite rare ! It shows that they these issues are are definitely being exposed on a bigger leve!
Mercenary,
Please let me know what your white box replacement's like when you receive it tomorrow and if it's any better? I'm currently on holiday in Morocco at the moment but will still have 5 calendar days to exchange/return my current one when I'm back in the uk later this week.
Just wish this issue was sorted, really has taken the excitement of a new apple device away! Although I did just get a space grey iPod touch from NYC as my uncle was their on business! Very nice device and colour if anyone is looking to get a standalone media player!
Gyro-gate
I bought the iphone 5s 16GB on the launch day, mine is -4 degrees off. I just compared it to an iPhone 5 and iphone 4s, both are perfect 0 degrees lectures. I sincerely hope that is a software problem! And every person that has this problem has to speak and let know apple that we as customers do not accept a defective product. Hopefully its not a hardware problem and this will be fix with a software update.
Anyone that has any info please shared it! It will be useful.
I bought the iphone 5s 16GB on the launch day, mine is -4 degrees off. I just compared it to an iPhone 5 and iphone 4s, both are perfect 0 degrees lectures. I sincerely hope that is a software problem! And every person that has this problem has to speak and let know apple that we as customers do not accept a defective product. Hopefully its not a hardware problem and this will be fix with a software update.
Anyone that has any info please shared it! It will be useful.
hardware selection problem
The sensor hardware used in 5s seems to have poorer accuracy than that in 5 and 4s judging from information on the web such as ifixit.
bosch sensortec BMA220 accelerometer is employed in 5s. Instead, BMA280 should be used. 6 bit digital accelerometer apparently has poor reading.
I guess gyro and magnetometer also have similar hardware selection problem.
The sensor hardware used in 5s seems to have poorer accuracy than that in 5 and 4s judging from information on the web such as ifixit.
bosch sensortec BMA220 accelerometer is employed in 5s. Instead, BMA280 should be used. 6 bit digital accelerometer apparently has poor reading.
I guess gyro and magnetometer also have similar hardware selection problem.
If Apple can't fix with a software or firmware update, it will not get fixed for us. Apple will not replace 5 million + phones that have been sold so far, with the majority showing this problem. Once people find out they were doing that, most of the 5 million would demand a replacement. That would kill Apple's stock, and Apple itself, and would be the biggest exchange of one product in the history of business. If Apple can not fix this issue internally, they will never admit the problem exists, and thus no mass returns will be allowed, as they will say anything off by less than 5 degrees is within tolerance.
The compass IC is the same (AK8963) as the one used in iPhone 5. The plot thickens!
Also, I decided to return my 64GB space gray for a refund and to cancel my GF's 32GB gold which is on backorder. It's too much money involved (unlocked phones) and the expectations were higher from a company like Apple.
Thinking this is just a software issue
I too downloaded ihandy level free from the app store. After calibrating the app with its calibration button, it maintains level readings after restarting the app and even after restarting the phone multiple times. Since the app is using the sensors for its readings, how can the sensors be bad? Thinking this is just an error with the app. How did that get by testing?!! Apple needs to add calibration to this app.
I too downloaded ihandy level free from the app store. After calibrating the app with its calibration button, it maintains level readings after restarting the app and even after restarting the phone multiple times. Since the app is using the sensors for its readings, how can the sensors be bad? Thinking this is just an error with the app. How did that get by testing?!! Apple needs to add calibration to this app.
When you guys use ihandy and calibrate the iphone is on its side do you flip to the opposite and check it?
I calibrated my iphone 5s with ihandy on one side. Flipped it 180 degrees to opposite side when it should now say 0 degrees it says 1.4.
I have a bad feeling this is more than a calibration issue.
I calibrated my iphone 5s with ihandy on one side. Flipped it 180 degrees to opposite side when it should now say 0 degrees it says 1.4.
I have a bad feeling this is more than a calibration issue.