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Is Apple insulting our intelligence?
- Thread starter MassiveAttack
- Start date
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I love how the PR letter was immediately preceded by a notice that Steve's recent emails were "fake". Riiiight.
"Use a case. Hold the phone differently."
"Wait, we didn't really say that. It's all in how the bars are represented."
Next they'll be saying that dropped calls aren't really dropped, we're just hard of hearing. Then they'll retract that and come out with a software fix to boost the earpiece volume.
ANYTHING but "Sorry, we blindly loved this design. It just doesn't work. Our bad. Please return the phone, or have a case on us, until we can get FCC approval for the antenna coating we should have implemented to begin with."
"Use a case. Hold the phone differently."
"Wait, we didn't really say that. It's all in how the bars are represented."
Next they'll be saying that dropped calls aren't really dropped, we're just hard of hearing. Then they'll retract that and come out with a software fix to boost the earpiece volume.
ANYTHING but "Sorry, we blindly loved this design. It just doesn't work. Our bad. Please return the phone, or have a case on us, until we can get FCC approval for the antenna coating we should have implemented to begin with."
An internet poll isn't scientific by any means, but it's better than just making up claims.
You're right, people did test it. But you're dead wrong that it doesn't drop enough to matter. Read anandtech. If you already have, read it again. If you've read it twice and still don't understand it, I give up.
I am right smack in the middle of this debate, there are IMO these Types of Users:
Users no matter what Apple does will love Apple and support and buy Apple
Users who just want a working phone and are getting discouraged
Users who just want another reason to bash Apple
Users who have no clue how to use the phone and really compare it to other phones on the market so they are throwing all kinds of crap at Apple
Users who have no opinion on their own, just listen to others
Users who just really are tired of Apple and AT&T
Users who just need a working phone that just works regardless have no opinion or bad karma either way.
Users who are just discouraged about the way Apple is handling this whole thing, who want to believe in Apple, but do not feel they are handling it the right way and are sitting by with a wait and see approach.
I for one am the last type of user, I love their products, however the i4 is less then superb, but if I have to I can go back to my Perfect 3GS and things will be good again in my Phone world.
Add "Users who don't know other touch screen phones exist because they only check what AT&T offers".
Agreed. I was just quoting the poll to illustrate that it's not a "supermajority" that have no issue.
What about those of us who bought it pre-order or on launch day and discovered the problem for you?
Well I don't see what the issue is with the iPhone receptions. There are much bigger problems with the iPhone... like the fact that its fragile and that Apple provides a case with no protection for 30 dollars. How about that senors on the front of the devices... I'd rather take the reception issue over the senors on the front of the device not working and then I end a call by my cheek touching the end call button.
My personal thoughts are that is exactly what is going to happen. I can't imagine Apple being dumb enough to issue this statement, only to be flooded by thousands of youtube videos after its release showing nothing has changed. Let's be realistic here. They don't want to admit a problem, so they don't. The know what it is and will fix it with the update and never have to admit it was a poor design choice or poor software integration. Assuming it is fixed with the update, the public and press will forget about it.
Apple ---- we don't care how many bars are displayed! We only care about loss of voice/data access!
This iPhone4 is my biggest disappointment in any Apple product I have ever purchased. Apple is making it worse by expecting us to believe that their is no fundamental hardware design issue. I have no doubt the iPhone 4's antenna has the best signal when you don't touch the phone, however pickup the iPhone 4 and it instantly becomes the worst antenna design of any iPhone. Even with a case you get more attenuation from gripping than any previous iPhone. Apple is taking a calculated risk, weighing the negative impact of a product recall against unsatisfied customers. They are gambling that most people are close enough to a cell tower that the call won't drop and knowing those who are in weaker signal areas will be pissed off customers. My office is in the "perfect storm" location, where picking up the iPhone 4 in left hand results in the call being dropped. Holding it in the right hand results in a drop down to 1 bar. The 3G and 3GS don't drop calls regardless of hand placement.
The semi-scientific anaylysis that have been posted show that the iPhone 4 has the worst attention when hand-held of any modern smart-phone. This is simply because the iPhone 4 has placed the antenna closer to the skin of the user (even with a case) than any modern smart phone. Unfortunately we live in a world where most of the population are non-technical and Apple knows this so they'll probably be able to get away with pulling the wool over their eyes.
The iPhone 4 will go down in history as an amazing multimedia device with a flawed antenna design. I'll suffer with my iPhone 4 and plan to regularly use a headset so I don't touch the iPhone durng calls and I now anxiously await the iPhone 5 with an antenna system designed by the new engineers that will be hired to fill the recent job openings.
This iPhone4 is my biggest disappointment in any Apple product I have ever purchased. Apple is making it worse by expecting us to believe that their is no fundamental hardware design issue. I have no doubt the iPhone 4's antenna has the best signal when you don't touch the phone, however pickup the iPhone 4 and it instantly becomes the worst antenna design of any iPhone. Even with a case you get more attenuation from gripping than any previous iPhone. Apple is taking a calculated risk, weighing the negative impact of a product recall against unsatisfied customers. They are gambling that most people are close enough to a cell tower that the call won't drop and knowing those who are in weaker signal areas will be pissed off customers. My office is in the "perfect storm" location, where picking up the iPhone 4 in left hand results in the call being dropped. Holding it in the right hand results in a drop down to 1 bar. The 3G and 3GS don't drop calls regardless of hand placement.
The semi-scientific anaylysis that have been posted show that the iPhone 4 has the worst attention when hand-held of any modern smart-phone. This is simply because the iPhone 4 has placed the antenna closer to the skin of the user (even with a case) than any modern smart phone. Unfortunately we live in a world where most of the population are non-technical and Apple knows this so they'll probably be able to get away with pulling the wool over their eyes.
The iPhone 4 will go down in history as an amazing multimedia device with a flawed antenna design. I'll suffer with my iPhone 4 and plan to regularly use a headset so I don't touch the iPhone durng calls and I now anxiously await the iPhone 5 with an antenna system designed by the new engineers that will be hired to fill the recent job openings.
The explanation fits perfectly with my experience and I certainly agree that the iPhone 4 is the best mobile I've ever owned. The statement from Apple should deal an effective end to the idiocy of lawsuits, though I'm sure those lawyers will still attempt to continue.
Good post. You expressed everything I want to say and managed to do it calmly, which I cannot.
iPhone 3GS with iOS 4.0 software installed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVtLLEkxO8
original iPhone 4 signal loss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-b56MdVjo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVtLLEkxO8
original iPhone 4 signal loss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-b56MdVjo
All we have to do is compare it to another GSM phone, as I did with a Blackberry:
E.g. Where RIM would display just two bars, Apple displays four.
So we're supposed to believe that AT&T never tested the iPhone and found that its signal bars didn't follow their "standard", as Apple claims?
If so, then between the iPhone's antenna problems, and ATT's activation servers, they need to hire much better phone and website load testers.
Code:
-110 -100 -90 -80 dB
|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|-----|
iOS4 1.....2...3.4.........5.................
RIM 1......2......3.....4.........5..E.g. Where RIM would display just two bars, Apple displays four.
So we're supposed to believe that AT&T never tested the iPhone and found that its signal bars didn't follow their "standard", as Apple claims?
If so, then between the iPhone's antenna problems, and ATT's activation servers, they need to hire much better phone and website load testers.
So someone help me understand and make a decision. I do not get 3g in my area. On Edge I usually get 3 bars. Does the fix mean I will be down to 0 to 1 bar? That is in South Bend, Indiana That is / was with my 3g and now my IP4. All the while my wifes Motorola Razr is getting 3 / 4 bars 3G. Do you know how embarrasing it is to ask her to borrow her phone so I can make a call and actually carry on a conversation. LOVVVVVVVE my IP4 but it is going back until they can sort this mess out. I do not want to be stuck in a new 2 year contract with a phone that does not work well!!
I couldn't agree more. My phone going from 5 bars of 3G coverage to "searching..." and ultimately to "no service" is not just a slight misrepresentation of available network coverage where the phone is displaying 2-3 too many bars. If it were just showing 2-3 too many bars it would just go down to 2-3 bars and still hold a call but that's not the case. From full rage to dropped call = hardware issue or software not allowing for proper location of appropriate towers. Not just software showing too many bars. Never had this problem with my 3Gs. I really hope Apple will sneak in a fix for this issue even if they don't admit there ever was a reception issue.
Fingers crossed.
They claim it's a signal display issue but that doesn't address why some drop to EDGE and no signal when the gap on the lower left is bridged. I'm sure the fanboys will buy into this BS fix but the rest of us know better! This probably is an all time low for Apple taking it's customers for suckers.
This is ****ing BS.
Im tired of threads like this.
ALL CELLPHONES DO THIS
STOP RIPPING ON APPLE.
Read this please and learn: http://daringfireball.net/2010/07/translation_iphone_4
I suggest you re-read it as the article says that there is a drop in reception when held a certain way but DOESN'T DROP CALLS. They basically said it drops but not enough that it's that big a deal.
So, yes, there is NO issue with the phone. It's been said countless times that the reception is BETTER than the 3GS. So it's an IMPROVEMENT.
If you don't like the phone, RETURN IT!!! And stop bitching!
I guess I'm one of those .00001% of people who returned their IPhone4. I actually discovered the issue first, then sought the forums out to see if other people where experiencing the same type of issue. Sitting on my couch 1/2 hour or so after unboxing, I noticed that all 3g access would stop when accessing email or safari.
Now I've used my similar 3g all the time checking emails and things from that spot on the couch, so I knew immediately all was not well.
I really don't understand the reaction people are having to this issue, I obviously like apple products and also have a macbook pro but it seems the masses are brainwashed. Not sure if it's the hype, or the cool factor or the scarcity apple created with the preordering but why would people keep a product that doesn't live up to it's core function is strange.
I like Apple for the great visual design of their products, however, a phone needs to function as a phone. Who is really going to remember to grab the thing by two fingers and hold it like a british cup of tea when on the phone for an hour or having to make a quick call when distracted.
And I would say to all the people who have had the issue, and are keeping their phone or running out to buy a case. In essence your complicit in this game. All fairness to apple, if only a couple thousand phones get returned why would you expect them to act any differently. I'm sure if they go 100-150k, their actions would be totally different.
Your vote is basically with your money! And not voting is supporting this type of corporate behavior and not keeping Apple honest.
Now I've used my similar 3g all the time checking emails and things from that spot on the couch, so I knew immediately all was not well.
I really don't understand the reaction people are having to this issue, I obviously like apple products and also have a macbook pro but it seems the masses are brainwashed. Not sure if it's the hype, or the cool factor or the scarcity apple created with the preordering but why would people keep a product that doesn't live up to it's core function is strange.
I like Apple for the great visual design of their products, however, a phone needs to function as a phone. Who is really going to remember to grab the thing by two fingers and hold it like a british cup of tea when on the phone for an hour or having to make a quick call when distracted.
And I would say to all the people who have had the issue, and are keeping their phone or running out to buy a case. In essence your complicit in this game. All fairness to apple, if only a couple thousand phones get returned why would you expect them to act any differently. I'm sure if they go 100-150k, their actions would be totally different.
Your vote is basically with your money! And not voting is supporting this type of corporate behavior and not keeping Apple honest.
Do you even know what is? Most likely no. You are just repeating what many clueless others have stated.
