Jobs says Signal Strength a "non issue"

[Unique Visuals]

Interesting article

Interesting article http://www.antennasys.com/antennasys-blog/2010/6/24/apple-iphone-4-antennas.html

 

[Eric S.]

Highly doubt Steve Jobs is replying.

He is scheduled to meet with Dmitri Medvedev (of Russia). They're talking about things much larger than this issue.

Maybe Steve can make a new career as an international negotiator, because if the iPhone 4 gets a reputation as an epic fail phone there won't be much of a future at Apple. They've already torpedoed their computer line.

Can anyone with an iphone 4 and bumper case please post that it really does fix the issue?

It's already been discussed in another thread. It works for some but not for others.

 

[ramuman]

I should clarify -- Jobs is full of BS about "non issues" regarding the initial batches of iPhone 4 units. Yellow "stuff", some Gorilla glass that maybe wasn't, signal/antenna issues...

I'm a die-hard Apple guy but there's something stinky here.

The antenna issue might or might not be an issue...but the yellow "stuff" has already been explained and people are finding it resolve itself over a few days. The Gorilla glass? Engadget dropped and threw the phone, said everything was fine in their review, then noticed scratches that can only be seen under certain lighting. Anything glass can develop those types of scratches.

 

[Woodstock Lax]

Jobs ****ed the pooch

 

[IbisDoc]

Doesn't anyone in this thread use a case? I've never had a cellphone of any kind without using a case for protection (currently using a silicone 3GS case until my iPhone 4 case ships). If a case solves the problem, what's the issue?

 

[troop231]

If a case solves the problem, what's the issue?

A case shouldn't be a requirement to fully use a product right out of the box.

 

[VSMacOne]

http://iphonehold.tumblr.com/

Whoever posted this earlier, it's great! I just realized that's the same way the iPhone is held in ALL of the commercials on tv.
But now all of a sudden Apple had a revelation that it's the WRONG way to hold a phone?

I'm sure sjobs@apple.com has a FULL inbox of confused people, but I encourage you to send one anyway, and also speak to customer service.

 

[hackum]

try wetting your hand a little and make it moist then try holding it again and bridge the little gap.

 

[kell99]

also, i dont think some of you realize how sporadic a radio frequency is when it comes to cellphones. the number is always ever changing. Manufacturers of cellphones have to use their better judgment to determine how to properly report a signal in terms of bars, so that our obsessive compulsive minds dont flip out when we see bars jumping up and down sporadically. Just because you see zero bars on a reception signal, doesnt mean you cannot make a phone call. It could mean a number of things, signal not being represented properly, etc.

mate, dropped calls are dropped calls. No other way about it.

However, I am glad you are having no problems

 

[3282868]

He's also using Wifi which complicates things further because we don't know about that antenna.

Yeah, I was just curious about the WiFi-n. So I did the same tests someone else did on 3G and found very similar results.

 

[Nicklaus]

I love apple products and have supported them as a company from back when I took a job selling them back in the performa/quadra days. I constantly tell people what a great product they have and gloss over the little issues since unless your really into technology you wouldn't understand it anyway. But this issue had me telling friends and family that from what I have experienced this is an epic fail for apple and att.

 

[ATHmathieu]

I tested Steve's theory on my 3GS and he's was right on the money. If I cover my 3GS on the top left corner with my hand the signal bars will start to drop until the phone is searching for a signal. Of corse I don't normally hold my phone I that manner so I've never noticed that before. So, I guess he's right, don't hold it that way.

Why would someone allow such a device to go on sale to consumers with such a blatant flaw? Arrogance / Greed is likely the root answer.

Should have been redesigned, but I can safely assume that they were too late and thus came the iBumper.

 

[Anuba]

Doesn't anyone in this thread use a case? I've never had a cellphone of any kind without using a case for protection (currently using a silicone 3GS case until my iPhone 4 case ships). If a case solves the problem, what's the issue?

Never used a case for any cellphone until I got an iPhone 3G in 2008. It just seemed more frail than any other phone, what with the huge glass front and widespread reports of cracks in the plastic back (especially around the headphone jack), so I caved in and got a silicone case. Used it for about a month then put it in a drawer, because it made the phone huge and ugly and impossible to place in the dock without removing the case. Used it without a case ever since. I was definitely planning to do the same with the iPhone 4 since it's more rugged than its predecessor.

 

[LLL1424]

This is beyond troubling. E-mail this guy....sjobs@apple.com....and let's get together to stop Apple from treating us customers like we are simple. I don't have the problem with dropped calls but so many people are and it makes me angry as heck that Apple is saying it's a "just don't hold it that way" response. WTF is that!?

 

[3282868]

Instructions for placing an emergency call with your iPhone 4:

- Be sure to have dry hands. Avoid being in an upset state, since that might result in your hands sweating. Stay perfectly calm.

- Avoid accidents in rain or snow. If you must get yourself into a sticky situation outdoors, make sure it's a sunny day (just not too sunny, we don't want you sweating either, remember?)

- If you have blood on your hands (your own or someone else's), do not under any circumstances touch the phone. Wait until the bleeding stops, then wipe your hands carefully before dialing 911.

- If you have a first aid kit, grab a band aid. Do not however use it on wounds, instead place the band aid on the bottom left edge of the phone.

- Swimming pool accident? Priority #1 is to quickly cover up the iPhone 4 to protect it from water. Next, look for another phone in the vicinity, preferably one with a plastic casing. Use that phone to place the emergency call.

LOL I imagine this being played out like an airplane safety video

 

[LLL1424]

I love apple products and have supported them as a company from back when I took a job selling them back in the performa/quadra days. I constantly tell people what a great product they have and gloss over the little issues since unless your really into technology you wouldn't understand it anyway. But this issue had me telling friends and family that from what I have experienced this is an epic fail for apple and att.

It's not ATT though. This is an APPLE problem.

 

[Mr. Gates]

His Cancer MEds Are getting to his head.

I don't want a case.

I Bought an iPhone.

Didn't buy into the most expensive phones out there ( Bill and all ) to be showing people a big rubber band.

I hope it really is not as big of a problem as people are saying

 

[macrazee]

The antenna issue might or might not be an issue...but the yellow "stuff" has already been explained and people are finding it resolve itself over a few days. The Gorilla glass? Engadget dropped and threw the phone, said everything was fine in their review, then noticed scratches that can only be seen under certain lighting. Anything glass can develop those types of scratches.

Fair enough, though I'll wait a week or so before considering the "yellow stuff" to be a non-issue. Frankly I'm hoping these are just more or less side-effects of initial large-volume production and not ominous indicators of systemic failures.

I had initially planned to get the iPhone 4 today but I'm now quite glad I did not. My Apple fanboyism got to me...the Jobs effect I guess. I generally avoid first-generation or even first runs of next-generation products for these very reasons (Apple would hardly be alone here.)

 

[thedarkhorse]

Love how you put this but seriously, this it not good. What if you have an emergency and can only use your left hand? This could turn into a HUGE legal problem...

voice control?
but yeah it's a dumb problem

 

[daneoni]

Well after reading this i'm considering returning mine. £500 for a phone that cant even do the basics is laughable. I regret selling my 3GS now. What were they thinking and what was i thinking rushing to buy a Rev A product. Idiot.

 

[kell99]

His Cancer MEds Are getting to his head.

I don't want a case.

I Bought an iPhone.

Didn't buy into the most expensive phones out there ( Bill and all ) to be showing people a big rubber band.

I hope it really is not as big of a problem as people are saying

wanker

 

[verniesgarden]

Well here's the big rumor function of the iPhone5, it will be able to make calls! Sadly though, previous versions of the phone do not have the hardware to support such function.

 

[caligurl]

Apple better act soon or I can see "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" papers already on their way to Mr. Jobs.

ya.... and the customers will get a free bumper and the lawyers will get rich.....

 

[hypoh]

Interesting article http://www.antennasys.com/antennasys-blog/2010/6/24/apple-iphone-4-antennas.html

good read

 

[JeffDM]

Ugh. Megapixels don't matter. The i4 has the best camera phone on the market right now.

MP matters, just not nearly as much as people think, and in the case of camera phones, more MP can mean worse pictures, worse low light handling, etc.

im gonna wait to buy mine. Hopefully they can fix it. I wish they would have had a 8 mega pixel instead though, gosh there are phones out there with 8mp already.

Megapixels is often more about marketing than a true measure of phone quality, because people don't understand what makes a good light gathering system (camera). It's easy to give people the impression that the bigger number is better, but it's not really true. The quality of the sensor and quality of the lens mean more than # of pixels, but that's very hard to explain on an ad copy, it's easy to just hawk a big pixel count and hope people don't compare the actual quality of the photos. It sounds like iPhone 4's camera may be the winner, we'll have to see if someone does a phone camera shoot-out.

Do you know of a way or think it could have been done better? Could they possibly just have reversed the way it was wired?

Maybe wired from the top would do better. Maybe just not have uninsulated antennae.

Did you even go to school?

Which school would that be, Leeds Elementary? That was a dialect issue, not an education issue.

Doesn't anyone in this thread use a case? I've never had a cellphone of any kind without using a case for protection (currently using a silicone 3GS case until my iPhone 4 case ships). If a case solves the problem, what's the issue?

The idea is that a device should work on it's own without having to add other devices to make it functional.