"Most smartphones behave exactly the same way"

[Knowimagination]

lol, the fanboys is on fullspeed tonight. If you hurt your foot and you went to the doctors, and your doctor says to you 'avoid walking for the rest of your life if it hurts', I guess that would be acceptable to you.

You honestly seem like no matter what you are not going to be happy with your phone, so why keep it. My point is very valid given the fact that there is nothing else you can do about it. I understand the concept of wanting your device to work any way you hold it but the fact is that you know that is not the case and you need to adjust accordingly or get rid of it. There is no amount of whining that is going to make apple do anything differently that they have already done so you just have to decide if you can live with it or not. Simple.

 

[wongster41]

You honestly seem like no matter what you are not going to be happy with your phone, so why keep it. My point is very valid given the fact that there is nothing else you can do about it. I understand the concept of wanting your device to work any way you hold it but the fact is that you know that is not the case and you need to adjust accordingly or get rid of it. There is no amount of whining that is going to make apple do anything differently that they have already done so you just have to decide if you can live with it or not. Simple.

it's very simple, how about Apple fix it and not put a bandaid on it. It's obvious business wise they took the cheap way out by giving everyone a bumper. If they are a company that truly loves their user, they would own up to issue, apologize to their users and fix the problem by either adding some sort of coating to the antenna or by some other means. Fixing a problem with an accessory is not a real fix.

 

[dagomike]

You honestly seem like no matter what you are not going to be happy with your phone, so why keep it. My point is very valid given the fact that there is nothing else you can do about it. I understand the concept of wanting your device to work any way you hold it but the fact is that you know that is not the case and you need to adjust accordingly or get rid of it. There is no amount of whining that is going to make apple do anything differently that they have already done so you just have to decide if you can live with it or not. Simple.

I think the key point here is that Apple has made its position. The phone is working as intended, so there's no question of it being replaced. It is what it is. I'm hopeful apple will make changes in the coming months, but there's no reason to think they will, nor even if they did I could get a replacement.

So customers will need to decide if they can live with it or not. It doesn't mean they have to like the decision and compromise. I predict signal complains will plague the iPhone 4 until it's fixed or the iPhone 5, and I think that's appropriate. But everyone knows what they're getting into.

 

[Knowimagination]

it's very simple, how about Apple fix it and not put a bandaid on it. It's obvious business wise they took the cheap way out by giving everyone a bumper. If they are a company that truly loves their user, they would own up to issue, apologize to their users and fix the problem by either adding some sort of coating to the antenna or by some other means. Fixing a problem with an accessory is not a real fix.

The problem at this point is that by the time any potential hardware fix would be ready they would be so close to iphone 5 that it would be pointless to put it out. As was said apple has made their peace with t situation which is that it is operating normally, there should be no more than that expected from apple by you.

 

[DeathChill]

I am curious about what Apple could do honestly. If every smartphone exhibits this problem (which have internal antennas) then how can they stop the issue?

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

No steve, nice try on blurring the lines between iPhone 4 and the rest of the smartphones out on the market. I can understand cupping/deathgripping your smartphones will cause the bars to drop, but I can't think of another smartphone that will stop transmission to a halt by simply moving your finger over the 'weakspot' as shown in the videos below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNmXrVNeGzs&playnext_from=TL&videos=NyBkeUX7zp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzn8QhrYIvI&playnext_from=TL&videos=akZbxrK-5i4

One finger over the "weak spot" does nothing to reduce my reception. Death grip starts to drop bars in lower signal areas. In my case, my finger does nothing. This is NOT an antenna bridging issue - if it were, you would have the same problem when touching the black gap at the top of the phone. You're still bridging the same two antennas, but obviously touching the top does nothing.

Did you also know that giving the 3GS the death grip in your right hand will lower bars and possibly drop calls just like the iP4? Try it. Do the iP4 in your left hand and the 3GS in your right. You'll be amazed. Still thinking this is not an industry-wide issue and unique to iP4?

 

[wongster41]

The problem at this point is that by the time any potential hardware fix would be ready they would be so close to iphone 5 that it would be pointless to put it out. As was said apple has made their peace with t situation which is that it is operating normally, there should be no more than that expected from apple by you.

Apple at this point should acknowledge the problem, I'm not talking about cuppling/deathgripping the phone, but actually killing the signal with 1 finger and apologize to the community instead of dragging every other smartphone manufactures to their level.

 

[wongster41]

I am curious about what Apple could do honestly. If every smartphone exhibits this problem (which have internal antennas) then how can they stop the issue?

you really didn't read my first post did you?

 

[Arran]

I am curious about what Apple could do honestly. If every smartphone exhibits this problem (which have internal antennas) then how can they stop the issue?

It's insanely simple. Apple should add an antenna hump (on the side) like Pic 1 below. Try cupping your hand over that! And then owners can mod their phones to remove the carbuncle like Pic 2. Keeps everybody happy and very busy (and hence off the boards!)

 

[Mr Bigs]

If anyone had any kind of memory the Nexus received reports of this exact problem and no one cared.

The Nexus didn't tout a rovolutionary antenna system and also doesn't drop calls.

 

[wongster41]

One finger over the "weak spot" does nothing to reduce my reception. Death grip starts to drop bars in lower signal areas. In my case, my finger does nothing. This is NOT an antenna bridging issue - if it were, you would have the same problem when touching the black gap at the top of the phone. You're still bridging the same two antennas, but obviously touching the top does nothing.

Newsflash, the world doesn't revolve around you. There is a much bigger world out there where people are having these issues as you can see from the youtube videos on my first post. I'm glad you're not affected by this issue, but others are.

Did you also know that giving the 3GS the death grip in your right hand will lower bars and possibly drop calls just like the iP4? Try it. Do the iP4 in your left hand and the 3GS in your right. You'll be amazed. Still thinking this is not an industry-wide issue and unique to iP4?

Yes, i'm well aware that death gripping any smartphones will degrade the reception. That is not the point of this thread. This point of this thread is to point out steve jobs totally neglected to address how one finger can kill the signal while you can't replicate that issue with other smartphones. He is trying to blur the lines between deathgripping and killing your signal with one finger. So to answer your question, yes, this is NOT a wide industry issue and is only unique to iP4.

 

[DeathChill]

you really didn't read my first post did you?

Yes, but I don't care about the finger aspect. It only works because you know exactly where the antenna is located. I am more interested in real world usage here.

EDIT: Also, does it always instantly stop data connection or does it only do it in low signal areas like the "death grip"?

 

[Arran]

...This point of this thread is to point out steve jobs totally neglected to address how one finger can kill the signal while you can't replicate that issue with other smartphones. He is trying to blur the lines between deathgripping and killing your signal with one finger...

So, how about a big-ole antenna hump like I suggested above (as shown on the aged PPC 6700)? Would that be a more aceptable industrial design?

Would you want it, if Apple made it available as a free, self-adhesive "hump-kit"?

 

[Striker-UMB]

God forbid we request that the iPhone should work as a phone. It's not as simple as 'get another phone and go with another carrier', a lot of us have invested a lot in iTunes apps and car accessories around our iPhone 2g/3g/3gs. Some have even gotten rid of their old iPhones and upgraded to iPhone 4 not thinking there will be an issue. I think I can speak for most when I say, we dont' hate the iPhone 4, we love everything about it except for the antenna issue.

Well crying and ranting isn't going to fix it. If anything do all your ranting and raving and crying in emails to Apple or Steve on a daily basis maybe you will have better luck. You also have 30 days to return it for a full refund, so do that. If you invested a lot in to iTunes buy a 3GS if the apps mean that much to you. Music, movies will still work on other devices. When you hold the phone in landscape, you are holding it one way correct?? Your not constantly rotating it during your web surfing are you? Well if you said yes to all of the above, then you must be holding it one way right? Why do you want to keep holding it the other way, the iphone is a rectangular shape so the left and right side in portrait are the exact same and vice versa for when its in landscape, so I say again why do you insist to keep wanting to hold it the other way when its the exact same as the other side. Also those fingers that are connected to something called your hand spread, just spread them a little bit so its not covering that tiny little split where the antenna is. And if its still not good enough for you return the damn phone and get something else and sell all your apps. You and pretty much all the other haters are making such an unbelievably big deal about all this, that it truly is pathetic. Either deal with the problem with some common sense like, spreading or moving your finger a bit, using the other side in landscape or if it bothers you that much return it!!! Probelm solved!!!!OMG

 

[IbisDoc]

Reporter: Steve, why is this the first time Apple made cases for the iPhone, and why do the cases only cover the sides (the antenna)? Did you know about this issue long before the 22 days you're claiming?

Steve: No, we made the cases because we love you.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Newsflash, the world doesn't revolve around you. There is a much bigger world out there where people are having these issues as you can see from the youtube videos on my first post. I'm glad you're not affected by this issue, but others are.

Yes, i'm well aware that death gripping any smartphones will degrade the reception. That is not the point of this thread. This point of this thread is to point out steve jobs totally neglected to address how one finger can kill the signal while you can't replicate that issue with other smartphones. He is trying to blur the lines between deathgripping and killing your signal with one finger. So to answer your question, yes, this is NOT a wide industry issue and is only unique to iP4.

The last time I checked, I believe we are here to post about our experiences are we not? You linked to several videos, but I'm curious about YOUR personal experience with the issue. Instead of freaking out over what you see in videos and on the internet, are you actually experiencing this issue yourself? If so, are you unhappy? If so, why don't you return the product? Do you even own an iPhone 4?

 

[wongster41]

The last time I checked, I believe we are here to post about our experiences are we not? You linked to several videos, but I'm curious about YOUR personal experience with the issue. Instead of freaking out over what you see in videos and on the internet, are you actually experiencing this issue yourself? If so, are you unhappy? If so, why don't you return the product? Do you even own an iPhone 4?

I was able to duplicate the issue, I picked one up one launch day after waiting 3 hours in line and later exchanged it out with the same exact problem. Yes, I'm unhappy and returned my iPhone 4 and now back on my iPhone 3g. Here are my options, wait another year for iPhone 5 to come out or cross over to ****** android platform with 2nd par hardware and start over and repurchase all my apps.

So my personal experience so far with Apple has been pretty ****** if you ask me.

 

[dagored]

Here are my options, wait another year for iPhone 5 to come out or cross over to ****** android platform with 2nd par hardware and start over and repurchase all my apps.

So my personal experience so far with Apple has been pretty ****** if you ask me.

Isn't that what everyone was telling you to do if you were not happy.

 

[Mike Reed]

If anyone had any kind of memory the Nexus received reports of this exact problem and no one cared.

If I remember correctly, there was a fair amount of reporting about that problem as well. It certainly wasn't as much as the frenzy over the iPhone but then again it wasn't nearly as popular either. A problem affecting an audience of five isn't as big as one affecting an audience of ten.

 

[PerfSeeker]

Just for some perspective, the Droid X has a LOT of problems:

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-x-tech-issues/