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Page 2: Apple Experiencing Constrained Stocks of iPhone 4 Bumper
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The iPhone 4S supposedly has its ringer switch moved to the other side of the phone: if so, then the new Bumper would have to be redesigned for that.
And the iPhone 4 DOES have signal problems. It's not made up, and it's not a fringe issue. I'm the biggest Apple fan you can imagine, and used to work for them, and no matter where I am--whether in NYC (with a full signal), rural Vermont (where Verizon doesn't even get service but AT&T gets 4 bars) or urban Massachusetts (where I have 3 bars and a rocky connection), I can make it happen.
My white bumper is starting to fall apart though, which sucks.
And the iPhone 4 DOES have signal problems. It's not made up, and it's not a fringe issue. I'm the biggest Apple fan you can imagine, and used to work for them, and no matter where I am--whether in NYC (with a full signal), rural Vermont (where Verizon doesn't even get service but AT&T gets 4 bars) or urban Massachusetts (where I have 3 bars and a rocky connection), I can make it happen.
My white bumper is starting to fall apart though, which sucks.
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I don't use a bumper. Touching the antenna gap lowers the signal but not enough to cause any problems, unless there is very little signal. Typically when the signal is that low my 3GS has no signal at all in the same spot. So the 4 antenna is actually superior.
I've yet to see a phone that can't have it's antenna interfered with by holding it one way or another.
This was the dumbest non issue in the history of non issues, and the iPhone 4 sales prove that. As well as the fact that the only people who ever talk about it anymore are on this forum.
I don't use a bumper. Touching the antenna gap lowers the signal but not enough to cause any problems, unless there is very little signal. Typically when the signal is that low my 3GS has no signal at all in the same spot. So the 4 antenna is actually superior.
I've yet to see a phone that can't have it's antenna interfered with by holding it one way or another.
This was the dumbest non issue in the history of non issues, and the iPhone 4 sales prove that. As well as the fact that the only people who ever talk about it anymore are on this forum.
I'm pretty pro apple, and I have the issue.
I don't use a case, but when I'm in my house, I have to be very aware of how I am holding the iPhone 4 to get a usable signal.
arn
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It's amazing how - even with the mere existence of the bumper (is this really how Apple rolls?), its subsequent hand-out for free, the signal drop reproduced by a 3rd-part but historically pro-Apple consumer group (and by a NYT editor fanboy too), and the impending antenna re-design - people still deny there is a design flaw in the current iPhone 4 leading to signal drop. I guess it must be human nature, just like how people think vaccines cause autism and the WTC attack was orchestrated by the US government.
It's amazing how - even with the mere existence of the bumper (is this really how Apple rolls?), its subsequent hand-out for free, the signal drop reproduced by a 3rd-part but historically pro-Apple consumer group (and by a NYT editor fanboy too), and the impending antenna re-design - people still deny there is a design flaw in the current iPhone 4 leading to signal drop. I guess it must be human nature, just like how people think vaccines cause autism and the WTC attack was orchestrated by the US government.
Mundane is boring. People would rather believe in interesting things, like an almighty being capable of destroying you at will! Far more interesting than the obvious.
Whle it is a little funny anybody reading this has read an article about phone bumpers with 4-5 permutations of possibilities.
I hate to do this, but Apple already changed the bumper once to address an engineering issue. It is widely recognized the photo/volume button may be obverse on this model or have other external changes.
I would not put it past Apple to make a bumper compatible with the new iPhone 4 like case device.
I also would not put it past them to EOL iPhone 4 accessories in favor of iPhone 4S (cellular voice supported) or 5 (iPod Touch Internet Everywhere).
Remember this, and I put it in a bumper thread to assure nobody would read it, but the near future is data only devices except voice by VoIP.
Rocketman
I hate to do this, but Apple already changed the bumper once to address an engineering issue. It is widely recognized the photo/volume button may be obverse on this model or have other external changes.
I would not put it past Apple to make a bumper compatible with the new iPhone 4 like case device.
I also would not put it past them to EOL iPhone 4 accessories in favor of iPhone 4S (cellular voice supported) or 5 (iPod Touch Internet Everywhere).
Remember this, and I put it in a bumper thread to assure nobody would read it, but the near future is data only devices except voice by VoIP.
Rocketman
Yep bumper made quite a mess of the thing, especially around buttons and holes. After a while I kept it on just because it looked worse with it off ... and then the bumper broke so I just put up with it. The 4 really was a very questionable design; I hope all the mockups of 5s going back to the gorgeous curvy design of the touch and 2g/3g/3gs phones are accurate.
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Gosh I didn't realise people were still arguing the existence of the issue at this point. It is a definite downside to not having a case - there is no doubt it's there, and so easy to invoke given ... yet again ... how natural it is holding the device so. I often have mine drop out while playing games - at least it doesn't seem to bring up the dialog complaining about such these days.
And I'm reasonably pro apple (Lion notwithstanding), so indeed, that is not some magical defence....
Edit: Holy wow smart forum software joining posts
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I did that a while ago and holding the phone both normally and with a "claw" grip (which nobody uses to hold their phone anyway) and I did not experience signal loss.
I tried it while on a call and nothing happened either.
I've never had a single problem with reception on my iPhone 4.
I got the bumper when I bought the phone but I only used it for a very short time. Other than that I've never had it in a case and never experience a dropped call or had a bad signal from the way I've held it.
Some people have had problems but many, including me, have not.
My bumper is starting to deteriorate. I just ordered a replacement from amazon...hopefully it will hold me over until whenever the iPhone 5 is released.
This just reflects a redesign of the bumper for minor design changes for the phone we have been calling the iPhone 4S. What I'm really curious about is whether there really are two distinct lines to be announced in the coming weeks. The rumored iPhone 5 teardrop design would probably not have a bumper case.
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As you said. As to the signal issue, I can certainly produce a reduction of signal by holding my phone "the wrong way". OTOH, I can also get signals on that phone in places where my family's other phones (believe it or not, we have 5 wireless phones on my account) have none. It's both the advantage and the disadvantage of putting the antenna on the outside of the case.
So it's just FUD that my phone lost two bars of signal strength from just holding one spot? I just took the case off of it and tried it, YES it is/was a real issue. I would be glad if i could use this thing woithout a case without losing my signal.
Although I have this issue, I have tried it on a few other people's iPhone 4's that are newer, and they don't seem to have the same issue.
If this was only FUD to begin with, do you seriously belive that Apple would have given millions of these bumpers away?