Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
PR Experts Suggest iPhone 4 Recall 'Inevitable' as Antenna Issue Snowballs
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
People who see that I have the new phone ask two questions:
1) Does it drop calls?
2) How do you hold it?
Nothing about features, Facetime, camera, etc.
Regardless of actual call/data performance the phone has been tagged by the public as being a phone that cannot make/keep calls.
As others have pointed out, even non-tech savy people know of the iPhone4's issues. Stock price has slid somewhat, and that cannot make the major shareholders happy.
Recall? I say unlikely due to cost. I would imagine a mid-year design tweak is in the works however (iPhone4+ perhaps?), with some incentives in place for existing 4 users to trade-up for free or a very minimal fee if they want.
BUT, what should Apple do in the meanwhile?
Free bumpers? That would mean that Apple has to admit there is something wrong.
To me, reducing the price of the units would make the most sense for them. I'm sure there are those willing to put up with some signal issues for a lower price. Keep the margins razor thin, or even take a small loss. At least they move inventory off of the shelves until the redesign can make its way to market.
1) Does it drop calls?
2) How do you hold it?
Nothing about features, Facetime, camera, etc.
Regardless of actual call/data performance the phone has been tagged by the public as being a phone that cannot make/keep calls.
As others have pointed out, even non-tech savy people know of the iPhone4's issues. Stock price has slid somewhat, and that cannot make the major shareholders happy.
Recall? I say unlikely due to cost. I would imagine a mid-year design tweak is in the works however (iPhone4+ perhaps?), with some incentives in place for existing 4 users to trade-up for free or a very minimal fee if they want.
BUT, what should Apple do in the meanwhile?
Free bumpers? That would mean that Apple has to admit there is something wrong.
To me, reducing the price of the units would make the most sense for them. I'm sure there are those willing to put up with some signal issues for a lower price. Keep the margins razor thin, or even take a small loss. At least they move inventory off of the shelves until the redesign can make its way to market.
Just imagine how many trolls/haters/bashers are having orgasms now due to this imminent recall
wake up, read macrumors.. iphone 4 recall 'Inevitable'....
just incase anyone doesnt know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLnWf1sQkjY
Attachments
But the point's been made several times before; for anything except making phone calls, most right-handed people will actually hold the phone in their left hand to use it - you use your strong hand to interact with the phone and your weak hand to hold it.
Based on the section of the contract you quoted, I'll say you were a fool to sign it. You can return your phone within 7 days, but only if used it?! Pretty sure that would fall under the 'unconscionable clause' category (and thus be unenforceable) over here in the US.
My Wives phone sure as heck has this issue.
My wife has the iphone 4 and when you hold the a couple spots on the left top corner it degrades signal and DISCONNECTS CALLS. This is not a software issue , it knocks me off a call.
Also another major pain issue is the darn proximity sensor. 50% of the time it will disconnect a call or place it on mute. It happens with my own or the wives ear.
This was not fixed by doing a reset on the phone.
My wife has the iphone 4 and when you hold the a couple spots on the left top corner it degrades signal and DISCONNECTS CALLS. This is not a software issue , it knocks me off a call.
Also another major pain issue is the darn proximity sensor. 50% of the time it will disconnect a call or place it on mute. It happens with my own or the wives ear.
This was not fixed by doing a reset on the phone.
I believe you, but notably, this sounds different from the reproducible problem that all iPhone 4s seem to have. I've tested mine pretty thoroughly. I can hold almost the entire rim at once, and if I don't touch the seam on the lower left, no signal loss. Touch the lower left, I drop two bars.
Not to dismiss your problem - it sounds like you had a dud phone. But the problem you describe is not universal for iPhone 4s. Mine clearly has a signal loss problem, but it's a manageable one that does not seriously affect the phone's usability.
And haven't you got anything better to do with your precious time than spam this thread with your fantastic "return your phone" advice. Maybe the fact that people are not taking your advice suggests your visionary solution is in some way flawed?
There is smoke, fire and hyperbole.
The iPhone 4 makes calls just fine. It makes them great and has better clarity and reception then any phone I have ever owned. It is literally clearer than my 2.4GHz wireless home phone. Even when I hold it.
The hyperbole is that the phone doesn't work when held. This is completely false. There is literally a 2mm section of the antenna you cannot touch. I have played with my phone a lot. I can touch it anywhere except that 2mm spot with no issue whatsoever.
The fire is a lot of people touch that 2mm spot the way they like to hold the phone.
Change your grip, buy a case, or return it! This isn't hard.
As for the other issues:
Proximity sensor does not appear universal. I know I have zero problem with it. I have even run tests with it moving closer and father from my ear and watching when the screen comes on and goes off. Either there are defective units, which are covered under warranty, or it has to do with skin tone.
I've tested ip4 with Vodafone UK (Harrogate) and O2 UK (London) in the UK, same problem! Specially when you are using the iPhone in a weak signal area, the call will drop immediately!
Also, tested in Hong Kong with 3HK and CSL HK, same problem again!
Radio engineer: Consumer Reports iPhone 4 testing flawed
An engineer experienced with electromagnetic issues like those now affecting Apple's iPhone 4 says that the tests performed by Consumer Reports were scientifically flawed.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...consumer_reports_iphone_4_testing_flawed.html
An engineer experienced with electromagnetic issues like those now affecting Apple's iPhone 4 says that the tests performed by Consumer Reports were scientifically flawed.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...consumer_reports_iphone_4_testing_flawed.html
Hmmm... another way of looking at it is that the shareholders ARE Apple; they're the ones (as a whole) who dictate what the company will and will not do at the highest level. So, all you Apple shareholders, what are you going to do about this iPhone 4 situation?
I switch it back and forth. And adjust hand positions. If I'm actually doing something like typing, I usually pin it between ear and shoulder. Most of the ways I hold it don't affect signal. I live in an area with spotty reception around the house, and I haven't noticed any difference between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4 in terms of call drops. And this is in an area with spotty signal, where dropping calls is fairly easy.
Perhaps my usage is highly atypical, but I doubt it. And I can see the signal issue. I have it with my phone. It's just not an issue that seems to have meaningful impact on my real-world usage.
Wow! To be compared to Steve Jobs! I am flattered, but sadly, that was way too many words for me to be Steve. Thanks though.
I like it how he is critical of the tests, but hasn't run his own.
I'd like to see what his test results say.
I thought I had a dud too, but twice Apple Store reps told me it was the way I was holding it. They recommended a case (which they were sold out of).
Just imagine how many trolls/haters/bashers are having orgasms now due to this imminent recall
But understand...they truly, TRULY, do not want to see a fix to this problem. It would absolutely destroy their day. But then again, think how wide open these forums would be post-fix.
Skimming these posts is enough to determine who is truly a concerned owner with an ip4, and who, as you say, are trolls/haters/bashers. The majority, actually, and they have little to say that's worth anyone's time.
Something that could actually be helpful
I'm checking serial numbers for all iPhone 4 users I encounter and correlating to presence of 'the issue'.
Assuming that the numbers in position 4-5 are the week, I'm finding that week 25 phones are far more likely to exhibit the issue than week 26 phones.
Seems like a broader survey of this would be, oh, helpful? (Although not as much fun as pissing and moaning.)
I'm checking serial numbers for all iPhone 4 users I encounter and correlating to presence of 'the issue'.
Assuming that the numbers in position 4-5 are the week, I'm finding that week 25 phones are far more likely to exhibit the issue than week 26 phones.
Seems like a broader survey of this would be, oh, helpful? (Although not as much fun as pissing and moaning.)