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Why does Apple's statement keep getting misconstrued like this?

They're not saying the attenuation is caused by a software bug. They said the only signal-related "issue" is how the strength bars are calculated. The fact that the antenna attenuates when smothered is completely normal. One side effect of improving reception by having an external antenna is that it becomes much easier to disturb (in this case, by touching a one millimeter slot on the side of the phone).

So, again, the software patch won't fix any kind of hardware attenuation "issues", and Apple's never claimed it would. The potential for higher attenuation is a fact of life with external antennas, but I (and apparently Apple) think the trade-off is fair for better reception in the vast majority of situations (i.e., when you don't touch that part of the phone, or use a case).


Bang on...I agree completely. They should have coated the band though, I really can't understand how they could have not saw those issues coming during development and
testing phases
 
a few of my friends have the iphone 4 and they don't have any issues with it (even when intentionally holding the left side). could be subtle manufacturing differences that's causing the problem to be more prevalent on some phones than others.

you know what!! I'm calling bullshlt!!! We see a million videos from people demonstrating the drop when held.. I have NEVER seen a video of someone showing it in a death grip outside without it dropping!!!

For all those who claim it isn't a problem prove yourselves, show it both not drop indoors when holding and outdoors when holding then maybe we will believe there are some that work out there
 
Am I the only one who gets less dropped calls with my iPhone 4 than my 3GS? I have a case on it though so maybe that's why.

I get less and actually have only had one and it was my fault for talking in a basement and that has been both without a case and now with the bumper.
 
Why Not? So if you got your new macbook pro home and when you used the mouse pad your wireless stopped working you wouldn't want a recall? oh, and all 2 million devices sold were affected. Would you accept apple saying, go out and buy our $60 magic mouse.
There will be a recall, since this design flaw is so wide spread!
I will keep mine until a recall is issued, or I will use my applecare policy to get a new device....soon (not worried about the 30day return policy).
This is by far the best phone out there!:apple:

Return it. End of discussion.
 
Just wondering if people overseas are seeing this issue - all the noise is about AT&T and in the US - but I haven't been able to find an iphone 4 in the UK that can show the problem -
Is it somehow an AT&T thing? am I useless at holding the phone? Does it only affect some phones?

Just curious as to how far this spreads outside the US as I haven't seen/heard much noise about it over here in the UK. I would think it should affect all phones on all networks - anyone have any data??

I had a colleagues iPhone 4 on my desk today on O2-UK and by touching the seam in the bottom left I was able to lower the phone down from 5 bars to 1. Now I have no idea how it would perform like this, so perhaps would not drop a call or anything, but it is certainly apparent that something happens when you touch that spot. I do still want one though... Although very interesting to see what Apple comes back with at this point.
 
A full recall seems unlikely. It would be very difficult for Apple to come up with a replacement design, wouldn't it? They might opt to create a different look for next year's model, but I doubt they will give me a replacement phone.

I'm a bit surprised that this hasn't really become a huge issue in the media. I've seen reports on cnn.com, but they didn't make a big splash.

A lot of people use cases, so not everyone is going to experience this problem. I want to use my phone without a case or bumper, but I have reception problems if I do so. Some part of my hand naturally touches the trouble spot when I use my phone. That on top of the poor reception I get in my home means it's a bigger issue for me.

So I ordered a bumper from Apple (since I have yet to see them in stock in any store) and it finally arrived. And I don't like it. I like that it gives me a better grip on the phone and it definitely helps with the reception issue, but it's really hard to switch the silencer switch with the bumper on, I can't use my dock with the bumper on, and the bumper has made the top button super sensitive such that I am constantly turning the phone on by accident. I am sure this is happening in my pocket cause it just takes a light touch to turn it on now. So now my battery is probably going to get drained when it's in my pocket. And I don't like how the bumper hides the stylish elements of the phone. I feel like with the bumper on it doesn't look all that different from the earlier models.

I don't know what to do now. I don't really like the bumper but I need something to cover the trouble spot. I kinda like the idea of some sort of tape that covers the spot. Maybe Apple could release something official that won't look horrible?

Also, I have noticed that my friends who don't have iPhones know all about this problem and they've asked me if I've had problems. It feels like this issue has taken away some of the prestige (if you could call it that) of owning an iPhone.

Plus I have a friend who is now debating whether he should get one and because of the Consumer Reports article, he's decided to wait to see if it gets fixed. But I don't see a fix coming until next year...
 
No problems here

I can understand why people who are adversely effected by this issue are upset and calling for a recall, but honesty, I have not had a problem with the phone. I read about the reception issue the night before the launch and have tried to duplicate the problem many, many times in various places throughout the Twin Cities area and I have NOT been able to reduce my signal strength by holding the phone the "wrong way."

This is probably what is taking Apple so long to respond - this issue is sporadic. It's certainly widespread, but by no means does it effect 100% of iPhone 4s out there.

I just wanted to share my experiences and opinion about this issue and I hope those who ARE experiencing problems get a resolution quickly from Apple.

Dennis in Minneapolis
 
I agree with Jobs. Put a case on your phone. Is that really the end of the world?? I mean, it solves the antenna issue and the scratch issue.

Look. Most people use cases on their phones. So for a lot of people, putting a case on the phone is no big deal. HOWEVER, the phone should work with or without a case.
When Apple describes the phone as being sleek and thin, adding a case takes away from that.

There is an issue, no doubt about it and buying a case isn't a reasonable solution. The LEAST Apple could do is give away free bumpers or a $30 gift card to the Apple store. However, they should do more.
 
This has been blown way out of proportion. A recall would be ridiculous and no way compares to the Toyota safety recalls. I have owed all the iphones. I have to say the iphone 4 has the best reception out of all of them. I live near and work in NYC and the service has always been kind of sketchy. But with the iphone 4 I have yet to have a dropped call before I got a case and after.

Although I have always been careful the way I hold a phone when on cell phone. Every cell phone I have owned, signal drop always happened if I were to put a "death grip" on the phone. Yes the iphone 4 is more prone to this death grip, but thats the design of the phone. If you dont like the design, no one is forcing you to buy the phone. There is many other great smart phones on the market today.

I feel we are looking for the problem and trying to recreate the problem. Which is understandable, some people paid 500 dollars for this thing(including me). I agree this is a PR issue for apple, but I dont think a recall is necessary. I also agree with alot of posters that the response "just dont hold it that way" was a horrible PR move.
 
Apple must do something now!

The signal attenuation has reached mainstream media. And it's mainstream hype that Apple is best at... this can either hurt them deeply... or give them the opportunity to look like absolute heroes (if they dig deep and provide an fix that can be perceived as a 'step-up' benefit... or cure cancer, or something)

I think, the cost of a full recall vs. the potential 'hero' effect is too great to expect a full recall.

They'll probably come up with some 'attractive' non-conductive tape to be installed at apple stores that minimizes the signal attenuation effect while maintaining the basic aesthetic.

That does't mean I wouldn't prefer a 'new and improved' iPhone upgrade as part of a recall :)
 
I can understand why people who are adversely effected by this issue are upset and calling for a recall, but honesty, I have not had a problem with the phone. I read about the reception issue the night before the launch and have tried to duplicate the problem many, many times in various places throughout the Twin Cities area and I have NOT been able to reduce my signal strength by holding the phone the "wrong way."

This is probably what is taking Apple so long to respond - this issue is sporadic. It's certainly widespread, but by no means does it effect 100% of iPhone 4s out there.

I just wanted to share my experiences and opinion about this issue and I hope those who ARE experiencing problems get a resolution quickly from Apple.

Dennis in Minneapolis

prove it show a video of bothe indoor and outdoor holding death griped device and no dropped calls
 
UK problem too!

Just wondering if people overseas are seeing this issue - all the noise is about AT&T and in the US - but I haven't been able to find an iphone 4 in the UK that can show the problem -
Is it somehow an AT&T thing? am I useless at holding the phone? Does it only affect some phones?

Just curious as to how far this spreads outside the US as I haven't seen/heard much noise about it over here in the UK. I would think it should affect all phones on all networks - anyone have any data??

Well my iPhone 4 exhibits the "issue" and I'm in the UK so looks like you've found one! Also, if you'd bothered to look at the other squillion quotes on this website about this issue you'd have seen plenty more UK phones with the same problem.

I think Apple will just wait 2 years like they've just done with that backup thing, then they wouldn't have to fix all of them as a lot of people will have already moved on to the next one.

I think they need to redesign it now and then offer to replace all the defective ones for free once they have production up to speed. And then if YOU don't think there is anything wrong with YOURS, you can just carry on with the old model. All I will say is I don't want a crappy case on mine - I want the phone to work like all other phones do, after all I paid a lot of money for this thing. And before you say just take it back if you're not happy - I say so what should I get instead? There is nothing that comes close to this phone, and we should get what they said they were selling not something that you have to hold in a special way or cover up to get it to work.

Finally, if you're happy with your iPhone 4 then good for you, but if you are, why are you posting on the forum, do you think you are helping by saying well mine is OK - let me tell you you are not - you are all idiots.
 
Why does Apple's statement keep getting misconstrued like this?

They're not saying the attenuation is caused by a software bug. They said the only signal-related "issue" is how the strength bars are calculated. The fact that the antenna attenuates when smothered is completely normal. One side effect of improving reception by having an external antenna is that it becomes much easier to disturb (in this case, by touching a one millimeter slot on the side of the phone).

So, again, the software patch won't fix any kind of hardware attenuation "issues", and Apple's never claimed it would. The potential for higher attenuation is a fact of life with external antennas, but I (and apparently Apple) think the trade-off is fair for better reception in the vast majority of situations (i.e., when you don't touch that part of the phone, or use a case).


Apple as said that the only problem is with the way that the signal is displayed, listen to yourself. are you saying that they put the aerial on the out side for better reception. if so that contradicts "there is no signal issue" because when they have changed the way it displays. the reception on the iphone will be a lot worst than any other phone on the market so what was the point they should have kept it on the inside.

they thought it was a wonderful piece of engineering, it is not all the software update will do is show 2 bars instead of 5 so when you drop your call it wont be much of a surprise and they can say your reception was low. but a nokia will have 5 genuine bars (with internal antenna).

lets face it apple have messed up. it was a good idea in principle "let's put the aerial on the outside." but in practice it didnt work.


look at the wobbly bridge in london that was a wonderful piece of engineering in principle but was found out to late.
 
you know what!! I'm calling bullshlt!!! We see a million videos from people demonstrating the drop when held.. I have NEVER seen a video of someone showing it in a death grip outside without it dropping!!!

For all those who claim it isn't a problem prove yourselves, show it both not drop indoors when holding and outdoors when holding then maybe we will believe there are some that work out there

Exactly. Fanboys have to find some excuse to fool themselves.
 
a few of my friends have the iphone 4 and they don't have any issues with it (even when intentionally holding the left side). could be subtle manufacturing differences that's causing the problem to be more prevalent on some phones than others.

Could be. He’s not looking to take it back as all he does is move, or hold it differently and “It works” as he says.
 
Love em when they're on top... Kick em when they're down! Boy - how sad for so many these days with that attitude. They probably will only have to issue a statement about bringing them to a store and some type of rubber clip will be quickly attached to the gap that exists in that area and all will be fine.

It's definitely a hardware issue. I've tried to recreate the problem on other iPhones and even the iPad with 3G service. Everything stayed full bars even with me mashing hard on the antennas.
 
About time.. I hope they fix the glass top too. Mine already has some bad scratches.

:(

My guess is, you've been treating your iPhone badly. I ve had iPhones since the first one and not a single scratch has appeared, despite being dropped onto the pavement face down and skidding a distance.

Yes it's a phone, but treat it with some respect. The glass is definitely more durable than the ****** lastic fronted devices I've owned in the past.

Just to recap. There's nothing that needs fixing about the glass top, now stop trolling.
 
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