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this reception issue is quickly spiraling out of control and getting worse by the minute. anyone who has been able to reproduce it or is not an iSheep knows that this cripples the iphone for both calling and internet. they will have no choice but recall or face massive PR hit and lawsuits

I predict you will bet the farm in Vegas and lose everything.
 
This is the best, most technically sound explanation that i've heard yet. Awesome post!


What is funny is that every since internal antennas became the norm (cira 1997) there has ALWAYS been an issue with covering the antenna and attenuating the signal. This applies to Razrs, iPhones, blackberries etc.

The thing is that the baseband firmware is written such that the bars don't "show" you the actual signal variance in dB.

What makes the biggest difference if the signal is being attenuated is whether you are on 850 or a 1900-2100 band.

If you are in an area of mostly 850 you won't have as big of a problem as 1900, which is more sensitive to physical things getting in the way.

This is why there is a Tmo poster complaining, Tmo is on 1900 and I remember when I had Tmo and having an internal antenna was a problem in medium signal areas if you held the phone to your ear vs. using a headset. If you bought an internal antenna phone you were guaranteed a call drop vs. phones with an extendable antanna.

Likewise, if you are ATT 1900 you'll probably have slight attenuation that is normally not shown to you despite it happening and the baseband firmware adjusting to compensate. The baseband has to ramp up antenna power when you hold it, and the iPhone 4 is probably not doing this quickly enough.

Again, this applies to all phones with internal antennas, not just the iPhone. My guess is that they didn't quite get the baseband firmware tweaked to amp up the power fast enough when the antenna is covered since a major design goal of the iPhone 4 was to conserve battery as much as possible.

On Monday, 4.0.1 will be released and everyone except a very vocal minority of people, many blessed with poor videography skills and YouTube accounts. An even smaller minority will return their phones before the software is updated and move on with their lives. Another minority will troll engadget, gizmodo and macrumors (among others) for the next year about this solved issue.

The majority will sit back and enjoy an greatly improved iPhone experience.
 
Apple will fix the hardware design silently... production after a certain date..

All the first buyers will end up with lemon phones and probably depending on their phone's production date, they'll catch less money in second hand market....

They may get a free $.50 rubber or not - probably not. Apple would rather like you to pay $30 for it....... but waiting in line for hours like dipsht to be the first to buy a lemon phone will, I am sure, be priceless and remembered and laughed at for years to come....

:D
 
They'd have to recall the 3GS too, seeing as I'm now having the same problem with it after upgrading to iOS4.

Sorry, but that's a lie. I tested both phones on iOS4 in the same places and the 3GS had significantly better service in all of those places. The iPhone 4's internet speed is painfully slow while being held in most places.
 
What is funny is that every since internal antennas became the norm (cira 1997) there has ALWAYS been an issue with covering the antenna and attenuating the signal. This applies to Razrs, iPhones, blackberries etc.

The thing is that the baseband firmware is written such that the bars don't "show" you the actual signal variance in dB.

What makes the biggest difference if the signal is being attenuated is whether you are on 850 or a 1900-2100 band.

If you are in an area of mostly 850 you won't have as big of a problem as 1900, which is more sensitive to physical things getting in the way.

This is why there is a Tmo poster complaining, Tmo is on 1900 and I remember when I had Tmo and having an internal antenna was a problem in medium signal areas if you held the phone to your ear vs. using a headset. If you bought an internal antenna phone you were guaranteed a call drop vs. phones with an extendable antanna.

Likewise, if you are ATT 1900 you'll probably have slight attenuation that is normally not shown to you despite it happening and the baseband firmware adjusting to compensate. The baseband has to ramp up antenna power when you hold it, and the iPhone 4 is probably not doing this quickly enough.

Again, this applies to all phones with internal antennas, not just the iPhone. My guess is that they didn't quite get the baseband firmware tweaked to amp up the power fast enough when the antenna is covered since a major design goal of the iPhone 4 was to conserve battery as much as possible.

On Monday, 4.0.1 will be released and everyone except a very vocal minority of people, many blessed with poor videography skills and YouTube accounts. An even smaller minority will return their phones before the software is updated and move on with their lives. Another minority will troll engadget, gizmodo and macrumors (among others) for the next year about this solved issue.

The majority will sit back and enjoy an greatly improved iPhone experience.


so there still are smart people left in this world !

great post -
 
My prediction: they'll slightly alter the design for the next major production run and authorize customer service to replace faulty units on request only.

Exactly. (And I'm not saying this is going to happen...just that it's the worst-case scenario that's possible.)

Anyone who think that a recall is more likely than this outcome needs to explain why they think that.

I can't think of a single good reason, nor has anyone pointed one out yet. The thread title is ridiculous unless someone can address this.
 
It's no big deal for me

I picked up my ip4 this morning and it has the reception issue but it's no big deal for me. It hasn't caused the signal decrease to the point of dropping calls yet and all I have to do is hold it without squeezing and the signal is normal.
 
What is funny is that every since internal antennas became the norm (cira 1997) there has ALWAYS been an issue with covering the antenna and attenuating the signal. This applies to Razrs, iPhones, blackberries etc.

The thing is that the baseband firmware is written such that the bars don't "show" you the actual signal variance in dB.

What makes the biggest difference if the signal is being attenuated is whether you are on 850 or a 1900-2100 band.

If you are in an area of mostly 850 you won't have as big of a problem as 1900, which is more sensitive to physical things getting in the way.

This is why there is a Tmo poster complaining, Tmo is on 1900 and I remember when I had Tmo and having an internal antenna was a problem in medium signal areas if you held the phone to your ear vs. using a headset. If you bought an internal antenna phone you were guaranteed a call drop vs. phones with an extendable antanna.

Likewise, if you are ATT 1900 you'll probably have slight attenuation that is normally not shown to you despite it happening and the baseband firmware adjusting to compensate. The baseband has to ramp up antenna power when you hold it, and the iPhone 4 is probably not doing this quickly enough.

Again, this applies to all phones with internal antennas, not just the iPhone. My guess is that they didn't quite get the baseband firmware tweaked to amp up the power fast enough when the antenna is covered since a major design goal of the iPhone 4 was to conserve battery as much as possible.

On Monday, 4.0.1 will be released and everyone except a very vocal minority of people, many blessed with poor videography skills and YouTube accounts. An even smaller minority will return their phones before the software is updated and move on with their lives. Another minority will troll engadget, gizmodo and macrumors (among others) for the next year about this solved issue.

The majority will sit back and enjoy an greatly improved iPhone experience.

you should be banned from macrumors. Rational and common sense answers are not allowed.

btw...I have discussed this issue with quite a few people from different backgrounds and occupations...most if not all basically said the same thing you did. I tried coming on macrumors to briefly bring some light to the trolls but it was too hard...way too many on here...
 
I laugh at everyone blowing this all out of porportion if its just a software update cause walt marsburg said that this would be taken care of by a sofware update
 
What is funny is that every since internal antennas became the norm (cira 1997) there has ALWAYS been an issue with covering the antenna and attenuating the signal. This applies to Razrs, iPhones, blackberries etc.
So apple's research and development team that came up with the "stainless steel band" iphone4 antenna innovation, trumpeted by Jobs during the keynote, is actually on par with phones produced circa 1997.
 
Besides the common sense in that post, there are a lot of people that have good signals where they are, never move around much, and will never have the low signal where this issue even appears if you push it. So, no reason for 'general recall'.

I have to say, as an electrical engineer, I did wonder a bit when Steve announced the 'external antennas' at WWDC. External, sure. Ones that you hold in your hands?! They must know they're doing... :D

And, as has been said elsewhere, this wouldn't be such a you-know-what if it weren't for AT&T's crappy network.
 
I really cannot stand reading people that post "this is going to be a class action" "Apple is screwed because of all the pending lawsuits," etc. Seriously? Come on. I think people easily forget that Apple is like any other corporation in the world. People and corporations, which are composed of people, make mistakes. That is just a fact of life. I think there is a definitely an issue with the iPhone 4 and I am sure Apple will try to come up with a permanent or temporary solution. However, what has happened thus far does not warrant any lawsuit whatsoever against the company. There is no standing. It would be thrown out! All the evidence that many of you claim is sufficient enough to bring a case against Apple is not really there. Furthermore, Apple hasn't been given a chance to fully remedy the problem. It hasn't been 3 years since the phone was introduced and they did nothing to alleviate the problem and there is sufficient evidence to prove that they blatantly deceived the public by having them purchase a bumper that apparently costs .50 to make. Last, I think people expect perfection from Apple. Yes, some of us are paying $700 for this phones and yes we expect the best but Apple never said that they would be selling the best phone on the planet that would have indestructible reception. There are so many variables and conditions that need to be taken into consideration when a phone does not work. I for one am not an engineer, but many are quick to throw Apple under the bus just because the product they have just introduced to the world is not PERFECT in every sense of the world. Nothing is perfect. I think there are a few things Apple will do.

1. Release a firmware update
(I don't think anyone on this forum is privy to information that Apple engineers are. Maybe the software update may, in some odd way, fix the problem. Someone suggested that they would re-route the reception of the antenna to another location? Who knows)

2. Exchange affected phones at no extra cost

3. Do a total recall.

I mean, there could be countless possibilities, but the aforementioned seem to be the most likely course of action that Apple may take. Ultimately, no on here knows and we will simply have to wait and see what the solution is, if any. I truly hope that that a software update, if that is what they are going to do, actually does fix or improve the problem.
 
If they do anything it will be a free bumper, even a software update or maby (this is the most drastic) they will have like a program where u go int the apple store and they fix it and u cone back in the next day and pick it up (if it Is that simple to fix). I can bet they won't do anything drastic like full recall.
 
there is aways going to be 1-3% defect rate in consumer electronics.
With something so hyped that percentage will be very vocal. The problem is not AS bad as some are making it out to be.

3% of 600,000 is 18,000 phones with issues. 18,000 people are pissed off.

Where did you pull that 3% number from?
Just asking cos I think you forgot to wash it. :p
 
I am sure that Apple is considering a recall and it may surprise us if they do. However, I do not think that is the first step and the ultimate step they will take but I could be wrong. The likely scenario is to do a software update and if that doesn't, which I would think may not, they will simply authorize customer service to replace the defective devices or some sort of genius bar repair at a local Apple store. A recall would call too much attention and it would get bad press, though Apple has already gotten some bad press, a recall would just be over the top for them.
 
No

The best anyone can hope for is a free set of bumpers (as I'll get) after SJ calls the problem normal and a "non issue".
 
LMAO they took down the page.

I never close the window :D

'We may have to recall the new iPhone. This I did not expect': Steve Jobs makes shock announcement

* New phone 'unsuitable for left-handed people'
* Reception cuts out for users

By Richard Ashmore
Last updated at 2:01 AM on 27th June 2010

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...recalled.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0s0y6OMOX

The new iPhone was also said to be unsuitable for left-handed people.

Apple issued a statement in which Mr Jobs told owners: ‘Just avoid holding it that way.’

Angry users have complained that the £phone's reception suddenly plunges to almost zero when they simply hold it in their hand.

Dozens of videos have been placed on YouTube showing the iPhone 4 losing signal the moment the metal antenna that surrounds the edge of the new device is covered.

Jobs issued his bizarre advice as he responded to an email from a user on the Ars Technica technology news site who had complained about the sudden loss of signal.

In an astonishingly blunt response, Mr Jobs replied: 'Just avoid holding it in that way. All phones have sensitive areas'.

In a statement, Apple said: 'Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas.'

'This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.'

The iPhone 4 seems to have been jinxed from the outset. Apple employee Gray Powell left the iPhone behind after celebrating his 27th birthday at the Gourmet Haus Staudt bar, not far from the computer giant’s Cupertino, California headquarters.

It was picked up and immediately handed to tech website Gizmodo which promptly posted pictures of the device online. The phone was shut down remotely by Apple, adding to suspicions that the phone held secrets the company didn’t want exposed.

Then, during a pre-launch demo in San Francisco, Steve Jobs failed to get the handset to work.

Apple claims that using one of its 'bumpers' - which cost £25 each and clip over the iPhone to protect it - will stop the user's hand interfering with the signal.

The firm is selling the rubber bumpers on its website but none will be shipped to the UK until July 16th.

Users have flooded Twitter with rumours about the problem and stop-gap remedies including using tape to cover the bottom of the phone.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...recalled.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0s0yCcjnA

'We may have to recall the new iPhone. This I did not expect': Steve Jobs makes shock announcement

* New phone 'unsuitable for left-handed people'
* Reception cuts out for users

By Richard Ashmore
Last updated at 2:01 AM on 27th June 2010

* Comments (5)
* Videos
* Add to My Stories

The much-vaunted new iPhone 4 may be recalled, Apple boss Steve Jobs revealed this morning.

In a hugely embarrassing move for Apple, the tycoon posted a message on the social networking site Twitter, admitting: ‘We may have to recall the new iPhone. This I did not expect.’

Launched in Britain last week in a hail of publicity, the £500 handset has been dogged by technical problems. Reception has been found to cut out when users cover a metal band built into the phone’s bottom left-hand corner.
Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs shows Russian President Dimitry Medvedev the new iPhone 4 yesterday. The Apple boss has responded to complaints about the new phone's reception

The new iPhone was also said to be unsuitable for left-handed people.

Apple issued a statement in which Mr Jobs told owners: ‘Just avoid holding it that way.’

Angry users have complained that the £phone's reception suddenly plunges to almost zero when they simply hold it in their hand.

Dozens of videos have been placed on YouTube showing the iPhone 4 losing signal the moment the metal antenna that surrounds the edge of the new device is covered.

Jobs issued his bizarre advice as he responded to an email from a user on the Ars Technica technology news site who had complained about the sudden loss of signal.

In an astonishingly blunt response, Mr Jobs replied: 'Just avoid holding it in that way. All phones have sensitive areas'.

In a statement, Apple said: 'Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas.'

'This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.'

The iPhone 4 seems to have been jinxed from the outset. Apple employee Gray Powell left the iPhone behind after celebrating his 27th birthday at the Gourmet Haus Staudt bar, not far from the computer giant’s Cupertino, California headquarters.

It was picked up and immediately handed to tech website Gizmodo which promptly posted pictures of the device online. The phone was shut down remotely by Apple, adding to suspicions that the phone held secrets the company didn’t want exposed.

Then, during a pre-launch demo in San Francisco, Steve Jobs failed to get the handset to work.

Apple claims that using one of its 'bumpers' - which cost £25 each and clip over the iPhone to protect it - will stop the user's hand interfering with the signal.

The firm is selling the rubber bumpers on its website but none will be shipped to the UK until July 16th.

Users have flooded Twitter with rumours about the problem and stop-gap remedies including using tape to cover the bottom of the phone.
A clip from an iPhone 4 advert which shows the model holding the device in the 'wrong' way

A clip from an iPhone 4 advert which shows the model holding the device in the 'wrong' way

Left-handed users are being particularly affected because when they hold the phone in their left hand their fingers cover more of the right-hand side of the phone - where the antenna is.
apple1iphone2.jpg

Another iPhone 4 ad shows the model's hand blocking the antenna

The left side of the iPhone 4 receives Wi-Fi signals while the right side picks up the 3G signal for calls.

Technology website T3 ran a test using one of the ‘bumper’ cover for the phone which appears to solve the issue.

Danish wireless technology expert called Gert Frølund Pedersen told Wired magazine that the problem is probably because the phone’s new antenna is built into the metal frame which surrounds the device.

‘Human tissue will have an inhibitory effect on the antenna. Touch means that a larger portion of the antenna energy turns into heat and lost.

'This makes the antenna less efficient to send and receive radio signals,’ he said.

A loss of signal, known as attenuation, can occur when an antenna is bridged.

Holding it in your hand will change the length of the antenna and interfere with the specific wavelengths it is calibrated to pick up.

The Apple iPad also faced some teething problems when it was launched with users reporting problems when they tried to connect to wi-fi. A software update had to be issued to sort this problem out.

And the iPhone 4 is not the first Apple 3G phone to have problems with its reception - users also reported problems with the earlier iPhone 3GS when it was first released too.
A new iPhone complete with black rubber 'bumper' which Apple claims will help solve the problem

A new iPhone complete with black rubber 'bumper' which Apple claims will help solve the problem

There have also been early reports of problems with the iPhone’s screen.

Launched by Steve Jobs as ‘retina display’, with an paralleled definition and number of pixels, some users in the US have complained about some yellow discolouration.

The spots can appear in corners and the thin bands have shown up toward the tops and bottoms of customers' screens.

Some Apple insiders on web forums have claimed that the yellow colour is down to the clue that the firm uses to bond the glass on its screens which has not had the time to evaporate.

They claim that the discolouration will clear after a day or two as the glue evaporates.

The iPhone 4 was unveiled earlier this month. At the time, Mr Jobs said it represented 'the biggest leap since the original iPhone'.

It offers video calling, a higher-resolution display and the ability to record and view high-definition video.

The new handset updates the iPhone 3GS which launched a year ago and sold more than a million units in its first weekend.

A spokesperson for Apple was not immediately available to comment.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...recalled.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0s0yIGNdw


The much-vaunted new iPhone 4 may be recalled, Apple boss Steve Jobs revealed this morning.

In a hugely embarrassing move for Apple, the tycoon posted a message on the social networking site Twitter, admitting: ‘We may have to recall the new iPhone. This I did not expect.’

Launched in Britain last week in a hail of publicity, the £500 handset has been dogged by technical problems. Reception has been found to cut out when users cover a metal band built into the phone’s bottom left-hand corner.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...recalled.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0s0xxSiik
 
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