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Steve Jobs Again Speaks Out on iPhone 4 Antenna Issue via Email

BobVB said:
So you're a princess but many of us have had mobile phones maybe longer than you and have never held them that way. And , as a cell phone company, should know that and the phone they put out should work for both ways of holding it.
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Fail on both sarcasm attempt and personal knowledge, "Princess".

I'm 31 years old pal, I've had many a brick of a mobile phone in my day.

Put it this way, I was a customer of O2 in the UK before they were even O2, they were called BT Cellnet.

So go back to your little drawing board and quit trying to insult my intelligence.
 
Anuba said:
Um... did it occur to you that they might be waiting for word on whether it's a fixable software problem or a non-fixable hardware problem? If the manufacturer would only learn to

C O M M U N I C A T E

(a skill which you might think a manufacturer of communication devices would possess), they would make it a whole lot easier for customers to make informed decisions.
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If they aren't communicating fast enough for the customers' liking, then the customers should use intelligence and return the product within the 14 or 30 day window, just in case the manufacturer hasn't "communicated" a solution in that time frame. And if a fix comes out after that, the customer is free to repurchase the product then. If a product doesn't suit your needs AS PURCHASED, don't sit around waiting on a manufacturer to decide they might fix it. Return it. A pile of returned iPhones WILL make them fix any issue the customer is unhappy with. But as long as they are selling so damn fast that no Apple Stores can keep them in stock...do you think they have any incentive to stop producing those money-making, "defective" items?
 
I wonder if the problem Steve had with getting a WiFi connection at the iPhone 4 event was related to how he held the phone?
 
You people make me laugh!!!

If your phone is broken, go and change it to a one that works! (There obviously are many iPhone 4s that are not affected with the antenna problem). Send Apple the message that you are not accepting this BS from them!

Now stop whining and be men! :mad:
 
BobVB said:
But the reality is you can have a 5 bar signal, pick up the phone and hold it normally and it will go even lower than -113, and drop the call. Consistently, reliable, in areas that previous versions could always make calls before.

As to the bumper talk who cares? It doesn't come with a bumper - it is sold to use 'as is' and so if it needs a case for functionality it would come with a case or cases would be free to those that were having problems.

Again, the article supports that the phone has defective levels of signal attenuation with normal holding, enough that it is severely less capable than the previous version. No matter what else it might do this is a defect pure and simple.
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As an RF engineer, I read the article differently. The attenuation alone doesn't tell me what I need to know and is far from "defective" if it is offset even in part by other improvements in the link. They allude to this in the section following the one I cited where they talk about SNR. SNR would be nice, but I would prefer to know the absolute signal strength as well as the noise levels in the receiver before I know what the attenuation means to my link integrity and ultimately to my bit-error-rate (BER).

As they point out the iP4 seems to have made improvements in sensitivity (i.e. noise) since it actually works better at a reported -113 dBm signal strength than any previous model. There is a third component that is important here. Interference. It is entirely possible that the changes made to improve sensitivity also made the iP4 more vulnerable to interference. This would help explain why some folks have a problem and others don't.

B
 
Steve Jobs and Apple are digging their hole deeper and deeper each day with these poorly thought-out replies to a very serious issue.

Thumbs down for Apple and the iPhone 4.0 :mad:
 
ChazUK said:
When held like that in a low signal area, does that constitute calling it "gripping it like a fu*kin retard"?
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Is holding the iPhone in such a way that my fingers are blocking the camera lens stupid when I'm not taking a photo?

How about when I am trying to take a photo?
 
firewood said:
Is holding the iPhone in such a way that my fingers are blocking the camera lens stupid when I'm not taking a photo?

How about when I am trying to take a photo?
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That's why lens placement is usually done in a manner that puts it away from your hand when designing a camera. A camera that puts the lens behind your palm when holding it like any other cameras would be a design flaw.

Hence why no camera is designed to have the lens placed anywhere near your hand while holding it naturally.
 
KnightWRX said:
Seriously, stop looking like a Steve puppet and read the Anand article.

iPhone 4 suffers 10x worse attenuation than the iPhone 3GS, when holding it in the manner you suggest.

All iPhone 4s are affected, even yours with which you claim not to have the issue. The reason you aren't seeing the issue is that the iPhone 4 shows 5 bars of signal until pretty low in the signal band. Then the bars drop off pretty fast, over the course of about 18 dbs. The iPhone 4 doesn't require a bear hug to lose 20 dbs of signal, only being touched in the proper spot. A light finger tip at the right point does it.

That point happens to be one of the natural holding positions, as shown time and time again by Apple during demos and in advertising material.

That is the issue. If you're in a place where a 20 db drop in signal doesn't result in No Service, you don't see the issue. It's still there.
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Well it kind of depends if that is an issue. The new phone has increased sensitivity and likely more gain in the antenna. It is really only an issue if it is losing signal in places where other phones work.

Some people claim it is, other people claim the phone allows them to make calls from places they could not before. People on both sides of that coin are and are not using bumpers.

Andtech claims the bumper always fixes the problem and the phone receiver is much better than the previous model. They did not compare the receiver antenna improvements against the attenuation caused by holding the new device, so they do not really provide any help around the real question. A potential 20db drop when held is not a problem if the design provides 21db of gain over other designs. If the design only provides 2db of gain, I think it is a huge problem. No one has actually tested that, and it would probably be hard to do nondestructively. The other thing their report did not (or can not) tell us is the hands effect on attenuating transmissions.

We are still left with a pile of conflicting anecdotes.
 
I know the iPhone4 is pretty and all, but why would you not use a case on a phone that is basically made out of glass? Using case = attenuation problem solved, so, if you insist on keeping the iPhone despite the fact that you are having problems, why not just get a dang case/bumper? Alternatively, why not try to grip the phone in a different manner?

Again, if you are deciding that you love the iPhone4, but the signal problem is bad for you, why not avail yourself of one of the two simple, readily available fixes above?

The other alternative is to just return the dang thing. Show the ATT/Apple people that you are having a real problem and they cannot charge you a restocking fee.

Honestly, the lack of common sense that some people are showing boggles my brain. Jobs is right: Relax and think about the important things in life before you work yourself up about a phone. You have choices; exercise them or just shut up. :cool:
 
KnightWRX said:
Seriously, stop looking like a Steve puppet and read the Anand article.

iPhone 4 suffers 10x worse attenuation than the iPhone 3GS, when holding it in the manner you suggest.

All iPhone 4s are affected, even yours with which you claim not to have the issue. The reason you aren't seeing the issue is that the iPhone 4 shows 5 bars of signal until pretty low in the signal band. Then the bars drop off pretty fast, over the course of about 18 dbs. The iPhone 4 doesn't require a bear hug to lose 20 dbs of signal, only being touched in the proper spot. A light finger tip at the right point does it.

That point happens to be one of the natural holding positions, as shown time and time again by Apple during demos and in advertising material.

That is the issue. If you're in a place where a 20 db drop in signal doesn't result in No Service, you don't see the issue. It's still there.
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If you read earlier, I said I could recreate the issue. If I touch my iPhone 4 in that spot, the signal does drop off for me. But, since I don't hold the iPhone 4 in a way that touches that area, I don't get the dropped calls even in my left hand.

What that poster has been arguing is that the issue is the dropped calls. But, that is caused by the signal drop off which has been demonstrated in the older iPhones. Yes, with the external antenna the iPhone 4 is more sensitive. But, it isn't an issue isolated to the iPhone 4. Previous iPhones have the same issue and according to the same report, even with the signal drop off, the iPhone 4 holds the call better then the 3GS.

I am not saying this is not an issue. Who knows that maybe Apple didn't insulate the external band right or whatever, but this behavior is not unique to the iPhone 4.
 
Why are we all arguing with each other? Some people are having issues that others aren't. One thing we can all agree on is that the iPhone 4 has an issue with dropping calls when held "the wrong way"

Simply, if Steve Jobs had of replied a bit more professionally this issue would not be as big as it is. His emails are adding fuel to the fire.
Let's just wait and see if a 'magical' firmware update can fix it.
 
spiritlevel said:
It happens when you hold it like Jobs holds it.

2pqko69.jpg


And when you hold it like they do in the adverts

hey-apple-youre-holding-it-wrong.jpg
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Bingo
 
Steve Jobs & "friends" are probably reading all this at Apple´s headquarters and laughing their rear ends off! :p

They don´t have nothing to worry about. Stupid people are still buying the broken batch of the iPhones 4s and these stupid people are not taking them back to exchange for a new working batch.
 
chris975d said:
If they aren't communicating fast enough for the customers' liking, then the customers should use intelligence and return the product within the 14 or 30 day window, just in case the manufacturer hasn't "communicated" a solution in that time frame. And if a fix comes out after that, the customer is free to repurchase the product then.
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Right, that sounds very practical.

- You get rid of your old phone
- You buy an iPhone 4
- You have major issues with reception and hold out for word on whether a fix is coming
- The manufacturer stonewalls you, so you give up and return the phone, which costs you $30
- Yay, you have no cellphone for X number of weeks
- The manufacturer gets its thumb out of its butt and releases a software fix
- You buy the phone again

Apple could eliminate most of that process by uttering two words:

FIX COMING

or

BY DESIGN

But they won't, presumably they're waiting for the return window to expire for those 1.7 million phones. *Then* they'll reveal that it's by design.
 
I'm sorry to say that this IS an issue, a HUGE issue. I am NOT in an area with low signal. With my prior 3G and 3GS I've had 5 bars of service at work. I now usually get 3 bars with my iPhone 4, and thats if I leave it alone by itself on the table and dont touch it. (SOMETIMES I can get 5 bars if I'm sitting correctly I guess) If I pick it up, (don't even have to touch the section on the bottom left) it will normally start to drop bars and sometimes falls to 1 bar of edge...

HOW is this a Non-Issue???? It's COMPLETELY rediculas. I LOVE the phone, but the reception SUCKS im sorry to say. Not that all the phones necessarily have the same issue. They can either issue a patch (hopefully) or I am going to ask for a replacement.

Just as a real example of how bad this is. I get service (With my prior iphones, my moms motorola, and stepdads blackberry) as soon as I hit the state line (going into Tennessee, 3 bars 3G Service). It takes about 6 miles to get to Taco Bell (where I was headed at the time to eat) so I pulled my iphone 4 out to tell my friend that I was on my way, and when I hit SEND on my text, it sat there sending.... sending... sending... FAILED as I had 1 bar of edge [should be 4-5 bars 3G by this point]... I wait a minute for it to realize it has 3G service... it just sits there at 1 bar EDGE for the next mile or two... So I turn on airplane mode and wait 30 seconds. Flip it back off... the phone says SEARCHING.... SEARCHING.... for freaking EVER!!!, finally about 1000 feet before I get to taco bell it goes WHOOSH 5 bars of 3G. What a piece of crap, yeah a NON-ISSUE... Whatever steve. Good thing you added facetime over WiFi or I might not even be able to use the phone for calling....
 
firewood said:
Is holding the iPhone in such a way that my fingers are blocking the camera lens stupid when I'm not taking a photo?

How about when I am trying to take a photo?
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"OMG.....Apple sucks....the camera wont take a picture when my finger is over the lens"

- "Well, then, just adjust your grip so it doesnt do that...problem solved"

"WHAT???????...I should be able to hold the phone any damn way i want to and still take a picture. Apple will burn for this!!!! ARRGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
 
Puddinman said:
I know the iPhone4 is pretty and all, but why would you not use a case on a phone that is basically made out of glass? Using case = attenuation problem solved, so, if you insist on keeping the iPhone despite the fact that you are having problems, why not just get a dang case/bumper? Alternatively, why not try to grip the phone in a different manner?

Again, if you are deciding that you love the iPhone4, but the signal problem is bad for you, why not avail yourself of one of the two simple, readily available fixes above?

The other alternative is to just return the dang thing. Show the ATT/Apple people that you are having a real problem and they cannot charge you a restocking fee.

Honestly, the lack of common sense that some people are showing boggles my brain. Jobs is right: Relax and think about the important things in life before you work yourself up about a phone. You have choices; exercise them or just shut up. :cool:
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If you press them, every person you ask on the forum here has indicated their restocking fee was waived or not even asked for.


Vertical said:
I'm sorry to say that this IS an issue, a HUGE issue. I am NOT in an area with low signal. With my prior 3G and 3GS I've had 5 bars of service at work. I now usually get 3 bars with my iPhone 4, and thats if I leave it alone by itself on the table and dont touch it. (SOMETIMES I can get 5 bars if I'm sitting correctly I guess) If I pick it up, (don't even have to touch the section on the bottom left) it will normally start to drop bars and sometimes falls to 1 bar of edge...

HOW is this a Non-Issue???? It's COMPLETELY rediculas.
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Your experience is atypical and it sounds like you may be experience some other problem. All reports and actual testing has shown that the iPhone4 receiver is much more sensitive and holds calls better. The only reception issue has been for some users holding the phone (in perhaps a certain way). Perhaps your unit is defective and should be returned.
 
BobHail said:
Steve Jobs & "friends" are probably reading all this at Apple´s headquarters and laughing their rear ends off! :p

They don´t have nothing to worry about. Stupid people are still buying the broken batch of the iPhones 4s and these stupid people are not taking them back to exchange for a new working batch.
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My point exactly. As long as people are buying them and not returning them (and by doing so showing Apple that the customer isn't going to stand for this), they aren't going to change a damn thing. Why would they? If you were a restaurant and served food that people said tasted like sh**, yet people lined up over and over for the chance to buy that sh**-tasting food, would you change the recipe?
 
BobHail said:
Steve Jobs & "friends" are probably reading all this at Apple´s headquarters and laughing their rear ends off! :p

They don´t have nothing to worry about. Stupid people are still buying the broken batch of the iPhones 4s and these stupid people are not taking them back to exchange for a new working batch.
Click to expand...

your an idiot
 
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