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

[firewood]

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.

If I grab my iPhone like I grip my 35mm SLR, landscape, tightly along the left side, with my right hand free for the shutter button, it puts the iPhone's camera lens behind my fingers. There are also a few slim P&S cameras that have the lens in this same corner.

No camera? Wrong.

 

[jrbdmb]

Generally the iPhone 4 antenna improves signal and makes clearer calls unless you hold the phone like a complete retard in a weak signal spot.

Case closed.

Oh you mean like this?

Case closed. CONFIRMED.

 

[JediZenMaster]

Funny how people will believe anything. I haven't even seen real proof this e-mail even exists. No copy of the e-mail or anything. So IMO it didn't happen

 

[BobHail]

your an idiot

How so?

 

[Prohapps]

Seriously, just admit that there's a problem and put the bumpers half-price for a while.

The phone looks awesome even with a bumper on...

I mean come on Steve Jobs retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a bumper. Not worth it

 

[BobVB]

Fail on both sarcasm attempt and personal knowledge, "Princess".

Wasn't sarcasm - holding an expensive item in your fingertips has always impressed my as effete, and that's what I call it 'holding it like a princess' - its a week's pay for many why would anyone hold it that way?

So since you did take great offense I apologize but seriously, can you figure out why? I hold my phones like I've always held any hand-held electronics from ohm meters, to gps's, to calculators - center of gravity of the device at the center of the gripe. Seriously can't understand why anyone would treat a phone differently from everything else they hold in their hand.

I've told you why I hold mine the way I do, can you remember back what started you holding it in your fingertips?

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

So you confirm my speculation you are mere child just short of twice your age there.

quit trying to insult my intelligence.

Never was, just your idea that your way of holding is the only way of holding when it actually for some seems the silly way to hold it. Seriously, do you hold your calculators that way? Other hand held devices? Fingertips? For real?

I would be curious but just FYI many many people would never think of holding a cell phone that way. Before this you could have asked me to use one a 100 times and it would never have occurred to me to use it the way you do every day.

 

[chris975d]

Right, that sounds very practical.


- 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

If you read through many of the testimonials on here, and even in my own personal experience at my local AT&T stores, they typically will not impose a fee on returning a defective item. Also, to the point you make about not having a cell phone for x weeks...did you not have a phone before purchasing the iPhone 4? If so, did it happen to break the day the iPhone 4 came out, so using it again for a while is impossible? And if you had no cell phone before that, what's wrong with waiting a few more weeks without one? Obviously it wasn't needed in your life until the day the iPhone 4 came out.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

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.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this fire isn't visible to about 50% of iPhone users.

Those 50% that bought it (or will buy it) pay attention to only two things - how shiny it is and which pretty people in Hollywood are holding one.

Cell phones are the most widely used piece of technology that "ordinary people" don't know anything about. Even when they own it. A phone could have the secret to eternal life and a Google map of Jimmy Hoffa's grave just two clicks away and a majority of people would never go there. They are content that it sends their voice magically through the sky and knows how to find another phone on the other end.

 

[wovel]

Funny how people will believe anything. I haven't even seen real proof this e-mail even exists. No copy of the e-mail or anything. So IMO it didn't happen

It doesn't exist, it was fake, just like the BGR CSR instructions. It is about one thing:

controversy == mo' page views. All the tech blogs repost each others stories no matter how bogus because it helps them all.

 

[2 Replies]

Jobs also sent one final message, encouraging the customer to "retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a phone. Not worth it."

Jobs you douchebag!
Apparently it's just a phone and not worth it...but ONLY after customers have shelled out hundreds of dollars to you for one.
Once you've got their money in your sweaty clutches you no longer care.

 

[conduitstudios]

Not just death grip

Does anyone else notice that it is not just the death grip that is a problem? Honestly however I hold the iPhone 4 I have worse reception than with my 3GS.

 

[kuaiyouming]

.

 

[ChazUK]

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?

When held incorrectly your hand isn't "blocking" the antenna. It is "bridging" it with a 2nd antenna due to poor design.

How many phones have their cameras set up in such a way that you block the camera during use whilst being held naturally out of interest?

 

[balamw]

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.

Exactly. Though it would be difficult to say the least to get anywhere close to 20 dB improvement on the link.

B

 

[kuaiyouming]

.

 

[voicegy]

Worshipping and Reality

I normally hate Steve's email responses, because he's usually so rude, but he really got it right this time. Everyone is too obsessed with this thing, it's just a phone. Get over it, nerds. Get outside and do something useful.

Exactly. But Steve is part of the problem. The aura that he surrounds his creations with negates his flippant "it's just a phone" comment. If he came on stage with the new iPhone and simply stated "Hey, take a look. We made some changes. It looks kinda nice, yes? But, at the end of the day, it's just a phone," even the most rabid of fanboys would hesitate to bother pre-ordering and standing in line for it.

He certainly knows how to spin Apple's creations - the Jobsian "Reality Distortion Field" is well known and he's a master at it. So one can't really fault folks for feeling flummoxed at his recent remark considering his bordering-on-worshipping introduction.

 

[BobVB]

"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!!!!!!!!"

Stupid analogy unless they are talking about suddenly moving the camera lens to where people have normally held their iPhones through all previous generations. Then yeah, they would have a legitimate complaint about suddenly putting their fingers over the lens

 

[pubwvj]

Solution on the desktop

I have a solution for everyone who is having this problem. Send me your iPhone. I'll deal with the issue by holding it in the other hand. This will save you great angst and hardship. PM me.

 

[Anuba]

If so, did it happen to break the day the iPhone 4 came out, so using it again for a while is impossible?

Are scenarios like

- "I sold it on craigslist/eBay"
- "I gave it to my brother/sister/mom/cousin/buddy"
- "When I bought the iPhone 4, I switched my old SIM card for a micro-SIM which my old phone won't accept"

entirely unfamiliar/implausible to you?

 

[dannys1]

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!

No THEY OBVIOUSLY DO.

Thats the problem with forums these days - people are too busy writing their own **** instead of reading whats correct. Read my post...ITS FACT not rumour, speculation or some try-be geek who doesn't have a ****ing clue what they are talking about.

All iPhones are effected, it depends how strong your signal is - those that says theres are not, are morons (with a strong signal)

But it really doesn't affect day to day use of the phone its blown well out of proportion.

Theres no point in me writing this on here anyway, people will continue to write ****, not understand what the problem actually is and not bother reading anything else. so

 

[Castiel]

An email... from the internet... with "verified email headers". lol

I had no idea there was so much truth on the internet! Here I was thinking fake stuff went around all the time.

 

[egret]

your an idiot

Actually it is "you're an idiot".

Who is the idiot now?

 

[Nocaster]

You know, I have to say, as an owner of an affected iPhone 4 (upgraded from a 3GS, which in turn had been upgraded from a 1st gen), I was completely fine with giving Apple the benefit of the doubt and letting this issue work itself out. I'm sure they'll eventually do the right thing by their customer.

That is, until Steve Jobs told me I was holding it wrong, buy a bumper, there's nothing wrong with the phone.

What a douchebag. I'll likely not be a ruturning customer next time around.

 

[nascimento]

Then why go through the agony of daily dropped calls instead of simply buying a different phone that works? Why must you have an iPhone? You're voluntarily putting yourself through hell and risking losing business just to have an iPhone. It makes no sense.

This reaction or overreaction is of the same proportion as the hype and PR sales pitch.
If you want to tap into people emotions to sell a product and there is a problem with it they will inevitably react badly.

Returning the IP4 could be considered to be the normal thing to do however many of theses people have been loyal Apple customers and only know the Apple ecosystem.

Simply telling people to “return the phone” is not quite fair.

 

[ChazUK]

An email... from the internet... with "verified email headers". lol

I had no idea there was so much truth on the internet! Here I was thinking fake stuff went around all the time.

Hello, I hope this email meets you in good health;

I have sum 8.7 million USA dollars I want to move to you for joint investment in your country, as it will favour us if we can be sincere to both parties.......