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

[Strigoitsepesh]

A little clarification

I'm a little confused. I've been following this for a few days now, but apparently I'm not fully grasping the situation. Several people have said that the phone only drops signal if held in an uncomfortable way. If that is the case, then I'm going to have to side with Jobs.

So, which is it? Does it happen constantly or just when held in an unusual/uncomfortable way?

 

[jkozlow3]

Does anyone seriously think this is a legit story? Steve Jobs most likely wouldn't have responded with those comments.

This is poor reporting MacRumors! I can't believe that an unconfirmed email chain made front page news!

 

[Lord Vader]

Colour me amazed.

 

[Mike3300]

"It's just a phone, not worth it."

Sounds like Apple just want customers money and tell them to enjoy it for another 12 months to come while they're preparing next pocket hole launcher for you. Apple is one of the best companies to provide good and high quality customer services and feedback but this whole signal issue is quite serious for a phone. Why buy iPhone while you can have iPod touch, of course it's the phone. If it's not worth it, why built a phone then?

 

[rrjr80]

Now it's just a phone. Previously it was more than just a phone. It was also supposed to change everything. Again.

But, it's just a phone.

 

[482123]

Another point.....

Have you noticed that the mainstream media hasn't really reported on this yet? There is a reason and it's not a lack of awareness. It's because real journalists gather comprehensive information from all sides of an issue, thoroughly researched and backed up with expert opinion. I'm not saying there is no story here, but rather that these blogs do a very poor job (in general) of substantiating these stories and reporting with facts and fairness. Honestly, the initial reports were akin to " I heard a guy in a bar say his iPhone sucked". Many of us have no issues with the phone. Some people may. Others try very hard to make their phone "suck" as well. I can put my tongue on the antennae area in question and make the transmission of data nosedive, but honestly does that make the phone defective?

As time passes, I think it will be demonstrated that the antennae design and how the phone is held combined can inhibit the use of the phone in certain circumstances. I'm confident Apple will provide a reasonable solution for those crabby malcontents that can't deal with the design. I for one will continue to enjoy this wonderful device that, despite this issue, has caused me ZERO problems.

What the hell are you talking about? It's been on plenty of mainstream sources. BBC, CNN, MSNBC, my freaking local news. It's been all over the place.

 

[Popeye206]

Does anyone seriously think this is a legit story? Steve Jobs most likely wouldn't have responded with those comments.

This is poor reporting MacRumors! I can't believe that an unconfirmed email chain made front page news!

Agreed... I think this is BS and anti- propaganda. No CEO would respond like that on email. That just does not make sense.

 

[lordthistle]

My 3Gs iPhone is the worst phone I have ever had with respect to signal reception. Usually I carry two phones, the iPhone and a Samsung one, both with Vodafone Italia as operator: as soon as the signal weakens, the Samsung is 'connected' and usable, the iPhone isn't. The 4G improved such feature.

At last they decided to hire some new antenna engineers.

-- thistle

 

[482123]

Now it's just a phone. Previously it was more than just a phone. It was also supposed to change everything. Again.

But, it's just a phone.

Just a phone that doesn't actually work as a phone for quite a few people.

 

[mdatwood]

Now that I have my i4, I'm convinced there is some manufacturing defect. I know 3 people, myself included who have an i4. The person who got his on release day can touch the spot and go from 5 bars to no signal. The other 2 of us who just got our phones cannot replicate the problem. I even went to a known weak signal area (known from my 3gs) where I had 3-4 bars and touched the spot. I thought I was onto something when the signal started dropping, but then it came back up to where it was.

IMHO, the biggest problem here is Apple's handling of the situation. There is clearly some problem with some phones. It could be simply that they don't want to replace many of the 1st batch phones.

 

[sneezymarble]

I have to say again. Scientifically speaking if this were an actual "design flaw" in the phone itself everybody would experience it. Since this isn't the case lets hope a software/baseband fix will solve it.

It's a bit surprising to me that people still don't grasp this issue very well. There are two components to the problem: (1) the iPhone 4's antenna design, and (2) the strength and quality of a cell signal. And, actually, there might be a third issue, which is the absolutely idiotic method of reporting cell signal strength/quality with only 5 bars, or just bars at all. Cell signals ought to be reported numerically. Either by way of the SNR (i.e. -dBm) or by converting the -dBms to a more user friendly number between, say, 0 and 100, where 0 is no signal and 100 is a really really really good signal.

Now that I have my i4, I'm convinced there is some manufacturing defect. I know 3 people, myself included who have an i4. The person who got his on release day can touch the spot and go from 5 bars to no signal. The other 2 of us who just got our phones cannot replicate the problem. I even went to a known weak signal area (known from my 3gs) where I had 3-4 bars and touched the spot. I thought I was onto something when the signal started dropping, but then it came back up to where it was.

That's interesting. Everyone that I know that thought they had a phone without the issue found their phone to have the issue when they touched the problem area in signal areas where I get the problem. And, on the other hand, where I go to where they initially used their phones and thought they had no problem my phone does not appear to drop its signal.

 

[opencube]

If only Job's iPhone 4 promo launch was pitched like that.

 

[BornAgainMac]

How can you be working on something that he claims doesn't exist?

Working on "Thoughts about iPhone 4 customers" memo.

 

[yodaxl7]

it is a non-issue, buy a freaking case already!!! Don't you usually get a case anyways!!

 

[rwilliams]

And I can't imagine why anyone would hold a device that they actually input data into with the other hand that way.

I must be weird, because I don't hold my phone with one hand and type with the other. I hold it in my left hand and use my left thumb for typing if I'm holding it in portrait mode. If I turn it on its side, I have both hands cupping the phone and use both thumbs for typing.

 

[Plutonius]

EDIT: I can't believe some of you still think this is a software issue. I can stand directly under an ATT tower or beside a Microcell and lightly touch the side of my phone (with a bumper on) and lose 4 bars. Sometimes I can even make it drop calls if it's resting in my palm. This is not software - a hand shorts out the damn antenna and it's time you defenders of Jobs know this.

Did you ever think it might be multiple issues and that you might have a bad phone ? Did you try putting the electrical tape on the sim card fix ?

 

[Lesser Evets]

For today's sermon in the church of Apple I would like to read from the Book of Jobs.

"Shut up. Sit down. You're stupid." Jobs 6:10-7:10

And thus he spake.

 

[Antares]

You have to admire Steve Jobs. What other CEO would be this candid and be this willing to communicate freely with customers? I'm on his side with this. I have never seen so many people get their panties in a twist over something so minor. This has to be one of the most overblown problems in recent memory. The threat of lawsuit is ridiculous and appalling. I could understand a lawsuit if people weren't allowed to return the phone. But what precedent is there for a legitimate lawsuit, otherwise?

 

[JoeBlow08]

"retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a phone. Not worth it."

I see cooler heads prevail.

From what I see this is a case of that is similar to feature removal. Such as when everyone went up in arms when firewire was removed a while back from the MacBook. Of the hundreds that complained, only a few really used it and would even use it. It was just a case of complaining because they can.

The iPhone 4 seems to read out signal strength differently and seems to be more sensitive in areas that have weak signal. All its doing is reflecting signal strength differently. Its not an actual physical "meter". Unless people are dropping calls like crazy, its a non-issue. I only hear a few cases of dropped calls, which frankly would probably happen with any phone. If its a real issue Apple will address it. All I see now is a probable software update that reflects signal strength differently.

Actually, my calls drop all the time. When I am on a phone call while holdin the phone at the top, very uncomfortable, I start to relax and my hand slides down to it's natural holding position and before I know my hand is covering the antenna and I get the three beeps of frustration.

However, just yesterday I was in a different part of Chicago, and everything was just fine, so it's definitely location specific.

 

[tallyho]

Rather than holding it from the top, slide it so that your left thumb is below the - button. Its a more secure way to hold the phone. If you cup the phone, your fingers wrap around and your palm will be up against your face when bringing it up to your ear.

Yeah unfortunately that is exactly how to reproduce the signal drop off
If your left thumb is below the - button then the bottom left corner of the phone will be resting on your palm at the base of your thumb, and that minimal contact is all it takes for the signal to drop to No Service. No "death grip", no "cupping" just the natural way of holding a phone, as shown in virtually every shot in Apple's marketing videos for the iPhone 4!

As it happens, I'm willing to use a case or figure out some weird way of holding my phone because I really like everything else about it, compared to my old 3G. But people claiming this only happens if you hold the phone in a death grip are just wrong.

 

[HyperZboy]

Wow, there seems to be some kinks in the armor and Steve Jobs' famed Reality Distortion Field.​

He's been a busy bee answering angry emails this week, that's for sure! ​

If only Job's iPhone 4 promo launch was pitched like that.

Imagine that promo for the original $600 iPhone! LOL

And it isn't even supported in any way already by IOS 4!

Add to that promo, yeah, it's only $600, now go screw yourself and stop emailing me! LOL

 

[BobVB]

I'm waiting for the lawyers getting lawsuits in line that say Apple is discriminating against the left handed people of the world.

Right handed people hold their phone in their left hand. You use the dominate hand for detailed input, the non dominate for holding things for input by the dominate.

 

[WhySoSerious]

A little bit confusing on Jobs part.

Is it a non-issue or is Apple working on it? Can't really be both can it?

Also, anyone see the irony in "Stay Tuned" for antenna issues? I think it's funny as hell.

stay tuned........for next years phone which apple will fix it! till then, you're all suckers!!!!

"vote with your wallet"

 

[vizkiz]

Like I said in another thread:
Steve Jobs would NEVER say the iPhone is "just a phone." Steve is a chairman and the CEO of Apple. Saying "it's just a phone" is basically telling the person that they can go out an get any phone, and it doesn't have to be from Apple. He would never do that, as he knows many of his email replies are made public within a few hours.

 

[spiritlevel]

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.

"We've made billions of dollars selling you a phone that doesn't work when you hold it like I (SJ) hold it and all our adverts show it being held. Relax, Get over it."