Steve Jobs denies iP4 reception issues!

[arn]

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Can someone explain why it could be software or hardware? Either one?

No one knows why it's happening so it could be either. Maybe the shorting of the antennas is inescapable, maybe the software has a bug that handles that situation improperly.

arn

 

[The Mad Mule]

Can someone explain why it could be software or hardware? Either one?

Software: could be how the iOS4 juggles the judgment of which antenna to use

Hardware: The inherent flaw of having two separate antenna a cm apart from each other, where a stray finger can bridge the two together and have the signal get jumbled together and confused

 

[Lyra]

Can someone explain why it could be software or hardware? Either one?

I am hoping it is software, so that the parameters will be fixed to focus better on the differences between cell towers and the drop rate wouldn't require so much batter to constantly search for it.

I honestly don't know... I'm not that into cell phones.

 

[reactions]

I just remembered paying .99 for a WALLPAPER PICTURE with my old RAZR

Now all this Bitchin is making me Laugh

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No one knows why it's happening so it could be either. Maybe the shorting of the antennas is inescapable, maybe the software has a bug that handles that situation improperly.

arn

Arn,

I'm going to hold out till september - i imagine this stuff will all get worked out soon enough.

okay sure hold the phone another way - most of us use cases anyways but the glass shattering is upsetting too - it's like the phone is even more fragile!

 

[1BadManVan]

Poor analogy. Would work better if the .357 failed to fire when she pulled the trigger.

That really was a terrible analogy. Nobody is complaining the iPhone is too big, they are complaining it doesn't work well as a phone!!

Like buying a gun that only shoots half the time, doesn't make for a good gun

 

[Ochyandkaren]

i do not find the situation amusing....... apple has a big problem here....... and millions of iphone4 owners have already spent a lot of money on it

apple should have done more "real world" testing with prototypes (not using non conductive cases or skins), apple's secrecy/paranoia is going to cost them a lot of money and more embarrassment..... they cannot (quickly) re- engineer/manufacture a phone with internal or better protected antennas

i do not think that coating the stainless bands will be a permanent solution for this current design either

: C'mon, as if we really know what is wrong, or if it can be fixed.
Accept it, you are having fun. Apple selling less iPhones and a possible advantage for its competitors amuse you clearly.
Hope in the end you still laughing, otherwise you should have balls and accept that it was fun while it last.

 

[Anuba]

I don't need to understand how microwaves work to poke enormous holes in the arguments and methods used to "prove" that iPhone 4 has reception issues.

Logic alone and understanding of scientific method is sufficient to debunk all evidence of that type (isolated, anacdotal, incomplete).

Yawn.

So if Apple releases an iOS 4 update, the release notes state that it features a bug fix / firmware update pertaining to a reception issue, and everyone who previously reported said issue will be able to verify that it's been fixed – but Apple didn't arrive at the conclusion that led to this action by testing the phone directly under a cell tower, you will still maintain that the issue never existed in the first place?

And stop spelling it "anacdotal", you've done it numerous times now. It's anecdotal, of the Greek word anekdota, unpublished (or literally "not given out"). "Anacdotal" sounds like a diagnosis for a rare form of anal rash.

 

[tempusfugit]

Then how do you explain this video from 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN6265QQwhU well before iOS 4 was out.

Apparently it's been explained by the video's poster in the comments, and here is what he said:

I can't believe people still watch this video lol. Anyways, that phone was defective. They sent me a new unit that worked and didn't have this same problem. I have the 3GS and am going to wait for iPhone 4 bugs to be worked out before getting the first ones off the line. Good luck to anyone that has an iPhone 4. Maybe you will have a properly working phone.

So basically this video means nothing in terms of a trend worth taking into consideration for the iP4 problem...

 

[Theclamshell]

Quagmire has been playing with his phones alot.

He will have to start using his right hand though when his iPhone 4 gets in.

 

[franswa za]

: C'mon, as if we really know what is wrong, or if it can be fixed.
Accept it, you are having fun. Apple selling less iPhones and a possible advantage for its competitors amuse you clearly.
Hope in the end you still laughing, otherwise you should have balls and accept that it was fun while it last.

i'm not having fun, i started supporting apple in 2006 and still am......

i'm rough on phones and buy el cheapo symbian nokia phones that i can replace when dropped etc.

my wish is for apple to make even better phones than the rest and outsell them all...... in that specific market

i'm no phone expert but this a rumours site and we are all entitled to some opinion and healthy discourse!

ps- where's the vuvuzela emoticon? hehehe

 

[kernkraft]

Quagmire has been playing with his phones alot.

He will have to start using his right hand though when his iPhone 4 gets in.

How could I miss that?! AAAAAARGH!!!!

 

[kalsta]

2) the cell reception is an unknown variable
In all of the evidence I've seen thus far, no one says anything about it... but it is indeed a variable, and it can be eliminated. No one wants to, idky.

Isn't the 'the cell reception' the whole issue here? If you mean signal strength, then it seems you haven't done a lot of reading about this. Many people who initially could not reproduce the problem, have since found that the issue is dependant on location. (That doesn't necessarily equate to signal strength, but it's a likely explanation.) Many people have reported that when you get two or more iPhones together in the same location you see the same behaviour on each — it's predictable and repeatable.

3) the conclusions become invalid once the test is repeatable on another cell phone, such as the Incredible
If other cell phones can do it, why is iPhone 4 defective?
I'm not arguing about degree, only whether it is the same effect.

Sorry, but that's an absurd statement. If one phone exhibits a slight drop in reception, and the other drops the call, that is a valid observation and one worthy of further experiment.

Not only that, but people have been able to trigger the behaviour through simply bridging the antenna gap with a small piece of metal. Try doing that on another phone!

Look, even babies understand this principle…

 

[jb007clone]

It's a decent analogy because the OP was complaining about how comfortable holding the phone was. If the jeans you're wearing are uncomfortable, get a different pair of jeans. Don't blame the jeans because they don't fit. That was my point... and yeah, this is quite a distance and distinct from the arguments about reception. Poster was talking about comfort.

Actually my argument is that it doesn't matter if other phones experience the same reception issues, because they don't render the phone useless when held in a normal way.

You seem to believe that because "all" phones experience reception loss, users should adapt the way they hold the iPhone so they don't experience the issue.

The problem with that logic is that most people believe that products are designed with the USER in mind and NOT vice versa. If I buy a phone and it doesn't work when I hold it normally in my hand, that's an issue. Doesn't matter if it's hardware OR software. Trying to tell me it's USER is ridiculous.

Apple understands this. Or at least, I thought they did up until now.

"There is no right or wrong way of holding it, I don't have to change myself to fit the product, it fits me." - Jonathan Ive

 

[kalsta]

"There is no right or wrong way of holding it, I don't have to change myself to fit the product, it fits me." - Jonathan Ive

Hasn't that quote come back to bite them on the a*s!! And so it should.

 

[tigres]

You peeps still playing in here? Or is meaningful discussion once again ensued?

Here a chew bit for ya...

Called AT&T this evening, been having some 3G issues spotty doing some speedtesting. Ether way, called them up to see what the trouble might be. I AM NOT having the signal issues BTW.

At any rate, guy checks the area (MI) and says... whoa.. never seen that before.. I say... what???

He goes to tell me that the entire nation Inclusive of Alaska and Hawaii are having issues, due to a nationwide system update- stemming from the iPhone 4.

Tried to get more detail, but got disconnected -, but the guy didn't call me back as he promised.

Either way could be another point of interest to the saga. Or Not...

 

[ethana]

It barely holds the signal, no matter WHICH hand you hold it in or where you are.

But to make matters worse, the battery lasts about a day with normal usage and by normal I mean no talk time or anything really heavy like watching a movie or listening to music.

1. It sounds like you are in a bad reception area. I have the left corner reception problem like everyone else, but when I don't touch that corner my iPhone 4 works just fine with full bars. Hopefully they fix that left corner issue with an iOS update next week. If that doesn't fix it for you, get a replacement phone from Apple. And if that doesn't work, blame your carrier, not Apple.

2. Welcome to the life of high-end smart phones. You're not going to get more than a day or two worth of charge no matter what you do on any phone. Plan to plug your phone in once every day or two. The iPhone gets one of the best battery lifespans in the smartphone world.

Ethan

 

[buxtone17]

My phone isn't garbage at all. It's bloody amazing. I'm awestruck by the amount of technology in there and in a size that fits in my pocket. I think maybe you should just take your phone back, say it's not working for you, get another make (I've owned a lot of Sony Ericssons, they're good too) and live happy.

The iPhone is amazing. As a PMP/PDA. But as a phone, it's junk. As a photographer, I can tell you that a ton of people in my line of work have the iPhone. And I can tell you that it's damn near impossible to get a hold of any of them.

 

[rsocal]

"There is no right or wrong way of holding it, I don't have to change myself to fit the product, it fits me." - Jonathan Ive[/QUOTE]

Maybe this products not for you, they design things for the majority thats how they sell more. But it’s impossible to get it right for everybody.

 

[zoman504]

1. It sounds like you are in a bad reception area. I have the left corner reception problem like everyone else, but when I don't touch that corner my iPhone 4 works just fine with full bars. Hopefully they fix that left corner issue with an iOS update next week. If that doesn't fix it for you, get a replacement phone from Apple. And if that doesn't work, blame your carrier, not Apple.

2. Welcome to the life of high-end smart phones. You're not going to get more than a day or two worth of charge no matter what you do on any phone. Plan to plug your phone in once every day or two. The iPhone gets one of the best battery lifespans in the smartphone world.

Ethan

Agree with this 100%.

I'm actually in a poor reception area, so that is my plan. Waiting this week to see what happens. If nothing, then doing an exchange. I love the i4 and do realize it most likely will not be the best "phone" around, but I do at least need a fix for the dropped calls I'm having.

 

[nooaah]

That really was a terrible analogy. Nobody is complaining the iPhone is too big, they are complaining it doesn't work well as a phone!!

Like buying a gun that only shoots half the time, doesn't make for a good gun

Hold it by the barrel and stop complaining, moron.

 

[iGuardian]

And stop spelling it "anacdotal", you've done it numerous times now. It's anecdotal, of the Greek word anekdota, unpublished (or literally "not given out"). "Anacdotal" sounds like a diagnosis for a rare form of anal rash.

Correcting a spelling mistake is one thing, but the way you did it was just snobbish and rude.

 

[rsocal]

The iPhone is amazing. As a PMP/PDA. But as a phone, it's junk. As a photographer, I can tell you that a ton of people in my line of work have the iPhone. And I can tell you that it's damn near impossible to get a hold of any of them.

Maybe they don’t want to talk to you, is your photography good?

 

[Lyra]

1. It sounds like you are in a bad reception area. I have the left corner reception problem like everyone else, but when I don't touch that corner my iPhone 4 works just fine with full bars. Hopefully they fix that left corner issue with an iOS update next week. If that doesn't fix it for you, get a replacement phone from Apple. And if that doesn't work, blame your carrier, not Apple.

2. Welcome to the life of high-end smart phones. You're not going to get more than a day or two worth of charge no matter what you do on any phone. Plan to plug your phone in once every day or two. The iPhone gets one of the best battery lifespans in the smartphone world.

Ethan

Your reply bought me not only patience but perspective. Thank you for that.

I didn't know smart phones really didn't last that long. As for the reception, it sadly is even in downtown London, say next to the Apple Store at Regents St.

But I've booked the time with Apple, we'll see what they suggest. Their suggestion to buy the 24 pounds bumper didn't work.

 

[Anuba]

Many people who initially could not reproduce the problem, have since found that the issue is dependant on location. (That doesn't necessarily equate to signal strength, but it's a likely explanation.) Many people have reported that when you get two or more iPhones together in the same location you see the same behaviour on each — it's predictable and repeatable.

He goes to tell me that the entire nation Inclusive of Alaska and Hawaii are having issues, due to a nationwide system update- stemming from the iPhone 4.

OK, so... if you look at Steve's email response in the light of the above...

"There is no reception issue. Stay tuned."

Might he have been saying "the issue isn't with the phone's reception, it's with the network's transmission – it hasn't been tweaked for iPhone 4 nationwide yet, AT&T is rolling out the update now. Stay tuned for the tweak to take effect in your area."

...?

And the reason why he's being so cryptic is that he doesn't want to villify AT&T by spelling out who the culprit is?

 

[cloudberrybrew]

Correcting a spelling mistake is one thing, but the way you did it was just snobbish and rude.

nah the way he did put the idiot in his place