It seems quite clear that there are problems with many iPhone 4s, but are you suggesting that your experiment has now proven that it's not a software issue that can't "be fixed next week with a software update"?
Either way, I don't see what the point of it all is. Either you've proven what we already know (that there are reception issues), or you're making a claim that you can't make (that it can't be fixed with a software update). Or am I missing a third option?
Once again, there are TWO DISTINCT ISSUES here:
1) The SOFTWARE issue: The phone can't seem to handle the attenuation caused by simply holding it in the hand, as proven by countless videos of people from different parts of the world using the iPhone 4 and signal degradation on a pretty massive scale happening. That's one thing and the theory with that is that the phone simply isn't changing to a more reliable signal or frequency as it is designed to do. This I believe is what the so-called still unofficially announced "fix" or software update could address - it could reprogram the circuit for doing proper channel hopping or frequency adjustment and make THAT aspect of the phone work properly.
2) The HARDWARE issue: Killing it by bridging the seam between the antenna bands as I can do with a fingertip, as others have done with a house key, a piece of wire, etc. While connecting two disparate antennas is never really a "good thing," the point here is that the circuit shouldn't allow such contact to affect the signal, not to the dramatic and totally catastrophic effects that I myself and many many others are experiencing: loss of signal and then total loss of service. And yes, I can get the same results by holding it in my hand (not just the fingertip) but it requires somewhat more pressure.
The fact that I can alter the effect with how much force I apply to my grip is 100% indicative of a HARDWARE problem.
My belief: they can do something about the software issue by programming the circuit to handle the attenuation better (up the power output, hop channels/frequencies), etc. I do NOT believe that they can fix the hardware issue with such a firmware update, but I have no problem with being proven wrong.
Let me make that last point 100% perfectly in your face clear so pay attention:
If they can fix the issues - both the hardware and the software ones that I myself and many others are experiencing, the ones I just described - with a firmware update, FANTASTIC and good job. More power to 'em.
I for one, based on my own experiences over the past few days, and my decades of radio communications experience from crystal sets to digitally switched packet communications and high speed data, don't think it's gonna be quite so easy, but if they can do it, great, good for us I suppose.
Regardless, I won't be keeping the phone. This is all just academic at this point and my participation is just to inform others of what could be the reasons for the issues they're starting to either suspect are happening or are already in progress and they'd like to know what the hell is up.
Simple.
