I can not produce your proof, but my 3GS now exhibits this behavior. It never SEEMED to happen until after I updated the OS to 4.0.
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Steve Jobs denies iP4 reception issues!
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I can not produce your proof, but my 3GS now exhibits this behavior. It never SEEMED to happen until after I updated the OS to 4.0.
WSJ Article on iPhone Antenna Problem
The most influential segment of the media is starting to take notice. If you want Apple to react you need to complain not with Applecare but with the WSJ, FT, Bloomberg, NYT, CNBC, Fox Business, because they can have an impact on the only things that Apple cares about: its reputation, its bottom line and its stock price.
WSJ(6/29) Heard On The St: The Curious Case Of The Iphone 4
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
By Martin Peers
If the iPhone 4 has become "the most successful product launch in Apple's history," as the company says, one wouldn't want to imagine the worst.
Apple's statement overlooked the fact that its fourth-generation phone has an antenna design that requires consumers either to buy a case or learn to hold the phone in a particular way to ensure reception. Usually the idea is to produce phones that get clearly better, not worse, with each new version.
So far at least, Apple's cult-like fan base seems willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt. Apple said Monday the product had sold a remarkable 1.7 million units in the first three days.
Investors shouldn't take too much comfort, however. A lot of those sales likely came from preorders placed before reports of the antenna weakness circulated. What's more, many of the initial sales also were likely upgrades by existing iPhone owners. These people already have shown themselves willing to put up with reception problems -- although in the past they could blame AT&T's clogged network.
The real question has to be whether concerns about the antenna, combined with carrier congestion issues, will slow uptake of the iPhone among customers not yet converted to Apple worship. Not only are they likely to be less patient with any product failings, they can now choose from an ever-widening array of alternative smartphones.
This should be a concern for investors, as the iPhone accounted for 40% of Apple's second-quarter sales and is a key driver of growth. Apple may well solve the antenna problems. But how many product stumbles can it survive before its halo starts to slip?
The most influential segment of the media is starting to take notice. If you want Apple to react you need to complain not with Applecare but with the WSJ, FT, Bloomberg, NYT, CNBC, Fox Business, because they can have an impact on the only things that Apple cares about: its reputation, its bottom line and its stock price.
WSJ(6/29) Heard On The St: The Curious Case Of The Iphone 4
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
By Martin Peers
If the iPhone 4 has become "the most successful product launch in Apple's history," as the company says, one wouldn't want to imagine the worst.
Apple's statement overlooked the fact that its fourth-generation phone has an antenna design that requires consumers either to buy a case or learn to hold the phone in a particular way to ensure reception. Usually the idea is to produce phones that get clearly better, not worse, with each new version.
So far at least, Apple's cult-like fan base seems willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt. Apple said Monday the product had sold a remarkable 1.7 million units in the first three days.
Investors shouldn't take too much comfort, however. A lot of those sales likely came from preorders placed before reports of the antenna weakness circulated. What's more, many of the initial sales also were likely upgrades by existing iPhone owners. These people already have shown themselves willing to put up with reception problems -- although in the past they could blame AT&T's clogged network.
The real question has to be whether concerns about the antenna, combined with carrier congestion issues, will slow uptake of the iPhone among customers not yet converted to Apple worship. Not only are they likely to be less patient with any product failings, they can now choose from an ever-widening array of alternative smartphones.
This should be a concern for investors, as the iPhone accounted for 40% of Apple's second-quarter sales and is a key driver of growth. Apple may well solve the antenna problems. But how many product stumbles can it survive before its halo starts to slip?
Actually, given that the location of the antenna in these other cell phones is closer to the circuit board and other internal interference, and the antenna size is smaller, these antennas might already be detuned by design, due to the inherent physical limitions.
This might be why I actually seem to get a better signal from my iPhone 4, than from my 3GS or Android devices, in a few weak signal locations, when "held different".
If you want to ask msnbc to talk about it try you can send them a suggestion.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?1
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?1
So, no "fix" yet, still nothing official from Apple, more and more people are noticing and commenting on the issue(s), Apple Support is 50/50 either way ("Yes we know there's a problem, we'll send you a new phone" or "No, there's no problem and you're on your own"), nothing new heard or read from the email account of Steve Jobs, etc.
Not that I was expecting anything to happen but, even so...
It's not a good situation, and it's not getting any better either.
Not that I was expecting anything to happen but, even so...
It's not a good situation, and it's not getting any better either.
I don't know you, sir, but I am happy someone on here understands the distinction.
With the iPhone 4 (generally, not only with a few of them) you can -depending on various factors including signal strength (simplified), signal pollution (signals near the band you're detuning the antenna to), and others- create a slightly less efficient, a dramatically less efficient or completely unsuitable, defunct antenna with the tip of your finger (literally).
That is the whole point here. I know GSM inside out, I built a variety of GSM antennas, used a variety of GSM RX/TX ICs, wrote a huge number of lines of code to interact with them from countless different embedded systems. I can code and decode PDUs in my head, so if I had a (correctly tuned
) antenna on my head, I'd probably CMSG this to every potential iPhone 4 customer that they're about to purchase a flawed product.I am already having nightmares thinking about some local emergency doctor unwary of this ISSUE using the iPhone 4 on duty.
Maybe I am just a grumpy old man who engineered for decades to create or invent stuff that that solidly worked, stuff that could be depended on. Nowadays products tend to be like people, both seem to be more hollow than ever.
For me, form follows function, damn!
So, no "fix" yet, still nothing official from Apple, more and more people are noticing and commenting on the issue(s), Apple Support is 50/50 either way ("Yes we know there's a problem, we'll send you a new phone" or "No, there's no problem and you're on your own"), nothing new heard or read from the email account of Steve Jobs, etc.
Not that I was expecting anything to happen but, even so...
It's not a good situation, and it's not getting any better either.
I can't speak for others, but I know I'm getting angrier and angrier the longer this goes without any word or solution from Apple. I've had a 3G, a 3GS, and now an iPhone 4. I give Apple the benefit of the doubt in most situations, but this is extremely frustrating.
Based on past history, Apple - if they do something - will simply release a firmware update that addresses "the issue(s)" people are currently experiencing. Not every single iPhone 4 owner, of course, but that doesn't matter - a firmware update that fixes it for those of us who are experiencing this set of problems would by definition fix it for those that aren't, hence it's a product-wide issue, aka a defect.
In the past, Apple never admits anything is wrong with a given product, ever, even when they release a patch or update that fixes said issues, so the end user is led to believe by the implication of the release of a patch or update that yes, something is/was wrong, here's the fix, no we're not going to come out and admit there's a problem, but here's the fix anyway.
I equate Apple's "fix but don't admit" policy to be basically the same as the "I smoked marijuana, but I didn't inhale" argument.
Hell, "The Chewbacca Defense" makes more sense than what Apple pulls off...
In the past, Apple never admits anything is wrong with a given product, ever, even when they release a patch or update that fixes said issues, so the end user is led to believe by the implication of the release of a patch or update that yes, something is/was wrong, here's the fix, no we're not going to come out and admit there's a problem, but here's the fix anyway.
I equate Apple's "fix but don't admit" policy to be basically the same as the "I smoked marijuana, but I didn't inhale" argument.
Hell, "The Chewbacca Defense" makes more sense than what Apple pulls off...
I do hope this continues to escalate and the media continues to cover it. I'm not wanting Apple to fail in any way. I have an iPhone 4 on order. But Steve Jobs and Apple really need hefty dose of reality thrown in their face.
I see three primary pillars that make Apple what/who they are:
Here we are today... in one fell swoop, Apple is taking a wrecking ball to the foundation of what makes Apple, Apple. Their flagship product has a fatal flaw (that I do personally feel is primarily software and can be fixed). And telling people to "just don't hold it that way" is the antithesis of usability and good design. Steve Job's flippant and insulting remarks are about the biggest customer service smack in the face I have ever seen.
Apple's modus operandi of tight-lipped secretiveness and failure to acknowledge serious mistakes is backfiring on them. Business as usual isn't going to work here. Even with Apples brand recognition and loyalty, there is a high water mark where those things will not negate the public response and damage that they are ultimately doing to their reputation, brand, and their bottom line.
I really, really hope they wake the hell up. They need to officially acknowledge that they are actively working to solve the problem. Every day they do not breeds greater and greater doubt as to whether or not it will ever get fixed. And if people can't trust that Apple truly is going to do something about something this serious, then there is little reason to trust the company or any of the products they produce. Steve Jobs also needs to publicly apologize for his comments ... I'm not holding my breath on that one though.
I see three primary pillars that make Apple what/who they are:
- Attractive and easy to use products. A focus on usablity and suitability of the product to the task. They don't nail it every time, but it's a core tenent of what they strive for.
- Excellent customer service. Apple stores are a unique consumer environment and very rarely is phone support a negative experience.
- Marketing and brand recognition. Apple's ability to generate hype and brand loyalty is unrivaled.
Here we are today... in one fell swoop, Apple is taking a wrecking ball to the foundation of what makes Apple, Apple. Their flagship product has a fatal flaw (that I do personally feel is primarily software and can be fixed). And telling people to "just don't hold it that way" is the antithesis of usability and good design. Steve Job's flippant and insulting remarks are about the biggest customer service smack in the face I have ever seen.
Apple's modus operandi of tight-lipped secretiveness and failure to acknowledge serious mistakes is backfiring on them. Business as usual isn't going to work here. Even with Apples brand recognition and loyalty, there is a high water mark where those things will not negate the public response and damage that they are ultimately doing to their reputation, brand, and their bottom line.
I really, really hope they wake the hell up. They need to officially acknowledge that they are actively working to solve the problem. Every day they do not breeds greater and greater doubt as to whether or not it will ever get fixed. And if people can't trust that Apple truly is going to do something about something this serious, then there is little reason to trust the company or any of the products they produce. Steve Jobs also needs to publicly apologize for his comments ... I'm not holding my breath on that one though.
No offense but some of you fanboys just need a life.
It's just a freaking phone. Get one that works.
It's just a freaking phone. Get one that works.
I've been tracking this problem all weekend. Generally it seems that the media is covering it less. The blogs are covering it less. Generally the discussion is no where near as widespread as it was last week.
This is making me wonder if Apple will do anything about the problem at all.
To me it seems highly likely that this is a hardware design issue. Apple obviously didn't intend for this to happen. They maybe able to alleviate it a little in software, but I can't imagine how.
The stock is up today because of the 1.7 million sold. No mention of the problem on todays news wires. The analysts seem willing to ignore it. This site is fully of people adamant to defend Apple no matter how bad the problem is.
Maybe Apple just ignores it and it goes away. Maybe they put out an update that does little to fix it and the story goes away.
Do folks think this problem is bad enough that it will come back? Why aren't more people complaining on this site? Why are so many people defending?
At my local Apple store, the employees were freely telling people about it, and stating an update was coming today (Monday). Apparently they don't know any more than we do.
This is making me wonder if Apple will do anything about the problem at all.
To me it seems highly likely that this is a hardware design issue. Apple obviously didn't intend for this to happen. They maybe able to alleviate it a little in software, but I can't imagine how.
The stock is up today because of the 1.7 million sold. No mention of the problem on todays news wires. The analysts seem willing to ignore it. This site is fully of people adamant to defend Apple no matter how bad the problem is.
Maybe Apple just ignores it and it goes away. Maybe they put out an update that does little to fix it and the story goes away.
Do folks think this problem is bad enough that it will come back? Why aren't more people complaining on this site? Why are so many people defending?
At my local Apple store, the employees were freely telling people about it, and stating an update was coming today (Monday). Apparently they don't know any more than we do.
Bogus
I love reading these comments.
I had an iPhone 3gs and now have an iPhone 4. I have had it since last Wednesday. Not only are there no "death grip" issues, but the voice calls are much better than any of my other phones. I am sure that most of the people commenting are PC lovers (I like google and windows products too). I am sure that these people commenting hate Apple just because they are Apple, but I know from experience that this is flat out a better phone than any I have every used.
This "death grip" thing in one month will be proven to be just like the "exploding iPhone 3gs" we heard so much about during the last update. This is all made up. It's bogus. This is just a well played out plot against Apple that has no truth. This is a typical scam, pushed by Nokia or the Android platform or some other company. Either way, this will be a non-issue in a month. Guaranteed. If you don't like the iPhone, return it (they will happily take it back, no questions asked), then go buy yourself a different phone and be gone. Go on your merry way in life. Beat it. Go back to your caves. I am sick of all your complaining because this is all made up garbage.
I love reading these comments.
I had an iPhone 3gs and now have an iPhone 4. I have had it since last Wednesday. Not only are there no "death grip" issues, but the voice calls are much better than any of my other phones. I am sure that most of the people commenting are PC lovers (I like google and windows products too). I am sure that these people commenting hate Apple just because they are Apple, but I know from experience that this is flat out a better phone than any I have every used.
This "death grip" thing in one month will be proven to be just like the "exploding iPhone 3gs" we heard so much about during the last update. This is all made up. It's bogus. This is just a well played out plot against Apple that has no truth. This is a typical scam, pushed by Nokia or the Android platform or some other company. Either way, this will be a non-issue in a month. Guaranteed. If you don't like the iPhone, return it (they will happily take it back, no questions asked), then go buy yourself a different phone and be gone. Go on your merry way in life. Beat it. Go back to your caves. I am sick of all your complaining because this is all made up garbage.
I can't believe such mindless BS. Gives Apple owners a bad name.
At my local Apple store, its easy to reproduce on any of the iPhone 4s. The employees freely talk about it and even demonstrate it to customers. I like their openness. They're more open minded than many here.
They also said an update was coming today (Monday). I wonder how much longer they'll be cheery about it.
I think you're the one that needs to go back into your cave (although I don't expect you'd get any cell phone coverage in there)!
This issue (or at least the possibility of one) has been confirmed by various places including Apple Staff and very pro-Apple bloggers, it's not just Bill Gates on his Zune.
amen, i live in LA and had to visit several ATT stores on Sunday. I had to get a sim replacement for my wife's 3GS. Both stores had 2 ip4s on display, and both had the issues with full 5 bar strong 3g signal. got 1 to go to searching every time i picked it up. got the other to go to 1 bar. tried 5 times and each time it worked like clockwork. additionally the data transfer rates were severely affected. as soon as i put it down it was fine. rep confirmed that a case doesn't always help data speeds most times...
wish the folks on this site didn't feel the need to write this issue off as BS. nobody is questioning your undying apple loyalty! its real and its affecting people. It clearly is something that deserves the attention it is getting and i hope apple has a fix. if not i can see this becoming a very real chink in the apple armor.
-jenzo
Right, because using yourself as a sample of one is statistically significant, isn't it? It's sunny at my place, so it must be sunny everywhere!
What the apologists don't understand is that they are partially right - in many conditions the new iPhone 4 is GREAT! So great it doesn't even need the antenna at all if you are in a good coverage area. If I am at home where there is only 1 cell tower in range touching the lower left without tape is instant disconnect. But a bit nearer the center of town I can grab the thing in the lower left and still have a solid 5 bars no matter what I do.
The problem is such that those in good coverage areas will never see it, that doesn't mean its not a real issue. Again, I have had every iPhone - none of them dropped calls at my house but the 4 and it does so reproducible. And as far as being an Apple hater, I've only had Apples since my Apple ][ and had a first day Mac back in 1984.
What this is is more like the first iPod 'hummmm' that they never acknolwedged but suddenly after the next update it went away.
The Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff Legal firm have opened up their own investigation into the iPhone 4's well-known reception issues. The firm urges customers experiencing issues to contact them via live instant message chat, by phone, or by e-mail.
This particular firm has dealt with some high-profile class-action lawsuits in the past such as an $87 million wage settlement involving UPS drivers. Apple has settled a high-profile class-action lawsuit in the past for $22.5 million, when the original iPod nanos were very susceptible to scratches.
This particular firm has dealt with some high-profile class-action lawsuits in the past such as an $87 million wage settlement involving UPS drivers. Apple has settled a high-profile class-action lawsuit in the past for $22.5 million, when the original iPod nanos were very susceptible to scratches.