ran into this.. old news i know.. but the software problem seems to not be the problem from several sources iv found on the web.. i know cant believe everything you read on the web.. but i thought id post this anyhow make up your own mind. http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/07/apple-iphone-4-antenna-issue-iphone4-problems-dropped-calls-lab-test-confirmed-problem-issues-signal-strength-att-network-gsm.html chris. P.S that duct tape fix seems a little to redneck for me.. i wonder if job uses it. he is left handed yeah?
I knew the software excuse was just one of Jobs' little PR turds. So what was he planning to do with the fix? Just hack the phone to always show full signal even when it isn't and attempt to fool everyone?
Actually, it's both a software problem and a hardware issue (as it's clear if you've followed the story). The hardware issue is one that happens to pretty much all phones, but apparently it's stronger on the iPhone 4 -- signal decreases when you touch "the spot." (Sounds kind of kinky.) At the same time, for whatever reason the phone was showing a stronger signal when in a weak signal area (Apple claims it was an error in the calculation, John Gruber guesses it may have been intentional). That's why it seems that the phone goes from full signal to nothing when you touch the spot, but only sporadically -- as Consumer Report indicates, the problem happens only when the signal is weak (which is why they couldn't recreate it in their labs). Midian, if you think about it, hacking the phone to always show full signal would actually be worse for Apple, since it would make it seem that the phone was dropping calls for no reason whatsoever. At this point, my guess is that Apple will quietly come up with a hardware fix of some kind, as they have often done when Macs have had issues like this. I wouldn't be surprised if a revised version of the design is introduced in the very near future.
It's still all very suspicious to me. I'm sure Apple quite specifically said it was purely a software issue and no noticable drop in signal was occurring, then a bunch of people went and did various speed and signal tests and said that yes, it actually was quite a noticable drop. If you ask me, when you're releasing something as big as the iPhone 4, you'd pull any kind of lies out of your ass to try and cover up a mistake as critical as this.
I bet they just said that then made a quick fix too all new iPhone 4...they hope that this will all be forgotten ounce they have fixed the problem on new phones
Didn't you guys know that the iPhone 4 was designed to take the less congested signal instead of a strong signal but congested. Info was from Walt Mossberg review of the iPhone 4
Consumer Reports initial testing showed exactly the same results that Apple claimed: there was a signal drop, but even with it the iPhone 4 still had better reception than the 3Gs. From what I've read, low signal conditions are difficult to recreate in the lab, which is why they sent out engineers into the field with iPhone 4's disguised with iPhone 3Gs cases. Unfortunately, this is a problem that happens only when the phone is held without a case (you need skin contact with the antenna), so it's fairly likely that it was missed. Considering how often Apple has been hit with bogus or exaggerated claims (remember those "exploding" iPods?), it's not surprising that their first reaction was to dismiss the problem. As it happens, the issue was real in this case. Once something like this is out in the open, the marketing strategy is clear: you deal with the problem. Some companies will make a big deal about how "they're responding to customer feedback"; Apple tends to issue a fix and keep things as quiet as possible. If they'd known there was a hardware problem before their July 2nd letter, they would have not issued the letter at all. Instead, iPhone 4 owners would have received an email about a fix available a the Genius Stores. That's how they've deal with similar situations in the past.
Jump to 01:40 into this video to see a real world test. Of course there are many factors at play but still what happens is terrible for a so called "phone." CNET Reporters Roundtable
I got flames for this once by my friends but I switched back to my 3G until they fix the antenna problem.
I don't really know what the big deal is about. I have a perfectly ordinary SE c902, always has at least 3 bars, and if I hold it like that I lose reception. Same story on my old k800i. And on my mate's Nokia.
Well I truly can recommend it. I've got it and even with the phone bare I never once dropped a call and that was during testing it with the death grip. I've got casing on it now and all I am left with is a perfectly functioning and looking phone. I am getting more signal at home and work, so if anything... I'm getting better performance than my 3GS.
I have a crappy old Samsung e900 and I can cover the entire thing with my hands and it sicks firmly to 5 bars.
My iPhone 4 gets service in my faraday cage of a bathroom, something my 3GS couldn't do at all. *shrug* I do enjoy how much consumer reports has flip flopped on the iPhone 4, they're pulling a Gizmodo.
