iPhone '4' thread

Nostromo

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/apple-responds-over-iphone-4-reception-issues-youre-holding-th/

Ive never seen this happen on my 3GS and its not just calls you have to worry about what about when your browsing do you lose signal too.

boo_star

Nostromo wrote: »

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/apple-responds-over-iphone-4-reception-issues-youre-holding-th/

Ive never seen this happen on my 3GS and its not just calls you have to worry about what about when your browsing do you lose signal too.

I can reproduce it on my 3G with 2 caveats.

1. It is much harder to pull off, I am now seemingly able to kill my 4's signal just by touching the line on the side, none of this death grip stuff is required, with my 3G I do have to ensure I cover as much of the lower left side and back as possible.

2. It doesn't kill the 3G's connection, I drop from 5 to 2 or 3 bars but the connection never completely drops.

Apple are right that holding a mobile phone will inevitably provide a degree of signal loss, but they don't seem to undertand that the issue here is that it isn't just reducing the signal, it is killing it.

asandwhen

I dont know if this is the same thing but when i hold my phone at the bottom and cover the front (which you would when you put it to your face) my 3g signal goes down from 5 bars to 3 bars and my wifi signal also goes down by a couple of bars.

I have an Iphone 3gs on 3 network and upgraded to ios4 a few days ago. I dont know if it did the same thing before the upgrade or not but just wanted to say that it may not be just an Iphone4 fault.

EDIT : just wanted to add though that it is quite difficult to simulate this and I tested it with the way I usually hold the phone and I lose no signal at all so its not really a problem for me.

ickster

Mmmm. Well I've just analysed my iphone holding habits and whilst making a call is Ok, when browsing (as a right hander) I'm holding the phone with my left hand and my palm (thumb side) is right across the lower left corner - the problem area.

In videos of the iPhone 4 launch, Steve Jobs is doing the same.

And I spend more time browsing than calling.

Apple will eventually give away the bumper free I reckon.

satkin2

Anyone know of a British equivalent to LucyPhone.com. Put the numbers in and they ring you when your no longer on hold. Would be really useful if there is one. Can't find one on the net though.

poppy10_2

In typical fashion, Steve Jobs proclaims there can be nothing wrong with the sacred iPhone, and that the problem must be with the user not holding the phone in the official Apple-approved way:

Jobs: "Just avoid holding it that way. Not an issue."

Never mind that in their own adverts, everyone seems to be holding it "the wrong way." :T

robbies_gal

samboette wrote: »

I upgraded to an Iphone 4 from a 3G yesterday with Orange, on a £35 per month tariff (saving £5 off my original tariff) and the handset cost me £29.99 Very happy with this, as includes unlimited internet access, unlimited texts, 600 mins, magic numbers etc etc.

no offence but how the hell did u get all that!?

are you a high user?

boo_star

The current theory is that the antenna is supposed to be coated with a material to prevent any shorting by fingers/sweat etc and there has been a batch sent out where this was missed or not applied properly. This has seemingly been confirmed by an Apple CSR although this was said to someone over the phone, they could have made it up.

Given that some people have absolutely no problem holding their phones whilst touching this area and others completely lose signal it is a plausible explanation. It also makes sense that Apple would apply something like this, it just seems that to not do this would be a glaringly obvious omission.

If this is indeed the case then handing out free bumpers won't cut it, at least for me.

Maybe I am thinking a little too far ahead, but these phones will be effectively worthless when it comes to selling them on, nobody is going to want to buy one that requires a case to function properly. Especially given that the second hand market will be predominantly filled by "fixed" ones.

N20Y1D

iPhone 4 loses signal, Jobs says you're to blame


Apple's arrogance is enough to test even a fanboy's patience. (apparently not from reading posts on here)

Cupertino's latest shiny wundertoy has gone on sale in the US with one tiny little flaw. Hold it the wrong way and your phone signal drops out in a matter of seconds. That's right, the new iPhone isn't that great if you actually hold it like a phone. The problem is that the new iPhone 4 uses its metal rim to boost its signal strength. Touch the metal strip in the wrong place and you'll go from full signal strength to no signal in a matter of seconds - as you'll see in this Gizmodo demo.

It's not an isolated incident, Gizmodo has compiled a long list of examples which show the iPhone 4 experiencing internet speed drops and call quality issues due to the reception problem. Thankfully it doesn't seem to lead to actual call drop-outs, but one assumes it wouldn't help matters if you're already in a reception blackspot.

So what's Steve Jobs' response to one unhappy customer? "It's not a big issue". Even for Jobs that's an arrogant and dismissive comment.

I'm sorry but completely losing your network signal just by holding the phone is a "big issue". Americans might be used to constant reception issues on AT&T's oft-maligned network but if I'm using a reliable network such as Telstra's Next G, I expect my phone to work when I'm holding it - especially if I'm holding it the exact same way as they do in the iPhone advertisements.

Apple later released a more detailed announcement which said; "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases". In other words "you're to blame, just don't hold it that way". So basically if you're left-handed you're screwed. Even if you're right-handed, think about how often you switch your phone to your left hand so you can use your right hand to do something like carry a bag or write down a message. The iPhone is slippery enough as it is without having to hold it with your fingertips to ensure you don't lose your signal.

Jobs' response is typical of the way Apple fanboys respond to all criticism - "The product is perfect, if you're not happy with it then the fault lies with you".

N20Y1D

"Just avoid holding it that way"

• 
  
  
• 
  

http://iphonehold.tumblr.com/