The iPhone thread

[punky]

lolz

http://www.viddler.com/explore/engad...s/1633/70.766/

Originally Posted by punky

lolz

http://www.viddler.com/explore/engad...s/1633/70.766/

excellent

[Tezcatlipoca]

Letter from Apple regarding the iPhone 4 reception issues:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010...pleletter.html

Originally Posted by Apple

Dear iPhone 4 Users,

The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple’s history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.

To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.

At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?

We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.

Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.

To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.

We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same— the iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.

As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Apple

OK, a software update can make the "reception bars" more accurate (they are apparently a bit crap at the moment, as the range for 5 bars is much higher than the ranges for 1, 2, 3, or 4 bars... which is why some people with 5 bars notice a DeathGrip problem while other people with 5 bars don't, even though *all* will lose a certain amount of signal), but it can't fix the apparent hardware flaw of having an external antenna without any insulation.

The review at AnandTech explains it all regarding how the signal strength is measured & reported, & how much it *does* drop when you hold the phone in a certain way:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/t...one-4-review/2

More articles on the whole thing:

http://gizmodo.com/5577812/why-apple...yline=true&s=i

http://gizmodo.com/5576839/wireless-...-got-a-problem

http://fscked.co.uk/post/751030001/m...4-signal-issue

http://fscked.co.uk/post/761672289/o...tion-strengths

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/...e-4-anandtech/

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/...ftware-mirage/


Current indicator = not that accurate > people in weaker signal areas mistakenly think that they have a strong signal.

Then when they hold the phone in such a way that the antennas are bridged... bye bye big chunk of signal (which wasn't actually a real 4 or 5 bar signal) & bye bye call or data. If you have a genuinely strong signal, however, you won't notice anything.


Apple's software fix cannot fix the actual issue. All it will do is prevent people in weaker signal areas from mistakenly thinking that they had a stronger signal to start with before they killed or reduced it by touching the antenna. e.g. instead of starting with 5 bars pre-DeathGrip, they'll have 3 bars. Instead of starting with 4, they'll have 2.





http://fscked.co.uk/post/761672289/o...tion-strengths





The update may help perception of the issue (as the drop in strength caused by bridging the antennas will no longer appear as massive as before), but it's smoke & mirrors... Updating the software to change the signal strength display can't also change the laws of physics...Bridge the exposed antennas with your skin > signal attenuation...you just don't notice it if you have a genuinely strong signal.

Also, if Apple was so certain that this was purely a software issue, & nothing to do with the uninsulated external antennas, then why the earlier suggestions to purchase a case, or "Just avoid holding it in that way"?

[Jimmy-J]

South Korean singer performs using iPhones to earn record deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK15F...eature=related

I love it when she holds her hand to her ear and says "listen".

[Cobbydaler]

Consumer Reports reverses recommendation & proves software signal strength display issue is not the cause...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07...hone_reversal/

as I have said anyone whos phone suffers this problem should get it replaced. I personally think as its a design flaw a total recall a replacement irrelevent of cost should be issued by apple . If it was a braking system on a car they would be recalled ok no one is going to die because the iphone 4 is poorly designed but it should be sorted

If they do give the bumper out those who do not want one and just want the phone should have the choice of a replacement / repair which ever apple deems fit

Jobsie needs to stop dodging this they have fecked up time to fess up

[Cobbydaler]

Paddy Power offering odds on recall...

[Tezcatlipoca]

I can't see Apple doing a full recall... even though it probably is what they should do.

If they give in, it'll just be free Bumpers, at best, IMO...

Originally Posted by Matt D

I can't see Apple doing a full recall... even though it probably is what they should do.

If they give in, it'll just be free Bumpers, at best, IMO...

Sale of goods act matey. The fault is present and therefore is not satisfactory. Everyone in the UK would be able to invoke this when there is a new working model and get it replaced

Aspects of quality include fitness for purpose, freedom from minor defects, appearance and finish, durability and safety.

I think it has been proven to be and inherent fault

Q1. What is an inherent fault?

A fault present at the time of purchase. Examples are:
• an error in design so that a product is manufactured incorrectly
• an error in manufacturing where a faulty component was inserted.
The "fault" may not become apparent immediately but it was there at the time of sale and so the product was not of satisfactory standard.

Apple would not have a leg to stand on

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...ninherentfault

[Xaccers]

How about those who got the phone free, so just paid for a contract giving them mobile service, which they are getting.
If you buy something and get a freebie with it, does the sale of goods act cover the freebie?

I know little about however you only get the iphone4 free on really expensive contracts. On Voda for example you only get it free on £60+ monthly contracts. However its still part of the deal and is subject to regulations on warranty which I believe is covered by the sale of good act.

You could argue that the phone does not work therefore the contract is in breach perhaps

[Tezcatlipoca]

Probably. Even when "free", you *are* still actually paying for it by virtue of having a higher monthly tariff to cover the cost.

Still goods supplied under a contract, still surely covered by SoGA etc.

I can't see Apple re-designing it though... it would be an admission that there is a flaw in the current design, & if they didn't then issue a recall for all existing owners they'd be likely to face more lawsuits.

They'll stick to "hold it differently" / "use a bumper" / "get a refund if you really don't like it" unless/until it really bites them in the arse...

Problem is there will be no unity. If every early adopter took the iphone 4 back then they would do something about it but I am sure loads of those ( even those who have this issue) would not want to be without their beloved gadget

[mr_bo]

The phones aren't free, just subsidised.

So glad I went for a Desire in the end, happy bunny here.

Originally Posted by zing

Problem is there will be no unity. If every early adopter took the iphone 4 back then they would do something about it but I am sure loads of those ( even those who have this issue) would not want to be without their beloved gadget

I don't have the problem though. I wouldn't mind swapping for one without the fault but not if it required me to be without it for a few days. I need the phone so.