Antenna band on iPhone 4, bad design?

[zerocool84]

I wonder how this didn't come up in testing. I mean when I hold my iPhone (first gen), I usually just hold it by the plastic bit on the bottom, with another finger or two on the back as support. But I can definitely see how easy it would be to bridge the antennas on the new ones.

Do we have word that the bumpers or whatever keep this from happening?

It seemed kind of obvious that this issue might come up but I guess they really didn't think about it when testing. Sucks for people that don't like to have cases on their phones having to buy something to ensure good reception at all times. I know I hate having a case on my phone as well. The Engadget review unit showed none of the problems but the retail unit they got has the same problems as everyone else.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/some-iphone-4-models-see-signals-drop-to-0-when-held-left-handed/

 

[zerocool84]

All reports are this is a software issue, as upgrading a 3GS to iOS4 also exhibits the same behavior. Apple has also stated it is a software issue.

Video of it happening on a 3gs: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Lpt2YkF3Q

Oh, and where the hate thread for the Nexus One, which has the same issue? http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en

The Nexus One reception issue is well known. There were tons of threads about it when it came out months ago. This is a new product so we're talking about it as it comes out.

 

[Zebo]

So much bitchin. I think about half of you need to buy an i580 with extendable antenna. Best phone I ever owed. You could drop it in the bath tub and still talk. Run over it with a car and still talk. Throw it against a concrete wall at 50 MPH and still talk. With extended battery the thing would last 48 hours of call time and 2 weeks before charging. Bets reception ever!! Had a megaphone for a speakerphone. etc etc

All smart phones have issues. that;s what a huge glass screen with 1000Mhz will do when trying to make moblie. It's fragile nature is inherent to design. Making them sleek results in worse reception than a huge ass extendable antenna none of you metros would buy.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The Nexus One reception issue is well known. There were tons of threads about it when it came out months ago. This is a new product so we're talking about it as it comes out.

The N1 was just a case of poor antenna design period. Small phones lack area for antennas. Thus the antenna is compromised along iwth the fact that it's in a position where your hand rests.

 

[cheezy321]

This thread shows exactly where peoples' biases are.

I remember complaining about the Evo having TERRIBLE battery life. Everyone that was an Evo fan shrugged it off and went "oh well, I am near a charger most of the time". Everyone that was an apple fan tore the thing apart for dying after 5 - 10 hours of (moderate to heavy) use.

Now the iPhone has an antenna issue. The verdict isn't out yet, but it seems like a minor issue that could be easily fixed in a future update. Queue the apple haters. "TERRIBLE DESIGN", "APPLE SUX", "OMG THIS PHONE IS HORRIBLE". Some of the apple fanboys will defend it to no end as well.

On a tangent:
To all the people who like the way the android UI is set up: I have looked at the UI, and it is literally an EXACT copy of the iphone OS. Besides the widgets on the main screen, it looks exactly like the iphone. Since the iphone came out first, I would have to guess that android copied this UI. Does anyone dispute this?

 

[Zebo]

To keep it relevant to this thread, how does the Facebook app work on an iPhone with no reception?

Anyways, the Gizmodo page has been updated, looks like the problem happens when you touch both side and bottom of the phone and short the two. A case will probably fix it, but Apple wants $30 for it, tell them you are having reception problems when holding the phone, maybe they'll throw one in for free. I am guessing they'll change the manufacturing process to add a non-conductive clear coating to the band. Early adapters can try just holding the phone like fairies with pinky sticking out, so you don't accidentally touch the bottom part, should be no problem for the iphone crowd

Do you note issues with other smart phones? Or you just trollin?

Seems to me a $30 band is a easy fix and should be done anyway to protect it's fragile glass.... An even bigger reason to buy the band since glass breaks when dropped on end..

Certainly $30 is not insurmountable to people buying a $2200 phone/plan.

 

[dwell]

To keep it relevant to this thread, how does the Facebook app work on an iPhone with no reception?

As good as the Android Facebook app on the EVO with a dead battery. Which is 50% of the time.

 

[gorcorps]

Do you note issues with other smart phones? Or you just trollin?

Seems to me a $30 band is a easy fix and should be done anyway to protect it's fragile glass.... An even bigger reason to buy the band since glass breaks when dropped on end..

Certainly $30 is not insurmountable to people buying a $2200 phone/plan.

senseamp is a HUGE apple troll, pay him/her no mind

 

[theeedude]

Can attack the messenger all you want, you are free to make your own decision on what to buy. If you are fine having to spend $30 on a rubber band to fix an issue with Apple's engineering, that's your call. Not going to stop you from being a cash cow for Apple.

 

[dwell]

Can attack the messenger all you want, you are free to make your own decision on what to buy. If you are fine having to spend $30 on a rubber band to fix an issue with Apple's engineering, that's your call. Not going to stop you from being a cash cow for Apple.

Any proof it's an engineering problem, troll? I don't think anyone knows for sure at this point being people have posted videos of the same problem on the 3G and 3GS running iOS 4.0.

 

[theeedude]

Any proof it's an engineering problem, troll? I don't think anyone knows for sure at this point being people have posted videos of the same problem on the 3G and 3GS running iOS 4.0.

Antenna is on the outside. Also, iOS 4.0 is also engineered by Apple. The only question is whether it's software or hardware engineering problem, troll.

 

[dwell]

Antenna is on the outside.

That's not proof.

Also, iOS 4.0 is also engineered by Apple. The only question is whether it's software or hardware engineering problem, troll.

So you admit you don't know what it is? Why didn't you just say that rather than trolling your ass off in this thread?

 

[theeedude]

That's not proof.



So you admit you don't know what it is? Why didn't you just say that rather than trolling your ass off in this thread?

Noone is ever going to prove to you that Apple could go wrong, troll.
There is certainly more evidence that there is a problem than that there isn't.

All I can say is that if you believe that this is just bar reporting issue, and not actual reception issue, I have a bridge to sell you.

 

[dwell]

All I can say is that if you believe that this is just bar reporting issue, and not actual reception issue, I have a bridge to sell you.

I am asking if it's a iOS 4.0 issue or a hardware issue. I don't know, you don't know, so STFU.

Same exact problem on a 3G with 4.0

 

[theeedude]

I am asking if it's a iOS 4.0 issue or a hardware issue. I don't know, you don't know, so STFU.

Same exact problem on a 3G with 4.0

Does 3G's having a similar problem prove that 4G doesn't? You are free to believe what you want. To me it's convincing evidence, but you are free to believe whatever you want.

 

[cheezy321]

I am asking if it's a iOS 4.0 issue or a hardware issue. I don't know, you don't know, so STFU.

Same exact problem on a 3G with 4.0

I was just able to replicate the issue, fyi (iPhone 4):

Hopefully Apple can issue a fix for this...

 

[dwell]

Does 3G's having a similar problem prove that 4G doesn't? You are free to believe what you want. To me it's convincing evidence, but you are free to believe whatever you want.

It probably proves that both issues are related in some way. You just want the wet dream of a massive iPhone 4.0 recall to come true so you're praying it's a hardware issue. The laughs going to be on you when iPhone 4.0 sells a metric fuckton, issues or not.

 

[QueBert]

Can attack the messenger all you want, you are free to make your own decision on what to buy. If you are fine having to spend $30 on a rubber band to fix an issue with Apple's engineering, that's your call. Not going to stop you from being a cash cow for Apple.

The problem is in iOS, nobody HAS to spend any money. My friends 3GS has the same issue when he upgraded to 4.0. Does it suck? Yep, but the fix will be FREE. 4.01 or whatever the updated version is will be out shortly. Unless of course you're right, which would mean his 3GS has always had antenna problems, they just didn't happen to mysteriously kick in until the 4.0 update.

 

[cheezy321]

Can anyone else with an iPhone 4 confirm this issue?

 

[theeedude]

It probably proves that both issues are related in some way. You just want the wet dream of a massive iPhone 4.0 recall to come true so you're praying it's a hardware issue. The laughs going to be on you when iPhone 4.0 sells a metric fuckton, issues or not.

Fine, but people not caring if there is a hardware issue or not is not the same as there not being a hardware issue. I don't see how more suckers buying an iPhone is going to be a laugh on me, just means Android makers will have to compete even harder, and less load on non AT&T networks. Lower prices and better service for me. Plus Apple is right down the road from me, more money sucked into my area from the pockets of fanbois like you

 

[theeedude]

The problem is in iOS, nobody HAS to spend any money. My friends 3GS has the same issue when he upgraded to 4.0. Does it suck? Yep, but the fix will be FREE. 4.01 or whatever the updated version is will be out shortly. Unless of course you're right, which would mean his 3GS has always had antenna problems, they just didn't happen to mysteriously kick in until the 4.0 update.

Different antenna design, no guarantee that the fix will work for both, and that there is only one issue. I guess we'll see. On 3G, user can't short two antennas together like he can on 4. But the claim that it's just bars being reported is complete BS on the face of it, seeing how actual antenna throughput is dropping like a rock.

 

[Glitchny]

The problem is in iOS, nobody HAS to spend any money. My friends 3GS has the same issue when he upgraded to 4.0. Does it suck? Yep, but the fix will be FREE. 4.01 or whatever the updated version is will be out shortly. Unless of course you're right, which would mean his 3GS has always had antenna problems, they just didn't happen to mysteriously kick in until the 4.0 update.

Can anyone else with an iPhone 4 confirm this issue?

It probably proves that both issues are related in some way. You just want the wet dream of a massive iPhone 4.0 recall to come true so you're praying it's a hardware issue. The laughs going to be on you when iPhone 4.0 sells a metric fuckton, issues or not.

Offical Apple Statement for the doubters

NOT A SOFTWARE ISSUE

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, 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.

oh no looks like it's not a software issue fanboys. So what's the excuse this time? People should just hold their phones in the "proper" fashion? Gotta love that "Amazing" and "magical" engineering designed to sell $30 phone cases.

 

[dwell]

oh no looks like it's not a software issue fanboys. So what's the excuse this time? People should just hold their phones in the "proper" fashion? Gotta love that "Amazing" and "magical" engineering designed to sell $30 phone cases.

From your link:

Update: To add a little perspective, check out a video from 2008 after the break showing the same issue with the now-ancient iPhone 3G (thanks Inge).

Such a HUGE issue that it effected phones over two years ago and nobody complained. Haters gonna hate, I guess.

 

[nace186]

Job's responds: You are holding it the wrong way.

 

[cheezy321]

Job's responds: You are holding it the wrong way.

Since I am left handed I will always hold the left part of the iphone. It is always the way I hold it. This sucks. Looks like its a case for me.