Antenna band on iPhone 4, bad design?

[theeedude]

Crow must taste delicious with some Apple sauce

 

[nace186]

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.

Same here, I'm a left hand too. I got the Best Skin Ever clear sheet. Hopefully that would help.

 

[cheezy321]

Offical Apple Statement for the doubters

NOT A SOFTWARE ISSUE





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.

Hey fucktard,
In your blind apple-hate rage did you read any of my posts above? I posted screenshots from MY OWN iPhone 4 CONFIRMING the ISSUE. I asked if anyone else can confirm the issue as well. How is that being a fanboy? I am actually talking about the issue and seeing if anyone else is having the same problem. All you are doing is being a douchenozzle troll.

STFU and bring something constructive to this thread.

 

[thescreensavers]

just buy a silicon case guys, Amazing engineering

 

[gorcorps]

Crow must taste delicious with some Apple sauce

And you don't think you're a troll? Every one of your posts is exactly the same...

 

[Aikouka]

Heh, my 3GS has a similar issue. It's bad enough that I have to watch how I hold it while on a call or else people will start complaining that they cannot understand me. I simply adjust the position of my hand on the phone and there goes the problem. It's one of the problems you get when you remove those stubby antennas and put them inside the case.

Also, supposedly the yellow spotting issue goes away after a couple days. I'd prefer if it didn't do it, but I guess they simply wanted to get enough units out of the factory to meet demand.

 

[Glitchny]

STFU and bring something constructive to this thread.

lol I did post something constructive, the link to Apple admitting it being a hardware issue. Maybe you don't belong in the fanboy group with Dwell and Que but when you post comments calling out Google

Yeah, but they IMPROVED upon things. Like battery life. When is google going to address this problem?

in an iphone thread that had nothing to do with Google you tend to get lumped with the rest.

I wasn't really blinded by Apple hate-rage (good term though). I just wanted to state that it was indeed bad engineering and not software that was an issue. Although the general douchbaggery of Apple fanatics gets to me at times, like when my first post was made.

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

Dwell I never said it was a huge issue. However you do get pretty indignant about it being an iOS4 issue and not hardware related. Sorry you were wrong.

 

[dwell]

Dwell I never said it was a huge issue. However you do get pretty indignant about it being an iOS4 issue and not hardware related. Sorry you were wrong.

I thought I was pretty clear that I was unsure if it was an OS issue or hardware issue. I tried this on two iPhone 4 devices today and did not see the drop. So, I am still pretty much unsure what the issue is, even now. If it's a design issue why couldn't I reproduce, and why does it happen on older phones too? Most likely not software but most likely not a major design flaw either.

 

[Narmer]

Stupid engineering. I guess somethings that's proven to have worked (antennas at the top) are too passe today, right? And I hate Jobs' arrogant response.

I think they knew about this problem and wanted to dig deeper into people's wallets by offering a $29 case. A fool and his money are easily parted.

 

[Pliablemoose]

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.

Yep, I just hold the N1 carefully, and since I noticed the issue, I've also noticed you can replicate it on nearly any cell phone by changing your hand position, although the N1 is the worst offender I've come across yet, looks like the iPhone has similar issues. Am surprised that Apple didn't come up with some kind of coating for the antennas that acted as insulation.

 

[zerocool84]

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.

I don't care whether you're an Apple fan or a hater this is just ridiculous that he says you're holding it the wrong way and to fix it you have to hold the phone a certain way or get a case. That's unacceptable as a consumer. You buy the product and now you're told that you have to hold it a certain way or buy something else to improve something the phone is already supposed to do. It's a flaw in the hardware design that seemed like it was so simple to figure out and they just didn't. Big fail on Apple's part for letting an easy problem turn into a larger one. Like Pliablemoose said, he's surprised they didn't come up with such a simple fix for it as it seems like it's a simple fix.

 

[Fingolfin269]

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.

You seriously can't be this much of a fanboy, right? I mean look I'm writing this message from a mid-2010 MBP and even I can see it. People who buy a phone should not need to buy a $30 band to fix an inherent flaw. That should just be provided straight up by Apple if it is indeed a requirement to fix the problem.

You do have a point though in that people will probably want a case for this thing anyway. But saying that you basically need to buy a case to make it work... that's just unacceptable. Or good business, depending on how you look at it.

 

[cheezy321]

I don't care whether you're an Apple fan or a hater this is just ridiculous that he says you're holding it the wrong way and to fix it you have to hold the phone a certain way or get a case. That's unacceptable as a consumer. You buy the product and now you're told that you have to hold it a certain way or buy something else to improve something the phone is already supposed to do. It's a flaw in the hardware design that seemed like it was so simple to figure out and they just didn't. Big fail on Apple's part for letting an easy problem turn into a larger one. Like Pliablemoose said, he's surprised they didn't come up with such a simple fix for it as it seems like it's a simple fix.

I totally agree with you. They should fix it. I hope they will. Since I am left handed, this has seriously already happened to me multiple times today. I have to get something to fix this in the meantime. Maybe I'll just put some tape over it.

I really hope apple addresses this in a better manner than they have explained so far.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Has anyone seen anything definitive from their own experience?

I spent about 10 min trying to work Facetime and to check reception. I didn't notice much difference holding the phone either way.

 

[theeedude]

Don't hold your breath. It's a fundamental design flaw. They may remedy it later by putting some coating on the antenna, but in the meantime millions of these will sell, and they aren't going to replace all of them over this issue.
Apple is basically selling a defective device where they chose form over function, then selling the fix for an extra $30 and profiting from it. They can get away with it, so they do.
I called BS on this software fix from the beginning, it's clearly a hardware problem.

 

[vshah]

remember everyone complaining about the nexus one? same fucking thing, maybe slightly different due to the external antenna


SURPRISE: when you hold a phone tightly in your hand, which absorbs some amount of RF, your SIGNAL WILL GO DOWN

people get so up in arms. it happens on almost every phone i've ever had..jeez

 

[zerocool84]

remember everyone complaining about the nexus one? same fucking thing, maybe slightly different due to the external antenna


SURPRISE: when you hold a phone tightly in your hand, which absorbs some amount of RF, your SIGNAL WILL GO DOWN

people get so up in arms. it happens on almost every phone i've ever had..jeez

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

Watch the video, the guy doesn't hold it tight. Also the signal doesn't go all the way down like it does on the new iPhone. Apple saying either hold it better or buy a case is ridiculous. Also everyone holds Apple products to a higher degree than other companies.

 

[Zebo]

You seriously can't be this much of a fanboy, right? I mean look I'm writing this message from a mid-2010 MBP and even I can see it. People who buy a phone should not need to buy a $30 band to fix an inherent flaw. That should just be provided straight up by Apple if it is indeed a requirement to fix the problem.

You do have a point though in that people will probably want a case for this thing anyway. But saying that you basically need to buy a case to make it work... that's just unacceptable. Or good business, depending on how you look at it.

haha I don't evangelize or hate on anything. I understand there are issues with anything but like most sane people I list pros and cons, rank em' and compare and contrast to my other lists of competing products. You toads ignore issues of what you evangelize and crap on shit you have no plans to buy - that's called a troll or viral marketing.

 

[jpeyton]

You seriously can't be this much of a fanboy, right? I mean look I'm writing this message from a mid-2010 MBP and even I can see it. People who buy a phone should not need to buy a $30 band to fix an inherent flaw. That should just be provided straight up by Apple if it is indeed a requirement to fix the problem.

When Nintendo realized that the Wii Remote became difficult to hold onto in sweaty hands, they offered the Wii Remote Jacket accessory for FREE to customers. That's how you do it right.

 

[TheStu]

When Nintendo realized that the Wii Remote became difficult to hold onto in sweaty hands, they offered the Wii Remote Jacket accessory for FREE to customers. That's how you do it right.

It is possible that Apple will do that. How long after the Wii came out did Nintendo come out with the condom? At this point, Apple apparently only has the black bumpers, and I would imagine, not as many as phones. It is not unheard of for Apple to give things for free and admit mistakes.

For example, I get a free MagSafe power adapter for my MacBook because the originals were poorly designed and frayed like mofos. They also will replace the topcases on the original MacBooks for free because the closing mechanism, although cool and secure with its magnets, also would damage the topcase over time. They also gave me a free battery for my MacBook because the early ones had bad cells.

I would not be surprised if Apple will either offer the bumpers for free, or drops the price or something. But I don't expect it to happen tomorrow.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Pretty stupid, and I'm sure they knew about it.

Most of the time I hold my phone with my right hand. Thumb on right of the phone, fingers on the left and my pinky finger at the bottom left corner... If I held an iPhone 4 this way it would drop signal?

I'll have to test it before buying one, or just put scotch tape around the phone.

They should include a bumper case in the box instead of selling a 0.25$ piece of rubber for 30$, greedy bastards.

 

[jpeyton]

 

[Zebo]

NE1 read that mac rumors thread? What's strange is about 50% are saying no issue. Seems it's a organic/electrical shield coating over SS gone wrong. If your shield antenna from skin/ground rod no issue as well.

 

[andylawcc]

 

[Rottie]

http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band

Seems like antenna is getting grounded by the user's body, so instead of sending signal into the air, it's sending it into the ground through the user.

They may want to put some isolating clear coat on that band so that this doesn't happen.

Apple should put antenna on the top of iphne next to headset jack? do you understand my english?