Updated 2: Apple now doing a silent recall. New iPhone 4's have nonconductive coatin?

[preslove]

I do not perceive the issue as a "design problem"

I've used 4 iPhone 4's and not been able to attenuate the signal.

Just a tip: I know it would be very hard to stop yourself, but if Steve Jobs ever comes out with iCoolAid, and he says that there ISN'T any arsenic in it, don't drink it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Just a tip: I know it would be very hard to stop yourself, but if Steve Jobs ever comes out with iCoolAid, and he says that there ISN'T any arsenic in it, don't drink it.

And in the meantime, the dude's in charge of a multi billion dollar company that makes the highest rated smart phone tested by Consumer Reports this month.

Apple's quarterlies are due out on the 20th, do you suppose they'll post another record quarter?

And for the record, I don't own an iPhone, or Apple computer, I do have a couple of iPads that I use daily.

 

[charrison]

Sigh, it's not hard pressure that attenuates the signal, it's the presence of a meatspace hand.

And it's likely that there will be a shitload of antenna testing made public in the very near future, are you-all sure you want to go on record and say attenuation in other smartphones doesn't exist?

Funny I had to squeeze the crap out of my eris to get it drop bars. Holding it normally it did not have any problem. I was only at 2 bars when i start this so the signal was not strong to begin with.

 

[charrison]

I do not perceive the issue as a "design problem"

I've used 4 iPhone 4's and not been able to attenuate the signal.

But anand and consumer reports have been able to reproduce the issue without any problem in a controlled environment. It is real problem if you have a weak signal to start with.

 

[charrison]

And in the meantime, the dude's in charge of a multi billion dollar company that makes the highest rated smart phone tested by Consumer Reports this month.

And CR has also put a do not buy on this product as well since this issue has popped up.

 

[EarthwormJim]

LOL, I really don't understand the mentality here, videos of popular smart phones losing signal when the antenna is covered because in meatspace people attenuate cell phone reception by being made of mostly water, and you're argument is that we're still holding it wrong?

I thought that was Steve Job's point...

Perhaps we could all be better served if you could post some instructions on how you'd like us to hold various smart phones?

I for one would like pictures because I'm clearly doing it wrong.

No one is disagreeing that other phones lose signal strength when held. What you are completely failing to realize, is that the iPhone 4 loses it's signal strength by an order of a magnitude worse than any other phone on the market.

-19.8dB when held naturally vs -1.9dB for the previous generation iPhone (using Anand's numbers). That's a signal that is now around 60 times weaker.

A phone should not need a case to function properly.

 

[DivideBYZero]

 

[tatteredpotato]

And in the meantime, the dude's in charge of a multi billion dollar company that makes the highest rated smart phone tested by Consumer Reports this month.

Apple's quarterlies are due out on the 20th, do you suppose they'll post another record quarter?

And for the record, I don't own an iPhone, or Apple computer, I do have a couple of iPads that I use daily.

The man's a brilliant leader, but I think they could have handled the antenna problem better. The solution (free cases) is perfectly fine, however I think they shouldn't have done so much finger pointing.

I can't see how they didn't expect people to test that out. Perhaps they thought people would see a bigger issue with other phones which isn't the case yet.

 

[Patranus]

The man's a brilliant leader, but I think they could have handled the antenna problem better. The solution (free cases) is perfectly fine, however I think they shouldn't have done so much finger pointing.

I can't see how they didn't expect people to test that out. Perhaps they thought people would see a bigger issue with other phones which isn't the case yet.

What finger pointing?

The did say the RIM or HTC was responsible for THEIR problems rather showed that every phone can show similar problems to illustrate how the media has been blowing this out of proportion.

 

[DivideBYZero]

 

[Patranus]

And CR has also put a do not buy on this product as well since this issue has popped up.

*shocking* that they never found this problem when they were testing the phone until the media started blowing this issue out of proportion.

If the problem is so bad that they are telling people not to buy the phone why didn't they discover the problem through their normal testing before this issue came to light?

If they are telling people not to buy this phone because it is such an issue why didn't they see that issue while testing? Surely they would have run into this issue if it was so apparent.

 

[zerocool84]

Someone sounds like Steve Jobs and is trying to skirt around the issue. It's a flaw in the antenna design plain and simple.

 

[Pliablemoose]

So, to sum it up, the posters in this thread that are quite concerned about the antenna problem:

1.) Don't own iPhones
2.) Don't intend to purchase iPhones
3.) Have never seen a smart phone that has an attenuation problem in meatspace, despite the videos on YouTube and Apple's website.
4.) Are unhappy with Apple's solutions of no questions asked full refunds.
5.) Are unhappy with Apple giving out free cases or a refund for previously purchased bumper cases to everyone that's bought an iPhone 4, no questions asked.

I guess I'd like to know what you want?

 

[DivideBYZero]

So, to sum it up, the posters in this thread that are quite concerned about the antenna problem:

1.) Don't own iPhones
2.) Don't intend to purchase iPhones
3.) Have never seen a smart phone that has an attenuation problem in meatspace.

And you're a cell phone antenna engineer.

Except you're a Nurse that geeks out to phones.

 

[Pliablemoose]

And you're a cell phone antenna engineer.

Except you're a Nurse that geeks out to phones.

WTF does that have to do with anything, DBZ?

I have a BS (science) a year of college level electronics and work in the most technologically sophisticated dept in my hospital.

I also grew up with a dad who put in his own telephone pole, and had a business band 2 way radio system, CB, and TV antenna mounted on it, and was playing with this stuff (RF) a couple of decades before you were born.

I use iOS, WM 6.5, and android each every day.

And I honestly didn't give a rat's ass about cell phone antennas till I bought a Nexus One and got a crash course in how the FCC wants antennas oriented in phones now days.

 

[DivideBYZero]

WTF does that have to do with anything, DBZ?

I have a BS (science) a year of college level electronics and work in the most technologically sophisticated dept in my hospital.

I also grew up with a dad who put in his own telephone pole, and had a business band 2 way radio system, CB, and TV antenna mounted on it, and was playing with this stuff (RF) a couple of decades before you were born.

I use iOS, WM 6.5, and android each every day.

Yeah, that's fun and all, just still not seeing you ponying up any cellular telecoms antenna credentials. Just saying.

 

[zerocool84]

So, to sum it up, the posters in this thread that are quite concerned about the antenna problem:

1.) Don't own iPhones
2.) Don't intend to purchase iPhones
3.) Have never seen a smart phone that has an attenuation problem in meatspace, despite the videos on YouTube and Apple's website.
4.) Are unhappy with Apple's solutions of no questions asked full refunds.
5.) Are unhappy with Apple giving out free cases or a refund for previously purchased bumper cases to everyone that's bought an iPhone 4, no questions asked.

I guess I'd like to know what you want?

Yes because all the iPhone users will buy the iPhone no matter what and as we know will put up with basic things not working or not being in the phone.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yeah, that's fun and all, just still not seeing you ponying up any cellular telecoms antenna credentials. Just saying.

What's up with the personal attacks dude?

I've posted video links to back up what I've claimed.

 

[DivideBYZero]

What's up with the personal attacks dude?

I've posted video links to back up what I've claimed.

Lulz, personal attack? How can me identifying that you're not a cellular radio engineer be a personal attack?

Your videos are non scientific at best, and at worst some finger pointing PR from the corporation you have a great investment in. You're going to be defensive, it's your retirement fund at stake.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Lulz, personal attack? How can me identifying that you're not a cellular radio engineer be a personal attack?

Your videos are non scientific at best, and at worst some finger pointing PR from the corporation you have a great investment in. You're going to be defensive, it's your retirement fund at stake.

LULZ, my holding in Apple are minimal at this point, I already made my $...

I just think Apple has their shit together, and that the OS is perfect for the average Jane/Joe.

 

[DivideBYZero]

LULZ, my holding in Apple are minimal at this point, I already made my $...

I just think Apple has their shit together, and that the OS is perfect for the average Jane/Joe.

If having your shit together means smearing other manufacturers when you have shit wrong and fuck up your PR, then colour me surprised. This issue is clearly nothing to do with the OS, it's more fundamental.

 

[tatteredpotato]

What finger pointing?

The did say the RIM or HTC was responsible for THEIR problems rather showed that every phone can show similar problems to illustrate how the media has been blowing this out of proportion.

Close enough in my book. They should just admit that they screwed up and move on. The new antenna isn't "brilliant engineering" as they tried to bill it. The attenuation problems are the reason nobody uses that design. Apple may have known this and though it was worth it. I've tried this on several phones and can't even come close to replicating what Apple shows. While I haven't been able to test the iPhone 4, Engadgets and Anands reviews seemed to do a good job showing exactly what's going on.

Lulz, personal attack? How can me identifying that you're not a cellular radio engineer be a personal attack?

I lol'd

 

[preslove]

And in the meantime, the dude's in charge of a multi billion dollar company that makes the highest rated smart phone tested by Consumer Reports this month.

Apple's quarterlies are due out on the 20th, do you suppose they'll post another record quarter?

And for the record, I don't own an iPhone, or Apple computer, I do have a couple of iPads that I use daily.

Wait, now I remember. You're the dude who owns a bunch of apple stock. Now it all makes sense.

That's why you've been dissembling, changing the topic, and refusing to even entertain the idea that apple could put out a flawed product. Lord Jobs statements are always true and you just have to find some nonsensical way to defend them

edit: oh, this was already brought up.

 

[preslove]

Close enough in my book. They should just admit that they screwed up and move on. The new antenna isn't "brilliant engineering" as they tried to bill it. The attenuation problems are the reason nobody uses that design. Apple may have known this and though it was worth it. I've tried this on several phones and can't even come close to replicating what Apple shows. While I haven't been able to test the iPhone 4, Engadgets and Anands reviews seemed to do a good job showing exactly what's going on.

What I don't understand is how could they have actually produced the thing without having an antenna engineer point it out? There were engineers on the net saying that it could be a problem right after their function was announced, but before it was released. The fact that this could have made it out of the design phase just makes you wonder how decisions get made in project development.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Wait, now I remember. You're the dude who owns a bunch of apple stock. Now it all makes sense.

That's why you've been dissembling, changing the topic, and refusing to even entertain the idea that apple could put out a flawed product. Lord Jobs statements are always true and you just have to find some nonsensical way to defend them

edit: oh, this was already brought up.

LOL...

So you've run out of ammo and attack me?

Do you guys even read what you post or realize this isn't OT?

Here's something else to chew on, a lot of the folks in the media own Apple stock, it's one of the most widely held stocks in the US, when they report on this kind of stuff they drive down the value of their investments.

I suspect you'll see less articles that are critical of Apple than more...