Topic: bad news for the new iphone (Read 11322 times)

jhocking · « **on:** 24 Jun 2010, 14:38 »

http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band?skyline=true&s=i

evilbobthebob · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 14:56 »

A magical and revolutionary small iPad.

mberan42 · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 15:09 »

A magical and revolutionary small iPad that only works if you hold it the correct and proper way.

Jimor · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 21:35 »

All you have to do is hold it in your right hand, and place it beside your left ear from behind your neck. If you're not willing to meet Apple half way on this, maybe you don't deserve an iPhone.

scarred · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 22:08 »

this is just a reality check for people who haven't realized by now that all apple products are beta tests for other apple products

Emaline · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 23:51 »

I don't see what the problem is. These people should just spend some more money to get cases/bumpers, preferably Apple's own, or stop holding their phones wrong. Sheesh.

Everybody has always put this trust in Apple, like they aren't some great big evil corporation, but I mean really?

(This was all typed on a macbook...)

Cire27 · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 00:11 »

Clearly it has taken control of her fingers.

Lines · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 05:25 »

I got an email today from Apple saying they would let me know when my reserved iPhone would come in.

I never reserved one. I think they are trying to take control over my life.

(Shh. MacBook, you didn't hear that.)

David_Dovey · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 06:53 »

Well fuck me a new piece of tech is causing problems for people who went out and bought it on the first day this is entirely unique to Apple definitely

Zingoleb · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 08:30 »

Quote from: scarred on 24 Jun 2010, 22:08

this is just a reality check for people who haven't realized by now that all apple products are beta tests for other apple products

Wow, I never realized this but it's true.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 08:52 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 25 Jun 2010, 06:53

Well fuck me a new piece of tech is causing problems for people who went out and bought it on the first day this is entirely unique to Apple definitely

Well see usually the problem with early adoption is bad manufacturing which is also happening with this phone, but this is just really shitty engineering right here.

Oh hey, Jesus Diaz just called Apple out for making a gorgeously stupid phone.

bicostp · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 09:20 »

I think the problem is if you hold the phone the way Apple has always done in their marketing, your hand shorts out the gap in the aluminum trim piece around the antenna, which shorts the antenna to ground, rendering it useless. Apple's official fix? "Buy a bumper" and "it's not our problem".

You know if any other company had this attitude about design flaws there would be serious backlash. Yet for some reason, Apple gets a free pass. Imagine if Toyota's official gas pedal fix was "don't floor it", or if Microsoft's fix for the RTM version of Vista was "you're doing it wrong".

Put a piece of scotch tape over the bottom left corner of the iPhone 4's metal trim. That should eliminate the problem if it's an electrical short.

jhocking · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 09:51 »

I read an interesting theory on how this problem wasn't noticed during their testing. Back when Gizmodo got the lost phone, it was in a case to disguise it. The short only happens against bare skin. The guys behind the testing are gonna be like double fired if that's what happened.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 19:42 »

Quote from: bicostp on 25 Jun 2010, 09:20

Yet for some reason, Apple gets a free pass

By what metric are Apple getting a free pass on this?

As we speak the number of articles on the Internet of righteous nerd fury are expanding at an exponential rate, it is pretty much the biggest thing going right now in tech talk. Same when the cops raided the Gizmodo office, same as the incredibly overwhelmingly negative reaction among tech commentators (i.e; dedicated electronics reviewers and such, not rank-and-file media types) to the initial iPad announcement, same as when they tightened restrictions in the App Store and so on and on.

I'm not saying Apple haven't acted like utter shitdicks in every one of these instances, but the hysteria coming from the commentators lately is starting to match the levels that Microsoft saw at their monopolising worst.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 20:14 »

By the sales metric.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 20:45 »

Um except that this is all from one or two days after the thing has been on sale.

There was no way at all of knowing this was going to happen before people actually got their hands on the thing, and let's be real here, not everyone are gigantic nerds, so most people will never find out about this thing in advance unless it reaches more major media outlets. Not everyone reads Gizmodo. So without that access to that knowledge, the iPhone 4 goes back to looking like a gorgeously designed and feature-packed gadget, something the outraged tech community is willing to cop to even while they pan the thing for it's failings.

I don't think we can really judge the quality of Apple's response to this until we are slightly more than two days into it, but it's pretty hard to deny that Apple are copping a shellacking from the people who truly deeply care about this sort of stuff, and I can't imagine that changing as the story disseminates more widely, particularly if the response continues to be "Not our problem, buy a bumper"

Spluff · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 21:34 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 25 Jun 2010, 06:53

Well fuck me a new piece of tech is causing problems for people who went out and bought it on the first day this is entirely unique to Apple definitely

Yeah I guess it's too much to ask to be able to hold your phone without something fucking up

David_Dovey · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 21:41 »

It's no worse than Red Rings of Death on an XBox which people seem to have come to accept as an occupational hazard of owning one by this point, even though it completely bricks the console to point of being not salvageable. Is it too much to ask to turn on yr XBox?

This of course isn't a specific rant against XBoxes, it was just the easiest one to think of off the top of my head. Shit happens, people make a stink, deal with it.

est · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 22:15 »

Also, John Gruber who runs Daring Fireball has said this: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/06/24/iphone-hold

Even people who are usually pretty soft on Apple are bringing it up and saying that it is unreasonable, so I don't think it's fair to say that that Apple are being given a free pass on it. I am waiting to see what Apple's real response to the issue is, as I doubt that the quick-fire "don't hold it that way" will be their final word/action on it.

Alex C · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 22:43 »

Yeah, you have to remember that not all situations are created equal.

I think part of the reason Apple has escaped some criticism on earlier product lines has been the simple fact that many consumers had never owned a comparable product before. For example, ipods are the iconic mp3 player in the US, full stop. And while the durability of some models has been rather poor, the fact of the matter is that many people hit these problems and just figure that mp3 players are flimsy devices in general. Distinctions like flash drive models being generally sturdier than a hard disk model simply isn't knowledge that everyone is armed with. Likewise the iphone wasn't perfect by any means, but for many people it was their first smart phone and thus there's some limitations present that many consumers don't even realize they don't have to put up with. Combine that with the fact that Apple does put out some genuinely neat product, and you end up with a free pass sometimes. But something like this? It's too obvious to get a pass on; this isn't like my mom not giving a crap that her iphone wasn't 3G capable because she didn't really know anything about cellular standards. Reception problems are reception problems, period. People don't like getting less bars and they're going to bitch about it.

And btw, I'm not really trying to hate on Apple with this post or mean to imply that most consumers are dumb or anything. I own plenty of stuff that has flaws that I never noticed except in hindsight. I mean, I was giddy about a 56k modem once. Standards change.

Jimor · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 23:42 »

Quote from: Alex C on 25 Jun 2010, 22:43

And btw, I'm not really trying to hate on Apple with this post or mean to imply that most consumers are dumb or anything. I own plenty of stuff that has flaws that I never noticed except in hindsight. I mean, I was giddy about a 56k modem once. Standards change.

Which is a great example because there was a technical issue at the time (still?), at least on US phone lines, that required the speed to be capped at 52k, so we never got what was advertised.

Alex C · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 00:14 »

Yep, and I didn't know that at the time.

And I think the 53.3 thing had to do with FCC limitations, although realistically people weren't going to get that kind of speed either. Phone lines simply weren't put up to cater to 56k users, and a line that meets all the standard operating parameters won't necessarily give you primo internet speed. Not that I knew any of that back in the late '90s.

bicostp · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 08:39 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 25 Jun 2010, 21:41

It's no worse than Red Rings of Death on an XBox which people seem to have come to accept as an occupational hazard of owning one by this point, even though it completely bricks the console to point of being not salvageable. Is it too much to ask to turn on yr XBox?

Microsoft fixes RROD 360s at no charge to the consumer (through their recall/extended warranty, I think they even paid shipping), and more or less solved the root problem through several motherboard revisions. I just hope Apple eventually comes up with a better solution than "buy our accessory or don't touch it there" and offers some sort of fix for the early adopters.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 09:56 »

Yeah see, RRODs are fixed for free. Completely for free. Not a cent to the consumer. And, again, I'm not sure why I have to reiterate this, that's bad manufacturing. This is not bad manufacturing. There is no "fix this part" and it's solved. It requires a whole new hardware iteration that moves the antenna.

jhocking · « **Reply #24 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 10:25 »

Or, y'know, just add thin rubber bumpers over the corners. Sure seems like the kind of thing they could just snap on at the genius bar of the apple store.

Hell, a not bad solution would be for Apple to simply give the early adopters a coupon to get a rebate when they purchase a cover.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #25 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 11:59 »

Quote from: Ozymandias on 26 Jun 2010, 09:56

Yeah see, RRODs are fixed for free. Completely for free. Not a cent to the consumer. And, again, I'm not sure why I have to reiterate this, that's bad manufacturing. This is not bad manufacturing. There is no "fix this part" and it's solved. It requires a whole new hardware iteration that moves the antenna.

Potentially a non-conductive coating would do just as well; not entirely clear how much of this is due to direct conductivity and how much is due to parasitic capacitance or just blocking the radio signal though. It'll be interesting to watch the response on this... I highly doubt SJ's snarky comments will be the last of it.

<edit>
Also, UPS are epic fuckups, so I won't be able to try things myself until Monday. >.<
</edit>

Ozymandias · « **Reply #26 on:** 26 Jun 2010, 13:54 »

Giz is reporting mixed success on homemade solutions to adding non-capacitive coating to the points (read: tape and nail polish). Maybe that would work, but empirical data hasn't come to a conclusion at all.

est · « **Reply #27 on:** 27 Jun 2010, 02:51 »

It is not a problem, it is a feature that looks to leverage a key synergy with the upcoming iHold(tm) silicone prosthesis.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #28 on:** 28 Jun 2010, 18:54 »

Got mine today, so I did a bit of experimenting. Haven't needed to make any calls yet, but I don't seem to be experiencing this problem for data reception. The area in front of my apartment is a dead zone (0-1 bar) for both my housemate's 3GS and my 3G. I'm getting 2-4 bars there now, with no visible impact from intentionally blocking/shorting/cupping the left corner or even wrapping my hands around the whole edge of the phone. Apparently I'm one of the lucky ones?

Will try to remember to edit this after I call my ladyfriend this evening.

J · « **Reply #29 on:** 28 Jun 2010, 20:26 »

try with moistened hands, if it really is the antenna getting shorted, then the difference might be in skin conductivity, rather than in the phone it's self.

Felrender · « **Reply #30 on:** 28 Jun 2010, 22:05 »

Or you could not buy a shitty phone with a glaringly obvious error.

"God, just don't keep the iStabyouinthenuts in your pocket, then! Geez, Apple haters!

"

J · « **Reply #31 on:** 28 Jun 2010, 22:53 »

Quote from: Felrender on 28 Jun 2010, 22:05

Or you could not buy a shitty phone with a glaringly obvious error.

when have apple customers ever really followed that advice? the company can market an mp3 player with no buttons and no screen and people still buy it. they make laptops that actually catch fire and people still buy them. apple can shit all over it's customers and it still won't affect it's sales.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Jun 2010, 00:06 »

<ignores ignorant trolls>

Ok, so, I've now tested with a 2 hour phone call in an area known to have shitty reception.

Good:
* no echo, no static, no dropped calls (except the one mentioned in bad). Big improvement

Bad:
* I can, if I specifically try to, reproduce the antenna issue. I pressed my hand closely to the entire left side of the phone with my hand and poof, call gone.
* The proximity sensor seems to be a bit touchy, I hit the controls with my face once or twice. Probably possible to tweak that in software.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #33 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 10:16 »

Wow, anandtech wins the award for Useful and Thorough Technical Journalism: http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2

The latter half-ish of that page is by far the best analysis I've seen of iPhone 4 reception, both negative and positive aspects of it.

Emaline · « **Reply #34 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 11:11 »

Average Iphone customer

jhocking · « **Reply #35 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 15:37 »

also because of the swearing

Seriously though, it was pretty funny up until he started swearing, then it just got childish and dumb. It was hilarious listening to the robot voice intone "I don't care" over and over and over.

ADDITION: I also posted that comment on youtube and someone replied "@jhocki he was cussing because that girl was black and he was trying to cuss to impress her because shes black and they cuss all the time"

I choose to believe this is an artful bit of parody because on that level it's genius, but since it's youtube this could be a serious statement.

scarred · « **Reply #36 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 16:23 »

Quote from: jhocking on 30 Jun 2010, 15:37

sence it youtub it srs statemant

Slick · « **Reply #37 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 20:03 »

hey hey hey
who is working in a call center supporting iPhones this summer?
hey hey hey
it is mE!!!

jhocking · « **Reply #38 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 20:39 »

I hope that goes well, but man does that sound horrible.

I mean, not because of the iPhone, because of the tech support.

Slick · « **Reply #39 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 22:06 »

I am only taking Canadian calls and optimistic estimates say we will get the iPhone 4 this month while conservative estimates say August.
If I am lucky I will be quitting in August to travel somewhere that isn't here.
I am hoping for an August release.

KvP · « **Reply #40 on:** 01 Jul 2010, 12:55 »

I hope you guys like irony, because in the face of its 4G design fuckup, Apple and its cult are now espousing anti-materialism.

scarred · « **Reply #41 on:** 01 Jul 2010, 13:15 »

Emaline · « **Reply #42 on:** 01 Jul 2010, 13:28 »

It changes everything! It's a revolution!

It's just a phone.

Also, cell phones are killing bees.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/30/bee.decline.mobile.phones/

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #43 on:** 01 Jul 2010, 14:17 »

Quote from: Slick on 30 Jun 2010, 22:06

I am only taking Canadian calls and optimistic estimates say we will get the iPhone 4 this month while conservative estimates say August.
If I am lucky I will be quitting in August to travel somewhere that isn't here.
I am hoping for an August release.

Could be worse; you could be supporting iPhone 3GSs or 3Gs. Y'know... the ones that get worse reception.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #44 on:** 02 Jul 2010, 01:36 »

Quote from: Slick on 30 Jun 2010, 22:06

I am only taking Canadian calls

"My iPhone keeps dropping calls!"
"I'm Sorry"
"Oh No I'm Sorry"
"No I'm Sorry"
"Sorry"
"I'm Sorry"

KvP · « **Reply #45 on:** 03 Jul 2010, 20:52 »

The weirdest PR screwup Apple was in this week: Comedy Central removes iPhone parody from online Futurama clips.

est · « **Reply #46 on:** 03 Jul 2010, 21:24 »

Man. I read the thing about changing the number of bars shown the other day too, and I think it's actually gonna work for the majority of people, but I still think it's such a fucking cop-out.

JD · « **Reply #47 on:** 07 Jul 2010, 08:39 »

revolutionary

bicostp · « **Reply #48 on:** 07 Jul 2010, 10:34 »

Apparently some tech blogs sidestepped Apple's notoriously tight-lipped press department and got a hold of some techs from AppleCare, who confirmed what everyone has been saying: it's a design flaw that cannot be fixed through a firmware update.

http://gizmodo.com/5580587/applecare-the-iphone-4-update-wont-solve-the-antenna-problem

Unfortunately, they are still sticking to Apple's remedy: hold it a different way or pay us $30 for some rubber to wrap around it.

Emaline · « **Reply #49 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 13:12 »

Finally, Apple offers a reasonable solution.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: bad news for the new iphone (Read 11322 times)

Zingoleb