'Worst case' in iPhone reception issue: Apple gives away bumpers - Page 2

Originally Posted by extremeskater

You know whats funny about all this, if this was a new Android phone or something put out by RIM everyone on this forum would be taking about how others don't live up to Apple standards before any true tests came out. Because its Apple now everyone wants to wait and give Apple months to test before coming to a conclusion. ...

Originally Posted by g3pro



I think iP 4.1 is much better. At least it makes phone calls.

Originally Posted by StLBluesFan

If it is a design flaw Apple will need to bite the bullet. There is no way that an affected user can be required to use bumpers to remedy the problem. The phone was not advertised and sold to require bumpers to function. There would need to be an additional course of remedy, again, IF this is a design flaw.

Originally Posted by Robin Huber

I suggest everyone take a deep breath and wait until some controlled testing reveals whether this "flaw" is indeed such. It is possible that Apple is right, and that all phone signals are effected by the hand that holds it to one degree or another. Only scientific testing alongside the other models and competing phones can determine this. Not people standing in lines, or people posting on blogs.

If it is shown that there is a problem, then discussions of remedies will be germane.

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Like you said, IF it's a design flaw. And if it's an issue that all users have, which doesn't seem to be the case at this point. We'll see what apple "needs" to do, that depends on how severe it is and how widespread it is. And how many users are perfectly happy once they get a free bumper. "Not advertised as requiring a bumper" is not a factor.

You seem to think that Apple will end up taking back every phone they've sold. That is NOT going to happen (at least not based on this issue), especially if a bumper fixes the problem.

Originally Posted by Wings

You want controlled testing? C'mere and I'll show you. Pinch the phone with 2 fingers and Safari downloads like crazy. Hold it in your left hand (like one would do when touching the screen with the right hand) and any downloading stops instantly. Keep holding it like that for 30 seconds or so and see "No Service" pop up on the screen (plus a msg from Safari saying the server stopped responding). This is in an area where I normally have 2-3 bars of Edge signal, and where my old 3GS worked flawlessly every time. I have 3 iPhone 4s and they all do this.

Originally Posted by Robin Huber

When it is proven that there is a real problem, then I will agree with you on this point. Google "scientific proof" to see what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by extremeskater

You know whats funny about all this, if this was a new Android phone or something put out by RIM everyone on this forum would be taking about how others don't live up to Apple standards before any true tests came out. Because its Apple now everyone wants to wait and give Apple months to test before coming to a conclusion.

Funny shouldn't they have done all their testing before the release date?

Looks like Apple has now become big enough where they are the new Microsoft. Beta product right into production and fix the problems later.

Originally Posted by extremeskater

Its been scientific proof that Apple always puts how something looks before function. Now they are talking about giving away a bumper, give me a break what a joke and you know everyone here would be hammering Microsoft or Google if it was one of their products without and proof at all.

Originally Posted by Foo2

From what I've seen with data in the Speedtest app, as soon as the gap is bridged, data transfer halts. The bars seem to provide a moving average of signal strength over about the last 20 seconds, so it takes them 20 seconds to catch up. Likewise, after releasing the death grip, it takes another 20 seconds for the bars indicator to be fully restored, even though data transmission resumes immediately.

Originally Posted by donlphi

Just curious about how bad it really is. I wanted to be an early adopter, but the lines were crazy at midnight. There was no way I was going to wait that long.

Are we talking INSTANT dropped calls every time or do the bars just go down? I find that the bars on my 3Gs fluctuate all the time while talking, but I don't lose the call.

Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh

It is surprising this left the door, I'll admit. However, throwing in a $29 bumper for $5 (which costs them $0.25) is an easy solution to the problem. It is a pretty stupid design flaw (in retrospect) that they should have seen coming and addressed already.

But, it isn't going to impact purchases or profitability.

Originally Posted by FormerARSgm

IMHO, the blogs are really to blame for this over-reaction. What we've seen over the past 36 hours is a perfect example of how the internet, bloggers, and message boards can turn a mountain into a mole hill.

I'd wager that there are far fewer actual issues from the antennae than reported. Very few consumers have the technical or troubleshooting knowledge to really isolate an issue to be caused by one variable. Logically, in many of the reported cases, there is no way for the user to know if it's the weather, the signal, interference, aliens, or just poor reception.

For the record, my iPhone4 works great. So does my wife's. No issues.

Originally Posted by bloodduality

Well this is my first post, but I have been reading this site for a few months now.

I preordered and recieved my iphone 4 yesterday through fedex and it has both the discolored screen and the signal issues. The ATT store I activated at took a note of the screen so I can exchange it later if it doesn't go away.

I noticed the signal issue later when I got home. Where I live I only have edge and only 2 or 3 bars of signal. If I hold the phone in my left hand the signal drops to "no service" and I am unable to make calls if I try. So it is more than just a cosmetic thing, and really did make me drop to no service.

Originally Posted by Russell

What happens when you're in a high humidity area? Or go from a cool to warm environment? Or pick up the phone after putting down your cold drink?

The bumper case can't stop condensation.

Originally Posted by DaHarder

Personally...

I'd rather they had better designed/engineered the device prior to release, as opposed to this (proposed) half-hearted 'fix'.

Originally Posted by g3pro

How is it NOT a design flaw?

Originally Posted by maccherry

Steve Jobs is an a**hole. He does this crap and expects is loyal followers to say, "OK MESSIAH!". I like my Apple stuff to but man I'm so pissed about this. And I saw the iphone 4 yesterday and I wasn;t impressed. I'll stick with 16 gig(8.65 now) 3GS.
If Apple stocks gets hurt badly from this the Iphone 4 debacle, it will get revised.
And bet your life there will be a class action lawsuit.
If Jobs doesn't chill he'll get replaced.
We are all expendable!

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Despite well publicized reports of iPhone 4 reception issues, one analyst said he sees Apple, in the "worst case," discounting or giving away protective bumpers with little financial impact on the company.

Analyst Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros. issued a note to investors Friday in which he discounted the antenna concerns as "overdone." Since the iPhone 4 launched, discussion of dropped calls from holding the device in one's left hand has grown, and Apple even publicly commented on the issue.

"We don't think the antenna issue is that big of a deal where it would warrant a product recall," Wu wrote. "The reason is that most users have a case anyway to protect their iPhone and to customize to their personal preferences. In our view, in the worst case, Apple provides a discount on the $29 iPhone 4 bumper case or includes one for free with an iPhone 4 purchase. Either way, we do not think this would have a material impact impact on our forecasts."

Apple, in a statement, said that gripping any mobile phone will affect its antenna performance. The company suggested that users avoid gripping the device in the lower left corner.

But the problem is also alleviated by using a case, which prevents the metal band around the perimeter of the device from making contact with the user's skin. The issue can reportedly be avoided when using the official "bumper" case sold by Apple.

Wu is particularly bullish on Apple's launch of the iPhone 4, predicting that the company sold between 1.5 million and 2 million units. On the high end, that would double the debut of the iPhone 3GS a year ago.

Wu's prediction of 2 million is higher than other analysts who believe Apple will sell closer to 1.5 million of the iPhone 4 at launch. Last week, after the first day of preorders, Apple revealed that more than 600,000 devices had been sold.

Originally Posted by gto65l

Why do people always have to find something to bitch about? Forget all of the reports that people are getting better reception in places they never did before. Instead, Apple should take notice that if I cover up the antenna with my hand, the reception bar goes down.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the California, Steve Jobs is doing a facepalm.

Originally Posted by extremeskater

Its been scientific proof that Apple always puts how something looks before function. Now they are talking about giving away a bumper, give me a break what a joke and you know everyone here would be hammering Microsoft or Google if it was one of their products without and proof at all.

Originally Posted by minderbinder

I didn't say it's not, I said IF it's a design flaw meaning that the facts are still coming in. This was a response to a post insisting that Apple would take back every phone they've sold. Do you think there's much chance of that?

And the FCC requires putting the antenna in the base of the phone - if it's in the top (as it used to be) then the phone is sending signal straight through your head (not that there isn't a problem, just saying that the problem isn't having the antenna in the base since all new ones do it that way).

Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer

The only possible design change would be the ability to leverage the conductive properties of the human body to locally enhance a signal. Otherwise, all phones with no extending antenna are impacted by reality.

Originally Posted by anonymouse

There you go again. If you actually read the posts on this topic in the various threads, you would know that your assertion is false. But, truth or falsity don't seem to matter to you.

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Like you said, IF it's a design flaw. And if it's an issue that all users have, which doesn't seem to be the case at this point. We'll see what apple "needs" to do, that depends on how severe it is and how widespread it is. And how many users are perfectly happy once they get a free bumper. "Not advertised as requiring a bumper" is not a factor.

You seem to think that Apple will end up taking back every phone they've sold. That is NOT going to happen (at least not based on this issue), especially if a bumper fixes the problem.

Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer

Wrong. It's a balance of cutting edge science with art. That's how much of science gets advanced, next to the ``oops! My experiment failed but produced some interesting results for some new area of research.''

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

and condensation relates to this story/rubber bumpers in what way???

Originally Posted by Apple///

I would not put it past Gizmodo to display some sort of retaliation against apple in anyway, shape or form for the humiliation that they suffered at the hands of Apple. Of course it was gizmodo's fault in the first place that got then into that trouble but hey we all know how things work.

Originally Posted by chillin

I can't believe people still insisting there is something wrong, that there was a design flaw... how many times do we have to tell you that all cell phones have always done this?? There's nothing wrong with the damn phone. I can duplicate every behavior reported with any available cell phone. This is absolutely absurd.

Allow me to make my case, since there are many that have so kindly spelled out very eloquently and scientifically what they have observed and their brilliant conclusions... surely Apple will not ignore them... but if they do, perhaps these few points may shed some light on why:

1. The reported reception issues with iPhone 4 are identical to every cell phone previously manufactured... ever.

2. The reported reception issues with iPhone 4 are identical to every cell phone previously manufactured... ever.

3. The reported reception issues with iPhone 4 are identical to every cell phone previously manufactured... ever.

Oh, and don't let me forget, most importantly,

4. The reported reception issues with iPhone 4 are identical to every cell phone previously manufactured... ever.

Glad I could help.

Originally Posted by FormerARSgm

IMHO, the blogs are really to blame for this over-reaction. What we've seen over the past 36 hours is a perfect example of how the internet, bloggers, and message boards can turn a mountain into a mole hill.

I'd wager that there are far fewer actual issues from the antennae than reported. Very few consumers have the technical or troubleshooting knowledge to really isolate an issue to be caused by one variable. Logically, in many of the reported cases, there is no way for the user to know if it's the weather, the signal, interference, aliens, or just poor reception.

For the record, my iPhone4 works great. So does my wife's. No issues.

Originally Posted by minderbinder

I didn't say it's not, I said IF it's a design flaw meaning that the facts are still coming in. This was a response to a post insisting that Apple would take back every phone they've sold. Do you think there's much chance of that?

Originally Posted by DJinTX

I for one have been a very happy loyal Apple user for many years, and I don't expect perfection, but waiting months for them to take responsibility for this issue (if there is one) is not acceptable. This should only take a week or two for them to figure out what is actually going on and pass along info to us. If the last thing we hear from Apple is, "Hey silly customers, buy one of our bumpers since you are obviously holding it wrong", then I will be very disappointed in regard to this product. I won't judge future products by this one launch, but I won't be an early adopter anymore either. I should also say that I do not have an iPhone 4. Maybe someday, but I am just saying how I would like to be treated if I had this problem.

Originally Posted by digitalclips

You are so right. The blogosphere has devolved in every area from news reports to scientific sites. The latter are now trolled by ID nut jobs for example. The desire to create a reaction seems to be all that matters. Going 'viral' now seems to be the main desire whatever the facts. At least when you chose your poison with a printed newspaper or magazine you could read it without those that disagree with everything in that newspaper or magazine showing up and screaming at you. I never thought I'd be one to miss the good old days lol.

Originally Posted by minderbinder

The only possible design change? I guess you missed the possible design where the antennas were covered up enough that people couldn't short them together with their hand. The problem isn't blocking the signal, it's shorting the two pieces of metal separated by a gap.

Or here's a really obvious design change that seems to be working - PUT ON A BUMPER.

Originally Posted by digitalclips

You are so right. The blogosphere has devolved in every area from news reports to scientific sites. The latter are now trolled by ID nut jobs for example. The desire to create a reaction seems to be all that matters. Going 'viral' now seems to be the main desire whatever the facts. At least when you chose your poison with a printed newspaper or magazine you could read it without those that disagree with everything in that newspaper or magazine showing up and screaming at you. I never thought I'd be one to miss the good old days lol.

Originally Posted by w00master

Here's the problem that I think most of you folks don't understand:

Maybe it is a design flaw. Maybe it isn't. (Altho, it does happen to me)

However, when the CEO company answers with:

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

Not exactly the best response.

w00master