AppleCare memo emphasizes no free bumpers for iPhone 4 reception - Page 4

Originally Posted by bytorx1


Also, note that even when you do hold it and say the "signal bars" drop, this does NOT MEAN you will drop the call, seriously is everyone just effing stupid?

I work for a cell carrier (no not AT&T) but I have to side with Apple on this and even AT&T.

Originally Posted by Noliving

Steve Jobs on the cusp of his next, great, big prophetic announcement, takes a sip of bottled water (that fish pee'd in), wipes his brow and steps up to the podium, clearing the phlegmn out of the back of his throat in a cool, slick manner before he begins to speak.

"People, friends, fellow acolytes, today, here, I have something I would like you to see."

Steve pauses for a moment, looking far out into the crowds, watching their eyes grow wider than saucers and speckles of saliva form on their lips. Steve smiles calmly.

"You're going to like this, it will change everything. You will never look at things the same again."

The mouths in the audience begin to open, their breathing increases and their pulses began to accelerate, evidenced by the pulsating arteries in their necks. Steve's smile slowly fades to a more serious grin.

"Today, I present to you, the i-Grip. It is a revolutionary way to... hold a phone."

The crowd gasps! Their minds race in a furor, analyzing every single word that just pursed steves lips into their auditory canals. They scrambled to make sense of every vowel, syllable and consonant.

"You see, we've all been doing it wrong. We've been enslaved for far too long." Steve's grin faded to a serious expression. He held out an i-Phone for everyone to see. The people in the crowd leaned forward, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, the rhythmic pulsing in their necks now beginning to thunder with voracious unison.

Steve paused again, holding the phone out with his black-sleeved arm, looking smugly outward as his turtleneck comforted his flock. With a wiggle of his pinky finger he then began to shuffle his hand. Within seconds his grip had changed, his grasp was firm, yet delecately embraced the phone, cradling it with his clenched love.

"The i-Grip, try it, you're going to love it." He smiled widely, teeth glinting through his lips as the sides of his mouth cracked open devilishly.

The crowd erupted in euphoria! Jobs had spoken. It had been said, and thus it had been done! So shall it be written that the i-Grip is their salvation from bondage!

Originally Posted by AIaddict

I have an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3Gs and an iPhone 4. My testing agrees with Apples statement 100%. The iPhone 4 has better reception than the previous models and all 3 of them, and most if not all other phones can have changes in reception depending on how they are held.

You can drop your bs war on the reception issue. It will not sink Apple or kill the iPhone. Get over it and move on.

Originally Posted by jragosta


Read Mossberg's review. He saw exactly that and was told that there would be a software fix.



And there are others (me, for example) who can completely eliminate the problem with a single thickness of electrical tape over the joint.

Anecdotal evidence is worthless. How about if we wait for someone to actually do some research to understand what's going on?

Originally Posted by Trajectory

But if there was a problem with even a small batch of iPhones, wouldn't Apple want to "exchange" a bunch of them so they can do an autopsy on the problematic phones and figure out what the real problem is?

Has Apple exchanged anyone's iPhone 4 due to this antenna problem?

Originally Posted by anonymouse

The chip drivers seems unlikely, unless it's different batches of chips and the drivers are embedded on the chip (which would make it a HW/manufacturing issue, really), and some of them are messed up, or, unless they are part of the firmware and some iPhones had bad firmware loaded on them, which is possible. I suppose bridging the seam could cause some confusion that the bad firmware/chip drivers couldn't handle.

It's kind of hard to imagine what sort of manufacturing issue could cause it either, though. Maybe an internal connection that isn't solid, but it seems a little too specific for that. Maybe the composition of the antennae on some phones, causing them to not behave as expected (although, that could maybe be compensated for in software).

The only thing that it doesn't seem to look like is that it's a design flaw, otherwise it should be affecting all phones in the same area, and handled by the same person, the same.

Originally Posted by Trajectory

But if there was a problem with even a small batch of iPhones, wouldn't Apple want to "exchange" a bunch of them so they can do an autopsy on the problematic phones and figure out what the real problem is?

Has Apple exchanged anyone's iPhone 4 due to this antenna problem?

Originally Posted by AmazingApple

My experience is exactly the opposite. My iPhone 4 is much worse at cellular and data transmissions, than either my 3G or 3GS. My iPhone 4 cannot download data or even access the App Store until I lay the phone down. It will not download data while resting in my hand. The same goes for calls. I can drop every call in 30 seconds or less - every time. No problem.

Originally Posted by Mazda 3s

You waited three years just to post that? Come on, who are you really?

That being said, I wonder why Daniel Eran Dilger didn't write this piece

Originally Posted by Trajectory

There's one way to stick it to Apple for not addressing or fixing this problem: RETURN IT FOR A REFUND! Most of you still have at least 25 days to do so. Nothing would speak louder than massive returns if this problem really does affect all iPhone 4's.

Originally Posted by amazingdm

Oh for the love of god. There is nothing wrong here. People just want something to bitch about for ANY new item.

Originally Posted by HammerofTruth

If you don't want to wait for the fix, then return the phone and demand your money back and cite the law over defective equipment. If they refuse to take it back,

Originally Posted by macologist

Your guesses are quite possible...



I haven't heard... But that would look bad for them, almost guilty, justifying Apple's Enemies who are looking for any excuses to badmouth Apple.

The inconsistencies hint at the fact that there could have been a manufacturing flaw, maybe! In that case they'll need to trace it back to a specific batch!

There can be a chance that it's an ATT issue too... Actually, I just remembered this:

I still have Palm Treo 700p on Verizon! There have been time, in my home, when I am not even holding it, and the phone is just laying on my desk, I'd see signal, number of bars change, and sometimes even No Service! Again, the phone is stationary, not moving, no driving, nice weather, I am urban area, usually Full Strength Signal! Verizon, The Prince Charming In Waiting, ready to rescue people from their ATT iPhone Captivity!!! Boy, I am so SICK of VZ vs. ATT Great Debate!!!!

Cellular Service is not an exact science, and it won't be perfect with LTE either -- it's all WORK IN PROGRESS! And so are ALL PHONES, not just Smart Phones! The face that iPhones and Droids etc are even doing what they do is MAGIC, MIRACLE!!!! So, in the worst case, if a case helps iPhone in this case, given that most people use cases anyway, and are often on the go, driving or whatever where the Cell Service is expected not to be always FLAWLESS, regardless of how many $$ are spent on cute commercials -- is a bumper or a case such HUGE price to pay?!

Again, I'll say this -- Apple is not sitting on their hands, ignoring this! When they get to the bottom of this, they'll do the right thing! But, even then, the Enemies of Apple will go to another topic, trying to badmouth it, cause that's what they do!!! This is no Fan Boy Talk...

There are lots of people in the world who are threatened by Apple, cause they can't compete with it... They will play as dirty as they have to...

This is issue will be solved! I can't wait to get my iPhone! It's just that I am also moving my data from Powerbook G4 10.4.11 to OS 10.6.4 on Macbook Pro that I am about to get... Until that transition is complete, I don't want to sync iPhone to PB G4 10.4.11... I need to sit down with folks at Apple Store and address that Transition! But, they are SWAMPED with iPhone 4 Mania! The stores near me are SOLD OUT!!!

Most people by iPhones and CASES! I'll need more than 1 case probably, one for jogging, another for not...

Funny(?) Analogy -- Victoria Secret Stores sell great underwear, lingerie... Women love that store... They use that stuff as a form of self-expression! They know what's underneath, when that stuff comes off! So do their bed partners!

iPhone 4 looks great NAKED!!! Then consumers are given FREEDOM to express themselves with THEIR CHOICE of cases, bumpers, for sports, or other activities! People match colors to go with what they are wearing - it's endless! I remember talking to a 20-21 years old female! She was really excited when she found out that iPod was available in Pink, case or not... To her it was a big deal, cause she adores pink! No joke! It was funny to see her talk about that!!!

I am yet to hear anyone say that iPhone 4 or previous models look UNGLY NAKED!

So, in iPhone 4 Case, Apple pushed the antenna to the Limit to get the best signal, cause they know that most users are protective of their iPhones, and don't carry them NAKED!!! They buy their choices of cases, and then more cases! So, might as well MAX OUT the antenna!!!

Of course some people found this MYSTERIOUS IMPERFECTION, or FACT OF LIFE that became more OBVIOUS with iPhone 4, and among those people there are CLEAR Apple UN-ENTHUSIASTS who are now running around, badmouthing Apple! It's their Christmas Now... But that "Apple Bashing Orgy" will end soon, with some fix from Apple, plus the cases and hands-free use, as it will be in my case! Either way - the future OS Updates, New Software will add more to this already Stellar Product, and the Apple Bashers will be mostly ignored, as they look for different problems!!! If they are so smart - please design your own Smart Phones, and or your own Apps!!! Then the world will vote on your products with their $$, which is exactly what's happening with iPhone 4 and iPads, that can't be made fast enough....

Lucky are those who have enough CASH to by APPLE STOCK during Sell Off Days!

I am counting days for my iPhone and New Macbook Pro... I am not waiting for Verizon in January according to the latest rumor! I will not settle for No Simultaneous Voice and Data, and Lack of Carry Over Minutes! Verizon is no less greedy than ATT, they will charge on Metered Basis!!! In a year or 2, I'll Upgrade to iPhone 5, and iPhone 4 will be my backup! By than, whomever my Carrier will be, they'll have less restrictions on early upgrades, I hope!

Everyone, please enjoy this great Summer of 2010!!!! Life is to short on all this Apple Envy, and Bitching!

Originally Posted by charlituna

take the box with all the bits, the phone and your receipt back to the store and they will return it. especially at apple. if you want to avoid having to do the whole genius bar thing so they can document the issues just tell them you changed your mind. but be sure you put your number on the new phone first or it will get lost in the ATT system and could be given to someone else

no reason to be a jackass over it. just make sure it's within the 30 days cause ATT will charge you the ETF if you are even one day over.

Originally Posted by macFanDave

Apple will give away free bumpers.

Remember when they had that big SNAFU with MobileMe and ended up giving customers something like 90 days of free service? Same thing. The exposed antenna is just a bad idea. Looks great, but having it in direct contact with customer skin is just a mistake.

In all of the iPhones <4, the bumper was the cover. Notice the original had this gorgeous metal back, but they had to switch to plastic to allow 3G.

Originally Posted by Trajectory

But if there was a problem with even a small batch of iPhones, wouldn't Apple want to "exchange" a bunch of them so they can do an autopsy on the problematic phones and figure out what the real problem is?

Has Apple exchanged anyone's iPhone 4 due to this antenna problem?

Originally Posted by AmazingApple

The Genius at the Apple Store would not exchange my iPhone 4 today. And this was after I demonstrated a dropped call, halted data retrieval, and taking the cellular signal down to one bar just by laying the iPhone flat in the palm of my hand so that I only touched the glass back and not the metal.

So I then asked him if all iPhones have this issue and his reply was yes, it is a known problem and Apple is working on a software update that should be released soon to address the problem. He said that should just wait and see what happens. If the software update doesn't help, I guess it'll just get returned.

Originally Posted by MacRR

it's a brilliant piece of technology... shrug. no problems here.. it even actually handles calls and data better here in Sf.. and that is huge for me. The 3GS was worse here for sure.


there is straight up hysteria going on right now... it could almost be a case study... how humans will take a visual cue over reality. remember when the 1G iPhone's battery meter would only charge to 99%? Even tho it was totally charged it caused a shit storm.

lol

it is utterly silly people get so swayed by bloggers they lose their minds.

Originally Posted by shapesNforms

Yep, I'm in the same boat...just resting the phone in my hand, I will loose my data connection in under a minute. If I place the phone on a flat surface, it comes right back. Holding the phone and while on a call, I'll drop that call in under a minute...

I think the heart of the matter is the old phrase..The silence is deafening...
Apple needs to step up and address this issue that some (not all, or even a majority) but a significant number are having with this phone.

- If they believe the phone doesn't have a reception issue, that need to make a public statement saying so.
- If they believe "a small number" of iPhone 4 users are experiencing reception issues and we are investigating the issue, they need to say so.

From what I can tell, there has been a public statement about "You need to hold the phone the correct way" and supposedly from SJ himself, "No reception issue, stay tuned". O'h and everyone else is holding out hope for an update because a friend of a friend, who has a grandmother who happened to be online, saw a post in the Apple support forum about a firmware update that is coming that will fix the issue. But magically, that posting has vanished...while the thread "the real reason for bad reception" has over 67 pages, a lot of them bashing Apple for the reception issues...lingers on...

This leads me to another point about people posting about, "My phone is working great, this isn't an issue"...Maybe for you, that is freaking great! I wish I could say the same but right now, I can't. And that is the issue...I really want to like this phone, honestly I think it's awesome but for me and whatever XX% of people it affects, I'm getting the i but not the Phone part, in iPhone right now! I don't want an Android phone or anything else...I want the iPhone I like to just work...

For the people who say, "Buy a case, that solves the issue...", again freaking great and I'm buying a case, not because I need one but because I'm willing to try anything to make this phone work! It shouldn't need a case but what the hell, if that is what it takes, I'm game...

For the people who say, "return it then if you don't like it"...Your missing the point...I and others who are having issues don't want to just return it, because everything else about the phone is pretty damn cool. We just want (for those affected) the most basic function this phone was designed to do, to just work...

Ok, I need a drink! lol

Originally Posted by Hellacool

How about you shut up and move on Apple plant. Really you create an account and your first post is this? Pathetic. How about you get a few quality posts, that way someone here may actually care what you have to say.

Originally Posted by AmazingApple

You definitely are not fully aware of this problem. I can drop any call in 30 seconds or less every time, just by holding my iPhone the way I want to hold it - that is comfortable for me. Done it over and over - absolutely no problem! My iPhone 3G and 3GS performed far superior in this regard.

Originally Posted by macologist

This is getting silly...

Seemingly the same group of folks on this Forum are screaming at Apple here... The Sky Is Falling...

Others say what I've been thinking:

Shut Up and Return It? But the screamers don't seem to respond to that! So then I wonder:

what do they really want? Are they trolls, or whatever?

Then there are those who try to recreate this issue and can't! The funniest yet was the guy whose wife had this issue with 2 of their phones, but the guy/husband can't recreate this issue, and same goes for most others who have bought this product which is hardly available because of the huge demand!

Most people use iPhone with Cases! Many use it with Hands-free Ear Pieces, wired or Bluetooth, thus this issue won't come up in those cases!

Of course there are always those to whom Steve Jobs is a Devil..., and so they wish him, a cancer survivor, a speedy death, or so it seems from their venomous comments!

So... If most people are not having this issue, and Apple can't meet the demand, is it fair to be demanding free Bumpers?

Apple refuses to be dragged into this topic, as they are likely working on a fix...
Apple doesn't want to acknowledge this as a problem, cause they don't feel that it is!
Apple's Refund Policy allows for Return of their products, and I assume that includes item!

So, by dealing with this the way Apple is, Apple is calling some people's bluff -- Shut Up, or Return it for a Refund...

People are free to buy another phone, or design their own!

As I've read some antenna expert:

It's always a trade off! Apple took this antenna to the edge for better reception, because they understand that most people will use the case, and or Hands-Free!

With all the conflicting reports, plus no problem for most people, it's hard to know what the best fix would be!

I am getting suspicious of the same names here SCREAMING at Apple!
Again I say:

Apple is calling your bluff -- Shut Up, or Return it for a Refund!

Buy another phone, or design their own!

Originally Posted by HammerofTruth

Make sure you got his name. Also FYI when you go to a Genius and they tell you stuff like that, make sure your ask them to document what they told you on their computer and get the case#. That way in case you go back later and want to return it they can't hit you up with a restocking fee. I've had a lot of experience with geniuses. Lately, they have been pretty dismal. I have caught them sending out my clients computers without even testing them after repair. I have caught them outright lying to me when there was a problem with a MBP. I have even told Applecare reps what was told to me by geniuses and they were outraged at the mistruths. Just make sure you get that case# and keep using it and call Applecare every time there is a problem. This helps you build your case.

Originally Posted by bytorx1

Then this is what I find peculiar. I can assure you that I have not had any issues with my iPhone4, and although I can tell you I I see those AT&T bars drop even on a previous cell phone that I've used, it still maintains a call and not drop.

So surely I can't be the only iPhone4 user who has or is having good luck with the iPhone.
So hearing all these complaints if you will, makes me question how many here wouldn't drop the same calls from that same location using another device- that's all.

Originally Posted by Vatdoro

Apple's statement is completely accurate. My iPhone 4 gets much better reception and data speeds than my 3G. Andy Ihnatko, summed it up nicely in his thorough and unbiased review.

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/i...-ihnatko-revie...
In regards to Signal Issues: "Bottom line on this bit: be aware of the problem ... but overall, dont worry about it."

Originally Posted by AmazingApple

Have you not bothered to read the posts in this thread? Clearly NOT, or you would understand that this problem does indeed affect call quality and the dropping of calls. It also affects data transmission performance.

This issue is WAAAAY more than a cosmetic idiosyncrasy.

Originally Posted by HammerofTruth

Do you hold it like this?

Originally Posted by AmazingApple

No doubt whatsoever you are having great service with iPhone 4, as you state. So are most others here.

The problem that many of us are experiencing here, however relates to the iPhone 4 performance with regards to cellular and data transmissions. When compared in side by side testing using an iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G in the same locations, MY iPhone 4 does not compare favorably when held in a wide variety of methods. My iPhone 4 has problems when held in any number of ways, even with just two fingers holding the sides or simply laying flat in the palm of a hand and not touching any metal at all. For example, I can drop a call from my iPhone 4 in 30 seconds or less when a colleague gives the signal to begin. I can do this every time I test it and have shown several colleagues, family and friends. I have done it with Apple Care and with a Apple Store Genius today. Similar tests with a 3GS and 3G demonstrate that I cannot drop any call on demand. None.