Quote:
Originally Posted by
solipsism 
Conidering Apple's statement this HW "change" will come with the iPhone 5, but I wouldn't expect the antenna to no longer be the frame in the next iPhone.
I also expect other vendors to start using the same basic design the same way the have all move to multi-touchscreen snartphones after pooh-poohing the original iPhone.
I have never seen a statement from Apple on a HW "change", so I would appreciate a link, and your guess is as good as mine on whether the antenna will be outside the frame or not. My guess is a polymer coating, which I have on good authority (Bayer MaterialSciences eg. Urethane) could probably solve the problem. Anyhow, every (that is, about 10-15 iP4's), I've been able to handle have exhibited the "problem" - easily, and every time, in multiple areas of the SF Peninsula, not just in outlying so-called "poor coverage" areas. I reluctantly turned mine back in in July, and will only get another one when someone can test the iP4's sold after Sep 30th, and can tell that a hardware fix has been done to substantially mitigate the issue.
After a period of time, if nothing seems to have changed, I might just wait a bit longer - I'm just out of contract with ATT, so I'm in no great hurry to go through all the nonsense again, and am happy enough with my 3GS, which never exhibits the "problem" that all good fanbois seem to think is non-existant. Oh yeah, not interested in the bumper, thankyewverymuch.
I've been told from a friend of mine who works in the IT department for Genentech, who does tech support within Genentech for those using iP4's, that they are exhibiting around 20% of users who are complaining about the antenna issue (could also be partly because of the proximity issue, of course). Regardless, in spite of what Apple says, this is a high number, since many have their phones encased in bumpers, so this number of "problems" is actually higher, which conveniently works in Apple's favor in keeping the "problem" to a "small minority" (with everyone using a free bumper, the percentage continues to drop, masking the underlying hardware problem. (don't you just LOVE statistics and stupid surveys?). Anyhow, these folks are Apple fans who just happened to find the same issue as a lot of us, and are looking for relief.
It is truly a fantastic phone, but doesn't work for me in my circumstances; I just wish they would fix the damn thing, and be done with it - no need to advertise it, just do it, ferchrissakes!