A software fix to only change the display behavior is a fail.
It does not fix the REAL PROBLEM of DROPPED SIGNAL!
I can reproduce the issue 100% of the time with my phone and it is truly insulting for Apple to refuse to accept this fact even after multiple independent studies.
From the article:
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
OK, let's review. There are 3 issues that may combine to produce call and signal issues:
Attenuation caused by touching the antenna
Complete data service intrruption caused by bridging the seam
Misfuntioning of the proximity sensor
The promised update doesn't actually address any of these, although, it seems that it will more accurately reflect what's going on in relation to the first issue. However, I don't think this was ever really as big an issue as many thought it was.
The third issue, which is probably responsible for at least some "dropped calls", may be quietly addressed by a software update, and since it hasn't really been the focus of a lot of attention it's not too surprising that they haven't specifically mentioned it.
The second issue, which seems to be the most significant real issue, doesn't seem to be addressed at all. Since it doesn't affect all phones, I don't think it's a design issue, which leaves the possibility of some sort of manufacturing issue, which could be hardware (e.g., improper assembly) or software related (e.g., improper firmware version). It will be interesting to see if this issue goes away after the update, or remains as an actual problem. But, it doesn't seem particularly reassuring to me, and I'm sure not to iP4 owners afflicted by this issue, that it remains unaddressed through this announcement.
Just to re-write your list based on the technical explanations I've read:
1. Signal attenuation caused by something (your hand) blocking the signal.
2. Antenna de-tuning caused by direct physical contact with the antenna and/or bridging the gap between the two antennas.
3. The proximity sensor issue.
#3 I think is irrelevant to this discussion. My understand is that is simply a display issue with the the sensor not properly lighting/dimming the display when the phone is held close to your face.
#1 is the issue Apple says common to all cell phones. They are right about that. All cell phones, all radios, will suffer in performance when something blocks (attenuates) the signal from getting to the antenna. You don't need direct contact for signal attenuation. Just something between the receiver and the transmitter.
#2 is the issue Apple is completely ignoring/denying. Their design exposes the antenna to direct contact, which affects antenna performance. Anyone who has ever used rabbit ears on a TV knows this. Standing near the TV can have a mild effect on the reception. Actually touching the rabbit ears has a huge effect on the reception.
WHAT??? Better re-read some of the five hundred or so posts from yesterday. Many here screamed there was no problem with their iP4 so there were no problems with anyones. A typical post for this forum I might add.
But I digress. I don't have an iP4 so I'm not supposed to comment. Just forget what I said.
One need not own an iP4 to comment, just be rational in your comments. Now, could you quote us a few of the posts where people were screaming that there were no problems at all with any phones?
WHAT??? Better re-read some of the five hundred or so posts from yesterday. Many here screamed there was no problem with their iP4 so there were no problems with anyones. A typical post for this forum I might add.
But I digress. I don't have an iP4 so I'm not supposed to comment. Just forget what I said.
I can't see anyone being so daft as to think or say that not a signal iPhone could be possibly be faulty simply because theirs works. Then again, I can't imagine anyone being so daft as to go into hysterics because their iPhone doesn't work.
Please, find me some of these 500 hundred posts stating that it's impossible for there to be faulty units.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
Well F me, AT&T signal strength is shittier than the Iphone has been displaying all along. You don't think you would have figured that out years ago? Its funny how field test mode *3001#12345#* is taken out of IOS4.
A wonderfully sensible statement!
I wish other people could think beyond the "oh, Apple is so great" and look at each product objectively and say "oh, iPhone 2G is so great", "oh, iPhone 3G is so great", "oh, iPhone 3GS is so great" and "BTW, something is amiss with iPhone 4". Just because the last few products were good, how can people simply ignore the complaints of thousands of other users who have genuine problems?
Nop, the measurement was calibrated with the bars shown on the iPhone4. The problem is that according to Apple (and I'am sure they are sure) the bars shown where wrong. And there goes your calibration.
Maybe someone should sue Anand for such 'ignorant' measurements and presenting results that are wrong.
J.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jnjnjn
How did they do that without an iPhone4 showing db's in service mode?
Nice one. Fabricating "facts", using them to attack a reputable site whose article you have not read and then exposing both the lie and the fact that you have not read the article.
And that is exactly what Apple is fixing here; the actual reporting of signal strength. But, in your analogy, if it was not uncommon for some drivers to reproduce a problem where when they pressed the gas not only did the fuel gage show a sudden drop, but the gas tank actually emptied itself. In that case, the fuel gage might be faulty, but there is still no gas in the tank. The iOS might be misreporting the signal strength, but the iPhone 4 design still seems to lead to greater actual signal loss than designs with an internal antenna.
Admitting to the accuracy problem is good. Failing to address or acknowledge the actual physical problems caused by the physical design is not.
Even if this is true, it doesn't seem to be true for a vast number of people. There have been over 2 million phones sold (if you ask me to prove that I will ignore that request for a couple of reasons). Where are the numbers? How many people actually wind up in a situation where the signal degradation is "worse than other phones"? Then, when you factor in the issue of holding different phones in different places along their edges, how does the iPhone 4 stack up then?
My point is, there may be an issue, affecting a tiny percentage of people more because of where they use it than the actual device (as compared to other iP4 devices) they are using. However, the amount of ink spilled over this is completely and totally out of sync with the actual magnitude of the problem.
Also, do you know anything about how field tests are done and certification with carriers is performed? Serious question.
Yeah, a full refund IF you bought your phone from Apple. Buy it from an AT&T store, Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc. and you're stuck with restocking fees. And unless you return it in 3 days you also get stuck with ETF's from AT&T unless you get a different phone for the 2 year contract you signed with them.
There was a post on another thread where a user returned his phone to AT&T and they refunded all charges/fees, etc. AIR, there was no restocking charge and AT&T even refunded his purchase of an AppleCare extended Warranty.
Yes, you are correct. Anand did confirm what Apple has released. That the antenna is far superior to previous models and that the bars algorithm was flawed. But he also confirm that the industrial design, of exposing the antennas, resulted in greater actual loss of signal when touched. That is the issue that Apple has not addressed.
The part you keep leaving out is that EVEN WITH THE SIGNAL ATTENUATION, the iPHone 4 gets better reception than other phones. So why fix something that's already better than the alternatives?
If you want to improve it so it's 50% better than the alternatives instead of just 20% better, go ahead and get a case. But that doesn't change the fact that even without the case, it's better than the options.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomasj106
Fixing the display so that bars indicate a false signal strength does not fix the dropped calls nor the poor call quality.
The problem with that is that you're assuming something that's not in evidence. The dropping bars problem has been widely reported. There's no evidence (other than a few anecdotal reports like yours) that indicate that the iPhone 4 drops calls any more than any other phone. In fact, Anand and Apple's testing indicates that EVEN WITH THE 'PROBLEM', the iPhone gets BETTER reception.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquatic
Crucified. Nice wordage. Oh yeah, they'll be drawn and quartered. I also am re-considering buying an iPhone 4. I thought they would FIX it! Not cover it up!
Time to short AAPL.
Steve Jobs thinks we are all stupid idiots. What a way to thank loyal customers that do more marketing for a company than possibly any other company on earth.
As you said we would have all moved on if they gave out free bumpers that cost a few cents to make. Greed.
As for PR people another poster here RBR made a good point...this probably goes directly to the top to Steve Jobs. He in fact absolutely started this whole thing with his condescending personal email to a user. He will have only himself to blame.
So your point is that you're so full of irrational hatred that you expect Apple to become as irrational as you?
Apple chose a technical, rational solution to the problem. They collected data and tested it and reached a conclusion - same conclusion that Anand reached. If you have evidence that the iPHone 4 drops calls any more frequently than other phones, feel free to provide it. Until then, you're just ranting mindlessly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by noexpectations
This changes nothing. Again.
Because there was nothing of consequence to change. There is no evidence that the iPhone 4 has a reception problem. Feel free to present a scientifically valid study that compares the number of dropped calls to any other phone under the same conditions. If you can find that kind of evidence, then complaining about the 'problem' might be valid. Until then, it's only making you look foolish.
So I can't help but wonder what the calibration for the 3GS was? Did they change the formula for the iPhone 4? If so, why? But if they were using the same calibration, then this software "fix" seems more of a coverup.
I'm in a wait-and-see mode before making any decision. Apple is correctly explaining the effect of attenuation when something (ie, your hand) blocks part of the signal. But that is a different effect than coming in direct contact with the antenna itself. Apple's explanations have so far completely ignored that issue.
We'll see...I'm in no hurry to run out and make a purchase. I'll let the rest of you be guinea pigs.
Happy to be one and happy to report that I am more productive and have had more fun on this phone than any other I've owned.
I hate to be drawn in on this. But let's assume for a moment that Apple is telling the truth. If the iPhone's calibration/calculation of signal strength gives a false reading, then what the user "sees" as a strong signal is a false reading. That would explain why signal bars drop when the antenna is physically blocked from what little signal it "sees." If the iPhone has a strong signal, the user will not experience the bar drop anomaly. Now, let's assume Apple is lying. Do you really think they want to open up that can of worms for the lawyers? Poor reception causes dropped calls...not a false calibration. There is a silver lining. Because of all the attention given to this perceived issue, Apple discovered a formula error in how signal strength has been calculated for all iPhone models. Of course I could be wrong and Apple is deliberately covering up a design flaw. But that's only wishful thinking for all the Apple haters.
It's not about the truth or lying. Apple is fixing something that may need fixing, but it has nothing to do with the antenna problem is the iPhone 4.
Posting in this forum has been a complete joke. So many members just want to make out that people with problems are mad (hysterical) or unnaturally forcing their phones to get reception issues, it's pathetic. Truly the posters here who are spouting that crap have really brought this forum down and are a disgrace. I don't care if you own an iPhone 4 and haven't had problems either, your crap still stinks.
What's your experience been like with your iPhone?
As you originally reported,You also have said,So it appears that you are showing 3G service where there is none. Or you are close enough for the iPhone 4 to pick it up. Unfortunately, the service is either not strong enough, the iPhone 4 is not powerful enough, or both, to maintain the connection.
It may also be an internal hardware switching problem going from 3G to Edge. I live near a hilly area that the 3G service drops precipitously. When passing through there, I switch 3G off via the General Settings and haven't had a dropped call since.
I would suggest that until Vodafone upgrades to 3G, you will have issues. Check Vodafone's 3G coverage map. You may be in or in close proximity of a fringe area or as any radio wave, it maybe bouncing around and being influenced by geographical, atmospheric or man-made structural factors.
Good luck.
Thankyou.
The Vodafone store was in a 3G area on my Vodafone phone, the o2 store was about 30 miles away from there in a town were my Vodafone phone showed no 3G service at all.
Usually I'm in Edinburgh and as it took about 5 hours for my ip4 to activate was home (20 miles away and out of 3G coverage) when it activated. The Vodafone store was on the outskirts of Edinburgh and worked great before I pick it up on 3G. I suspect, but don't know yet, that the same thing will happen in central Edinburgh, I'll know for sure before that long when I go there.
The streaming radio has been a huge improvement on Vodafone, and I obviously can't tell how much of that has to do with the ip4 because I'm on new network. When I'm not holding the phone everything seems to be working perfectly but I'll try your suggestion, if I need to, because I've noticed the same sometimes in the past too.
It is ok to love a phone and still be dissatisfied with a portion of it's performance. It is fair to complain.
I'm fine with the signal my self but I wish the notifications were more like on my Pre. There. I am keeping the phone and love it, but I found something to complain about.
Not all of us worship at the alter.
But over the past few days, way too many have been groveling at the sacrificial alter.
The immaturity demonstrated by a big faction of the community here has been really pathetic.
Even though this isn't the answer that some were hoping for, it is a good first step, and here's why:
After Apple issues this software fix to make the phone accurately report bars or whatever, then either one of two things will happen...
1. This solves all current reception related issues and everyone is happy except trolls and haters.
or
2. It only fixes the cosmetic reporting of signal strength, which makes it more accurate, but does not resolve the actual dropped call issues.
If #2 above is the outcome, then at that point if dropped calls and other actual reception issues are still happening, then they won't be able to blame anything on the software incorrectly reporting the signal strength. They will then have to address it from the point of view of dropped calls and go from there. I know this isn't anyone's first choice, and it's not a speedy solution, but if there is more going on here, then it will force the issue.
It's good to have confirmation from Apple, but it isn't like this isn't exactly what Anand reported. The algorithm for the bars display is weighed to show a better signal than actually existed. The first problem of holding it resulting in the dropping of the number of bars being displayed is mainly a visualization problem..while there is a signal drop, it is not as pronounced as the display indicates.
But as Anand also stated, it doesn't change the fact that the actual amount of signal loss is still a problem.:
"The drop in signal from holding the phone with your left hand arguably remains a problem. Changing the bars visualization may indeed help mask it, and to be fair the phone works fine all the way down to -113 dBm, but it will persist - software updates can change physics as much as they can change hardware design. At the end of the day, Apple should add an insulative coating to the stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases. It's that simple."
And you explain the fact that most users (myself included) are experiencing far better reception in weak areas... how?
Nice one. Fabricating "facts", using them to attack a reputable site whose article you have not read and then exposing both the lie and the fact that you have not read the article.
Yep, I take the blame. It wasn't my intention to frame facts though.
Just an honest mistake. But I should have verified my thought.
Comments
A software fix to only change the display behavior is a fail.
It does not fix the REAL PROBLEM of DROPPED SIGNAL!
I can reproduce the issue 100% of the time with my phone and it is truly insulting for Apple to refuse to accept this fact even after multiple independent studies.
From the article:
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
.
OK, let's review. There are 3 issues that may combine to produce call and signal issues:
- Attenuation caused by touching the antenna
- Complete data service intrruption caused by bridging the seam
- Misfuntioning of the proximity sensor
The promised update doesn't actually address any of these, although, it seems that it will more accurately reflect what's going on in relation to the first issue. However, I don't think this was ever really as big an issue as many thought it was.The third issue, which is probably responsible for at least some "dropped calls", may be quietly addressed by a software update, and since it hasn't really been the focus of a lot of attention it's not too surprising that they haven't specifically mentioned it.
The second issue, which seems to be the most significant real issue, doesn't seem to be addressed at all. Since it doesn't affect all phones, I don't think it's a design issue, which leaves the possibility of some sort of manufacturing issue, which could be hardware (e.g., improper assembly) or software related (e.g., improper firmware version). It will be interesting to see if this issue goes away after the update, or remains as an actual problem. But, it doesn't seem particularly reassuring to me, and I'm sure not to iP4 owners afflicted by this issue, that it remains unaddressed through this announcement.
Just to re-write your list based on the technical explanations I've read:
1. Signal attenuation caused by something (your hand) blocking the signal.
2. Antenna de-tuning caused by direct physical contact with the antenna and/or bridging the gap between the two antennas.
3. The proximity sensor issue.
#3 I think is irrelevant to this discussion. My understand is that is simply a display issue with the the sensor not properly lighting/dimming the display when the phone is held close to your face.
#1 is the issue Apple says common to all cell phones. They are right about that. All cell phones, all radios, will suffer in performance when something blocks (attenuates) the signal from getting to the antenna. You don't need direct contact for signal attenuation. Just something between the receiver and the transmitter.
#2 is the issue Apple is completely ignoring/denying. Their design exposes the antenna to direct contact, which affects antenna performance. Anyone who has ever used rabbit ears on a TV knows this. Standing near the TV can have a mild effect on the reception. Actually touching the rabbit ears has a huge effect on the reception.
WHAT??? Better re-read some of the five hundred or so posts from yesterday. Many here screamed there was no problem with their iP4 so there were no problems with anyones. A typical post for this forum I might add.
But I digress. I don't have an iP4 so I'm not supposed to comment. Just forget what I said.
One need not own an iP4 to comment, just be rational in your comments. Now, could you quote us a few of the posts where people were screaming that there were no problems at all with any phones?
WHAT??? Better re-read some of the five hundred or so posts from yesterday. Many here screamed there was no problem with their iP4 so there were no problems with anyones. A typical post for this forum I might add.
But I digress. I don't have an iP4 so I'm not supposed to comment. Just forget what I said.
I can't see anyone being so daft as to think or say that not a signal iPhone could be possibly be faulty simply because theirs works. Then again, I can't imagine anyone being so daft as to go into hysterics because their iPhone doesn't work.
Please, find me some of these 500 hundred posts stating that it's impossible for there to be faulty units.
From the article:
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
Surely that can't be true.
Well F me, AT&T signal strength is shittier than the Iphone has been displaying all along. You don't think you would have figured that out years ago? Its funny how field test mode *3001#12345#* is taken out of IOS4.
A wonderfully sensible statement!
I wish other people could think beyond the "oh, Apple is so great" and look at each product objectively and say "oh, iPhone 2G is so great", "oh, iPhone 3G is so great", "oh, iPhone 3GS is so great" and "BTW, something is amiss with iPhone 4". Just because the last few products were good, how can people simply ignore the complaints of thousands of other users who have genuine problems?
Nop, the measurement was calibrated with the bars shown on the iPhone4. The problem is that according to Apple (and I'am sure they are sure) the bars shown where wrong. And there goes your calibration.
Maybe someone should sue Anand for such 'ignorant' measurements and presenting results that are wrong.
J.
How did they do that without an iPhone4 showing db's in service mode?
Nice one. Fabricating "facts", using them to attack a reputable site whose article you have not read and then exposing both the lie and the fact that you have not read the article.
And that is exactly what Apple is fixing here; the actual reporting of signal strength. But, in your analogy, if it was not uncommon for some drivers to reproduce a problem where when they pressed the gas not only did the fuel gage show a sudden drop, but the gas tank actually emptied itself. In that case, the fuel gage might be faulty, but there is still no gas in the tank. The iOS might be misreporting the signal strength, but the iPhone 4 design still seems to lead to greater actual signal loss than designs with an internal antenna.
Admitting to the accuracy problem is good. Failing to address or acknowledge the actual physical problems caused by the physical design is not.
Even if this is true, it doesn't seem to be true for a vast number of people. There have been over 2 million phones sold (if you ask me to prove that I will ignore that request for a couple of reasons). Where are the numbers? How many people actually wind up in a situation where the signal degradation is "worse than other phones"? Then, when you factor in the issue of holding different phones in different places along their edges, how does the iPhone 4 stack up then?
My point is, there may be an issue, affecting a tiny percentage of people more because of where they use it than the actual device (as compared to other iP4 devices) they are using. However, the amount of ink spilled over this is completely and totally out of sync with the actual magnitude of the problem.
Also, do you know anything about how field tests are done and certification with carriers is performed? Serious question.
Yeah, a full refund IF you bought your phone from Apple. Buy it from an AT&T store, Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc. and you're stuck with restocking fees. And unless you return it in 3 days you also get stuck with ETF's from AT&T unless you get a different phone for the 2 year contract you signed with them.
There was a post on another thread where a user returned his phone to AT&T and they refunded all charges/fees, etc. AIR, there was no restocking charge and AT&T even refunded his purchase of an AppleCare extended Warranty.
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...59#post1666659
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...88#post1666688
.
Yes, you are correct. Anand did confirm what Apple has released. That the antenna is far superior to previous models and that the bars algorithm was flawed. But he also confirm that the industrial design, of exposing the antennas, resulted in greater actual loss of signal when touched. That is the issue that Apple has not addressed.
The part you keep leaving out is that EVEN WITH THE SIGNAL ATTENUATION, the iPHone 4 gets better reception than other phones. So why fix something that's already better than the alternatives?
If you want to improve it so it's 50% better than the alternatives instead of just 20% better, go ahead and get a case. But that doesn't change the fact that even without the case, it's better than the options.
Fixing the display so that bars indicate a false signal strength does not fix the dropped calls nor the poor call quality.
The problem with that is that you're assuming something that's not in evidence. The dropping bars problem has been widely reported. There's no evidence (other than a few anecdotal reports like yours) that indicate that the iPhone 4 drops calls any more than any other phone. In fact, Anand and Apple's testing indicates that EVEN WITH THE 'PROBLEM', the iPhone gets BETTER reception.
Crucified. Nice wordage. Oh yeah, they'll be drawn and quartered. I also am re-considering buying an iPhone 4. I thought they would FIX it! Not cover it up!
Time to short AAPL.
Steve Jobs thinks we are all stupid idiots. What a way to thank loyal customers that do more marketing for a company than possibly any other company on earth.
As you said we would have all moved on if they gave out free bumpers that cost a few cents to make. Greed.
As for PR people another poster here RBR made a good point...this probably goes directly to the top to Steve Jobs. He in fact absolutely started this whole thing with his condescending personal email to a user. He will have only himself to blame.
So your point is that you're so full of irrational hatred that you expect Apple to become as irrational as you?
Apple chose a technical, rational solution to the problem. They collected data and tested it and reached a conclusion - same conclusion that Anand reached. If you have evidence that the iPHone 4 drops calls any more frequently than other phones, feel free to provide it. Until then, you're just ranting mindlessly.
This changes nothing. Again.
Because there was nothing of consequence to change. There is no evidence that the iPhone 4 has a reception problem. Feel free to present a scientifically valid study that compares the number of dropped calls to any other phone under the same conditions. If you can find that kind of evidence, then complaining about the 'problem' might be valid. Until then, it's only making you look foolish.
So I can't help but wonder what the calibration for the 3GS was? Did they change the formula for the iPhone 4? If so, why? But if they were using the same calibration, then this software "fix" seems more of a coverup.
I'm in a wait-and-see mode before making any decision. Apple is correctly explaining the effect of attenuation when something (ie, your hand) blocks part of the signal. But that is a different effect than coming in direct contact with the antenna itself. Apple's explanations have so far completely ignored that issue.
We'll see...I'm in no hurry to run out and make a purchase. I'll let the rest of you be guinea pigs.
Happy to be one and happy to report that I am more productive and have had more fun on this phone than any other I've owned.
I hate to be drawn in on this. But let's assume for a moment that Apple is telling the truth. If the iPhone's calibration/calculation of signal strength gives a false reading, then what the user "sees" as a strong signal is a false reading. That would explain why signal bars drop when the antenna is physically blocked from what little signal it "sees." If the iPhone has a strong signal, the user will not experience the bar drop anomaly. Now, let's assume Apple is lying. Do you really think they want to open up that can of worms for the lawyers? Poor reception causes dropped calls...not a false calibration. There is a silver lining. Because of all the attention given to this perceived issue, Apple discovered a formula error in how signal strength has been calculated for all iPhone models. Of course I could be wrong and Apple is deliberately covering up a design flaw. But that's only wishful thinking for all the Apple haters.
It's not about the truth or lying. Apple is fixing something that may need fixing, but it has nothing to do with the antenna problem is the iPhone 4.
Posting in this forum has been a complete joke. So many members just want to make out that people with problems are mad (hysterical) or unnaturally forcing their phones to get reception issues, it's pathetic. Truly the posters here who are spouting that crap have really brought this forum down and are a disgrace. I don't care if you own an iPhone 4 and haven't had problems either, your crap still stinks.
What's your experience been like with your iPhone?
As you originally reported,You also have said,So it appears that you are showing 3G service where there is none. Or you are close enough for the iPhone 4 to pick it up. Unfortunately, the service is either not strong enough, the iPhone 4 is not powerful enough, or both, to maintain the connection.
It may also be an internal hardware switching problem going from 3G to Edge. I live near a hilly area that the 3G service drops precipitously. When passing through there, I switch 3G off via the General Settings and haven't had a dropped call since.
I would suggest that until Vodafone upgrades to 3G, you will have issues. Check Vodafone's 3G coverage map. You may be in or in close proximity of a fringe area or as any radio wave, it maybe bouncing around and being influenced by geographical, atmospheric or man-made structural factors.
Good luck.
Thankyou.
The Vodafone store was in a 3G area on my Vodafone phone, the o2 store was about 30 miles away from there in a town were my Vodafone phone showed no 3G service at all.
Usually I'm in Edinburgh and as it took about 5 hours for my ip4 to activate was home (20 miles away and out of 3G coverage) when it activated. The Vodafone store was on the outskirts of Edinburgh and worked great before I pick it up on 3G. I suspect, but don't know yet, that the same thing will happen in central Edinburgh, I'll know for sure before that long when I go there.
The streaming radio has been a huge improvement on Vodafone, and I obviously can't tell how much of that has to do with the ip4 because I'm on new network. When I'm not holding the phone everything seems to be working perfectly but I'll try your suggestion, if I need to, because I've noticed the same sometimes in the past too.
Lighten up Francis.
It is ok to love a phone and still be dissatisfied with a portion of it's performance. It is fair to complain.
I'm fine with the signal my self but I wish the notifications were more like on my Pre. There. I am keeping the phone and love it, but I found something to complain about.
Not all of us worship at the alter.
But over the past few days, way too many have been groveling at the sacrificial alter.
The immaturity demonstrated by a big faction of the community here has been really pathetic.
still will not explain or help actual contact with the antennas. in other words - DESIGN FAIL.
so the software will hide the flaw and ATT can continue to be the bad guy. touché!
Even though this isn't the answer that some were hoping for, it is a good first step, and here's why:
After Apple issues this software fix to make the phone accurately report bars or whatever, then either one of two things will happen...
1. This solves all current reception related issues and everyone is happy except trolls and haters.
or
2. It only fixes the cosmetic reporting of signal strength, which makes it more accurate, but does not resolve the actual dropped call issues.
If #2 above is the outcome, then at that point if dropped calls and other actual reception issues are still happening, then they won't be able to blame anything on the software incorrectly reporting the signal strength. They will then have to address it from the point of view of dropped calls and go from there. I know this isn't anyone's first choice, and it's not a speedy solution, but if there is more going on here, then it will force the issue.
Well said!
.
It's good to have confirmation from Apple, but it isn't like this isn't exactly what Anand reported. The algorithm for the bars display is weighed to show a better signal than actually existed. The first problem of holding it resulting in the dropping of the number of bars being displayed is mainly a visualization problem..while there is a signal drop, it is not as pronounced as the display indicates.
But as Anand also stated, it doesn't change the fact that the actual amount of signal loss is still a problem.:
"The drop in signal from holding the phone with your left hand arguably remains a problem. Changing the bars visualization may indeed help mask it, and to be fair the phone works fine all the way down to -113 dBm, but it will persist - software updates can change physics as much as they can change hardware design. At the end of the day, Apple should add an insulative coating to the stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases. It's that simple."
And you explain the fact that most users (myself included) are experiencing far better reception in weak areas... how?
Nice one. Fabricating "facts", using them to attack a reputable site whose article you have not read and then exposing both the lie and the fact that you have not read the article.
Yep, I take the blame. It wasn't my intention to frame facts though.
Just an honest mistake. But I should have verified my thought.
Never made a mistake yourself?
but part of the reason why it is worse to John Q public is because the iPhone 4 is the only one with a totally exposed external antenna.
Fixed that for ya. This is basic engineering.
No, reception is better because of the exposed antenna.
The perception by John Q is completely due to the hysterical parroting of nonsense by ignorant bloggers and media.