HTC echoes Apple in defense of HD7 'death grip' issue

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Using language reminiscent of Apple's stance on the iPhone 4 antenna problem, Taiwanese handset maker HTC issued a statement Thursday defending its Windows Phone 7 HD7 smartphone from criticisms that it suffers from weakened signal strength when gripped.



HTC published the statement in response to YouTube videos that depict the newly released HD7 handset losing signal strength when gripped, Computer Weekly reports.



"Quality in industrial design is of key importance to HTC. To ensure the best possible signal strength, antennas are placed in the area least likely to be covered by a person's face or hands while the phone is in use," the statement read.



"However, it is inevitable that a phone's signal strength will weaken a little when covered in its entirety by a user's palm or fingers. We test all of our phones extensively and are confident that under normal circumstances reception strength and performance will be more than sufficient for the operation of the phone when network coverage is also adequate," the statement continued.



Apple found itself the center of a similar controversy this summer after the media picked up reports that the iPhone 4 suffered from a loss of reception when held at the bottom left corner. Dubbed "Antennagate," the controversy came to a head when Consumer Reports rescinded its recommendation of the iPhone 4.



During a July press conference addressing the issue, Apple CEO Steve Jobs called the issue "a challenge for the entire industry," saying that "every phone has weak spots." Jobs then highlighted handsets from other companies, including HTC, that also experience similar antenna issues.



Apple subsequently added a new section to its website, informing consumers of potential signal loss on the iPhone 4. In addition to the iPhone, smartphones from several other makers were highlighted as well, though the references to competitors' phones were eventually removed.



HTC quickly responded, objecting to being specifically called out by Jobs. "The reception problems are certainly not common among smartphones," said HTC Chief Financial Officer Hui-Meng Cheng.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 53
    HTC-gate! I called it!
  • Reply 2 of 53
    Well, well, well...
  • Reply 3 of 53
    P.S. Let it die already.
  • Reply 4 of 53
    sennensennen Posts: 1,472member
    Quote:

    HTC quickly responded, objecting to being specifically called out by Jobs. "The reception problems are certainly not common among smartphones," said HTC Chief Financial Officer Hui-Meng Cheng.



    Whoops...



    Waiting for the media hurricane on this - not going to hold my breath, though.
  • Reply 5 of 53
    The other phone companies were criticizing Apple for its defense, mocking the "all phones suffer this issue" statement. Now the tables have turned.
  • Reply 6 of 53
    Where's the dipshit analysts screaming, "ZOMG inevitable massive recall will cost HTC $1.5T!" like they did Apple?
  • Reply 7 of 53
    motleemotlee Posts: 122member
    HTC: "Free cases for everyone...yes, both of you"
  • Reply 8 of 53
    How ironic… Funny how things work. It's the swing of the pendulum, I guess.
  • Reply 9 of 53
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by propellife View Post


    Not a huge deal just like I think the Apple thing was overblown. I doubt the media will catch onto this and blow it up big like they did with the Apple problems though.



    That's because hating HTC isn't cool.
  • Reply 10 of 53
    Nobody gives a $hit about any of HTC's phone issues or other phone manufacturers for that matter. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT APPLE!
  • Reply 11 of 53
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Cory Bauer View Post


    Where's the dipshit analysts screaming, "ZOMG inevitable massive recall will cost HTC $1.5T!" like they did Apple?



    Two reasons why no screaming 1. HTC hasn't sold many and 2. They can easily fix the problem with a refreshed model.
  • Reply 12 of 53
    Good example of the strength of herds of animals, flocks of birds, or schools of fish. One goes down and the rest just go on. Apple, being a singular product, stumbles and the world holds its breath. HTC gets taken down by wolves and the other 'droids hardly notice. Nor, more importantly, do the customers.
  • Reply 13 of 53
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    At least they didn't say the customers are holding it wrong. Honestly haven't really heard anyone complain for a long time, even those who don't use a case.
  • Reply 14 of 53
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    network coverage is also adequate," the statement continued.



    Very important phrase. It even appeared in the infamous anti-iPhone Consumer Reports article. As with the iPhone 4, the real issue is that your carrier's service blows giant chunks. Not that something is seriously wrong with the design of the device
  • Reply 15 of 53
    xzuxzu Posts: 139member
    C'mon, they r even copying Apple antenna problem. Does anyone other than Apple have any creativity in the industry? Microsoft probably asked them to copy ALL the features of the iphone.
  • Reply 16 of 53
    I have an HD7.. it's an awesome phone! I tried gripping the phone like crazy and couldn't get it to lose it's signal completely.... granted I was TRYING to impact performance with the grip and could only affect it a little. The huge 4.3" screen makes it a bigger phone and therefore has a larger circumference to cover with your hand.. although not sure that matters since the antenna is shielded and not on the outside of the phone.
  • Reply 17 of 53
    almaalma Posts: 31member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Robin Huber View Post


    Good example of the strength of herds of animals, flocks of birds, or schools of fish. One goes down and the rest just go on. Apple, being a singular product, stumbles and the world holds its breath. HTC gets taken down by wolves and the other 'droids hardly notice. Nor, more importantly, do the customers.







    Interesting. So then do you see Android as having the more robust ecosystem, given the genetic diversity?
  • Reply 18 of 53
    HTC-GATE.

    Wow, HTC went as far as saying that their phones reception is not affected by how you hold their phones. Now HTC is defending their Death Grip issue. What a turn of events.

    Perhaps it's time for HTC to give out free cases like Apple did or are they too cheap.





    Competion always looks to put salt on the wounds. SHAME ON HTC!!
  • Reply 19 of 53




    What goes around comes around.....and gets bitten real hard.



    Cheers
  • Reply 20 of 53
    The difference is that HTC is the darling of tech bloggers. They can do no wrong. There were actually quite a bunch of issues with the build quality of various HTC handsets, but you don't see tech bloggers writing book-long articles about them. On the other hand, anything Apple did/said is going to be scrutinized two times over as it draws a ton of clicks. So this is probably only going to be an issue for a couple of days, if not less, at best, and everybody will move on.
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