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Apple Responds to iPhone 4 Antenna Issue

Article Comments  100+  

Jun 24, 2010, 8:15 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Apple issued a statement to PCMag today acknowledging possible reception issues with the new iPhone 4. Apple said, "Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your Phone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases." The acknowledgment follows user complaints on the first day the iPhone was available for sale.

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DiamondPro

Jun 28, 2010, 5:11 PM

Just another way for apple to rip off there customers

Why do you have to by a case or bumpers as they call it to fix a problem on the iphone that shouldn't exist. And if the case does fix the problem with the phone shouldn't it come with it for free and not cost you 30 bucks?
DiamondPro said:
Why do you have to by a case or bumpers as they call it to fix a problem on the iphone that shouldn't exist. And if the case does fix the problem with the phone shouldn't it come with it for free and not cost you 3
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muchdrama

Jun 25, 2010, 7:06 PM

My buddy...

...came up with the perfect solution.

"iGloves."

Essentially rubber dishwasher gloves that don't futz with the iPhone's reception.

Perfect!
Hmmmmmmmmm....

If they had the Apple logo...

Someone could make some serious coin from such an accessory.
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island4prez

Jun 26, 2010, 6:36 PM

I don't have to...

Hold my phone a certain way. Maybe they made it like that to start a new trend.
That doesn't change the fact that Apple makes a good phone and I have never even owned one. I have always had BB or an Android and love them.
Personally like the Iphone but this is an issue to alot of people because some people don't have left hands...
I was with you right up until the last sentence. A lot of people don't have left hands???? 😳
JeffdaBeat

Jun 25, 2010, 2:15 PM

GET A CASE!!!

I was having the same reception degradation when holding the iPhone at the bottom...no biggie for me since I don't talk on the phone much. I did get a case today and tried to see if the same thing would happen and it didn't! All the bars stayed no matter how I held it.

I know that isn't everyone's answer, but I figure since most folks get cases for their iPhone anyway, this won't be an issue going forward.
one would be retarded not to
...
A case is a good idea for any phone, but that doesn't excuse Apple essentially stating, "Oops! So we didn't think anyone was gonna use the phone in their left hand. Our bad. You should buy a case for it if you want to use it in your left hand."

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This is actually going to help sales reps meet their accessory quota. Way to go!
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justfinethanku

Jun 25, 2010, 11:07 AM

You know whats awesome?

The phone actually is good enough to keep on selling a LOT. It's an amazing phone. period.

I'm predicting the phone sells more than 10 million by Christmas.

Old and washed up? eh, I'll just make a wild guess that the 5th gen is going to sell like wildfire when it comes out next year based on the quality of all the previous generations.

You can bash this company all you want but the fact remains, they can build one hell of a phone.
Dude really ?? a phone is for the making and taking of Phone calls, Period. this is a bad phone if you have to hold it a certain way to make phone calls. It's a bad phone if the network it's on is not reliable. It's only a phone by name, it's a great ...
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justfinethanku said:
The phone actually is good enough to keep on selling a LOT. It's an amazing phone. period.

I'm predicting the phone sells more than 10 million by Christmas.

Old and washed up? eh, I'll just make a wild
...
(continues)
...
The PHONE might be really great as a data tablet, but if the PHONE has this serious of an issue making PHONE calls, then that is not acceptable. justfine, I know you are an Apple fanboy, and I say that without any venom, but you have to admit this is...
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DE 2 Philly

Jun 25, 2010, 1:25 PM

Sprint HTC EVO

Why in the HE** do people still wait 2+ hours in 90+ degree heat for an inferior phone? I can understand some, but ALLLL those people? Is our country really THAT brainwashed by the select few companies?
Wouldnt you think if people did some research they'd see the EVO is a better phone?

On a better network
With 4G
And with less dropped calls
And $30+ cheaper a month

*scratching my head...
its because people are that dumb that they are willing to run around with their heads cut off. they just see a name and run to it. apple isnt better. their computers are not better, their products are not better. i dont own an iphone, or an ipod or a ...
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Why in the HE** do people **edit** troll around the nets looking for an Apple post to start flame wars on?**end edit** I can understand some, but ALLLL those people? Is our country really THAT brainwashed by the select few companies?
Wouldnt y...
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Azeron

Jun 25, 2010, 1:37 AM

I suppose...

...it is okay to love the iphone and hate Apple management.

"Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your Phone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

Seriously, is he saying that the entire phone is an antenna? With internal antennas one does not want to place a finger where the antenna is but holding the phone elsewhere should NOT affect signal performance. This guy is about as empathetic as the BP guy who said...
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What I found funny is that pretty much all promotional material shows them holding it in the left hand.
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madcapjim

Jun 24, 2010, 8:55 PM

Only Apple...

Would be arrogant enough to respond to an obvious design flaw by lecturing their Apple Scruffs on how to properly hold the phone.
that's what i said in my post above. ridiculous. not happy with the way apple has handled this mess.
madcapjim said:
Would be arrogant enough to respond to an obvious design flaw by lecturing their Apple Scruffs on how to properly hold the phone.


Hold it with your ankles. Much better reception.
...
This suprises you??? Their "fix" for the iPad WiFi issue was to reset network settings or adjust the settings on your router. Hmmmm...I doubt the AIRPORT or the HOTEL, or the CONFERENCE CENTER will let me touch their WiFi equipment. Apple must have...
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Well what if someone is left handed? I'm left handed!

I thought the antenna is wrapped around the entire Izombie phone? Shouldn't that improve it?
...
You are absolutely right. They won't care very much because people are still going to buy the phone. So no matter how obviously bad the design is, no matter how absurd the policies Apple has, people will still buy their product in droves. I just do...
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GeekBro

Jun 24, 2010, 10:25 PM

You are just going to shake your head after reading this.

All I can say is, WOW. 😳
Soylent green.
While it does suck, I don't think anyone should be surprised. We ARE talking about Apple, after all.
That is disgusting, and sort of puts an exclamation point on everything that is wrong with Apple. Their product is always very nice, very easy to use. However, you are essentially giving away control of your digital life to Apple. That does not sit...
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muchdrama

Jun 24, 2010, 9:40 PM

At one point...

...I had a Samsung Knack (yeah, yeah...essentially a Jitterbug for us old 39-year-olds), and it had a nifty sticker right where you held the phone which said "do not hold here/blocks antenna signal."

Brilliant engineering. I'd rather have an antenna on my phone than have to deal with a handset like the Knack which got the crappiest reception of any phone I've ever had. And I've had a LOT.
at least the knack had a sticker on it that told you not to cover that area. I'm pretty sure idiot phone doesnt even do that. Knack does, lol.
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Slammer

Jun 24, 2010, 10:42 PM

Let's Hope This Issue Gets Resolved.

This is not a good thing here. Let's hope it is only temporary. Software fix maybe? I am not an Apple fan by any stretch of the measure, but I have colleagues that are. Right now there are two I know that are not very content with their purchase.
Well, they can resolve it pretty quickly by just returning the phone and getting something good.
It's amazing the number of problems that have crept up and the phone has been out a day.

Somehow, every other manufacturer has managed to get call qua...
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I have a case on my iphone 4. Full bars no matter where i go or how I hold it. I truly believe it is an iOS 4.0 issue. Even if I hold my 3G with the "Death Grip", the bars start to go down. But in an iSkin, it's completely fine. Oh well. Doesn't...
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Looks more and more like a HARDWARE issue....which there is no resolution for...other than new hardware, or redisign. Apple really did screw the pooch on this. I love their fix...just like their "fix" for the iPad WiFi. It is NOT a fix. I am liter...
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Unfortunatly from an RF Engineering Stand point software cannot fix this unless they change the i/o levels. higher out put and more sensative input. But then you my violate FCC rquirements and possible receive of generate more noise which may then cre...
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SellPhones82

Jun 25, 2010, 8:08 AM

The least they could do...

is give free Bumper Cases to anyone that purchases an iPhone 4. Otherwise it should be advertised as $229.99 since it appears a case is required it you want to make calls. I also think it is pretty clear now why the Bumper is the first first-party case they've made for any iPhone. Apple knew there was a problem and the case made for a quick fix at the expense of the end user. So in the end Apple makes even more money off a design flaw.
All this talk about the antenna and it's bad receptions is just plain dumb - the design engineers should be taken outside and shot. When I first read about the new phone and learned where the antenna was located, I knew there were going to be problem...
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Thats actually a really good idea. Kudos for not using the word "iSheep" in your post! lol
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XMegadeathX

Jun 25, 2010, 9:39 AM

Only two words describe this.....

EPIC FAIL!!!!!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Yeah, I'm a little dissapointed by the news.

Oh well. I'm still getting my white one next month!!!!
jhr2112

Jun 25, 2010, 11:03 AM

isheep

Isheep bought icrap...crapple is what it is..
"iSheep" "Crapple"???


grow up. 🙄
bigdfan70

Jun 25, 2010, 10:34 AM

love it!!!

maybe people will see apple and the iphone for what it really is now....JUNK! people keep buying it because the next person said its cool,iphone was good 3 years ago but it has run its course.It in no way can keep up with the EVO.
netboy

Jun 25, 2010, 9:46 AM

you bought an i(diot)Phone, you get an idiot respond!

apple quote "Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone"

will ATT follow apple and said this "our network is excellent! With certain places being worse than others! This is a fact of life for every wireless carriers!" HAHA

now i'm embarrassed to get iphone4! if some hot chick or stranger ask to borrow the phone to make a call, and the call drops. how embarrass is that? haha
or are you going to tell people not to hold the phone on the left side everytime some1 want to borrow your phone? haha how embarrass is that! haha
hey, it' the i(diot)Phone...
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asidious66

Jun 25, 2010, 8:55 AM

Hello? Bluecoyote? Heelllloooo???

Is he on vacation or is he just smart enough to stay out of this one?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAH thats a good one. 😁
My guess would be that his new iPhone can't get a connection while he's holding it making it impossible to log on the PS and comment. 😁

Once he breaks out his N1 all will be good again!
...
Otowncell

Jun 25, 2010, 9:06 AM

Hate To See What

A Otterbox would do to the reception of your phone if your hand just kills the it!
Daniel Dc5

Jun 25, 2010, 8:43 AM

I just have to do it...

Okay. I am all for the Android Vs. Iphone battle but this lady's and gentlemen is epic.. This is not a software issues, this is a design issue. I wonder how this will effect the users with the iphone ? I think I will laugh to myself every time I see one holding it like an idiot. Im sorry, apple makes some good phones but this phone has done nothing great and not to mention nothing that the Android has not done before it. I hope apples fixes this for its users, because this is just to funny.
GeeksAreBest

Jun 25, 2010, 8:35 AM

I bet...

the entire time they did beta testing on this they had a bumper case.

I don't see an issue with having a case or skin on it honestly. I had a rubberized Toughies case I got off eBay for like $1...who wouldn't want to protect their phone in case they drop it anyways?
 
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