The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple’s history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same— the iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
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.
A typical corporate response, they recognize the problem but trying to downplay it as being insignificant and express the phone is still badass. A problem too small to recall but too big to ignore.
Sorry but you know that much talked about new antenna that was going to increase your reception. Well what was giving the increase was actually a software mistake not this revolutionary design that we told you about. Oops.
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This is just a front to make it look like they fix the issue or doing something about it,the iphone 4 is a design flaw, you watch the last keynote and Mr job was hyping the new antenna design and a few days ago Apple was looking for antenna engineers, please ...
So they're saying that holding the phone in a certain way causes a decrease in signal strength, but part of that is because it fixes the software error that caused the extra bars? Riiiight...
You were supposed to have -2 bars but it was showing 0.
In all seriousness tho, what they are saying was that it was showing full signal but you never had full signal. You were in a bad area and you always had no signal in that area.
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Originally Posted by HustlinDaily
In all seriousness tho, what they are saying was that it was showing full signal but you never had full signal. You were in a bad area and you always had no signal in that area.
You were right up until that last bit..
The phone displays 5 bars when 1 or 2 would be more accurate.. so when the signal drops from 5 bars to 0, it really should only be dropping 1 or 2 bars.. not 5.
Of course, the software update will only fix the signal indicators, not the problem itself.
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My favorite part is when they try and blame other phones!
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
If the bars don't mean anything, why does the call drop by brushing my finger near the "bad spot"? Wait, because they do! Silly Apple... just like with PC vs. Mac in the 80's/90's, they seem doomed to repeat their mistakes and let ego be their end.
What is Steve Jobs going to say next? Not to pay attention to the reception bars?
What can he really say? The only solution is to have a recall and that is going to be very traumatic.
The other question is...since the antenna isn't grounded, what would happen if your hands are sweaty in the July heat and you hold the phone? Would you get a shock?
I doubt there will be a recall, that would be very bad for apple. They may send out those cases and try to manage the indicator. Probably see how that goes first before anything drastic.
I, for one, can't wait to try and recreate this issue for myself at a nearby Apple store. Better yet... I'll try to act like I don't know anything about the issue and watch the "geniuses" squirm and try to explain the problem and give their ridiculously conditioned responses.
I don't have an issue against Apple or their products. But their ego and how they approach the issue is totally irritating. The way Apple blames others for screw-ups, IP copying, exaggerated statements (i.e. making it sound like they invented video calling) and even this issue (read: This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones) just grinds my gears >.>
Apple better start re-evaluating its integrity and responsibility to its customers because without them, Apple's nothing.
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I, for one, can't wait to try and recreate this issue for myself at a nearby Apple store. Better yet... I'll try to act like I don't know anything about the issue and watch the "geniuses" squirm and try to explain the problem and give their ridiculously conditioned responses.
I don't have an issue against Apple or their products. But their ego and how they approach the issue is totally irritating. The way Apple blames others for screw-ups, IP copying, exaggerated statements (i.e. making it sound like they invented video calling) and even this issue (read: This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones) just grinds my gears >.>
Apple better start re-evaluating its integrity and responsibility to its customers because without them, Apple's nothing.
I cant agree with you more. Apple does generally make good products. Apple is an American company that employs Americans so the reason why i support Apple. I just really hate their condescending uppity persona. They seem a little vain and need a reality check. I appreciate the competition between Apple, Google and others cause it benefits us as a consumer, but I really hope they change their attitude.
Apple's fcking stupid. I hate the way they dont give users much control over their environment and experience. I like overclocking, modifying and exploiting my equipment.
Their products are so F'ing unergonomic. Just look at a effing iPad. I mean, where can you grip the thing.
what's even worse are the people who use apple, their stupidity and ego is beyond comprehension. I hate apple for every reason said above this post.
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Originally Posted by chrisinsocalif
I cant agree with you more. Apple does generally make good products. Apple is an American company that employs Americans so the reason why i support Apple. I just really hate their condescending uppity persona. They seem a little vain and need a reality check. I appreciate the competition between Apple, Google and others cause it benefits us as a consumer, but I really hope they change their attitude.
That's why all their hardware is manufactured overseas and then imported to the U.S.A.? i.e Foxxconn? That's not exactly what I call American made.
I cant agree with you more. Apple does generally make good products. Apple is an American company that employs Americans so the reason why i support Apple.
Apple is a global company that employees the lowest bidder, your reasoning is flawed.
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Apple's fcking stupid. I hate the way they dont give users much control over their environment and experience. I like overclocking, modifying and exploiting my equipment.
Their products are so F'ing unergonomic. Just look at a effing iPad. I mean, where can you grip the thing.
what's even worse are the people who use apple, their stupidity and ego is beyond comprehension. I hate apple for every reason said above this post.
What really bothers me is that they introduced this antenna as a revolutionary new feature of iphone 4
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Apple knows that they will be joining Verizon giving them new phones with fixed antenna problems and use their map coverage as a way to say "See, AT&T just didn't have as much coverage as Verizon".
I'm just hoping that Samsung doesn't rush out their phone just to compete with a piece of junk iPhone. My girl has my old unlocked iPhone and its a champ. I used to take that thing with me to construction sites, dropped it, got cement dust in it and it doesn't drop any calls and everything works great. My cliq on the hand....Lets just say Motorola shoulda spent a little more time with it b/c they lost a customer for life.
Apple is a global company that employees the lowest bidder, your reasoning is flawed.
You are right yes, but still brings in money and jobs to the US people. Of course if the phones were made here it would jack up the cost, but i prefer it over a company that does not benefit the US financially.
You are right yes, but still brings in money and jobs to the US people. Of course if the phones were made here it would jack up the cost, but i prefer it over a company that does not benefit the US financially.
Well every phone sold in the US helps an american company really. Every cell provider supplies jobs in America. And then just about, if not every, handset maker has an office in the US as well.
My favorite part is when they try and blame other phones!
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
U know what I have to do for my Droid to lose bars, decibels? I have to cup both my hands over the bottom of my phone and squeeze like I'm trying to smash a walnut. Even then I dont lose service. I have to practically wrap the entire phone up for that to happen....
Dear Apple,
Its not that holding a mobile phone a certain way will cause it to lose bars. We get that. The question is how easy is it to lose those bars by holding it a certain way?
iPhone 4 way - very easy.
Motorola Droid way - very hard.
..............Fix the phone Apple, have recalls................better yet, re-think this antenna design for the next iPhone......ok? We all here trying to help.
It dont matter, iPhone users will just get a rubber band, wrap it around the phone and call it a day.
You are right yes, but still brings in money and jobs to the US people. Of course if the phones were made here it would jack up the cost, but i prefer it over a company that does not benefit the US financially.
A sale of an Apple product helps the people of the US just as much as the sale of any product from a large multi-national corporation, sorry. If they don't make it here you cannot pull out "I buy American!! /flagwave" card.
Well I guess it's a little better than posting on a forum that the issue is no longer being worked on (a la Google with the Nexus).
It's a bit of a shambles for sure, but I'm actually glad they're speaking up. It's not affecting all iPhone 4 users (in the same way that grounding issues, screen lifting, random screen cracks, and updates bricking EVOs didn't affect everyone).
I have three friends with the device. Two of them can't replicate the problem, the other loses 2 bars. When I cup the base of my Desire, I also lose 2 bars. I seem to remember a youtube video of a guy making his Nexus go from 3g to edge by covering the bottom of the phone with his hand?
Apple clearly cannot afford to do a recall, as they'd have to foot the bill (unless they charge it back to the designer!).
Previous recalls were done because, in the case of faulty batteries or chargers, the company that made them FOR Apple had to foot the bill. So, it's easy for Apple to look good and say they care.
Now they are in a position where they might have to pay themselves, they issue the most laughable press release probably ever written.
I like Apple. I like Apple products. I BUY Apple products. I don't like what they've done here. Only the most fanatical of the fanboys could justify this, or defend it.
I'm not defending it - I'm merely pointing out that this will be tomorrows chip paper. The issues I outlined above that blighted HTC/Android/Nexus are now long forgotten.
This is where apple's advantage of having one product/app store/handset/OS to push is not such a good thing, and the umbrella leak affects everything underneath.
HTC quality issues did not affect Android all that much as it was a handset manufacturer issue. Drastically inflated EVO sales figures did not affect Android OR HTC as it was Sprint issue. The blame can be deflected until it goes away.
I don't like what they've done either - but they aren't alone.
"don't hold it like that", isn't a million miles from "it's not supposed to go in your pocket", or "we aren't investigating the signal problems anymore"
Every company out there faces surprises & issues they didn't expect. It's how they treat the issues -- and the customers -- that are a true measure of their quality. I remember I bought a device made by Handspring (an off-shoot of Palm, before they began making phones) and the device was essentially DOA...and soon after, so was Handspring.
My problem with Apple's handling of this is that it reeks of arrogance. I 'spose if we didn't have any recent history of how Apple deals with the public it would just be a speed-bump, but I think what they're doing is kind of crappy.
I have an Iphone 4, though I haven't had any reception problems or dropped calls with it.
6 of my friends (and numerous co-workers) have the Iphone 4 as well, I've asked them and none of them have had any issues as well. It's entirely possible that the reception issues is effecting a small percentage of Iphone 4s out there, if it were for instance effecting only 5% of the phones, that would still be nearly 100,000 dissatisfied customers. That being said..if it were only 5% of the phones, that's too many IMO, and Apple needs to fix this problem if there is a flaw with some of the phones.
I disagree with how Apple has been handling this issue so far, their position has changed from..:
"It needs to be held correctly"
to..
"It needs a bumper/case"
to..
"It needs a software fix due to an incorrect algorithm"
Apple may know how to market and have an excellent marketing team, but their PR team is terrible. That press release is downright insulting, disingenuous, and was clearly written by an army of lawyers attempting to shift blame away from Apple.
All that being said however, I'm personally very happy with my Iphone 4 and like I mentioned above, I haven't experienced any problems with it. However the way in which Apple has been handling this whole fiasco is simply abysmal, and it will definitely play into consideration when my contract is running out and I need a new phone in 2 years.
In the meantime I will be enjoying my Iphone 4.
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I'm not defending it - I'm merely pointing out that this will be tomorrows chip paper. The issues I outlined above that blighted HTC/Android/Nexus are now long forgotten.
No it won't because Verizon/Motorola will make sure that they won't forget. It's a very competitive market these days.
I have an Iphone 4, though I haven't had any reception problems or dropped calls with it.
6 of my friends (and numerous co-workers) have the Iphone 4 as well, I've asked them and none of them have had any issues as well. It's entirely possible that the reception issues is effecting a small percentage of Iphone 4s out there, if it were for instance effecting only 5% of the phones, that would still be nearly 100,000 dissatisfied customers. That being said..if it were only 5% of the phones, that's too many IMO, and Apple needs to fix this problem if there is a flaw with some of the phones.
I disagree with how Apple has been handling this issue so far, their position has changed from..:
"It needs to be held correctly"
to..
"It needs a bumper/case"
to..
"It needs a software fix due to an incorrect algorithm"
Apple may know how to market and have an excellent marketing team, but their PR team is terrible. That press release is downright insulting, disingenuous, and was clearly written by an army of lawyers attempting to shift blame away from Apple.
All that being said however, I'm personally very happy with my Iphone 4 and like I mentioned above, I haven't experienced any problems with it. However the way in which Apple has been handling this whole fiasco is simply abysmal, and it will definitely play into consideration when my contract is running out and I need a new phone in 2 years.
In the meantime I will be enjoying my Iphone 4.
Insulting and disingenuous -- two perfect words to describe Apple's handling of this particular situation (and, IMO, the way they handle much of their interaction with the public).
I'm glad you're enjoying your phone -- and to be honest, I wouldn't let this whole PR shitstorm stop you from getting another iPhone if you so choose. If the iPhone was on Verizon and featured a removable battery, I would very seriously consider it. Whether or not Apple treats its customers like numbers -- as does Microsoft and other monolithic companies -- is secondary to whether the product is solid.
Either way, I'm glad you're enjoying yours and that you're open-minded enough to see both sides of the situation.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alieno
I have an Iphone 4, though I haven't had any reception problems or dropped calls with it.
6 of my friends (and numerous co-workers) have the Iphone 4 as well, I've asked them and none of them have had any issues as well. It's entirely possible that the reception issues is effecting a small percentage of Iphone 4s out there, if it were for instance effecting only 5% of the phones, that would still be nearly 100,000 dissatisfied customers. That being said..if it were only 5% of the phones, that's too many IMO, and Apple needs to fix this problem if there is a flaw with some of the phones.
I disagree with how Apple has been handling this issue so far, their position has changed from..:
"It needs to be held correctly"
to..
"It needs a bumper/case"
to..
"It needs a software fix due to an incorrect algorithm"
Apple may know how to market and have an excellent marketing team, but their PR team is terrible. That press release is downright insulting, disingenuous, and was clearly written by an army of lawyers attempting to shift blame away from Apple.
All that being said however, I'm personally very happy with my Iphone 4 and like I mentioned above, I haven't experienced any problems with it. However the way in which Apple has been handling this whole fiasco is simply abysmal, and it will definitely play into consideration when my contract is running out and I need a new phone in 2 years.
In the meantime I will be enjoying my Iphone 4.
Why are people with iPhones coming to an Android forum? Do people do this many Android users go to iPhone forums?
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"Well, yeah, sure the iPhone 4 drops bars when you cover it, but part of that is the software showing the bars wrong (whoops, must have forgottent to flip the parity bit to 1!), and the rest of the problem is just AT&T having poor coverage. Because of our software problem, you just never noticed the poor coverage before. But the hardware is fine, no problems with that at all! In fact, it's the best phone that will ever be created, some people e-mailed us and said so! Samsung, Motorola and HTC might as well just close now to save themselves the embarrasement."
Apple Press Relase on Signal Issues
