iPhone More iPhone 4 release woes! - Page 2

dorino · 06-24-2010, 01:25 PM

It's odd to me, as holding it right handed, as intended, a lot of the devices disconnect. That seems like it should of been seen before they started making them.

Also, congrats, Harry, because there are no more iPhone 4 in the UK.

http://bit.ly/cNjPTo

JSWolf · 06-24-2010, 01:29 PM

Can we please have the full link? Thanks.

jswinden · 06-24-2010, 03:12 PM

As a radio person I can state that anytime you touch the bare metal elements of any antenna you run a major risk of de-tuning the antenna. For Apple to design an exposed metal antenna, or parts thereof (elements) there must have been a complete lack of antenna knowledge by their engineers. Either that or they did it on purpose to sell those expensive rubber bands they call bumpers for $30! An antenna should be completely shielded from sweaty hands. I suspect that whether you hold it in your left hand or right hand the antenna loss is probably significant (5 to 10 dB) regardless of how many bars are arbitrarily displayed by the firmware. iphones are notoriously difficult to receive calls from (at least via AT&T). By that i mean if I receive a call from a person with an iPhone chances are high that I will have trouble hearing them. I don't seem to have that problem with non-iPhone phones. So this new one will probably be nearly impossible to receive calls from. Apple has a really slick device in the iPhone, but the actual cellular phone part is third rate.

Rique · 06-24-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please have the full link? Thanks.

Hi Jon,

That TinyURL resolves to:

http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-news...-globally.html

Glad you asked?

Seriously, why does it matter? Any website address can be spoofed. No URL is inherently "safe" (not trying to quibble, just curious about your reason for asking - thanks!)

-- Riq

badgoodDeb · 06-24-2010, 04:16 PM

Odd - I can't make my iphone4 lose reception. Maybe my fingers aren't moist enough right now. I'll have to try again later when I have lotion on them.

dorino · 06-24-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please have the full link? Thanks.

sorry, i copied the link from modmyi's twitter.

tyche · 06-24-2010, 07:56 PM

It likely depends on how good your reception is to start with.

I remember with my Touch, I bought one of those fancy skins. It was a really nice looking metallic face plate. Thing was when I put it on, my wifi signal went to like .5 bars. It took me a couple days to suspect that was the cause and sure enough, I peel it off and full strength...

dorino · 06-24-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyche

It likely depends on how good your reception is to start with.

I remember with my Touch, I bought one of those fancy skins. It was a really nice looking metallic face plate. Thing was when I put it on, my wifi signal went to like .5 bars. It took me a couple days to suspect that was the cause and sure enough, I peel it off and full strength...

wifi is a completely different animal.

tyche · 06-24-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorino

wifi is a completely different animal.

Just pointing out Apple's design issues. The iPhone has had numerous issues with their 3G and wifi people have reported poor signals, dropped calls ever since it came out. Some are certainly in the design but I was pointing out a simple skin can cause communication problems when many wouldn't think of it.

nikkie · 06-25-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's sure looking that way. It's actually not a practical problem - you just have to hold the phone by its sides only. Do that and it's fine. But I'm sure there'll be those who will make out that it's the end of the world

.

I'm rather surprised that it didn't show up in testing, because it's an immediately obvious effect. If you hold the phone by its edges, and then press your palm into the base of it, the signal slowly fades to absolutely nothing in about 15 sec. Take your palm away and it fades back in again to full strength in about the same time.

It did show up in testing. Why do you think they are selling the colorful bumpers?

HarryT · 06-25-2010, 02:32 AM

I've verified that if you hold the bottom left corner (the place that causes the problem) with something insulating, the problem doesn't occur, so any case or cover which insulates the stainless steel edge of the phone (the antenna) from the user's skin should fix it. Apple's rubber "bumpers" should work just fine. I'm going to go back to the Apple Store this evening and request a free "bumper" - I'm certainly not willing to pay to fix what's quite plainly a design flaw in the device.

dorino · 06-25-2010, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've verified that if you hold the bottom left corner (the place that causes the problem) with something insulating, the problem doesn't occur, so any case or cover which insulates the stainless steel edge of the phone (the antenna) from the user's skin should fix it. Apple's rubber "bumpers" should work just fine. I'm going to go back to the Apple Store this evening and request a free "bumper" - I'm certainly not willing to pay to fix what's quite plainly a design flaw in the device.

If they don't provide it, return (replace?) the device. No reason to have to put up with this.

HarryT · 06-25-2010, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorino

If they don't provide it, return (replace?) the device. No reason to have to put up with this.

It doesn't actually affect me personally because, being left-handed, I hold the phone in my right hand, so it's the bottom right corner of the phone that's in my palm. It's only when you hold the phone in your left hand (as a right-handed person would do) that you see the problem.

GeoffC · 06-25-2010, 05:39 AM

From a BBC link Here

"Quote .....

Apple has released official advice for iPhone 4 owners to overcome the problem of the device losing signal when held by the lower left corner.

Steve Jobs responded to a query about the problem from one owner by saying: "Just avoid holding it in that way."

The official advice is to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band".

Alternatively, said Apple, customers could buy a case to shield the antenna. ......"

All I can say is

Bremen Cole · 06-25-2010, 06:10 AM

@Geoffc - IF there is a design flaw, then Apple needs to provide a fix. Perhaps free "Rubber Band" things, or cases...... "avoid holding it that way" and "customers could buy a case" are down right offensive.....

06-24-2010, 03:12 PM	#18
jswinden Nameless Being	As a radio person I can state that anytime you touch the bare metal elements of any antenna you run a major risk of de-tuning the antenna. For Apple to design an exposed metal antenna, or parts thereof (elements) there must have been a complete lack of antenna knowledge by their engineers. Either that or they did it on purpose to sell those expensive rubber bands they call bumpers for $30! An antenna should be completely shielded from sweaty hands. I suspect that whether you hold it in your left hand or right hand the antenna loss is probably significant (5 to 10 dB) regardless of how many bars are arbitrarily displayed by the firmware. iphones are notoriously difficult to receive calls from (at least via AT&T). By that i mean if I receive a call from a person with an iPhone chances are high that I will have trouble hearing them. I don't seem to have that problem with non-iPhone phones. So this new one will probably be nearly impossible to receive calls from. Apple has a really slick device in the iPhone, but the actual cellular phone part is third rate. Last edited by jswinden; 06-24-2010 at 03:15 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Stylus Woes	MelC	Sony Reader	22	02-08-2010 01:16 PM
PRS-300 New Computer Woes	Aeiouna	Sony Reader	1	02-08-2010 05:56 AM
Lead time for Kindle book release ahead of print release date - experiences?	Buran	Amazon Kindle	6	05-04-2009 02:29 PM
Early adapter woes	DougFNJ	Sony Reader	17	07-25-2007 02:22 PM
More emdash woes	Patricia	Sony Reader	10	07-06-2007 04:32 PM

06-24-2010, 01:25 PM	#16
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	It's odd to me, as holding it right handed, as intended, a lot of the devices disconnect. That seems like it should of been seen before they started making them. Also, congrats, Harry, because there are no more iPhone 4 in the UK. http://bit.ly/cNjPTo

06-24-2010, 01:29 PM	#17
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,005 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can we please have the full link? Thanks.

06-24-2010, 04:16 PM	#20
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,539 Karma: 64201357 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Odd - I can't make my iphone4 lose reception. Maybe my fingers aren't moist enough right now. I'll have to try again later when I have lotion on them.

06-24-2010, 07:56 PM	#22
tyche Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 2530 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	It likely depends on how good your reception is to start with. I remember with my Touch, I bought one of those fancy skins. It was a really nice looking metallic face plate. Thing was when I put it on, my wifi signal went to like .5 bars. It took me a couple days to suspect that was the cause and sure enough, I peel it off and full strength...

06-25-2010, 02:32 AM	#26
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I've verified that if you hold the bottom left corner (the place that causes the problem) with something insulating, the problem doesn't occur, so any case or cover which insulates the stainless steel edge of the phone (the antenna) from the user's skin should fix it. Apple's rubber "bumpers" should work just fine. I'm going to go back to the Apple Store this evening and request a free "bumper" - I'm certainly not willing to pay to fix what's quite plainly a design flaw in the device.

06-25-2010, 05:39 AM	#29
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	From a BBC link Here "Quote ..... Apple has released official advice for iPhone 4 owners to overcome the problem of the device losing signal when held by the lower left corner. Steve Jobs responded to a query about the problem from one owner by saying: "Just avoid holding it in that way." The official advice is to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band". Alternatively, said Apple, customers could buy a case to shield the antenna. ......" All I can say is

06-25-2010, 06:10 AM	#30
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	@Geoffc - IF there is a design flaw, then Apple needs to provide a fix. Perhaps free "Rubber Band" things, or cases...... "avoid holding it that way" and "customers could buy a case" are down right offensive.....