iPhone 4 Antenna Debacle?

This doesn't seem to be going away, a report published yesterday has reignited interest in the issue;

Consumer Reports Electronics Blog: Lab tests: Why Consumer Reports can't recommend the iPhone 4

Apparently Apple are removing any reference to this report from their forums;

Apple iPhone forums gripped by deleted thread paranoia ? The Register

Can any iPhone 4 users replicate this problem, or is it a load of media hype?

Originally Posted by brownie

Can any iPhone 4 users replicate this problem, or is it a load of media hype?

<screwdriver>It's all media hype. A few clumsy people who hold the phone in the most awkward position possible have found a small discrepancy between the actual signal strength and the reported signal strength.

Big Job said it works fine and it's only stupid people who are having a problem. That's good enough for me and quite frankly it should be good enough for everybody.

Nothing to see here. Move along please.</screwdriver>

I think it's difficult to ascertain exactly how big the problem is...

As the Register said yesterday (or was it Engadget?), if it really was a widespread problem then there'd be considerably more noise from actual users. Till now it's mainly been a few websites discussing the issue and the usual legal vultures in the States trying to persuade people they have a problem. The users themselves seem pretty content in the main.

It could be that there's a real issue affecting (some?) handsets to a greater or lesser degree or it could be that Apple's claim of it merely being a software bug in the actual displayed signal strength is true. I really don't know.

FWIW, I have two handsets here at work and have tried everything I can to make the signal drop but can't at all. They sit on full strength at all times despite some fairly aggressive cradling That said, I've not used them out and about much so don't have much real-world experience. Another guy has had his own since launch. He reckons he may have dropped some calls, but like in most examples, that doesn't necessarily prove Apple is wrong in their claim. Though it could.

The other scenario, also much discussed, is that the problem is real, but fairly slight and affects other phones just as much. Apple are now at the stage where any problem they have is exaggerated wildly by the press because they're such a big name. I can promise you that if someone found a virus in MP3 files tomorrow then the headlines would only mention iPods.

The interesting thing is that the whole Consumer Reports thing is a bit of a debacle in itself. As widely reported, they wrote an article claiming they 'can't recommend it' and yet actually do. They claim elsewhere in reviews that it's the best smartphone available and give it a very recommendable score

Originally Posted by Slenver

The other scenario, also much discussed, is that the problem is real, but fairly slight and affects other phones just as much.

That's not the 'other scenario' though i.e. either it doesn't exist or it is small AND affects other phones just as much.

Other phones don't tend to have the conducting elements of their antennas exposed. Now I'm not an antenna expert, though I did study antenna theory as part of my degree, but having the 2 antennas exposed around the edge of a phone whereby they can be 'bridged' by skin contact doesn't seem good (RF) design.

Apple are now at the stage where any problem they have is exaggerated wildly by the press because they're such a big name. I can promise you that if someone found a virus in MP3 files tomorrow then the headlines would only mention iPods.

You start off well and then end up wildly exaggerating!
I should imagine that a malicious virus would be more newsworthy if it started wiping peoples PC hard drives than their iPods.

The interesting thing is that the whole Consumer Reports thing is a bit of a debacle in itself. As widely reported, they wrote an article claiming they 'can't recommend it' and yet actually do. They claim elsewhere in reviews that it's the best smartphone available and give it a very recommendable score

Like Top Gear with the Lambo Gallardo.
It's the best everyday supercar currently available but unfortunately it also bursts into flames...alledgedly.

Originally Posted by Kneerly Down

That's not the 'other scenario' though i.e. either it doesn't exist or it is small AND affects other phones just as much.

Other phones don't tend to have the conducting elements of their antennas exposed. Now I'm not an antenna expert, though I did study antenna theory as part of my degree, but having the 2 antennas exposed around the edge of a phone whereby they can be 'bridged' by skin contact doesn't seem good (RF) design.

I see your point and don't fully understand the technology of course. I can see how this design is more susceptible and it's part of the point, but as has been mentioned before, it's not like other phones don't have the same warnings about signal loss depending on how you hold them. I guess it's just exaggerated on this designed with the exterior antennas.

Originally Posted by Kneerly Down

You start off well and then end up wildly exaggerating!
I should imagine that a malicious virus would be more newsworthy if it started wiping peoples PC hard drives than their iPods.

Ah, but you're embellishing with details you invented in your mind though! What if the virus only affected portable music players as it does in my mind?

OK, wasn't a great example but you know what I meant Better example then - playing music too loud through headphones can fuck your ears. True story, true example... and I only remember seeing iPods mentioned.

Originally Posted by Kneerly Down

Like Top Gear with the Lambo Gallardo.
It's the best everyday supercar currently available but unfortunately it also bursts into flames...alledgedly.

That's not a bug, that's a feature. Frankly, if my supercar isn't at risk of bursting into flames then I'm not interested.

Managers son just called him in the office, dropped call, Manager called him back, dropped call.

He got a 4 last week.

Originally Posted by brownie

Can any iPhone 4 users replicate this problem, or is it a load of media hype?

Someone on here reported the problem just after they came out, I can't remember who though.

Originally Posted by Slenver

Ah, but you're embellishing with details you invented in your mind though! What if the virus only affected portable music players as it does in my mind?

I'm not embellishing. I took what you wrote, even if that was not in your mind.

Originally Posted by Slenver

OK, wasn't a great example but you know what I meant Better example then - playing music too loud through headphones can fuck your ears. True story, true example... and I only remember seeing iPods mentioned.

They are probably suffering (although I'm sure it is to their benefit more than detriment) from having become the 'Hoover' of the PMP world. Doubt it was malicious in the reporting although it is a possibility, rather than a certainty.

That's not a bug, that's a feature. Frankly, if my supercar isn't at risk of bursting into flames then I'm not interested.

True!
Maybe Longbeard's manager's son wants the feeling of anarchy brought about by constantly dropping calls?

I am no Apple fanbois - quite the opposite. I don't like the Apple cult.

One of the guys in my office has one and let me play with it. I could not replicate the antenna problem despite trying!

Had my iPhone 4 since the day after it was released. I've yet to experience any signal drop, and I have deliberately tried to make it drop.

This isn't to say there isn't a problem with other people's devises, but mine appears fine at the moment. I don't have any urge to start a thread about this either.

Originally Posted by Slenver

I think it's difficult to ascertain exactly how big the problem is...

Indeed, it could be batch related it could be a storm in a tea cup, if Apple "fix" it I'd probably say not through.

You must also consider that it could be worse than it is due to the dedicated Applesta being willing to accept it and either hold it differently, not go into a low signal area or buy a case. bloody bonkers to me but if they're happy.......

Apple are now at the stage where any problem they have is exaggerated wildly by the press because they're such a big name

If they're happy to embrace the media attention to add no cost advertising to their launches they must also be prepaired for any blow back thay may or may not arise should something go boobies up

Edit: And yes you've gotta wonder why we needed another thread on this

Interesting article

Apple shares dip amid iPhone 4 recall uncertainty

For some strange reason R5 said they would be talking about this before lunch. Zilch. Most odd. I wonder why they pulled the plug?

The display is dodgy as well then, of dear. At this rate M$ will get a reputation for being more reliable than Apple*.



* OK that bits not likely especially with my recent experiences of MS.

Originally Posted by Kneerly Down

I'm not embellishing. I took what you wrote, even if that was not in your mind.

I made no mention of PCs or it affecting them though, you did. It's my imaginary virus, it'll do what I say. It only affects mp3 players.

Originally Posted by Kneerly Down

They are probably suffering (although I'm sure it is to their benefit more than detriment) from having become the 'Hoover' of the PMP world. Doubt it was malicious in the reporting although it is a possibility, rather than a certainty.

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest it's malicious. It's just how news works. If an HTC phone had a reception issue then it would make a 4-line story on page 14, but if it's an iPhone it's big news. I'm not apportioning blame, just saying that the bigger they get the less in proportion negative stories are.

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

Interesting article

Apple shares dip amid iPhone 4 recall uncertainty

It's actually a fairly shit article because the writer clearly doesn't understand what he's saying, which seems to be the norm in any mainstream reporting of tech news (I only read the BBC's tech articles when I fancy a laugh). There are two issues raised but I think he thinks they're the same one and flits between them. At one point he even mentions that tests have been done on the proximity sensor and found that the "screen is 'disabled' the closer to your head the phone is held". Er, well yes. That's what the proximity sensor's for! Anyway, that's unrelated to the signal loss thing.

Originally Posted by Mussels

The display is dodgy as well then, of dear. At this rate M$ will get a reputation for being more reliable than Apple*.

It does all seem a shame. The guy here with the phone says he has terrible problems with the proximity sensor issue... but not the signal loss one. The shame is that the hardware is fantastic and the fit and finish and build quality is superb - if there are serious problems with the design then it's a bit of a pisser.

Originally Posted by Slenver

I made no mention of PCs or it affecting them though, you did. It's my imaginary virus, it'll do what I say. It only affects mp3 players.

You made no mention of (dedicated - if an iPod fits that description) 'MP3 players' either