DailyTech - UPDATE: Apple Holds Firm on iPhone 4 Reception Issues; Claims Performance is Normal

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Gadgets UPDATE: Apple Holds Firm on iPhone 4 Reception Issues; Claims Performance is Normal
Brandon Hill (Blog) - June 30, 2010 8:23 AM

79 comment(s) - last by oside.. on Jul 5 at 12:21 AM

Correct procedure for achieving perfect reception with an iPhone 4?

Apple basically says "deal with it" or get a case

Apple doesn't appear to be giving up any ground on the issues surrounding reception with itshot-selling iPhone 4. Many have reported issues with the phone losing bars (which leads to dropped calls and neutered internet speeds) with some even posting on YouTube to voice their frustrations.

Steve Jobs first suggested that users need to adjust the way they hold the phone to improve reception and Apple later released an official statement which noted that all phones can suffer from reception problems.

Now, however, Boy Genius Report has secured an internal Apple memo which describes to Apple Store employees how to deal with customers that come in with problems. In typical Apple fashion, the memo starts off by praising the iPhone 4, stating, "The iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. Our testing shows that iPhone 4’s overall antenna performance is better than iPhone 3GS."

The memo goes on to say that, "If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 4, avoid covering the black strip in the lower-left corner of the metal band." The problem with that suggestion is that for many people who hold their phone in their left hand, your palm naturally rests on black strip that Apple references.

The memo also notes that no warranty work will be performed for iPhone 4's that are afflicted with reception problems and echoes earlier statements that customers should use a case to alleviate the problem.

For customers hoping to get a free case out as a result of these reception problems, Apple has an answer for you:

We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

Updated 6/30/2010 @ 8:23 am

Engadget is reporting that Apple is now hiring Antenna Engineers for the iPhone/iPad. Coincidence?

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Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/2010 5:43:48 PM , Rating: 5

"Now just hang on and I'll pull another excuse out of my ass."

RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By amanojaku on 6/29/2010 6:07:13 PM , Rating: 4

I thought he was demonstrating iTheft, a magical new way of gaining access to consumers' wallets.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By rs1 on 6/29/2010 7:12:45 PM , Rating: 5

That's not new. Apple has been using iTheft for years now.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By amanojaku on 6/29/2010 7:19:45 PM , Rating: 5

Since when does Apple "create" anything that hasn't already existed in some form or another?

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/2010 7:48:11 PM , Rating: 3

Some time in the 70s, when they did, for all intents and purposes, invent the personal computer.

All downhill since sometime in the mid 80s though.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By amanojaku on 6/29/2010 8:30:05 PM , Rating: 5

Not true. The Apple I debuted in 1976 and still required assembly. You didn't have to solder the chips to the motherboard, but it wasn't a usable machine out of the box. The Apple II in 1977 was Apple's first fully-assembled PC.

The Micral N was the first fully-assembled PC, sold in 1973. The Commodore PET was the first "true" PC, including som sold in January 1977, three months ahead of the Apple II.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/10, Rating: 0

RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By radesix on 6/29/2010 9:05:05 PM , Rating: 5

Actually the Xerox Alto was the first computer with a GUI. Developed in early 1973 by Xerox.

Xerox also created the first mouse.

Apple wasn't the first to play this game.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/10, Rating: 0

RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By frobizzle on 6/30/10, Rating: 0

RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Jedi2155 on 6/30/2010 8:58:01 PM , Rating: 2

The original point you responded to was that Apple merely recreated and made popular something that already existed. You were arguing otherwise stating that Apple invented the Home PC while they merely created/expanded the market and many others had in fact designed/invented the home PC before Apple.

Clearly you were wrong with your original response. Apples primary credit is its ability to make geek interests into something the rest of the world wants.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By amanojaku on 6/29/2010 9:35:58 PM , Rating: 4

I understood you the first time, and you're still wrong. You said Apple "invented" the personal computer. The PC has changed since its introduction, but Apple never invented anything. The first PCs were used by scientists and mathematicians, and the Apple I was no exception. Funny thing is no one was really interested in the Apple I; it sold less than 500 (some say ~200) units total.

Commodore, on the other hand, was back-ordered for years and couldn't make PETs fast enough to sell. It's initial shipment was 100 units! That continued with the VIC-20 (the first PC to sell 1 million units) and iconic 64. Just like today Apple was selling the I at prices far higher than any comparable system, and other manufacturers benefited.

It was VisiCalc (1979) that made the PC a home staple, and indirectly made the Apple II a hit. IBM didn't give a crap about Apple; IBM wanted its own version of VisiCalc, and since it didn't have a PC it made one, and loaded it with Lotus 1-2-3. That, and the clones, including Excel, killed VisiCalc and made the x86 the de facto PC.

If it wasn't for the success of VisiCalc Apple's hardware, in some cases twice as expensive as the Tandy's and Commodores of the world, would have dug it an early grave.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/10, Rating: 0

RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By mcnabney on 6/29/2010 10:44:02 PM , Rating: 3

You apparently didn't pay attention in the 70/80s.

The Commodore line (vic20, 64,128) beat out the Apple line (1,2,2e,2c,2gs) in both sales and software titles sold. I am sure your parents had the money to pop $2k for a 2e, but the Commodores had more sales.

/owned Apple 2e, Commodore 64, and Amiga2000 before going Windows.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/29/2010 11:33:51 PM , Rating: 2

No, I learned BASIC on a II or IIe in 5th grade.

At home, had a C-64. And then had an Amiga 500. Then finally had a Wintel box.

Are you sure about Commodore stuff beating out the Apple stuff of that era? Doesn't seem right - but maybe that's just because they stuffed our schools with Apples.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By amanojaku on 6/30/2010 12:08:35 AM , Rating: 1

Apple stuffed all the schools with their systems. Educational discounts were the bulk of Apple's sales at one time. The first system I used was an Apple II in elementary school (wrote a space invaders clone in BASIC), but I never saw a Mac in use outside of an educational institution until I was an adult. Apple lost the desktop war to MS way before Windows 3.1, believe it or not.

It was the introduction of the Mac in 1984 that paved the way way for Apple's niche: desktop publishing. And that didn't happen until the 90's, when Mac sales finally beat II sales. Apple couldn't generate enough corporate sales due to its high pricing because businesses want everything cheap, and the x86 was the only platform that delivered a budget desktop. Apple's marketing convinced graphic designers that the GUI justified the pricing. So graphic designers and artists in general made up the second largest group of Apple consumers.

Not only did Commodore beat Apple, it beat everyone. The VIC-20 was the first PC to sell 1M units (available for five years), and the 64 sold over 15M (some sources claim 30M, over 12 years). The Apple II (all of them) managed >5M units over 15 years!!!

To add insult to injury, nearly everyone else who made a PC at that time sold more units than Apple.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By theapparition on 6/30/2010 9:34:22 AM , Rating: 2

Yep,
Another trip down memory lane. My first CAD system was on an Apple 2e in high school with a custom metal joystick that wasn't as accurate as an atari's but weighed more than a brick.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By mellomonk on 6/30/2010 6:22:10 PM , Rating: 2

Well there is more to history then raw numbers. Then, as now, Apple was battling far above their weight class in terms of mindshare. I had a Trash80 at the time, but me and my fellow geeks at the time all wanted an Apple IIs. Their community was so vibrate with active user groups and just a good deal going on. It was just to expensive for me at the time. The original Mac only widened that gap.

Later I went in a different and short lived direction with an Atari 1024ST. I thought I was living large! A Compaq 386 next graced my desk, but I still watched the Mac community with some envy. Finally bought a Mac Quadra in 94 and have been swinging both ways ever since. Then as now, it was the community of users that may the experience of using it great.

As to Commodore. Every one and their brother had a VIC-20. But most were treated like a game console. Once the novelty wore off they collected dust, though they were often the gateway drug for many a future computer geek. The Amiga on the other hand had some lust to it.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By mcnabney on 6/30/2010 8:20:04 PM , Rating: 2

Commodore outsold Apple by a small amount in the US, but did even better overseas.
No wonder, they cost less than half as much and did the same things.

/I learned LOGO/LISP, BASIC, and Pascal on a 2e with a whopping 128k of RAM

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By Motoman on 6/30/10, Rating: -1

By Motoman on 6/30/2010 12:10:16 AM , Rating: -1

Shurely you wouldn't disagree with the mighty Wikipedia - from their Apple II topic:

quote:
The Apple II series of computers had an enormous impact on the technology industry and on everyday life. The Apple II was the first personal computer many people ever saw, and its price was within the reach of many middle-class families. Its popularity bootstrapped the entire computer game and educational software markets and began the boom in the word processor and computer printer markets. The first microcomputer "killer app" for business was VisiCalc, the earliest spreadsheet, and it ran first on the Apple II; many businesses bought Apple II's just to run VisiCalc, because it was the only spreadsheet available at the time. Apple's success in the home market inspired competitive home computers such as the VIC-20 (1980) and Commodore 64 (1982, with estimated sales between 17 and 25 million units). Through their significantly lower price point, these models introduced the computer to several tens of millions more home users. The success of the Apple II in business spurred IBM to create the IBM PC

That is basically the sentiment I have been, apparently, failing to describe.

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By AlexWade on 6/29/2010 8:47:46 PM , Rating: 5

This is what I thought when looking at Steve Jobs' picture:

"This is the proper way to hold iPhone 4."

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RE: Caption for that Jobs image...

By oside on 7/5/2010 12:21:27 AM , Rating: 2

Come on! This issue is nothing to considered. Loss of lives at the place where iPhone cellphones are made is not even an issue to consider . Why do you think Apple cares about this issue?

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Hah

By Ard on 6/29/2010 7:19:52 PM , Rating: 5

Looks like they banned me over at the Apple forums for posting this:

I'm very tempted to return my iPhone 4 back to Apple and give my money to a company that actually cares about its consumers. What am I talking about? Apple's official stance regarding the phone's reception issue, which is that there aren't any reception issues. From an internal Apple memo:

1. Keep all of the positioning statements in the BN handy – your tone when delivering this information is important.

a. The iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. Our testing shows that iPhone 4’s overall antenna performance is better than iPhone 3GS.

b. Gripping almost any mobile phone in certain places will reduce its reception. This is true of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, and many other phones we have tested. It is a fact of life in the wireless world.

c. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 3GS, avoid covering the bottom-right side with your hand.

d. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 4, avoid covering the black strip in the lower-left corner of the metal band.

e. The use of a case or Bumper that is made out of rubber or plastic may improve wireless performance by keeping your hand from directly covering these areas.

2. Do not perform warranty service. Use the positioning above for any customer questions or concerns.

3. Don’t forget YOU STILL NEED to probe and troubleshoot. If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held) it is not the metal band.

4. ONLY escalate if the issue exists when the phone is not held AND you cannot resolve it.

5. We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/06/29/leaked-a...

http://www.dailytech.com/Apple+Holds+Firm+on+iPhon...

Sorry, Steve, but that is a completely UNACCEPTABLE way to treat someone who just dropped anywhere from $200-600 on your company's product. You are now blatantly disregarding a manufacturing defect that you initially acknowledged in a prior email, and that your company previously acknowledged as well, to the detriment of Apple's customers.

Given that I have 14 days to return this phone, I'm seriously considering doing just that this Friday. The only way a company like Apple realizes how wrong they are is by losing money/sales. It's gotta start somewhere and it might as well be with me.

Enjoy the lawsuits, Apple, and congratulations on tarnishing what was once a great smartphone brand.

RE: Hah

By Motoman on 6/29/2010 7:49:33 PM , Rating: 5

...it was never a great smartphone brand. The problem is that Apple consumers never realized that before.

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RE: Hah

By awer26 on 6/29/2010 10:04:24 PM , Rating: 5

I love how hey throw the 3GS comment in there (1c) as if to show that all phones have this problem. I have a 3GS and tried covering the bottom right corner in every way possible (even w/ in foil) with no change in reception. It's an actual issue with the iPhone 4 - fix it Apple!

On a side note, it really ticks me off that they even acknowledge the bumper but repeat that "we ARE NOT" giving away a 10 cent bumper to fix their $600 phone that we JUST sold them.

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RE: Hah

By MartyLK on 6/29/10, Rating: -1

RE: Hah

By frobizzle on 6/30/2010 9:38:14 AM , Rating: 1

Nice try at trolling, moron.

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RE: Hah

By Smilin on 6/30/2010 12:15:32 AM , Rating: 5

quote:
Given that I have 14 days to return this phone, I'm seriously considering doing just that this Friday.

No you're not.

They called that bluff when they banned you.

You and 1.7mil other sheep will take your medicine, like it, and stand in line for the iPhone 5.

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RE: Hah

By Pirks on 6/30/10, Rating: 0

RE: Hah

By PAPutzback on 6/30/2010 9:42:07 AM , Rating: 3

So a guy who makes millions a year sticks with a POS iPhone3 hoping the next version would be better. He must have got a good deal from Apple. Probably free phones for the crew or some crap.

When the WII controllers were going thru TVs all you had to do was make a phone call or go online and get your free gel cover. Which I guarantee cost more than a plastic case that would fix the iPhone 4 problem.

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RE: Hah

By Pirks on 6/30/2010 10:33:53 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
He must have got a good deal from Apple

Says the guy who's got a good deal from Google/Nokia/MS. Kettle meet the pot eh? :P

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RE: Hah

By The0ne on 6/30/2010 12:23:24 PM , Rating: 3

My two coworkers here are a prime example of what you've just described. One is a senior software engineer and the other is our VP of engineering. They both each have their own iphone.

They complain about the phone, especially the crappy reception, and always talk and dream of the day when a new iphone will be release to fix these issues.

These are Intelligent people and they are great. But having to see this charade is just mind boggling. Sales and Marketing is that powerful :)

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RE: Hah

By Belard on 6/30/2010 11:31:13 PM , Rating: 2

I don't own any Apple products...

But I was debating between the iPhone4 and the EVO-4G. And with Anandtechs review - it still kind of makes it tough.

I love the look of the iPhone4 over any phone and the screen is clearly the best, period. The battery kills anything else on the market. BUT I do like the more powerful abilities of the EVO... but as also shown such Android phones are sluggish. UGH!

Apple SHOULD have fixed this problem by simply putting on a coating, might have added about 25 cents to the cost of each phone.

I'm right handed, when I'm texting or using the phone I have now - its in my left hand - palm, as shown in the picture above. But according to Anandtech, the person has to grip the phone TIGHTLY to produce these results.

So... I guess I'll wait another year before I move to a SmartPhone.

- Apple makes the iPhone 4G (whatever) which fixes their issues or
- There are Android phones with "Retina display" tech and more battery time.

I'm not sold on either phone... but I'm leaning towards the EVO, but don't/cant use a Sprint account in my city. I'm in AT&T country.

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RE: Hah

By VooDooAddict on 7/1/2010 8:02:29 PM , Rating: 2

What's with the considering? Just do it.

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Steve Jobs

By daveinternets on 6/29/2010 5:33:51 PM , Rating: 5

is an arrogant prick.

RE: Steve Jobs

By Ard on 6/29/2010 6:12:20 PM , Rating: 4

Cue the lawsuits in 3...2...1...

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RE: Steve Jobs

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 6/29/2010 6:12:49 PM , Rating: 5

Already started ;)

http://www.kcrlegal.com/iPhone-reception-problems....

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RE: Steve Jobs

By mikerick on 6/29/10, Rating: -1

RE: Steve Jobs

By Motoman on 6/29/2010 7:47:21 PM , Rating: 5

...as opposed to the scum-sucking manufacturer trying to peddle a woefully crappy product to a woefully gullible market?

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RE: Steve Jobs

By afkrotch on 6/29/2010 8:38:05 PM , Rating: 2

Lawyers aren't the ones going to court for this. It's the ppl who happen to buy the product, find out something is broken, then hire a lawyer. I don't blame the lawyer. I blame the ppl for hiring the lawyer.

For this case though, I blame the company for putting out a shit product.

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RE: Steve Jobs

By bighairycamel on 6/30/2010 11:17:49 AM , Rating: 2

Their statement linked on that page is a good read. Pretty damning evidence if true.

http://www.kcrlegal.com/KCR-speaks-about-iPhone-4-...

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RE: Steve Jobs

By frobizzle on 6/30/2010 9:22:56 AM , Rating: 3

There is a legal precedent called "Implied Warranty of Merchantability" which essentially means that a product should perform the function for which it was designed.

In this case (and other, too!) Apple has failed with their workaround of requiring the holding of the phone only in a certain manner. As this is not necessary on the myriad of other phones on the market, Apple is in violation of this warranty.

However, the dumbass Apple gerbils will continue to buy it, even if Lord Jobs tells them the only to make it work is to shove up their arsehole.

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RE: Steve Jobs

By kmmatney on 6/29/2010 6:30:30 PM , Rating: 3

They should at least offer the bumpers for free, instead of charging $30. I would personally use a case anyways, but this still reeks of arrogance. I wonder if they charge a "restocking" fee for returning the phone for this issue.

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I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By Daniel8uk on 6/29/2010 5:45:05 PM , Rating: 2

I'm guessing quite a few people will be returning their phone after hearing that.

I know I certainly would ;)

RE: I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By theapparition on 6/29/2010 5:55:04 PM , Rating: 2

Don't count on it. Apple faithful are anything but fickle when it comes to the Jesus phone. I'm sure there are some lefties trying to go righty as we speak.

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RE: I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By mmntech on 6/29/2010 6:37:50 PM , Rating: 2

I'll say it. I love Apple's products but they've been producing some crap lately. iOS4 doesn't work properly with the 3G and the iPhone 4 is flawed as hell. I won't be buying it.

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RE: I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By Sazar on 6/30/2010 2:53:27 AM , Rating: 2

This is where things like fragmentation of their market would have been fine. The 3G cannot handle iOS4, while it worked perfectly fine with 3.xx. After upgrading, my phone ran a lot slower and didn't really benefit functionally. No need to have pushed the OS out if it was going to slow down the phone that much even while disabling a bunch of features.

With regards to the new phone, it is actually pretty good for what it is. A lot of the flaws of the 3 and 3GS have been resolved but with the death grip issue and the pathetic response to the public's demanding an answer, we have just seen more PR cover-ups.

It may have worked if there was less publicity but I am hoping this is a wake-up call for Apple that aesthetics are not all and perception DOES matter.

Look at Dell. Even today they suffer the public stigma of their customer support faux-pas many years ago.

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RE: I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By robinthakur on 7/1/2010 7:43:11 AM , Rating: 2

Erm, I own an Iphone4 and would have to say that this issue does not appear to affect it and has been somewhat blown out of all proportion on the internet. Whilst I can bridge both sides of the antennae, after about a minute or two the reception bars attentuate and go down a bit, but I've never dropped a call in actual usage. From what you read about the issue I would expect to be dropping calls all the time and having slow data speeds etc, so I would say that much like the overheating iPads and iPad WiFi signal issues, this is perhaps a case of internet hysteria.

The reception is actually far better than my old 3GS, 3G and 2G which were tbh not all that great :) Its certainly not "flawed as hell" because that's patently not the case, its far better than the 3GS on every level and the screen and cameras are simply amazing. Its the best phone for me hands down, and I did look at Android this time round, but the aesthetics just weren't there in either the OS or the devices, and you can't get Grindr for it.

Now this might be different if your hands are sweaty (i.e. you live in a hot climate) but in the UK it seems fine. I do think Apple should ship you a bumper of your choice and not try and nickel and dime the people who's word of mouth and recommendation made all the difference to sales of the iPhone in the past. They are probably trying to avoid a recall a la Microsoft with the 360, but the fact that they put the join in antennae so near where you might logically hold it is frankly a dumb design call and whoever failed to spot that should lose their job or be sent to Siberia. Hmmm. Can't comment on the 3G iOS4 not working correctly, haven't heard anything about that.

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RE: I hope they have a lot of storage space...

By LobsterDK on 6/29/2010 6:47:43 PM , Rating: 1

The frothing loyalists are a minority of Apple's customers. This is getting worse and worse for Apple. Wake the fuck up Apple... this is turning into a death spiral.

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all you ever need to know about reader 1

By inperfectdarkness on 6/29/2010 9:52:17 PM , Rating: 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg

RE: all you ever need to know about reader 1

By frobizzle on 6/30/2010 9:47:14 AM , Rating: 2

...and Pirks, too!

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RE: all you ever need to know about reader 1

By bighairycamel on 6/30/2010 11:32:50 AM , Rating: 2

Wow I laughed my ass off. Hilarious!

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RE: all you ever need to know about reader 1

By The0ne on 6/30/2010 2:06:10 PM , Rating: 2

Yea, pretty funny. Reminds me of my Amiga days...the voices that is is hahahah

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That might explain...

By GoodBytes on 6/29/2010 5:39:08 PM , Rating: 5

I wonder, if this problem might explain why the iPhone 4 was unable to connect to the internet at Steve Jobs press conference during the unveiling of this new iPhone, while the 3GS seamed to connect just fine in his side-by-side web browser comparison demo.

RE: That might explain...

By LobsterDK on 6/29/2010 6:46:00 PM , Rating: 2

Not intending to be rude here; Do you know how many times that has been said since thursday? :)

He was using WiFi in the keynote, not 3G. WiFi doesn't appear to be effected.

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RE: That might explain...

By Sazar on 6/30/2010 2:48:49 AM , Rating: 2

Yah, I have been able to see signal degradation on my iPhone4 using the death grip (usually only loses 2 bars), but have yet to see any issues with wi-fi, under G or N networks.

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This is what happens

By masamasa on 6/29/2010 6:18:40 PM , Rating: 3

This is what happens when a company with a bloated ego gets too large. The response to a problem is that it doesn't exist to begin with. Eventually they come around when consumers start jumping ship, but not before a chunk of market share is lost.

We'll see how the Apple story plays out over the next few years. If they continue down the current path I think it'll come back and bite them in the ass.

RE: This is what happens

By bplewis24 on 6/30/2010 9:20:08 AM , Rating: 4

I have a different take. Sure, Apple's response reeks of their own arrogance, but IMO this is what happens when you have a hardcore loyalist fanbase of sheep that will buy any product you sell--no matter how it stacks up to the competition--and then only sing its praises and never denounce its flaws.

You see, Apple can afford to take this arrogant, condescending stance because they know the overwhelming majority of their customers will NOT return their phones and will NOT cry to the high heavens about this issue.

Haven't you seen all of the Apple Apologists on this site and CNet.com continually pretending that there IS NO issue and that "all you have to do" is buy a bumper for it and "it's not that big of a deal, it's still a great phone"? Doesn't that sound familiar?

Apple has taken it's cue straight from their consumers this time. At first they acknowledged the issue, but after seeing their customers (lack of a) response, all of a sudden they are taking a hard-line stance that there is no defect (even though there clearly is) and nothing will be done about it.

I say the consumers are getting what they deserve, until they actually stand up for themselves and show some backbone.

Brandon

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Not an issue!

By chenjf on 6/29/2010 6:18:29 PM , Rating: 3

It's a feature!

RE: Not an issue!

By fsardis on 6/30/2010 12:11:03 PM , Rating: 2

It is a feature!!

Imagine this scenario:

On a bad call from work/wife/mother/father/brother/sister: touch the antenna and BOOM! Call dropped. And they will never know you hang up the phone because this little trick will give perfect bad signal symptoms to cover up your sneaky tactics. So you can get off the hook (temporarily at least) without any side-effects.

I'm gonna buy one now. Best invention since the first mobile phone.

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Spread the word

By LobsterDK on 6/29/2010 6:42:47 PM , Rating: 3

I've sent a news tip to several mainstream press sites (NYT, CNN, etc.). Everybody needs to do this. Word needs to spread about this one, fast and furious.

"now hiring Antenna Engineers"

By Motoman on 6/30/2010 9:59:22 AM , Rating: 3

Oh that is so classic.

AFTER they deliver the phone with the worst design flaw ever, somebody realizes "hey, maybe we should, you know, hire some people who know what they're doing."

Although I'm not sure what difference it makes. Apple will still sell all of them that they can make. If the phone was toxic to humans such that it killed on contact, it would seem that, somehow, the replacement rate of said humans would still be great enough for Apple to sell millions of them.

Form over functionality

By christo90210 on 6/29/2010 6:50:07 PM , Rating: 2

10/10 on the design brief
0/10 on functional implementation

At least you can play music on it .. ah .. is it an iPod that looks like a phone .. nice

good luck

By Help Desk on 6/29/2010 11:17:04 PM , Rating: 2

I hope all goes well for all those who purchased this phone. I am still having doubts with buying it.

I actually lol'd

By TheSev on 6/30/2010 7:48:38 AM , Rating: 2

That Steve Jobs image with the caption about the proper stance for holding the iPhone just -made my day-.

I see...

By Digimonkey on 6/30/2010 9:27:55 AM , Rating: 2

So there is nothing wrong with the design, Apple just wanted to sell more bumpers. Win!

Thanx Steve Jobs

By Malik99 on 6/30/2010 9:56:03 AM , Rating: 2

Thanx to Steve Job, We have just learnt that our way of holding cell phones ( which most of us are doing for last 8-10 years) is not correct. Also our left ear is not for listening cellular calls. Another improvement for the human living standards. All praise to Mighty Jobs.

Anandtech Analysis

By Yangorang on 6/30/2010 10:08:36 AM , Rating: 2

Anand has a nice little analysis of these issues up now:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-re...

don't worry

By Maroon on 6/30/2010 11:44:26 AM , Rating: 2

The "S" model will be out in a few months. It's gonna be way better than the iPhone4!

just wondering

By Suntan on 6/30/2010 12:12:31 PM , Rating: 2

So inside Apple HQ, do you think Jobs actually pulled the fingernails out of the sorry engineer, that got stuck with the blame for this antenna mess, personally? Or do you think he stood over the engineer and pi$$ed on him while someone else pulled out the fingernails?

-Suntan