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All posts tagged "antenna"


Monday, February 28, 2011

Buy Verizon iPhone 4, No Wait...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/arti...ntenna_problem/

"The Verizon iPhone 4 has the same antenna attenuation problems that the original AT&T model suffered from, according to Consumer Reports. The magazine said on Friday that just as with the GSM version of the iPhone, users can cause a drop in signal strength on the device if they bridge the gap in the outer band with their fingers."

When the Verizon iPhone 4 came out, and iFixIt did their magic, Consumer Reports said the design changes led them to recommend the Verizon iPhone 4. Now comes word that they cannot recommend it due to the same antenna issues, issues that every phone has, depending on how you hold it. Whatever, as the young kids say.


Friday, December 3, 2010

HTC Antennae Problem? No Problem Apparently...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "The Competition" @ 11:00 AM

http://www.insignificantthoughts.co...s-theyre-right/

"Remember Antennagate? The manufactured controversy that no one I know who has an iPhone 4 was able to replicate? Where if you held a certain spot, the phone would lose all reception? Steve Jobs noted that all phones suffer from attenuation problems and showed video of multiple brands of phones failing when held the same way."

And since it is happening to their own handset, the HD7, it is apparently not a big deal according to HTC, which is quite a different tune they are singing in comparison to how they reacted to the iPhone 4 situation. To top it off, HTC having their own problems certainly isn't drawing the attention in the press that the iPhone 4 problems brought is it? Wonder what Consumer Reports will say about this?


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Consumer Reports Just Can't Let It Go...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 03:00 AM

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/arti..._reports_cries/

"Apple announced on Friday that it would end its free case program for the iPhone 4 on October 1st, and Consumer Reports has issued a statement condemning the move as unacceptable. The magazine iterated its decision to continue to not recommend the iPhone 4 until Apple issues a permanent fix for what it says are reception issues on the device."

This is ridiculous. In light of several articles about other phones that have similar issues (that don't offer free cases at all, or that would even be fixed by a free case), I find it silly that Consumer Reports is still beating this dead horse. Yes, on certain iPhone 4s ( but not mine or anyone I've talked to that own one) you can see some signal degradation, if you hold the iPhone in such an odd manner as to make it unlikely that it would happen to you. To me this speaks more of a saving face gesture than anything else by Consumer Reports. They have grabbed onto this antenna issue with both hands and now they are stuck defending their position. Consumer Reports has lost credibility in the past for other issues in my opinion, and this further decreases their relevance as an objective source for product reviews.


Monday, September 13, 2010

Apple Ending Free Case Program, Or Are They?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 11:59 AM

http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-endi...w+(Cult+of+Mac)

"All good things must come to an end, and now that Apple has largely put the fires out on the public relations nightmare of Antennagate, they'll be ending their free iPhone 4 case program come September 30th... unless you complain loud enough."

According to Apple the program ends September 30th, but for those iPhone 4 purchasers that still haven't ordered one and are still having problems, you can contact Apple Care and request one. So it's ending, at least the automatic issuance of a case portion of this program. If you decide you want one, you can still order one.


Monday, July 19, 2010

66% of Current iPhone Users are Delaying Purchase on the iPhone 4

Posted by Joe Johaneman in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 06:30 AM

http://www.mactech.com/2010/07/16/i...buying-iphone-4

"International Data Corporation (IDC) fielded a brief directional survey done in collaboration with the IDG TechPanel that seeks to provide insight into the impact the technical problems with the Apple iPhone 4 will have on the buying behavior of those in the market for a new phone."

According to the survey, 66% of current iPhone users are delaying the purchase of an iPhone 4 due to reports of the antenna issue. The survey also found that the same issue doesn't seem to be affecting the purchase of the iPhone 4 by non-iPhone owners. 74% of non-iPhone users are not delaying their purchasing plans. As someone who just purchased an iPhone 4 (it'll be here in 7 to 14 days), coming from the Nexus One, I can honestly say that I didn't decide to buy the iPhone 4 until I felt that Apple had made things right. In my opinion, Apple has done that. I know not everyone agrees with me on that, so I'd love to hear what you think. Are you delaying the purchase of an iPhone 4 due to the antenna issue?


Here is What $100 Million Buys

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.edibleapple.com/apple-hi...+(Edible+Apple)

"During Apple's iPhone 4 press conference this past Friday, one of the points Steve Jobs drove home again and again was the fact that Apple subjects each successive iPhone to an extensive and lengthy testing process in state of the art testing facilities."

The test lab was roughly $100 million USD investment by Apple, and includes 17 anechoic chambers. These chambers are rooms that prohibit the reflection of waves, so the testing is virtually interference free so the measurements are more accurate. The video is only about a minute and a half and is pretty interesting. Apple released this after the press conference on the ongoing saga of the antenna problems with the iPhone 4.


Friday, July 16, 2010

How About a Free Case From Apple?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple News" @ 12:16 PM

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...one-and-all.ars

"After days of being pilloried for the iPhone 4's antenna problems, Apple CEO Steve Jobs took to the stage in Cupertino, California to respond."

Image Credit: CNET

And he responded with an offer most won't refuse: a free case or bumper. Starting at the end of next week you will be able to go online and submit your request at Apple for a bumper or another approved case, and if you already purchased a bumper you can apply for a refund.

Read more...


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Will ColorWare's Paint Job Fix the iPhone 4's Antenna Problems?

Posted by Joe Johaneman in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 06:30 AM

http://www.cultofmac.com/colorware-...-of-death/50780

"The guys at ColorWare will take pretty much any gadget under the sun and dip it into a couple of cans of Pantone-coded paint for you. No surprise, then, that they’re now applying their multi-chromatic treatment to the iPhone 4."

There's some speculation that this might fix the iPhone 4 reception issues. ColorWare is still doing testing to determine if the custom paint job will make any difference on reception. Even if it doesn't, this is still a cool way to differentiate your phone from everybody else's black or white phone. It'll cost you $250 to color your iPhone 4, and once they receive it, it'll take about 3 weeks for them to color it and ship it back. Expect to hear more from ColorWare if their process fixes the antenna issues.


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

It's the End of the World for Apple! or Not, Depending on What You Believe I Suppose...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 01:40 PM

"With the iPhone 4's reception problems now out in the open, as a result of a Consumer Reports test, Apple will be forced to do a recall, says Wayne State University's Prof. Matthew Seeger. A specialist in crisis communications, Seeger argues that Apple's reputation is at stake. "It's critically important. The brand image is the most important thing Apple has. This is potentially devastating," he remarks."

Even the guys from Top Gear are making subtle references to the iPhone 4 "Grip of Death" as it has been called, so it really has gotten legs. But for someone such as the Professor Seeger to say a recall is in order is a bit much in my opinion.

Read more...


Thursday, July 1, 2010

Antenna Issue on iPhone 4, Hardware or Software?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 06:00 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._engineers.html

"An iPhone user demonstrated in a Vimeo video that cupping the phone to cause its signal bar to reach zero did not have a discernible effect on the actual quality of the call, suggesting that phone's software may be excessively sensitive in reporting signal drop."

I haven't had any dropped calls, or degradation in the call quality on any of the calls I've made on my iPhone 4, but there appear to be some issues. And coincidentally, Apple is hiring some engineers with expertise in this issue. So is there really a problem or, as the video suggests, is it sensitive software and much ado about nothing? What are your thoughts? Has anyone experienced problems with call quality?


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