An upcoming firmware patch to address what Apple is calling a miscalculation in the iPhone 4's signal-strength formula won't solve connection problems resulting from its innovative antenna design, the computer  giant admits. When problems first surfaced, Apple had said it was shocked by the math error.
"The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history," Apple said in an open letter. "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."
Bar Problems
While noting that every cellular phone, from previous iPhone models to the Android-powered Droid and Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices, loses signal strength depending on how they are held, Apple conceded that the iPhone 4's signal drops more than the usual amount. It blamed this on an incorrect formula that displayed the signal strength too high.
"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 four or five bars," Apple said. "Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place."
Apple said the problem will be resolved with an update using a formula recommended by AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone. The update will be available for all versions of the iPhone.
But this week Apple conceded in some e-mails that the problem apparently resulting from skin contact with the stainless-steel antenna that wraps vertically around the iPhone 4 will remain. The company has advised customers to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."
Videos mocking this flaw are being posted on the Internet, with one highlighting Apple CEO Steve Jobs' presentation of the iPhone 4 last month in which he cited the antenna design as "really cool engineering" that has "never been done before." Numerous promotional videos for the iPhone show users gripping the device by its sides with fingers touching both sides of the antenna.
Window for Returns Closing
Apple has already sold close to two million iPhone 4s. As the 30-day window for returns approaches for many users, the company will soon see how much of a problem it has on its hands.
"There are a lot of moving pieces here that have to be reconciled," said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas. "The way in which people are holding it, the signal strength, what is the true bar status. The question for users is how important is it for you to have appropriate user strength and to make phone calls?"
But Llamas says Apple's brand is still strong enough to overcome the bad PR, especially in light of AT&T's decision to be flexible on upgrading iPhones before the expiration of existing wireless plans. "As far as I see, demand still goes unabated. Let's face it, the popular branding of Apple makes this a very sought-after device. Short of the devices doing bodily harm to people, I think they will just be confident that Apple and AT&T will fix the problem."
Grassa:
Posted: 2010-08-03 @ 7:09am PT
When will this antenna prob be fixed? On 3GS, too, it doesnt work, having a smartphone for nothing is too bad, can't make a phone call is the worst situation.
SCiPhone3gS:
Posted: 2010-07-10 @ 2:01pm PT
Putting a rubber bumper over Apple's new beautiful work of art sounds like a terrible idea to me! I almost upgraded from the 3Gs to the iPhone 4 but something made me wait. I'm glad I did!
In my experience the iPhone has always been a wonderful hand-held computer that met all of my needs for such. I'm glad I have one. However, the iPhone has always been a weak telephone. The last thing Apple needed to do was make the phone function worse! Yikes! Apple, please fix it and I'll consider buying one.
iphonedyer:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 5:30pm PT
There's nothing overblown about this whole hardware reception issue plaguing the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 was not only programmed with miscalculated signal display bars but the antenna hardware design was also miscalculated which is the root to this whole iPhone 4 disappointment.
The whole media is all over this serious problem and it just keeps getting worse. Apple has no more bullets and pretty soon they may have to forfeit and submit to a worldwide recall. But if you don't make too many calls or expect to receive many calls, and don't care about looking cool with an ugly bumper, you should keep it. You can buy a bluetooth earpiece to resolve the proximity sensor, while there are other alternative things you can buy for all of the other issues that have surfaced for the iPhone 4. There may be well over millions of customer calls and e-mails Apple has to answer during this long process, but if you're patient enough to ignore the busy signals, your number will eventually come up and Apple Customer Care may be able to give you a status on how much longer you'll have to wait before they can figure out how to get it to all work.
igotswag:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 3:46pm PT
I believe that if the problem is touching its metal part, Apple should give everyone a 100% FREE bumper or case for the iphone 4.
Chaz in Virginia:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 3:36pm PT
I was very disappointed when my signal strength would fluctuate so dramatically in locations within my home that have always been excellent. The problem has nothing to do with the bar calculation. I could get calls with my 3G in the same location that I could not with the iP4. Adding the $29 bumper that was included in my initial purchase, which came several days after I received my new phone on June 23rd, has fixed the problem, but now it is difficult to get in and out of the holster and I have to place it in a certain way so that when I try to take it out, my fingers don't push on the "off" button. I love the phone, but I would love to be able to use it without the bumpers, but that add-on does help protect it to some degree and still looks good.
Alex in Denver:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 12:27pm PT
I was planning on purchasing an iPhone 4 and making the switch to AT&T from T-Mobile this summer. I have used AT&T on a BB for work for a few years and never experienced any issues. I am highly concerned over all the iPhone 4 issues coming to light. The question I have is are all the issues really being blown up because a lot of people hate Apple and AT&T and there is nothing better to talk about, or are these true concerns. I was planning on buying a case also, which would negate the antenna issue, although now I have read about issues with the proximity sensor when placing the phone too close to the ear. I don’t really feel comfortable with a statement like "I think they will just be confident that Apple and AT&T will fix the problem," because I do not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from what Apple has released so far. I absolutely love my iPod touch and wanted to get an iPhone 4 to replace my 2.5-year-old pos Nokia, but am very concerned.
iKnow:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 12:23pm PT
iScam - that should be the real iPhone 4 name. shame on u SJ!
DavidScubadiver:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 12:19pm PT
If you use Google, you will discover that lefty's are minions of Satan. Therefore, it matters not that the iPhone 4 fails to do the bidding of Satan. In the end, the devil will have his due, and the worshipers of Lucifer will be forced to buy a Droid. This natural separation of the good from the evil has been ordained from the beginning. There will be a great battle between iPhones and Droids, between good and evil.
Larry:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 12:04pm PT
It's all BS. I have a moto Q and a couple other phones that were on AT&T with all good signal bars and No dropped calls. And no dropped calls on my 3GS either, but with the iPhone 4 I can slide my hand down the side and oops, another call lost.
Dennis Maples:
Posted: 2010-07-09 @ 12:03pm PT
I think having to put it in a case is a small price to pay for getting better reception! At Walmart, I was getting 4 bars of signal on my iPhone 4 while my wife only had 2 bars consistently.
Now there's a bunch more bugs than this to worry about!
Proximity sensor works when it wants
Predictive text is horrible vs 3GS
End call screen locks up
Keyboard for some reason is not nearly as intuitive as my old 3GS, resulting n lots and lots of typos!!! Apple made a significant change with the keyboard sensing and it should have been left alone!
Gets extremely hot charging and talking
Still no cases!! The otterbox is a must have, yet still waiting on them to release the Defender case!!!
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