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yeah, that's me. Old Pukalani homeowner!! :-)
Can one see the person in the video? I guess there is some reflection. I think the apple "confession" is just bunk, and quite frankly I probably naiively expect better/more of them. They are not facing up to the issue at all and should just admit it, cut their losses and move FORWARD not spending all their time on marketin and PR speak and rhetoric. |
:) Small world. I used to live in Mountain View.
No, I couldn't see your face, and I wasn't looking for reflections. So the thing that would be nice to see in a demo like that is if holding it "correctly" affects the bandwidth. In other words, holding it on the edges, but not making the connection between the 2 sets of antennae. And the all important can you repeat the dropped call problem? -David |
We did not spend a lot of time, mostly because we were heading for a sushi lunch, but I did draw a couple of preliminary conclusions: 1) The iPhone 4 is not nearly as hypersensitive to "hand" effects as I was being led to believe from the media buzz. 2) The iPhone 4 seems to be as sensitive to hand effects as the Primordial iPhone. 3) Electrical tape over the "band" did nothing. I had predicted in a previous blog posting that the application of electrical tape would not do much, and nothing in this first test implies otherwise. I was frankly surprised that the Grip of Death did not affect the iPhone 4 any more than the primordial iPhone. I was quoted in the press as saying that we're "making a mountain out of a molehill". It may be truer than I thought. Today Apple released a letter indicating that they were "stunned" to learn that their signal-bar algorithm is "totally wrong", and has been so since the first iPhone models. According to Apple, it was indicating 2 bars more than it should. Further, AT&T has "recently" suggested a standard, and Apple will issue a software patch so that the signal-bar display will conform to this standard. I've said it before, but now let me say it slightly differently: the only worthy metric for the quality of the cellphone is frequency of dropped calls when compared with other phones used in the same manner, over time. You cannot tell the difference between a "one-bar" conversation with your mother, and a "five-bar" conversation. (This is not be confused with having a conversation with your mother FROM a bar, which I don't recommend.) The only way to observe dropped calls is to use the phone for a statistically significant amount of time. So, if you are a Bar Watcher, Apple's letter is going to change your observations. If you are Dropped Call Counter, it will mean nothing. Bar Watching has no value in my opinion; I think it is a waste of your valuable time. If you have a routine that has you driving/walking/riding the same route every weekday, you probably know where your "holes" are. This is how a Dropped Call Counter is going to make observations. Apple's letter does nothing but divert attention from your valuable observations. My opinion is that it's good that Apple is conforming to a standard. Beyond that.... it's spin. |
From The New York Times:
Design Flaw in iPhone 4, Testers Say On Monday, Consumer Reports, America’s trusted source of product reviews, said it would not recommend the iPhone 4 because of a hardware flaw with its antenna that sometimes resulted in dropped calls. “Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4’s signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software.” |
Funny thing is I was in an Apple store and was looking at the iP4 and experienced this very problem - whilst I was talking to a "Genius". He repeated the company mantra, that I was holding it in the wrong way. I said that none of my other phones did this and then demonstrated that they didn't holding them in a variety of ways, and after saying that I wasn't going to consider buying one until they fixed it, he excused himself.
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It should be noted by those outside of America that there is only one country in the world reporting reception issues (that I have seen anyways).
My Iphone 4 has worked fine in several European countries. No reception issues at all, no matter how I hold the phone. |
Originally Posted by stimpy
(Post 14293702)
It should be noted by those outside of America that there is only one country in the world reporting reception issues (that I have seen anyways).
My Iphone 4 has worked fine in several European countries. No reception issues at all, no matter how I hold the phone. |
Originally Posted by planemechanic
(Post 14293977)
Very odd, and all too often overlooked by the Apple-hater club, that the "problem" is 10x worse on AT&T's network than on any other network in the world, yet somehow it is Apple's fault, according to the hate club.
Does any criticism of any Apple product constitute "hate" to you? Does owing a couple of Apple products automatically exempt one from membership in this club? :confused:
Originally Posted by planemechanic
(Post 14293977)
If this was a real DEVICE problem the issue would be consistent around the world.
It could also be as simple as perhaps a greater percentage of Europeans buy a case at the time they pick their phone up and have therefore yet to run into the problem. It could be a lot of things but it sure is looking less and less like a software/bar reporting problem. Apple has made some good products, a few great products, and their share of crap as well, but the near-religious defense of Apple and their products by their most ardent fans borders on the scary... :eek: |
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294228)
Are Consumer Reports, Engadget, et al part of this "hate club"?
Oops, could it be that Consumer Reports was WRONG? http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ng_flawed.html
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294228)
Does any criticism of any Apple product constitute "hate" to you?
But most important we have heard that ALL PHONES can duplicate this behavior if held in the wrong way, but people like to attack the big dog, so they make a mountain out of a mole hill. It's pretty simple. Don't like the iPhone? Don't buy one, someone will happily take your place. Think the Droid is the best thing since sliced bread? Don't buy the iPhone. Hate the way that Apple has a loyal following of people who see real value in their products and are willing to pay a premium for a product that actually solves a perceived need? Then don't buy the iPhone. But quit whining about the iPhone that you don't like, don't want, and will never purchase. If you bought the phone and are unhappy then TAKE IT BACK, for a full refund. But stop making it sound like the BEST SMARTPHONE OUT THERE (according to CR) is a pile of crap. It isn't, it performs BETTER than the 3gs, yet no one cares to make that comparison.
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294228)
Not at all true. Europe for example uses different GSM frequencies than does the U.S. so it could very well be a hardware problem when using the U.S. GSM frequencies and less of a problem on European frequencies.
It could also be as simple as perhaps a greater percentage of Europeans buy a case at the time they pick their phone up and have therefore yet to run into the problem. It could be a lot of things but it sure is looking less and less like a software/bar reporting problem. Apple has made some good products, a few great products, and their share of crap as well, but the near-religious defense of Apple and their products by their most ardent fans borders on the scary... :eek: I am not saying everybody who is talking about this issue hates Apple. I am saying that it is an ISSUE because of all the people who hate Apple. |
Originally Posted by planemechanic
(Post 14294514)
Oops, could it be that Consumer Reports was WRONG?
"I’m not saying that Apple has no [hardware] problem and they surely have a s/w issue. I also don’t know what part of this problem is Apple’s and what part is related to the AT&T network." All Egan does is criticize CR's testing methodology, not their results.
Originally Posted by planemechanic
(Post 14294514)
So far we have heard that Consumer Reports rated the iPhone 4 the best smartphone out there, BAR NONE...the BEST SMARTPHONE OUT THERE (according to CR) is a pile of crap. It isn't, it performs BETTER than the 3gs, yet no one cares to make that comparison.
CR basically uses a points system for each of several categories. What CR said was that certain aspects of the iPhone 4 were so good [screen, camera, etc.] that it's high point total in those categories caused it's overall total point score to raise it above that of all other smartphones, but that doesn't mean that the phone still doesn't have a fatal flaw of sorts, in the context of the review, as CR themselves refuses to recommend the phone. More to the point, what good is the best cell phone camera out there if the phone as designed drops calls and greatly reduces data throughput? Hey, I hope Apple solves the problem, I may still buy one, but my self-image sure isn't wrapped up in cult-of-Apple or in the concept of simply owning one. It's a tool, not a personal statement. If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't. I know that my questioning of anything coming out of Cupertino probably puts me in the 'hate' crowd as far as you are concerned but the reality is that I approach technology products on a product by product basis and as regards the iPhone 4 I am in the wait-and-see camp... |
The CR testing may be flawed, but even in a flawed RF test, being able to drop a connection by grabbing the phone shows a serious problem.
Thing is, for every person that complains about the problem, there are 10 that say they don't experience it. If anything, the PR backlash is larger than the signal problem (if any). That said - Apple has been way too quiet on this. It will NOT blow over, and people deserve a better reply than "our bars are messed up". |
PR Experts: "iPhone 4 Hardware recall is Inevitable"
CultofMac "Apple needs to put this fire out now," said Dr. Larry Barton, a leading expert in crisis management and author of Crisis Leadership Now. "There has to be a military-like response to this issue. And we have not seen this kind of urgency." "Their response has been lackluster," he said. "It's been borderline irresponsible. They are in danger of betraying customers’ trust and hurting the brand, which is infinitely more valuable than any one product." Dr. Barton is a former professor at Harvard Business School, Penn State, University of Nevada at Las Vegas and Boston College. He was Vice President of Crisis Management at Motorola from 1995 to 1999. Prof. Seeger said Apple will likely delay a recall, and may issue a temporary "patch" such as free bumpers. However, a recall is unavoidable to protect the brand, which is more valuable than the cost of a recall, Prof. Seeger said. "Apple lives and dies by its reputation," he said. "We pay a premium for its products. We expect them to operate on a premium level. It's very unfortunate, but they will have no choice but to mount a recall." |
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294608)
This isn't exactly what they said and their lack of a recommendation for the iPhone 4 is not inconsistent with their overall testing and review.
CR basically uses a points system for each of several categories. What CR said was that certain aspects of the iPhone 4 were so good [screen, camera, etc.] that it's high point total in those categories caused it's overall total point score to raise it above that of all other smartphones,
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294608)
but that doesn't mean that the phone still doesn't have a fatal flaw of sorts, in the context of the review, as CR themselves refuses to recommend the phone.
There is no "fatal flaw" in the iPhone 4. There is a perception of an issue, that is really not an issue. This is clear. If it was an issue in the real world then it would have been an EVEN BIGGER ISSUE on the 3gs. But it wasn't, or we would have been having this discussion LAST YEAR.
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294608)
Hey, I hope Apple solves the problem, I may still buy one, but my self-image sure isn't wrapped up in cult-of-Apple or in the concept of simply owning one. It's a tool, not a personal statement. If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't.
Originally Posted by anrkitec
(Post 14294608)
I know that my questioning of anything coming out of Cupertino probably puts me in the 'hate' crowd as far as you are concerned but the reality is that I approach technology products on a product by product basis and as regards the iPhone 4 I am in the wait-and-see camp...
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Originally Posted by planemechanic
(Post 14295811)
Fatal flaw? Where is that rolling on the floor laughing emoticon when you need it???
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Every iPhone 4 can be returned for a 100% refund.
So customers have recourse. This recall business is nonsense. It's not like a car which poses a danger to the owners and others. We don't know what percentage of iPhone 4s have been returned but if it was any significant percentage, then we'd know about it. So for the vast majority of those who bought the product, there isn't a problem or if they think there is, they have recourse. Apple didn't get where they are by listening to these PR consultants. |
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