That whole iPhone 4 signal issue? They figured out what the problem is. And, yes, there was a problem.
Turns out, though, that the problem isn’t with the iPhone 4. It’s with every iPhone before the iPhone 4.
“What the what?” you say…
Read what Apple now says:
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. 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 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
Steve Jobs first response was “Non issue. Just avoid holding it in that way.” Really. Then, Apple admitted there was an issue.
Now, it’s not an issue again. Not with the iPhone 4, anyway. Just with every iPhone ever sold before the iPhone 4.
Apple is saying that their phones sucked all along. Now, they’re fixing the software on their phones so you can tell just how bad they suck.
Boy, I can’t wait for the iPhone to come to Verizon. Then, I’ll be able to unload my BlackBerry and get a phone that sucks, too.
This is why we invented semaphore and smoke signals, dear Basil.
The dumbing down of smart phones
Doctor, it hurts when I do this…
–or–
38 bars, 39 bars, whatever it takes.
Apple has a record of hardware and design defects. (Apple batteries anyone?) They, literally, combat this with a business strategy that convinces many customers that they should ignore “minor” shortcomings because Apple products are cool.
A year or so ago, Mac had a prob with a laptop series that was burning users’ legs. Apple’s response was to state that the laptops were actually “notebooks” and so were not to be expected to work on a person’s lap. (“Don’t hold it that way.”) Their strategy kind of worked until the disgruntled users produced Mac ads that specifically called the series “laptops.”
Great title, by the way, Basil.
[Thanks. – B]
Perhaps it’s just me, but one of the reasons that I don’t own an iPhone is because the one fancy app I want my phone to be really good at is actually being a phone.
[Yeah, me too. My daughter has an iPhone (not the new one) and when she’s over at the house, she can rarely use her phone. AT&T’s signal is very weak where I live. Verizon, on the other hand, works just great. So, I can actually use my phone. Which, like you said, is why I got service to begin with. – B]
I know not these apps of which you speak.
Just get a Droid.
You need a phone you can actually make calls on, which not every Droid is, but there’s competition. It works. I think the iPhone is great, but it’s being matched and out matched in the market. A Droid is more open, can be screwed with in fundamental ways you should want with a data device, and it’s the future. An open system that is consumer oriented will eventually outpace the flashy and well marketed and exclusive and limited.
I’m agreeing with Son of Bob(#5). That, and Apple products have always been overpriced, elitist, sub-par products that do less than the competition. I will give them props for being able to standardize things (even if it is through force. And even if said standards suck).
My Blackberry fell out of my scrub shirt pocket down the commode as I was assisting a patient out of the bathroom. We both looked at the phone going down the flusher along with the remains of the day. I then got an iPhone. I now wish to hell I reached in and fished it out.
So, the antenna is in the side frame – uninsulated from your hand – and gets capacitive loaded when you hold it?
Maybe their new antenna engineers can magically fix all the antennas already out there.
Apple = toy
Son of Bob, I concur as well.
I use my phone to call people, to be called, and for the alarm clock. I believe I “texted” someone when they were in a meeting at work, but I rarely use that feature. If I can talk to someone, why should I type to someone and in an awkward matter at that?
Those people in the stone age had it made.
“AT&T – More bars than there actually are in more places.”
@Jimmy: This begs the question, should iPhone users ground themselves while using one, or should they insulate themselves from the phone itself? Mebbe some ugly electrical tape on the metal surfaces would help.
I am one of the saps who purchased the iPhone. Now I’m just marking time until I can cancel my phone. Septmeber 2010 will be my second independence day. Luckily for ATT the iPhone has a rounded profile so it won’t hurt as much when I jam the thing up the terminal end of their digestive tract.
What is it with iPhones and bars?
Comment made of win!
Let’s remember that none of this is ATT’s fault. They have their own issues, sure, but the problems with the phone are Apple’s fault. ATT is just making money off the Apple fanboys.
Coldguy had it right… All except it should also read: AT&T more bars in less places. I have to admit I own an iPhone and live in the rural state of VT. And while I do enjoy some of the phones apps that have been created by someone other than Apple. I do not like the coverage I have with the iPhone. Bought a net 10 straight talk phone from Walmart when father had car accident last dec and it was in Verizon towers. Service with my 79.00 straight talk phone was greatly improved over my iPhone. Recently pre-ordered the new iPhone 4 and then in a week read all the complaints and then got wind through USA Today and Bloomberg that Verizon will finally have an iPhone in Jan. I immediately called and cancelled my pre-order. I can wait until Verizon has it and even wait long enough for Apple to make their first production run of rotten Apples and fix any issues before I get a new iPhone. With age I would like to think that I am learning to be more patient for the things I want in life, and it is paying off. If you must have an iPhone, like me. Then be patient better days are coming and better providers…
Of course the I-phone does not suck. Do you really think you could fool that many people by promising them such a nice flashy product if it didn’t actually do anything. I mean if people were that incompetent, we would be electing complete and total morons all… OK, the I-Phone may suck.
I use my phone to call people. How novel.
I am a ham radio operator. As soon I as read the description of the antenna above I thought “The d@mned thing even transmits?”
You’ve all probably seen this, but it’s classic.
Remember, people camped out like they was buying concert tickets in order to buy the first iphone4s. Conclusion, the phones are probably a lot smarter that the rubes who camp out so they can be the first fool to buy a defective phone.
So if some guy or gal comes up to me bragging about camping out to buy some iphone, I can quickly move their file to the “dumbass on the loose” folder. They only thing I’ve ever camped out for was camping out.
so much for that “more bars in more places” ad campaign.
Why not just get a Droid X? That’s what I’m waiting for – never going back to AT&T unless they kidnap my family AND threaten to kill me.
I love my Mac, but every time I buy something new I remember that AlBore is on the board and Steve Jobs in a Lib/ Hippy from way back. I just hold my nose and make the purchase. I need something people friendly and less techo-friendly.