• Covering the lower-left corner of an iPhone dependably forces 3G and even voice reception to disappear. This may make the handset especially hard to use for left-handed owners, at least without a case. Apple has claimed that reception issues involve a software bug wrongly indicating bad signal, and that a fix is enroute. Because the iPhone 4 uses a new antenna design integrated into the edge, however, and covering part of the edge kills reception, concern has been raised that the flaw is inherent and could require a hardware revision. Cases, such as the bumpers sold by Apple, may provide a stopgap solution by preventing the interference caused by a hand.
• Some owners are also reporting discolored screens, tinted yellow in spots, typically towards the bottom corners. The exact cause is unknown, but one person claims that the problem may be related to a chemical called Organofunctional Silane Z-6011, used to bond glass layers together. Units may be shipping so quickly after finishing production, the person suggests, that the Z-6011 has not completely evaporated. If so, the yellow spots should disappear after a day or two of active use.
Full article, with links, here.
MacDailyNews Take: We can reproduce the issue of diminishing or disappearing AT&T bars on our units by blocking the lower left corner completely with our hands on iPhone 4 units without cases, but do not believe it to be a hardware issue. In fact, with 3+ bars, we don’t notice any loss of reception, even if we make the bars go away. According to a trusted source, there are multiple points on the iPhone 4’s frame for antenna reception. Our source says that the issues “can and will” be addressed by tweaking, balancing, and/or redistributing antennae reception and/or signal strength display via software. When asked if it could be a hardware issue, our source said, “Don’t be silly. It’s not the hardware. Apple’s too smart for that. In fact, most any handset maker is too smart for that.” As for the screen tint issues, we do not see them in any of our units – all of which arrived via FedEx yesterday, so maybe they were manufactured earlier than units showing the yellow tint. We’ll continue to follow this issue to see if it – ahem – “dries up” or not.
[UPDATE: 11:24pm EDT: Apple has issued a statement: Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception attenuation issue: ‘A fact of life for every wireless phone’]
Didn’t notice it ealier. But I am now seeing some small yellow blotches on the top part of my screen. Need a light background to see them. Harder to see with dark background.
Riiight.. That software. That’s why touching the two antennae makes the cell phone drop calls.
And MDN puts its nose in deeper…
Hey c’mon now…this is a friggin hardware issue, don’t even start with “it’s a software bug” I mean geez!
I got my iPhone with a case so I don’t care, but this really “spoils the party” quite a bit I am afraid:(
Apple has finally managed to design an antenna that detects and attenuates signal propagation from negative people. It is working just like it should.
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If this truly turns out to be a hardware issue due to an exposed antenna, you can’t imagine how big a blunder this is. Anyone that has any level of experience with RF design would know not to do this, and there sure are some smart people on the iPhone/Apple team, so it’s hard to imagine them making this very very simple mistake.
Proof is in the pudding. I can’t believe the apologists. Oh, it’s just a software thing. Can’t be a major hardware issue.
Sad to watch the boi’s scramble for any justification.
Face it. Apple blew it on this. Why did SJ pimp the bumper at the keynote in the first place? This was a known issue from the outset.
SJ needs to address this right now.
It’s iOS4 problem. I can reproduce it on a 3GS with iOS4, but can’t on the same 3GS without iOS4. Relax, a software update will take care of it.
CALL IN THE WHAAAAMBULANCE!
Read. The. Link. Previous iPhones with iOS 4 are having it too.
IT’S THE SOFTWARE, STUPID.
I wonder how long it takes before SJ addresses the issue. A ‘bumper’ is not the solution I want to hear.
Here is a simple Illustration of the iPhone 4 antenna flaw, whoever thinks this is software related must really be smoking something…
“SJ needs to address this right now.”
I’ve no doubt that SJ is addressing it right now, and that the panic button has been pushed at Cupertino.
The hardware vs software advocates above are equally emphatic, and all are guessing.
If it’s software, expect an update very soon.
If it’s hardware, Apple needs to either suspend sales, or fit a free case to every phone sold, as an interim measure, and make it clear that every phone will be replaced when a permanent solution is found. Drastic, and expensive, but necessary for a company with Apple’s reputation for, and dependence on, excellence.
Hardware or software, this shouldn’t have happened.
Steve Jobs: “Our products are becoming more defect everytime”
MAC user: “What do you mean?”
Steve Jobs: “You see we don’t care about the users or quality; we only care about ourselves and money.”
From now on bing and decide. http://www.bing.com
Nope, I tested a 3GS with iOS4. Not signal change whatsoever.
Might be a hardware issue because of the exposed antennae.
I’m still getting one, I just won’t bridge the antennae when I hold it. If there is a recall, I’ll simply get a new phone.
@MEES, Demo, Jane, bigblunder, et al:
Thanks for visiting. Your posts are proof that astroturfing is alive and well in America. You’ve earned your day’s pay.
We who read this column daily recognize you for what you are: scabs.
Some of the posters here who agree with you are regulars, and I believe what they have to say. You, however, are welcome go stir up your FUD-stew somewhere else.
I read MDN daily, and I do love Apple products, and own several. However, I’m not on AT&T;, so can’t do the iPhone but probably would if it were on Sprint. Yet I read all of the blind fanboy comments and now am amazed that the same people who slam HTC and others, are either making apologies for Apple, or turning quickly on them. Face it, humans are involved so mistakes can happen. Apple will find a fix and resolve it.
I’ve got a 3G with iOS4, no problems at all.
I hope it’s not a hardware issue – big recall.
The screen discoloration is now a non-issue. It was related to a coating on the screen that hadn’t fully dried yet.
As for the dropped calls, use your right hand to hold the phone – a kludge, I know.
But, you can’t wipe the smugness off my face knowing I made the right decision by no longer supporting Apple products. Loving my Droid, and will slowly transfer back to a Windows world in computer land. I see the downfall of Apple is imminent. iCal it.
Who paid these anti Apple trolls? Droid? Get real, they suck.
I found the “cigarette burn” at the very bottom-left of my screen. Since the AT&T;store doesn’t have anymore in stock, I have no choice but to wait & see if it heals on it’s own. They said they would exchange it.
@Steve @aka Christian ..and all the rest of you dorks that defends Apple whatever mistakes they make, read this latest MDN take on the issue:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/25755/
You still think I am an anti-apple troll or something? Get a life you morons..