“I must say, I was mystified at first. I’ve never seen it on the iPhone unit I’ve been reviewing. I can’t even reproduce it, no matter how hard I try. I’m sitting here right now. I’m wrapping my hand every which way — I’m even holding it with two fists, completely concealing the silver band around the edges — and my four-bar signal strength doesn’t waver. On Twitter, most of my followers seem to indicate the same thing; it’s a problem that just doesn’t exist for them,” Pogue reports. “But clearly, the problem exists for some people. PC Magazine, for example, has been able to reproduce the problem. For them, it happens only if (a) your hand is somewhat sweaty and (b) you hold the phone in such a way that your fingers are covering all three black gaps in the stainless-steel band around the phone’s edge. (For this reason, left-handers seem to be the most-affected population.) In that configuration, signal strength drops a little.”
Pogue reports, “If you do experience the iPhone Death Grip problem, one easy way to eliminate it is to put the phone in a case. Even a ‘bumper’ solves the problem — like the $30 one that Apple sells. It’s a thin rubbery silicon band, available in a range of colors, that covers the metal edge entirely… The paranoid might ask: Why is Apple introducing bumpers now, with this phone? Is it trying to profit from its own design flaw? Or, less conspiratorially: Shouldn’t Apple at least offer free bumpers to people who are having the Death Grip problem? I’ve asked Apple about the problem three times, and nobody’s gotten back to me…”
Pogue writes, “This doesn’t seem like a problem that Apple can fix with a little software update; it’s baked right into the design of the iPhone 4 itself. And considering the hysteria that surrounds the phone, combined with ignorance about the nature and probability of the problem, it could wind up being a huge black eye for Apple and the phone.”
Read more in the full article – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Only time will tell if this huge black eye will go away on its own (not likely) or if Apple will have to “take a loss” on those 29-cent (probably even less) rubber bumpers for which they currently overcharge US$29 by including one in every iPhone 4 box as they should have been doing all along.
My phone doesn’t lose signal no matter how I grip it, and I’m a disgusting sweaty old man
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I sense MDN turning the corner from it’s rabid pro Apple stance to a more sensible position. First Verizon, now 29 cent rubber bumpers. Hang in there guys, the Verizon Kin is on it’s way to you third class mail.
ugh. everybody quit bitching. if you’re gonna smother your phone with your hands, it’s gonna lose signal.
i’ve been using my iPhone 4 for 2 days now and it’s fine.
oh, and MDN, you’re talking like you’ve never even seen the bumpers. they’re a lot more than a cheap piece of rubber. It’s reinforced plastic with metal buttons.
If apple included a bumper, it would seem fishy and undermining of the new phones sturdiness claims. It would also put a significant dent in 3rd party case mfgs sales me thinks. $29 for a bumper seems too high though. They used to sell a whole set of iPod socks for that. Bumpers should of been the same deal.
Why is this such a big deal? There is video on YouTube from one year ago showing the iPhone 3GS doing the same thing.
Whole thing is kinda dumb since as Pogue makes clear most people haven’t been able to replicate this issue even if they try. People making such a big deal of this I decided to see if I could upgrade my perfectly good 3GS just so I could carry my 4 around without a stupid condom as MDN (apparently buying into whatever the day’s hype as usual) now has convinced itself everyone needs.
Alas, just checked and not upgrade eligible 🙁
I will again state for the record that I can’t wait for iPhone 4 to come to Fido in Alberta and have none of problems about which people are complaining.
PC Magazine. PC Magazine readers, with sweaty, greased laden hands, from touching greased laden hair, from lack of hygiene. Spending all that time in moms basement playing Windows configuration, drivers and taking apart PC and back together again. Then back to the iPhone with sweaty, dirty, greased laden, moist (yuck) hands. There your mystery is solved.
I’m really starting to wonder if MDN is under new management. So much hate emanating from from here. I’ve been a regular visitor for a long time and the hate of late (sorry, it fit) is getting old.
My phone does it but it doesn’t effect calls or data. I held the phone until it loss bars and then I did a speed test. It was almost as fast as when the bars were full. I have my iPhone4 in a case now, but not because of that issue, but to protect the glass. If this issue wasn’t so over hyped I wouldn’t even know it existed.
engadget and gizmodo started this antenna rumor along with the yellow spots on the screen and the proximity sensor not working properly. The apple bashers start these rumors and then they pile on with paid bashers and make a mountain out of a mole hill. Don’t believe any of it. My 2 new IPhone 4’s are beautiful and perform perfectly. Facetime is awesome, best video chat on any smartphone. Other smartphone makers can’t compete so they pay people and try to at least slow down the adoption of the best smartphone on the planet so they can try and catch up, but they are doomed just like palm and now rimm. Of course if the media can take down a General with an article in rolling stone magazine that nobody read or attributes to the General, anything is possible. If an article is untrue or the facts have been puffed, ignored or false info is made to look real somebody needs to go to jail. Myself, I don’t believe anything I read these days.
We won’t know until after the software update.
Regardless, the situation wouldn’t be as bad if Steve hadn’t responded to that one e-mail so foolishly. “Avoid holding it that way,” wtf? Talk about throwing gasoline on the fire. All he had to say was that they’ll have a software update soon.
I hear a coating of Dorito grime on the fingers is an excellent conductor.
My new iPhone 4 behaves pretty much like every other iPhone I’ve had. Signals fade in and out. One moment I have max bars, a second later no bars.
I am unable to reproduce the “death grip” problem.
Shut the F up macdailynews. Youbare pisding me off with you AT&T;and bumper bullshit.
Pogue, like many American journalists, including, inexplicably, tech journalists, needs to learn the extremely important difference between “silicon” and “silicone”.
It wrankles in the same way that other dichotomies do — lay/lie, alternate/alternative, pounds of pressure/newtons and many other inanities that cause the rest of the world to cringe when a typical American journalist makes a tech comment.
MDN did you take the day off and put Gizmodo in charge?
You should stop jerking off if you want to solve your problem with the iPhone.
” huge black eye “…speaking of overhype
this wouldn’t have happened it the iphone was on the Verizon network…..
When I sit nude on my iPhone and my scrotal area covers the iPhone…I can’t see who is calling me. I want a refund.
As I sit here and read this thread, I’ve been bake to; at will, make my signal “strong” than “weak” by covering the lower left band. That’s MY experience. Now some facts … Is my signal actually degrading or is it just a “cosmetic” issue? Not sure – I haven’t set up a proper test scenario yet. Have I dropped a call yet- no. Actually – my reception seems to be better than my 1stGen iPhone. To continue… When I do the “death grip” test in other locations, the bars stay put- when I do them in my office which is about 50 miles away – I can reproduce the “problem”. I’m not sure yet what to conclude. I know if I insulate my hand with a glove or piece of plastic – the bars stay where they are in all cases, in all locations. So I guess I’m a bumper customer but this, from a PR perspective, should somehow be resolved.
I luv this phone though – really luv this phone
@El Guapo
I agree that the MDN Takes have become more strident over the years. It is like a TV sitcom that has been on for several years and is running out of ideas – eventually the plots go truly over the top in an attempt to keep your attention.
The Enderle and Thurrott bashing takes are fine. Those cretins deserve no mercy. So are the ones that involve self-appointed pundits/experts who are either overly credulous and subject to the Windows FUD, or incredulous of anything Apple.
But a number of takes in recent months have sounded like a ten-year old seeking attention. Some news is just news, MDN. Take your own advice from the past about this iPhone 4 “rubber bumper” thing and don’t buy it if you don’t like the price. This “Death Grip” situation has not been fully worked out. Some people do not seem to have a problem with it – possibly because of location/signal strength? Possibly because of a manufacturing or component quality issue that manifests itself in a subset of units? At any rate, if there is a hardware flaw Apple will eventually isolate it and take the hit for replacing handsets.
I advocate Apple products. But I cringe at some of the excesses of the small subset of vocal Mac fanatics. Please do not encourage the whining.
@Kermit
That is excellent scrotal coverage. If you can dial that way, then I would be truly impressed.
MDN really wants their free iPhone Bumper…
MDN will get owned soon…. Fact that some people does not experience this problem shows that its not really a hard ware issue or design flaws…. Check out soldier knows best video, he tried to replicate the problem and failed… So as other youtube response that tried to replicate it…. MDN will soon apologize on his take like other ANAList did…
WOW!!! I cant Believe MDNs takes lately, they say they first want to join the law suit against at&t;and apple then they are making fun of the iphone 4 bars getting dropped. Wow what happened to the crazy fanboys???
I picked up my 32 GB iPhone 4 yesterday. It’s absolutely lovely, but haven’t used it to make many calls yet. I’ve been able to replicate the disappearing bars symptoms by holding the phone in my left hand. Hand wasn’t particularly sweaty, but probably has some moisture. Haven’t had time to check on ability to make call or keep a connection with my hand there and zero bars. I’ll do so in a couple of days. The plan was to get the Apple bumper but they were sold out at the AT&T;store where I bought my phone. And where there wasn’t a line yesterday, although on the other side of the mall there was an enormous line for the Apple store.
Sure hope that if the disappearing bars represent lost signal and affects calls, an insulator helps. If that doesn’t help, Apple has a really huge problem on its hands. This phone is brilliant in every other respect.
And what is this about left-handers being most affected? I’m right handed, usually hold the phone in my left hand so I can dial with the right, or write while I’m talking.
I have had my iphone 4.0 for 2 days and everything works fine. I don’t have a case yet, but when more come out I will get a case.
I understand a carefully piece of scotch tape solves the problem for those who have it as well. Perhaps Apple could put a little dispenser in ever box.
@ grh–
Yes! That jumped out of the page at me too!
Please add to this list, the difference between a screen saver, and a wallpaper.
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carefully placed…
Can you say: Class Action Suit? Inevitable.
I think this reception issue is a myth. I certainly haven’t noticed nor has my wife or mother and we all have the iP4. Not only that but the folks at USAToday, WSJ, NYT, Consumer Reports and Engadget have not been able to replicate this problem. The only people are some random people on the Internet.
Steve Jobs knew of the problem but too late to halt the Chinese assembly line. Steve Jobs was worried that he would be found out as something less than brilliant. Quick fix was to invent the rubber band. Steve’s marketing mind figured if they charged $30 for it people would think it was an optional add on worth $30 when the truth is you need the thing so the phone will work. That’s fraud.
Now, the truth is out and Time ought to put Steve on their cover again – this time covered with egg.
Worst blunder since the ATT deal and with the same device.
No magic or revolutionary anything here unless you call this rolling lie revolutionary.
Want proof? When Pogue doesn’t get his call returned, it’s because Steve is out of excuses, has no new dismissive one liners, and has no where to turn except to admit they’ve screwed the pooch with iPhone 4.
If Apple included a bumper with every phone, then we all would bitch about whatever color we received- pink anyone?
Or are they supposed to crank out millions of black ones?
Trouble us, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO IPHONE. So,… Suck it up, and grow up.
@Scy
Really, engadget has a video of a phone they have doing it. Think b4 u post or at least do some research or bring your head out of steves ass.
Sent from my iPhone 4 that does it also
This is very easy to reproduce on my new iPhone4, I can’t believe anyone within Apple considered this product ready to ship?
With the bumper only the cable that came with it works. Even older USB apple dock cables or new dock won’t. My expensive car radio won’t plug into dock connector. So the bumpers are also a bad design.
Hey, don’t call me “some random people on the internet”.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> If I had the time I’d make a movie of it and show you. But here’s what happens, to ALL THREE iPhone 4s that I have:
In an area with 2-3 bars of Edge, I hold the phone with 2 fingers and start a download via Safari. Works fine.
Hold the phone as in a normal grip, like these examples, in the middle of a nice running download:
http://iphonehold.tumblr.com/
And safari’s blue progress bar immediately stops. After 30-60 seconds Safari says the server is not responding, and a few seconds after that the phone says “No Service”.
I can do the same in a voice call, and when I grip it the “normal” way people tell me I start to break up, and soon I have no signal.
Forget the signal strength bars. Holding it like Steve holds it and I have no service. Simple enough?
All 3 of my phones.
I have _no_ problem reproducing this issue, including having dropped calls / no network.
I’m annoyed, but am willing to see if Apple comes up with a fix in the next update.
@ Whatever;
Have another drink- You illiteracy might be mitigated once you’re thoroughly wasted.
On the other hand, you might just pass out stone cold drunk on the floor before reaching the keyboard, sparing us from your tripe.
In either case, it’s a “win-win” for MDN readers- Cheers!
MDN is right. The only way Apple can at least partly extricate themselves from this mess is if they include a rubber bumper for free with every iPhone 4 shipped. But in the longer term, a redesign of the aerial/case is required.
I still can’t help but wonder – did Apple not discover this flaw, or did they know about it before they shipped, and hoped that nobody would notice or mind?
Based on my experience, the reception problem is location dependent. There are 20 miles between my house and my office. At home, I can easily duplicate the reception problem; bridge the gap on the lower left side of the phone, and the reception begins to drop after just a few seconds.
When I tried to show someone the problem at work, no matter how I held the phone, the signal strength never dropped. I couldn’t believe it.
I went to the local Apple store to pick up one of Apple’s bumpers, and was unable to duplicate the problem there either.
Back at home, the signal drops like a rock when I hold the lower left corner.
So, what’s up with that? Is it purely a function of initial signal strength? Are different cell towers using different frequencies, some of which are more susceptible to the problem? I’d like to know for sure.
Ok all the trolls now, party is over! You can leave now.
@ubermac
Your name says it all! No matter how much evidence is shown to u or is out there u wouldn’t believe it.
I can’t make mine replicate the problem either…It works beautifully and damn it’s sweet looking….
The bashing is coming from the Giggle Android camp as usual, as if they have room to talk with their beloved EVO and it’s magical “separating screen” issues or it’s colorful yellow vertical line issues…Or the fact that android is a convoluted mess or………..
NEWS FLASH!!!
The iphone 4 is NOT PERFECT.
In other news, Sprint ships phones with features that can drain the battery in less than an hour… and gets a pass.
I guess it’s time for beleaguered Apple again.
I can replicate this on all three of the new iPhones that are in my house tonight, all purchased in different states. It is a very valid problem. Other than that, it is truly amazing.
I went to the local Apple Store today, just so I could play with the new iPhone 4. Amazingly cool. The screen is incredible; it’s like looking at “real life.”
I tried very hard to do the “death grip,” in many ways, including cover the entire bottom of the iPhone with my both hands. I could not get this problem to happen. I wanted to try it on another iPhone 4, but there were too many others waited to play with all the display models.
Also, while experimenting, I found it uncomfortable to to hold the phone in a talking position while intentionally trying to cover those gaps. Whether in my right hand or left hand, I naturally kept my fingers well above the gap as I held the iPhone by the side edges. So there is no way this would be a problem for me, even if I could get it to occur.
I think this is all way overblown, and most of the online “noise” is from people who don’t even own an iPhone 4. In contrast, most of the people who actually own an iPhone 4 are probably oblivious to this issue because they “have a life” and don’t bother reading Apple or Tech news sites for no reason. They are not having any problems with their iPhone 4 so they are happy and silent. As usual, the silent majority is not heard.
It’s like the iMac screen issue from last year. By the time Apple sold a million of the new iMacs, a few hundred customers reported having problems with the display and made some noise. The media amplified the noise and Apple supposedly had a major problem that is affecting “most” iMac customers. Everyone got paranoid and started talking doom. But in the big picture, 1000 is 1-in-1000 out of a million, or 0.1% of 1,000,000. Even if it was as large as 10,000, that means 99% were having no problems. I don’t know what the actual numbers were in that case, but it’s safe to say that the vast majority of customers where silently happy iMac users. History repeats…
Got my phone about midday. Just blown away by the display. Improved sound quality in both directions. Fantastic camera. Nice battery life. I tried for hours to replicate the problem and finally did by putting my fingers in just the right places and squeezing tight. Not my favorite way to hold it. I don’t think this is going to be a problem for me, but I’m sure some hateful folk who want to put a hickey on Apple will be all over it.
Ugh, those IDIOTS. Steve Jobs gives a quick reply to a complaint, and before you know it, people are discussing it as if it’s Apple’s official statement on the matter. Jobs is human, you know? For all you know, he might have been in a bad mood and just went: “Well just don’t f***ing hold it that way.”
Granted, being in his position, his words hold a lot of weight, and he should have been more careful about what he says, but it’s ridiculous how seriously everyone’s taking it. I can only imagine how painful it is to be the center of such attention.
Why-oh-why does every article I read state “It’s more of a problem for left-handers”?
That’s wrong. I’m very much right-handed, but, like many other right-handers, I use phones with my left hand, so that I have my right hand free to take notes or use the mouse/keyboard/trackpad etc.
It’s a bigger problem (if it’s really a problem) for left-handed use. Not left-handed users.
I’d be careful with the porn sites, too…
Just watched the news on the local CBS affiliate here. Reporter demonstrated the problem – then back to the anchors who followed up by informing their audience if any of them were thinking about buying an iPhone, they shouldn’t because they don’t work.
Steve Jobs better be thinking of something and quick. Anyone have a prediction of how long before FCC or some fed agency steps in and requires a total recall of the iPhone 4?
Maybe Steve should just swallow hard and do it – may be the only way to salvage what’s left of Apple’s credibility. Beleaguered has made a return.
rubber baby buggy bumpers-rubber baby buggy bumpers-rubber baby buggy bumpers-rubber baby buggy bumpers.
If Face Time is the biggest of the new features, the revolutionary antenna has to be the second biggest.
And, all the while, Jobs & Co. knew it was defective.
Now what? Is the problem just going to be ignored in hopes it will go away because all smart phones have some kind of problem.
Well, my friends, comparing an Apple product to those made inferior by it, is an incredible unbelievable turn of events. The result is when Steve says “boom – it just works” no one is ever going to believe him again.
I could probably be considered an Apple fanboy but yea, I notice the rabid bars dropping holding the phone like a NORMAL person. I hope they address it.
The issue seems to be related to the 3G frequency. At home, where my signal strength has always been poor, I can recreate the issue at will.
Away from home today, I couldn’t reduce the 5 bar signal no matter what I tried. Possibly older 3G towers are to blame?
Go to uxcell in China and see what they have.
Breathe on your hand for a little while – make it moist and the problem will occur. Dry hands / low humidity – probably less of an issue.
@Here’s where we are
I have a one liner for you. DUMB!.
Since MDN forgot to Include is, if Steve git rid of AT&T;then this signal problem would surely go away because it’s clearly an AT&T;problem….
I honestly hope someone at MDN is getting tired of folks saying this when it isn’t relevant, it would make you understand how we feel about your constant venom towards a certain carrier.
This is so goddamned stupid. Scandal?
Fer fuck’s sake. I have sweaty greasy paws. I death gripped the phone, watched the bars go down, and made a call. No problem. This bullshit generates clicks. That’s that only “scandal” I see.
This comment thread is an example of people who do not own nor have even touched an iPhone 4, speaking out their collective butts as if they are experts.
I guarantee the vast majority of the two million (or whatever large number) of ACTUAL iPhone 4 customers are oblivious to this “issue,” because they are typical consumers who don’t read Apple or tech news web sites. And they are not having any problems to complain about. You don’t hear from them, do you (?), because most people do not bother to post a comment just to say everything is A-OK and they are happy iPhone 4 campers.
So for all of you who have never touched an iPhone 4 (and even don’t have any iPhone or iPod touch), imagine holding a Hershey chocolate bar like a mobile phone. Where and how do you hold it in “talk position”? I hold it by the side edges, toward the upper half of the bar. I think this is natural for me, because it allows the weight of the phone to dangle under my hand, rather than holding up the weight of the phone with a tighter grip from the bottom of the phone. Also, the precise location of the ear speaker is more critical than the location of the mouth microphone. Therefore, having your hand on the upper half of the phone makes it easier to place the ear speaker at the right location. Am I right? Isn’t that how you hold a “candy bar” type mobile phone? If your answer is YES, this issue is totally irrelevant to you, because your fingers would be nowhere near the bottom half-inch of the iPhone 4 (where those “gaps” are located).
So, at least for me (and probably many of you), this REALLY is a “non-issue.” Also, it is important to note that…
(1) I went to the local Apple Store today so I could actually hold a real iPhone 4 and play with it. Even when I tried to hold the iPhone 4 in a way that was uncomfortable to me and intentionally covered that gap (and even the entire bottom half of the iPhone with both hands), I could not get this problem to occur. There was no effect on those on-screen “bars.”
(2) MDN and others have said, even when the “bars” disappeared on the screen, actual talk performance did not diminish. So even if you hold your iPhone at the bottom, it is likely that you will not notice anything because you are not looking at the screen while the phone is in “talk position” against the side of your face.
(3) Most of the pro media reviewers said that in terms of dropped called, iPhone 4 was a significant improvement over the previous iPhone. That means Apple designed a BETTER antenna for the iPhone 4, and it works better in “real world” use.
But I repeat, this is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT for me (and probably you too) because I would not hold an iPhone in “talk position” and have my fingers or hand close to the bottom half-inch of the iPhone. So I don’t need to put a piece of tape over the gap and Apple does not need to give me a “bumper” for free. I don’t need to worry about this (non) issue.
If only the people who have actually touched an iPhone 4 were allowed to participate in this online discussion, there would be no discussion.
I tested this on my 3GS w/iOS 4 and my wife’s 3GS w/iPhone 3, standing in the same spot in my house. Both reduced the bars, but it was more pronounced in my 3GS w/iOS 4 (drop to 1 bars from 5). My wife’s phone dropped to 2 bars from 4. My hand had to be a little sweaty to bring about the change. There was no drop when my wife’s silicon case was installed.
I believe there is a software issue, but that there is a hardware component. Apple is probably correct in its claim that this affects all smartphones, but it seems as if iOS 4 is more sensitive to registering the drop. It may be as simple as iOS over-reacting to the signal drop, or maybe just over-reporting the loss.
Well, it could be that David Pogue is dead, and thus doesn’t dampen EM waves the same way a human does.
@somethingfornothing
MFN must be in Dire Straits.
Can’t reproduce it on my iPhone 4, but now I can reproduce it on my son’s iPhone 4.
Have problem?
Buy a case?
Don’t want to? Prefer whining?
STFU!
It’s less an iPhone than a die-Phone!
replicate it here. My next move is to see if others can on my phone…
this is definitely an overhyped bs issue. people are freaking out and they don’t even have the phone.
typical with every apple product launch. wouldn’t be complete until some bs sticks and bloggers run with it. the funny thing is even MDN is falling for it. c’mon! This happens every time.
Everybody kwitcherbitchin. I can do the same thing with my 3G iPhone. Big freakin’ deal. And Mr. Pogue, the bumpers are siliconE. With an E on the end. There’s a difference.
MDN’s almost always takes the side of Apple. It is a blessing that their take on this particular issue sides with us consumers. It is very true: Apple should give us this “bumper” to help correct the problem.
My biggest problem with Apple (and the media/bloggers) is the loss of contacts on the iOS update when you update your old phone. No one seems to be covering that issue.
I’ve noticed that my signal decreases when I turn my iPhone off
It’s easy for all of you who don’t suffer from this problem to say that it’s not a big issue.
Well it is/was for our family, we are already located badly with respect to ATT coverage, we usually only get 2-3 bars. I had to buy a bumper case for my wife and my daughters (they didn’t mind it though) ’cause we got dropped calls constantly.
I didn’t want any case so I learned to hold the iPhone in a different way, works fine now, but it was annoying at the beginning.
All of us are right-handed but we are accustomed to hold the phone in our left hand (leaving the right hand free to carry things or write something with a pen etc)
@ Clown.
Now that would be funny… J.Ive summarising the iphone’s design in a commercial with “Well just don’t f***ing hold it that way.” LOL!
This is very, very funny stuff about the antenna issue lol
@ Larry
> And Mr. Pogue, the bumpers are siliconE. With an E on the end.
The bumpers are actually
“Made of durable rubber and molded plastic…”
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC597ZM/A?mco=MTgyNjczNTE
I hate “silicone” cases.
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Actually it’s more like a Vulcan Nerve pinch to the phone
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It’s all a ploy to have something for the gutter press to bitch about. All publicity is good publicity. Apple, just like Nintendo before it will provide a free or cheap solution. You just have to give them your address and agree to accept marketing material.
If you’d like to see the FIRST report (Thursday) of the ‘iPhone Death Grip’ along with ongoing replacement phone testing and analysis, visit Michael Flaminio’s website at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=11149
One thing Michael found is that the left hand ‘Death Grip’ is actually a reduction in phone reception and sending signal. Dropped calls occur when your phone is in marginal reception areas.
Apple Thought too Different Here!
Steve Jobs praised the antenna at WWDC and didn’t tell us that we’d have to hold the phone only in the way Apple dictates!
Hypocrite! There should be a recall! The F’ked up and now should pay. A bumper solution. Are you kidding me. The make this phone sexy and to use it I have to cover it up with a bumper cover. Are you kidding me?
Apple pretending it’s “our fault” is the begining of Apple’s downfall. They laugh at us with their overpriced notebooks and laptops and now thiink that they could just tell us that their design flaw is our problem in holding the phone wrong.
What a sad day for Steve Jobs. His days of being believed are officially over. He’s now just a slick salesman who’s time is over.
Apple is getting to artsy fartsy and is forgetting it’s a phone. I still can’t believe that the gov’t allowed the 3G with so many dropped calls not be recalled. Apple, you’re a joke on the phone front. It’s a computer trying to be a phone. Even newbie Google got the phone right over you.
If I have to hold the phone “You’re Way” – just for the phone to function, then I smell RECALL!
You stupid blind fans of Apple are a joke. You’re like the technology industry’s Tea Party. Flakes who will buy anything your leader tells you. Ha!
Is it a coinsidence that Apple – for the first time ever – sells a bumper case for the iPhone?? I think NOT..and the price 29$, you just gotta be kidding me, antenna design flaw or not, Apple shouldn’t friggin take advantage of the situation and sell way way WAY overpriced cases.
OMFG
MDN sold the site to Paul Thurrott.
That explains the rabbid AT&T rants.
@el guaponand king Mel
yup you’re right. Mdn has become hate central. It always feels to me like the kid who bullies everyone around because inside he is so insecure. I continue to find it baffling for a “news” organization (and I use that term loosely here) spends SO much time ranting and venting on everyone elses inferior products. I don’t get why they waste their time unless they’re actually worried about the competiton so they want to bad mouth them and trash them to all the loyal kool aid drinkers. I love all my apple gear but know they aren’t the be-all and end-all of technology.
FUD is a waste of time. This phone is a huge success and that fact pisses off the Droid boys. Unregistered responders are assumed FUD spreaders so I laugh at their rediculous comments.
Most of the world don’t even know these sites exist so FUD is ineffective.
Yeah keep licking SJ’s ass, no matter what they do you will always, every time, forever think that it’s just FUD, I bet you would (literally) buy turd from Steve if it had an Apple logo on it.
I am Done with this Garbage Site, “Steve Jack” has lost his mind and now relies on hate B.S.
Ok Delete this Mr.Jack,
This site “MDM” used to be the best to get news and information but has taken a turn for the worse and now is following the Click “WHORE” Baiting of Gizmodo and The Gawker News Media.
I say “News Media” Very Lightly, More like Bottom Scum Feeding.
Goodbye, This will be my last read and links are Now being deleted.
Seems Mr. Steve Jack, You have and are losing allot of followers of your site, Your OWN Doing.
Seems HATE is more LUCRATIVE then level headed discussion and TRUTH.
My iPhone 4 won’t makes calls after I soaked it in water for a mere 245 minutes. Apple needs to include a free ziplock bag with every phone so that this does not happen to me.
Look at the newer subject on MDN that says “Apple to resolve iPhone reception issue Monday with iOS 4.01”
Read that and regret all your whining rants, suckers.
I believe there are other factors other than placing your hand in the wrong location. I can reproduce the issue at my office and several other locations, however at my home I can not. It doesn’t matter where I’m at in my house, I cannot reproduce it. Perhaps something around me is reflecting the signals differently when I’m at home than when I’m at work?
@Clown
If Steve was having a bad day, he would do well to not reply to the email at all. As CEO of the talked about company in the world, he needs to be more aware and realize that every single email he sends out will be scrutinized. We all have bad days – I can’t use that excuse at work to do something completely idiotic or piss off all my clients, and neither can the almighty Steve Jobs. I will wait to buy my iPhone 4 until this issue is resolved to my satisfaction.
@ken1w
I definitely hold my phone near the bottom, as do most people I know. It feels far more natural, both for comfort and to get a better grip to prevent a $600 phone from falling to the floor. Your guess that most people don’t hold their phones this way is simply wrong.
Some people are more conductiv than others.
Is it just me, or has MDN gone from writing shrill, comically one-sided pro-Apple stories to writing shrill, comically one-sided anti-Apple stories lately?
Can you say R-E-C-A-L-L?
If Apple gets aways with this, the US is a bigger joke than I thought. Gathering information about your geo location by forcing you to agree to this Apple practice or you can’t use your iPhone or iOS is illegal or dictatorial at minimimum. Secondly, not telling you that you will have to hold your phone only with your right hand and only at the bottom is dictatorial. Apple F’cked up in their fruity design and the Gov’t must step in to say that this has now crossed the line.
The US tech industry hounds Europe and Asia for copyright issues and now we look to the US to see if your laws will let Apple get away with selling seriously flawed products and illegal activities with private data.
Dear Steve
I can’t get any reception on my new iphone when I stick my head up my butt and try to dial it with my nose. Everyone I know uses it this way. How can you make suck a crappy phone? You are the worst person in the world and this wouldn’t happen if you dumped ATT. I think I will sue.
Whiny GizmoGwak MDN user
Dear GGM
Get your head out of your butt and get a life
SJ
Happens for me when I’m in an area with a weak signal, my hands are sweaty (I’ve got big hands) and I hold the bottom left part of the phone. Just yesterday, I was having a very slow connection, and I changed the way my hand was holding it and instantly it sped up significantly.
So it’s a bit of a problem, but with an easy fix.
Genius antenna turns to Absolutely Stupid antenna.
Back to the drawing board again Apple. You’re losing your touch.
‘freediverx’ sez: “Is it just me, or has MDN gone from writing shrill, comically one-sided pro-Apple stories to writing shrill, comically one-sided anti-Apple stories lately?”
This is nothing new.
– There are no more demanding customers than Apple customers.
– There are no more critical customers than Apple customers.
(Odd how that is lost on Windows victims).
Therefore, when Apple F*CK UP, as they have in this case, expect the so-called ‘Apple fanbois’ to be the LOUDEST complainers. Expect Apple fans to be the biggest activists correcting the situation. This has been going on since Apple was born. Crap from Apple has NEVER been allowed by its customers. This is one reason Apple products are consistently the best.
Believe me: Apple customers will NOT let Apple get away with selling the iPhone 4 with this blatant hardware bug.
So all you anti-Apple trolls can STFU, take a vacation and watch serious customers at work…
No need for strident language.
Too much of it shows up to often.
IMO
Thanks MFN for giving a fair unbiased report and if the rest of you are dumb enough to spend 30 on 29 cent maybe less than I can sell you a whole bunch Mdn is doing it’s job not hating there are differences there
@steve
‘…Of course if the media can take down a General with an article in rolling stone magazine…’
The media didn’t take him down. He did it all on his own.
Same thing happens to me… on my iPhone 3GS!
Non-issue.
Just the FUDers trying to stir up trouble.
I Love my iPhone 3g, and was going to wait to upgrade untill necessary. However, after hearing all the iPhone Bashers crying and lying, Ive decided to show my faith and support to Steve and Apple, and purchase the iPhone 4. Long live Apple…… Bashers be Damned !!!!!
If you Bashing BS Artists Hate the iPhone so much, why not JUST DONT BUY IT ! AND SHUT THE HELL UP ! The answer to my question is obvious. Why are you so damn dumb that you think we dont know from your disdain that you are full of HATE and CONTEMPT for yourselves, so you find a target to crap on to make yourself feel important. Me thinks you are IMPOTENT…… not IMPORTANT. Get some Frickin’ MOJO and build a life of your own, instead of trying to tear down what somebody else has already accomplished. Oh… Thats right….. you already TRIED that, but gave up because it was too difficult, and everybody else is to blame except yourselves. ‘Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ! APPLE RULES… APPLE IS THE BEST… NAR NEE NAR NEE NAR NAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calm down, Barry, befor U have a heart attack.
We all welcome constructive information, and no malice is intended for those who contribute in a positive way. As for those of you who just want to put down Apple, or make crude remarks about those of us who think they are Great etc……. Why not create a better Company and a better product. We’d all love to see it! Then you could find out first hand, how it feels to be the Best, and still have to put up with whining pissing crybabbies like yourseves. Now turn around, and don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
I remember when the Macintosh Computers came out in the 70’s. Even back then, they were known for their elegance of design. Today, Apple products are STILL the easiest to learn, with the most elegant design, bar none. People who slam Apple just expose themselves as being dim witted and ignorant of the facts. It’s kinda like saying…. “Hey Everybody…… I’m a Idiot, i’m a Idiot “!!!!!!! Derrrrrrdaaaa!
I’m so glad to have found this site. It’s refreshing to finally see the Bashers being beatin to a pulp. I have put up with their misplaced aggression for far to long. Steve Jobs and Apple are the greatest thing to ever happen to not only Computers, smartphone and iTunes, but also for Musicians finally getting great exposure, especially the hard to find oldies, and at a reasonable price. All around, Steve and Apple have done a tremendous service for all of us. Well, all of us except the pathetic blubbering cry babbies that constantly dog them. I guess there are always unhappy campers that make their own selfish day by Bashing anybody who actually IS SOMEBODY. That’s okay, we know you when we read you….. Have a Great Day, Happy Apple Fans!! And Special Thanks to Steve & Apple ! The Rest of you can shit and slide in it!
‘José’ sez: “I remember when the Macintosh Computers came out in the 70’s.”
No you don’t. You’re hallucinating.
Either that or you meant to say:
“I remember when APPLE computers came out in the ’70’s.”
Here is where you can look up when the first Apple Macintosh came out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_computer