“The report, published on consumerreports.org with an accompanying video, set off a feeding frenzy in the tech press, always happy to knock Apple down a peg. ‘Consumer Reports flunks iPhone 4,’ was the headline on the U.K.’s V3. ‘Time for an iPhone Recall?’ asked CNET,” Elmer-DeWitt writes. “But as some reporters remembered, CR‘s staff had been impressed with the phone — and dismissed the antenna issues — 10 days earlier. And as All Things D reported Monday afternoon, the same phone just got the equivalent of a Consumer Reports rave in its formal evaluation — 76 on a scale of 100, two points higher than the next runners up, the iPhone 3GS and the HTC Evo 4G.”
Elmer-DeWitt recounts the whole iPhone attenuation saga and then writes, “Given that the problem disappears the minute you install Apple’s $29 Bumper, the company may come to regret that it didn’t immediately offer them for free to any iPhone 4 owner who asked for one. But it’s not too late to do the right thing.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Once again, as we’ve stated consistently: If iPhone 4 requires a case to operate properly (i.e. not drop calls when held a certain way), then Apple should provide a free case to every iPhone 4 owner. We are reserving further judgement until Apple releases their promised “free software update within a few weeks.”
As for Consumer Reports, please read: Electromagnetic engineer: Consumer Reports’ iPhone 4 study flawed – July 13, 2010
This whole iPhone 4 antenna – Apple response – Consumer Reports – thing is like a multiple-fatality car wreck. It’s gory, it’s heartbreaking, and I can’t take my eyes off it. And reports from the witnesses are just like the “real world”; you can’t get the same story from everyone who saw it happen.
I’m sticking with my iPhone 3GS for now (besides, my wife got it for me just 4 short months ago, I don’t see any of these problems with it despite upgrading to iOS4, and I don’t know anyone yet who has an iPhone 4). There are other reasons why I don’t have much “disposable income” anyhow.
Good time to BUY a few more shares!!
@spinoza
Now you’re changing your argument from “all phones have attenuation” to “the iPhone’s significantly worse attenuation is counteracted by the increased performance of the external antenna.”
The second is probably a more thought out excuse than simply disregarding it because all phones have attenuation. Don’t get mad at me for calling you out on your first post which didn’t address the real issue.
@Stockholm syndrome
Well here’s some more childishness for you:
why the **** are you here then?
Even more childishness: don’t let the door hit you in your adult ass on the way out.
By By!
Look at it this way MDN, the regulars will ride this out and we’re too smart to believe the trolls or be influenced by them. In the mean time, all this added traffic from the trolls is boosting your income (I hope), keep on being MDN!
Well I guess maybe now watching every news organization repeat the CR recommendation MDN might have some idea about who is bigger Cr or tiny MDN. The stock market is the real decider.
“the iPhone’s significantly worse attenuation is counteracted by the increased performance of the external antenna.”
@Bongo: Not sure who you’re quoting here, it sure ain’t me. Your carping is just as fabricated as the antenna issue itself!
CR published an accurate review – “<u>Best phone</u>, one significant problem”. As Stockholm Syndrome said, if this were a Nokia or Android MDN would be bragging about it and raking the “loser” over the coals – even though it’s, in general, an excellent review! SS was talking about the <u>extreme</u> bias at MDN, not simply a favorable bias. Sometimes MDN goes WAY off the tracks after drinking WAY too much kool aid.
There were several proud owners of iPhones at my granddaughter’s birthday party last weekend – and one shy one. Great-aunt Fran was feeling a bit embarrassed because hers was still “a virgin” … no apps – yet. All were happy with their phones.
We have had several reports from owners – this thread and another recent one – saying the reports are true. Some saying loss of connection, some saying apparent loss of signal (but NOT loss of connection). This suggests there IS a problem of some sort – at least, with <u>some</u> of the phones.
I feel about Apple, and its products, about the same way I do about the US and about Democracy – they may be extremely flawed, but they are the best options available. And, if you can’t stand that description, you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. If a problem is discovered, start by admitting it then step up and try to fix it. Burying your head on the sand just leaves your butt swaying in the wind.
I found a silicon case for my White iPhone 4 last week for $2.73 delivered. Plus My $12.50 Zagg Maximum Invisible Shield – includes Edge Military Grade Plastc Protection – is on the way. Got 50% off discount code for entering their weekly Win A Free iPad contest.
I am always in awe in regards to how fiercely MDN defends Apple. It’s like an ad hoc relationship between a puppy and a stranger. There is no fiasco. There is no flaw. Just because CR likes the phone doesn’t eliminate the atennae issue. That’s the real issue. And for that reason it’s not recommended, no matter how much the phone is liked based on the merit of other features.
We now get to look forward to MDN repeating, “Once again, as we’ve stated consistently: If iPhone 4 requires a case to operate properly (i.e. not drop calls when held a certain way), then Apple should provide a free case to every iPhone 4 owner.”
Like this in any way addresses the apparent flawed design of the phone.
If anyone really thinks this is going to make a serious dent in demand for the iPhone 4, they are smoking some serious weed. For most consumers, especially the smart ones, they will say the same thing:
“I don’t care”.
I, for one, think this whole issue is just another attempt to find a way to shoot Apple down, especially now they are at the top of the tech universe.
The iPhone 4 does not REQUIRE a case to operate properly.
It is well known that many people are unable reproduce this problem.
It’s really hard for me to know who to believe about this problem. Should I trust the real people I know who bought the iPhone 4 and say that they have better call quality and don’t drop calls where they used to in NYC? Or should I believe anonymous people in forums who may not really even own an iPhone and may just love to hate Apple?
Max Pain for AAPL options expiration is $250 this Friday. The SEC should needs to look at Consumer Reports phone and Email Records. The Market Makers would have had to pay out $300,000,000 in calls this Friday without the big drop.
I see MDN deleted my earlier post and at least one other person’s comment stating the reflexive attacks on CR by MDN and other voices here certainly won’t hurt CR.
I also said Apple needed to become pro-active, release a definitive statement and get out ahead of this issue before it snowballs further.
Apparently, those ideas were deemed so “threatening” they had to be removed. Perhaps MDN can explain why.
Yea, let us see what the software update does first. A recall of the iPhone would be our of the question. The antenna issue is not harmful, you can use the phone despite it, all the other features works perfectly. If the software update doesn’t work the easiestvway woul be to just give out pumpers or a case to all iPhone owners that want one.
I bet that iPhone 5G will have a slightly different design :p
Hmm, lets see here, what could people be whining about?
Could it be…
1. People have to shell out 200 – 300.00 of their hard earned money _and_ submit to a 2-year AT&T;Wireless contract to buy the phone.
2. People have to agree to allow CRAPPLE to track them via GPS and other possible means in order to be able to use the app store.
3. CRAPPLE insists that people are “holding their expensive toy wrong” rather than try to address the physical problem.
4. CRAPPLE is so concerned about profits that people kill themselves working in the factories that make their phones–profits that only cost them 2.00 more per phone to double the wages of those making the phones.
I could go on, should I?
There is PLENTY that people should be whining about here! If you don’t see it, you have been had and are already under Jobs control.
From now on bing and decide. http://www.bing.com
I could go on, should I?
No, because no blog needs a T-R-O-L-L.
You could have made your points in a non-Trolling way, but you just felt compelled to act like a douchebag.
BTW, I’ve tried Bing. I hate Bing. Google that.
I CANNOT in good conscience recommend Consumer Reports to magazine readers. It is a FAILed magazine, specifically thanks to this ludicrous review. If not for their overblow iPhone 4 lunacy this would be the best consumer magazine on the market.
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