“New in the group is the Nokia N97 mini, which Apple claims can drop in signal strength from seven bars to two when held in the same grip that kills an iPhone’s reception,” Electronista reports. “Nokia has previously tried to refute Apple’s position that the iPhone 4 is simply suffering from an industry-wide flaw.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Any other Apple roadkill want to flap their yaps? Hello?
Apple’s “Smartphone Antenna Performance” page states, “In our tests, the Nokia N97 mini dropped from 7 bars to 2 bars when held in a way that attenuated the signal.”
See the photographic and video proof here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple, featuring a Nokia device on a “smartphone” page is cruel. Everyone knows Nokia can’t make smartphones.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
This is why Nokia (and everyone else) should have let it slide without attacking Apple. Now, Apple will post a video of every phone that has the issue.
Excellent MDN Take!!
Smartphone label is getting kinda generic. That’s for the wanna’ be’s.
iPhone = GeniusPhone [TM]
Apple’s solution for the small percentile of users experiencing signal loss is to take the free cover offer, or return the iPhone 4 for a full refund. If I was experiencing the problem, I can accept one of Apple’s solutions.
It appears that putting on a case to cover the lower left corner of the outer metal band, solves the problem for the unlucky few.
But the competitor’s phones are already covered with plastic cases and still lose signal strength… putting on another cover will not fix them.
I guess the only option is to demand RIM, Nokia, Samsung (and others) to provide full refunds. Somehow I think they will not be making the offer to their customers.
Nokia really asked for it, when they boasted that Apple did not include them because their phones don’t have this problem. Even their own user manuals give instructions for changing hand position to make reception better. The competition should just shut up. Instead, they whine and get defensive, which just helps do what Apple intended with these comparison videos – generalize “antennagate” to ALL mobile phones. Apple out-smarting the competition, as usual…
Every other phone maker is desperate to plant the notion of a uniquely flawed iPhone, because if you look at the iPh4 for what it really is, they have no hope of matching it for years. Indeed, all of Apple competitors, as well as the collaterally damaged bystanders, will go to any lengths to blight the perception of the company’s products.
Nokia + smartphone = oxymoron
I bet that the Nokia N97 mini fell disced that Apple would not show off how good their turd was. Good for you Nokia.
Next?
recently Nokia said:
“We prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict”
maybe these new Nokia X5-01 phones have VERY good reception
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
Nokia redefines ugly with the X5-01
http://www.nokialb.com/nokialb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168:nokia-redefines-ugly-with-the-x5-01&catid=36:devices&Itemid=53
(quick, someone do a youtube death-grip video of one…)
Let’s hope Apple is busy testing the Motorola/Verizon Droid X for inclusion on the website. Their claim about the superiority of thier “double antenna” design has not yet been refuted (although the carcinogenic potential of the phone should be much greater).
This is funny. The trouble with iphone users and mac zealots in general is that they mistake a good user interface for technological innovation. Mac may be making/selling a nice smartphone, but they still have not duplicated the manufacturing dexterity or technical know-how of the phone companies. Despite what Apple marketing says (and I know the cultists believe Apple can’t lie), I can’t find a way to make my old Nokia lose signal strength, no matter how I hold it. Let’s see data from independent test labs.
@VD Is your “old Nokia” a smartphone? This design problem is specific to smartphones because it relates to the internal space requirements of the more complex circuitry.
the main difference is that in this video his hand is shaking which implicates a strong grip,
the iphone’s signal can be dropped by a touch of a finger, that is the main problem, ya all phones can do it, but at awkward, tight grips
@VD
Most iPhone 4 users also can’t duplicate the death grip. It seems to depend greatly on the environment.
One of the best STFU maneuvers ever on the part of Apple.
——RM
@ islandboi
More myth. I tried it at the Apple Store on an iPhone 4. There was no drop in the bars, no matter where I touched it or how strongly I gripped it. I even tried covering the entire bottom half of the iPhone 4 with BOTH hands. And that was before the iOS 4.0.1 update.
So where the signal is strong, no problem no matter how you hold it. When the signal is weak, the problem occurs with all phones, as demonstrated in the videos. Common sense says to adjust how you hold the phone at those times to ensure you have maximized performance.
I and many others including The Steve have already tried to explain it… it DEPENDS ON LOCATION; i.e. signal strength. I can “make” it happen in my office but I can’t make it happen at most other places I do business. If you’re in a strong signal area- you can squeeze it all day (the phone) and the bars stay strong. All I can tell you is that I haven’t dropped a call yet. . I don’t even look at the damn bars anymore- I’m sick of it.
I work with a lot of people that own Blackberrys, Palms and other “smartphones”- a lot of them actually have to leave the building to make a call- the Blackberries are the worst. I don’t have to move. It’s simple, get a case or take it back or just shut up.
People like “VD” (don’t you just LOVE that?) are still grasping at any straw they can find to keep their cell phones from sinking like a rock in an ocean of technological despair.
Hey, VD: “Antennagate” is s-o-o-o over. It was nothing to begin with, is still nothing, will always be nothing, and is the only–ONLY–chance people like you had (HAD!) to diminish the impact and international promulgation of the iPhone 4.
Sucks to be you, you with your “smartphone.” The GeniusPhone trumps anything you have–and will have for years to come. Now, hang your head and slink back into your despair.
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. Again.
These laggards should shut their yaps – unless they want Apple to feature them on their antenna page. It’s just too damned funny… the other manufacturers try to make Apple look bad, and Apple just gives them the big bone right up their… well, you know. Apple is taking no shit on this and I love it.
They got them self’s in this mess
Do not mess wi th Steve jobs and do not mess with apple
MDN take is hilarious. I’m laughing and my eyes are watering… hilarious. I don’t know why, it’s just so appropriate for Nokia to get their comeuppance… “flap their yaps..” LOL
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
lmao. dont know whats more funny apple testing other phones to show others are not perfect either or nokia saying”apple is suffering from an industry-wide flaw.” hahaha i own n97 and its been nothin but problems and they go and say apple has flaw lmao.
Really????
Personally a lot of this smells of Apple bashing!
I have an iPhone 4, I think it is the best phone on the market.
I have gripped it, squeezed it and all sorts and I cannot get mine to drop a bar and I have had zero dropped calls.
As soon as the white one is released I will be buying one for my daughter.
The iPhone 4 tempting features, HD Video Recording and reviews:
http://ifunia.com/iphone-column/index.html
If you don’t like it RETURN IT Apple will happily give you your money back and a more deserving person will happily take your place.
This is so stupid for anyone that follows smartphones at all. I love how Apple tried pulling a quick and cheap trick. Look at the battery level on the N97 (it’s almost drained). Then, look at the iphone 4, it’s completely full! When you drain the battery of any phone, it will give preference to battery life than signal strength.
@hyedefinition
Nope! Totally Bullshit! ~
See this video, the HTC Droid Eris are fully charged, and its signal bars drop from 4 to ZERO in just 4 seconds
Think harder before you bark, ok? Next~