We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.
More info about the program here.
MacDailyNews Take: This concludes this failed test of the anti-Apple FUD system.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]
Call it anti-apple FUD all you want…but some of us do legitimately have issues that are, at the very least, partially apple’s fault.
Then get your free case and enjoy the best phone on the market.
I had an Aunt who couldn’t wear a watch. She could put on a wind up watch or even one of those new fangled battery powered Timex watches and, in a minute or two, it would start to run backwards.
She could have made millions suing every watchmaker on Earth if she was still alive and lived in America.
I ordered my case the day the app came-out, and I’ve heard nothing since. I don’t care; my phone is fine. I just wanted a case…
@’Sean’: Agreement.
Share the blame:
1) Apple was using a wrong, and now repaired, signal strength algorithm. The wrong algorithm lead to misleading observations by users.
2) There is indeed a proven attenuation of the phone’s signal when the two antennas are shorted, aka bridged, by a conductive human hand. It’s real. The questions in the end have been how much attenuation and in what situations does this cause dropped calls? The general answer is that this affects relatively few people. Providing an non-conductive coating over both antennae is the answer and it will appear eventually as standard. I predict!
3) Cell phone technology remains a huge PITA where dropped calls are a fact of life for every user within particular areas of the world. There will never be such a thing as perfect coverage. This is due to the lack of signal sharing among cell companies where there is no coherent system-of-the-whole. It’s every company for themselves and every user for themselves. Therefore, Jane gets dropped while here sister standing right next to her, with a different cell company, has perfect signal strength. This is of course insane, the product of an incoherent technology system. But we’re stuck with it.
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iOS 4.1 dang near plum fixed my entire iPhone.
No mo proxyimity isshews and that thar microcellular device has me callin fellers left and right. Not politcull left and right. I jus mean people all round town.
That jobs fella sho kin make one
helluva purdy leetle gadget.
iPhone 4 antenna attenuation was/is a real issue I still can’t use my iPhone 4 without a case. The movement i remove the iPhone case and hold the phone in hand the bars go from 4 to 0. Macdailynews also reported about that. So what was the FUD system in that. Why has Macdailynews suddenly changed their tune.
DO NOT FORGET that thanks to unique antenna design iPhone 4 holds data and talk with 8 times lower strength of signal, than any (Android) phone (-122 dB against only -114 dB).
I agree with Sean. This was a very real issue for some people. Perhaps it had a lot more attention thrust at it than it deserved but denying there was a problem, or simply stating that this people who were suffering were making it up or were some how just anti-Apple didn’t help. I found it really frustrating to read comments from other people who not only denied that the problem existed but then went on to crticise anyone who said their phone was affected. It clearly didn’t cause problems for everyone, thankfully, but for for some of us it genuinely was an issue. At home I still can’t use my phone without a bumper. The signal is weak here. That doesn’t make me an arch enemybof Apple. Far from it. I love my iPhone and all my other Apple gear. But I am realistic to accept that even they can’t get things right all of the time. And I reserve the right to say so when things go wrong. I am a consumer, not an Apple PR spokesman!
@Derek Currie
Agreed on all points.
But I’ll admit I’m surprised that Apple has dropped the free bumper offer before a manufacturing fix (a non-conductive coating or a redesigned aerial) was announced.
@Lalit,
I don’t remember anyone saying there was no problem. It’s just a matter of scale. It’s not a big problem.
In fact it seems clear that the new antenna nets-out as an overall improvement over the old design and competitors.
_Bill_. So call Apple and get the bumper. Lie a little.
I have ordered my Case.
I have an old leather case from my 3G and the 4 fits so I am using it.
In the case the iPhone 4 works great. I have to take it out of the case to use the Camera (part of the lens is blocked), and when I do the bars disappear and in there place it says searching, no death grip, I am holding the phone with 4 fingers 2 on top and 2 on bottom.
Love the iPhone 4 and have recommended it to may people, but I tell every one of them to use some type of case.
I am amazed by the posters here stating categorically that the iPhone 4’s antenna design was the reason behind their issues. These people are clearly wireless engineers. It’s not like Apple did any testing or anything. Obviously it couldn’t be due to AT&T’s service or the structure you’re usually around.
The ability of laypersons today to become mobile signal experts by reading a few news stories leaves me in awe.
I’m looking at you Sean.
Also, I thought the videos Apple posted of other phones pretty clearly indicated that the signal attenuation issue was not something that was only experienced by the iPhone 4, but affected all mobile phones to one degree or another.
My (admittedly just my non-expert observations) is that while my signal bars may differ between my 3g and my 4, my 4 is able to go much deeper into areas where my 3g usually lost a call.
Before and after giving away free cases, iPhone 4 was the most successful tech consumer product launch in history (and they still can’t make them fast enough to meet demand). Full-refund returns (for any reason) were minuscule, even though Apple gave customers 30 days and waived all fees. Tech support cases related to “reception issues” were microscopic. Apple has NOT released a “redesigned” iPhone 4. Those four facts say all that needs to be said. The “case” is closed…
I have yet to see the signal drop on an iphone 4 unless someone tries to make it do that on perp-is (not to mention the “android x” does the same thing)
@ MacDailyNews
The pros at FUD. Ya better go back and review the iCal on yourself. You originally had a major problem with the antenna and now???
@bob the builder
Where in Sean’s single sentence did he claim he was a “mobile signal expert” as you put it? In any case, how do you know he’s not? Bit presumptuous on your part to assume that nobody knows what they are talking about.
And it’s not an AT&T problem as I am in the UK and the problem is present here too. I never had a problem like this with my previous iPhones so can only assume that it is a difference between models.
You just proved the point I made earlier so well done. If your phone is working then nobody else can possibly have a problem and damn them for suggesting it. With logic like that you’ll never make a good “mobile signal expert”.
@ Big Al’s MBP–
Really? What could cause such a thing?
Am I just being naive even asking the question?
Two words:
Sweaty hands
@ TheConfused1,
It has something to do with the electromagnetic currents in the human body. Some people have very strong ones and are capable of doing this trick with wrist watches. She used to do it 4 or 5 times per social gathering.
High galvanic skin response. What can I say?
the iPhone 4’s antenna design is prone to attinuation – like most cellphones. However, unlike other cellphones, the iPhone 4’s exposed antenna makes it prone to detuning which degrades signal strength.
@ Teflon,
When you play with yourself, do you need to use a lubricant?
I had very few issues in my area, in fact I got calls through in areas that previously my 3GS would drop.
However, after spending several weeks traveling in Europe with my iPhone 4 I got no dropped calls or signal strength problems. None in England traveling to Stonehenge or Bath. None in France, None in Germany.
From my admittedly non-scientific test I can only surmise that the problem lies with AT&T.
attenuation – sorry, been up too long.