Today brought yet another story about the iPhone 4 antenna. An independent consulting firm has taken the time to do a full analysis of the antenna problem after the issue had finally dropped (see what I did there?).
This time around, PA Consulting Group concluded that the iPhone 4’s issue is in fact more substantial than other smart phones. Turns out, all phones suffer from a degradation of signal due to “death grip” but the death grip is particularly deathful on the iPhone 4. Here is the elaborate and conclusive testing documentation:
So what now? Apple is already offering free, “super cool” cases to be sent out at some point in the future. Does this kind of rigorous testing impact your decision to jump on the iPhone 4 bandwagon in the slightest? I haven’t had any more issues with the iPhone 4 than I’ve come to expect from previous models coupled with AT&T’s service. The screen is remarkable, but more than anything I’m pleased with the battery life. I don’t have to worry about burning through the battery with daily use. It’s definitely not perfect, but if it were we’d have nothing new, and shiny to get excited about next June.
Last week Consumer Reports made quite the commotion by stating that even though the iPhone 4 was the best smart phone they had ever tested, it didn’t meet the standards for reception and thus could not be recommended. Today after the Apple press conference CS made this statement to re-affirm their view:
“Consumer Reports believes Apple’s offer of free cases is a good first step. However, Apple has indicated that this is not a long-term solution, it has guaranteed the offer only through September 30th, and has not extended it unequivocally to customers who bought cases from third-party vendors. We look forward to a long-term fix from Apple. As things currently stand, the iPhone 4 is still not one of our Recommended models.”
Although it has been reported that CS has not tested a large number of “recommended phones” from their list as stringently as they have the iPhone 4, their statement is a fair one. Perhaps this type of negative press will cause Jobs and Apple to rethink their stance by September 30 when the free case offer ends.
Today at a special press conference on Apple’s Cupertino CA campus, Steve Jobs announced that there will be no hardware fix for the iPhone 4 . Instead, Apple will be giving out free rubber “bumpers” as a fix to the reception issue to all users who buy the iPhone 4. Refunds will be available for those who already bought cases to fix the issue as well.
During the first half of the conference Jobs explained how this issue occurs with almost all smart phones. He claimed that the issue is not as bad as it is perceived to be explaining that the problem is with bar algorithm. The iPhone 4 would show 5 bars of reception when in reality there may have only been 3 or 2 bars of service available. This gives the appearance that the phone is losing 5 bars of service when in reality only 3 or 2 bars are being lost. Apparently yesterday’s iOS4 update solved this problem.
He also showed other data (AppleCare customer service reports and comparisons to the iPhone 3GS) to minimize the appearance of the issue while claiming that smart phones “aren’t perfect.” During the Q&A section Jobs and his comrades, in a hailstorm of excuses, went on to call out some of the critical articles written by Bloomberg and the New York Times, calling them “false” and “total bull &$#@”.
Though a nice gesture, this “fix” misses the point and will force those 80% of iPhone 4 buyers who walked out of the iStore without getting a bumper or case to have to use one so that the phone works. Though some questions were answered, the conference seemed to be full of excuses and attempts to convince the public that the problem isn’t really that big. We will just have to wait to see the effect it will have on iPhone 4 sales and returns.
This Wednesday Apple announced they will be holding a special press conference on Friday discussing, you guessed it, the iPhone 4. There is currently not much known about the event other than that it will be about the iPhone 4 and that only a very select group of people have been invited.
Though there has been some speculation and hope for a drop in price, many, including ourselves, are just hoping for some type of a response to the glaring reception problem.
Alright here it is, the long awaited white iPhone 4 in it’s package has been unveiled. Well actually just the packaging is being unveiled. The only problem for Apple now is actually making the phones to put inside the packages. Apple must be assuming that the box should keep the anxious public busy while it figures out how to make the white iPhones which they have described as “challenging to manufacture“.
The box comes as a teaser for the many who are waiting until the second half of July for the white phone to be available. At least now, during the wait they can fantasize about the box it comes in.
