Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues

 

How to hold your phone.

Apple has sought to play down widespread user complaints about poor reception on the iPhone 4, and chief executive Steve Jobs has told customers to hold the device in a different way.

Numerous angry customers posted videos on YouTube showing problems with reception on the new handset, which seem to occur when the device is held in the hand.

The palm appears to cover the band located in the corner of the phone which houses part of the antenna.

"Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone," read an Apple statement on the matter.

"If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

Apple has made available a number of 'bumpers', which clip over the stainless steel band and protect the iPhone 4 from damage. These covers could also help maintain signal strength as they prevent direct contact between the edges and the hand.

Given Apple's uncompromising response to customer feedback it's more likely that users will be forced to shell out £25 ($43) for a protective case than the problem being fixed.

It was reported that Steve Jobs himself responded to a customer email asking if the problem would be fixed, saying that users should "avoid holding [the phone] that way".

The iPhone was released yesterday, and V3.co.uk was there to see the throngs of consumers outside the Apple Store in Regent Street eager to get their hands on the latest Apple smartphone.

V3.co.uk also has a hands-on video review of the iPhone 4.

Copyright ©v3.co.uk


Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues
"That's a feature, everything Apple does is a feature, and they invented it. This will be called iTennuation in the next press release."
By cosmicharade
 
 
 
Comments: 4
Ewok
Jun 28, 2010 2:14 PM
You bloody WHAT! Not only do iPhone users get told what applications they can or cannot run on the device by way of vetting from apple, but now we are being told how we can or cannot hold our phones? Is steve jobs completely out of his mind??? What drugs were the designers on when they decided that placing the antenna in the BOTTOM of the phone would be a good idea? I would have thought that the metal strip around the outside, that was designed to AMPLIFY the antenna in the first place, would have negated this issue anyway?? Seriously, I'm really thinking about switching to an HTC Desire now. This is getting way beyond a joke.
Desk
Jun 28, 2010 4:45 PM
I was reading somewhere (where escapes me at the moment) that phones are all designed with the antenna at the bottom of the phone to reduce the amount of radiation that is emitted directly into your brain.
Mordd
Jun 29, 2010 5:08 PM
iPad Reception Issues: Stand Closer to your Router
iPhone Reception Issues: Buy a Case or Hold it Funny

Gotta love Apple Support for the products, this is exactly why I have never, and will never, buy anything made by Apple.
cosmicharade
Jun 30, 2010 8:44 AM
That's a feature, everything Apple does is a feature, and they invented it. This will be called iTennuation in the next press release.
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