Thread: New iPhone - It's Wonderful!

"This means that when you hold it in your left hand, the signal bars slowly fade until there is no signal," he wrote.

Stupid but fortunately I'm left handed...

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

^ So, where's the price gouging?

Verizon's more expensive, Sprint is within $5/mo more; the only one offering a lower monthly plan is T-Mobile, but that's only available if you pay $529 for the phone, making the point moot.

I notice how you are still avoiding the UK prices, even though you are the one who first raised those, but I would digress.

So, where's that cartel pricing and that gouging? (particularly since the $5 more are getting me a better phone (but that's subjective).)

Daffy,

It is much better than the previous link I posted.

On the minimal plan, it supports your argument.

I thought you'd be happy.

Just can't please some people.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Daffy,

It is much better than the previous link I posted.

On the minimal plan, it supports your argument.

I thought you'd be happy.

Just can't please some people.

Fair enough - you never amended your statement on 'price gouging', so I was understandably under the impression that you were still making that argument. I stand corrected.

...and, for what it's worth, the unlimited plan numbers do not support 'price gouging' either. Are they more expensive? Yes, by $5, which is hardly gouging.

I tried covering up all of my crappy old Nokia phone to make the bars go down. It didn't work.

Is there something wrong with my phone?

Originally Posted by phomsanuk

[I]"This means that when you hold it in your left hand, the signal bars slowly fade until there is no signal," he wrote.

AppleInsider | Death Grip hysteria may end Monday with iOS 4.01

Death Grip hysteria may end Monday with iOS 4.01

Reception issues observed by new iPhone 4 owners, derided as the "Death Grip" by bloggers, appears to actually be a software issue that an iOS update is expected to resolve early next week.


Software fix in the works

Readers report that Apple's tech support forums originally confirmed that a iOS 4.0.1 software fix addressing the issue would ship early next week (as early as Monday), before the comments were subsequently taken down along with all the other related discussion about the matter.

The fix is expected to address a issue in iOS 4 related to radio frequency calibration of the baseband. Readers who saw the original forum discussions say that the issue is believed to occur when switching frequencies; because the lag is allegedly not calibrated correctly, it results in the device reporting "no service" rather than switching to the frequency with the best signal to noise ratio.

iOS 4 introduced some enhancements to how the baseband selects which frequencies to use, so it makes sense that the error may have crept into those changes. Additionally, this explains why iOS 4 has also caused similar problems for iPhone 3GS users.

Additional readers have shared other related experiences that also corroborate the idea that the issue is related to iOS 4's software control of the baseband, including the fact that the issue seems easily reproducible when connecting to a WWAN 3G network but does not appear when connecting to a Microcell 3G. If the problem were simply hardware related issues of the antenna design, it should only affect iPhone 4 units with that new design and should occur at all times, regardless of the tower type. That is not being observed.

Its disappointing to see Apple bringing a problem plagued iPhone to the market before ironing out its problems. Isn't the high quality error free devices it used to sell the reason its done so well in the past? Sadly it looks like its dropping the golden egg that lead to its success

I was going to look at buying the new iPhone 4 (my first 1) but I'm reluctant to do so now. HarryBarracuda has posted some interesting looking alternatives here - it looks like the competition have finally caught up

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I was going to look at buying the new iPhone 4 (my first 1) but I'm reluctant to do so now. HarryBarracuda has posted some interesting looking alternatives here - it looks like the competition have finally caught up

It hasn't - but, be my guest.

It depends what you expect to be doing with your phone, and if the iPhone 4 suited for that.

- Are you looking for what is probably the best cameraphone implementation right now, for still images and for video, then iPhone is a viable choice.

- Do you want the most, out of the box, native storage in your phone - ditto.

- Best display, bar none - ditto.

- a phone able to handle 802.11n wireless (useful if you have an 802.11n router) - ditto.

...as for the reception issues -- most people, in real *use* applications, are getting better reception that with iPhone 3GS, particularly in areas that used to be 'dead' or that would cut out, previously.

iPhone 4 review -- Engadget

The Jimmy Fallon Test: is the iPhone 4 dropping fewer calls? -- Engadget

My experience bears this out, as there are several absolute dead spots in my neighborhood (along a freeway), in which *every* phone I ever used would cut out and I would lose the call -- not so when I drove by with my iPhone 4, and it did not lose the call.

...and there is every indication that the signal bar issues will be resolved in several days via a software update

Your choice - but if that is your only criteria, I'd wait a week before deciding on something) either way, not much of a choice, considering iPhone won't be available in Thailand until September or so (or, Hong Kong towards the end of July, or so) - plenty of time to make a decision.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

quite a bit technical

To a 6 year old, maybe.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

There is no way around this, it's a design compromise that is forced by the requirements of the FCC, AT&T, Apple's marketing department and Apple's industrial designers, to name a few.

It's not a design compromise,; it's simply poor design. As the article said, most manufacturers have the antenna at the bottom of the phone and don't suffer this problem.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Originally Posted by Plan B

Has Apple got it's own format that will run in competition with it?

Yes.

HTML5 / CSS3 / HTML5 Canvas

Wow, Apple are taking the credit for HTML5 now?

BTW, HTML is still in development, so Apple have a nice big hole. Maybe they could use Silverlight for the time being?

Daffy,

You're rather subjective saying Android phones haven't caught up with the iPhone.

Fortunately, by reading a selection of reviews here, people can decide for themselves.

If iPhones were streets ahead of the competition, Android phones wouldn't be selling they way they are, now would they?

Again: the sheer number of manufacturers and the options they can offer make it simple to come out with an Android handset that can do more than the iPhone 4, which seeks to be all things to all men, and covers only some of both.

People just need to look at any number of consumer reports and reviews before making their choice.

I'll continue to post them if I can keep up with the number of release announcements. There seems to be a new Android smartphone coming out almost every other day.

This isn't even up to date:

Android Smartphones / Google Android Smartphone Listings

But it should give you an idea of what the Fonz was getting at.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

You're rather subjective saying Android phones haven't caught up with the iPhone.

In diversity, certainly, but the way I see it, the same shoddy manufacturers that turned out phones with different OS previously, are doing the same now with Android.

HTC is the only company, so far, that actually seems to be placing an emphasis on design, and slightly more emphasis on quality and performance, but so far I am disappointed in the Motorola offerings, as well as those by the usual Taiwanese and Korean manufacturers.

When I say 'performance', I don't talk just specs (i.e. how 'fast' or how many 'megapixels', but rather in how well the individual features perform and deliver).

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

If iPhones were streets ahead of the competition, Android phones wouldn't be selling they way they are, now would they?

Speaking for the USA, consumers on Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile do not have many choices, except to pick Android phones.

Compare Android share to markets where such a choice exists, and the numbers look different, when you look at *SOLD* and used (not shipped) phones.

Japan, and Finland are my favorite examples :

Japan: iPhone enjoys a 72% marketshare in a market traditionally dominated exclusively by local phone manufacturers.

iPhone Market Share in Japan Surpasses 72%

Finland, the home of Nokia : iPhone grabbed 20% smartphone marketshare in a market previously ironclad dominated by Nokia.

iPhone grabs 20%+ smartphone market share in the land of Nokia

Korea : Again, in a market traditionally dominated by domestic products, the former market leaders have been aggressively displaced by iPhones

iPhone Best Selling Phone in Korea, Samsung Hit Hard

This is bound to change and fluctuate (as these numbers are wont to do), but so far the drops in iPhone share over the past 2-3 months was caused by waiting and expectations for iPhone 4, so I expect Apple's numbers to rise over the next 6 months, as iPhone 4 expands to all international markets again.

Obviously, during this time more Android phones will be released, but realistically, just like Samsung's, LG's and Motorola's prior offerings, I expect them to tout features, but fall short on delivery.

I mean, look at the EVO or the Droid -- they tout large cameras, but invariably delivery sad looking quality pictures (one second shutter lag - nice going Moto), and even worse video.

I had high hopes for the Nexus One, as the one phone to show other manufacturers how it's done, but sadly, it has only demonstrated that Google's 'designers' are marketing based, and not quality oriented (soft-buttons that don't work? Really, Google?).

I also had hopes for the HTC Legend -- same issue, cobbled by shortcomings and compromises.

I have no doubt someone will release, at one point, a phone able to compete quality wise with iPhone 4. Probably some future product, coming from HTC, sometimes in the next 2 years, and it will probably improve upon Apple's design by featuring reception that doesn't work at all, ever. ;-)

Some interesting points from both DaffyD & Harry. Lets say Apple release a new version of the iPhone in 12 months time & I decide to upgrade - is it easy to sell the old phone? I'm sure someone out there has done it

I'm not one to get into the Apple hype but it looks like you get a lot of technology for your money, so if this antenna issue ends up been a software fix then I'll probably steer towards the iPhone

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Some interesting points from both DaffyD & Harry. Lets say Apple release a new version of the iPhone in 12 months time & I decide to upgrade - is it easy to sell the old phone? I'm sure someone out there has done it

Just right off the bat, I can *guarantee* you that in 12 months time, Apple *will* be releasing a new model of the iPhone. In fact, this time next year, Apple will be shipping iPhone 5.

The resale value of your old phone depends on a couple of factors, but most importantly if you bought an Apple unlocked iPhone or a hacked/unlock iPhone. Generally, a hacked iPhone was previously locked to a specific carrier, and your resale value is, at best, what you paid for it in the USA -- i.e. you get them for $200/$300 in the US, and if you're lucky you can resell it around the same price.

If you bought a genuine Apple unlocked iPhone from a country that has unlocked iPhones available (Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, for example) then your value invariably is retained. As an example, I bought my unlocked iPhone 3GS models for $750 in Hong Kong, and could resell them around $900, if I shop them around. This price might drop once unlocked iPhone 4s become available (again in the $750 range), but it will retain the most of its value.

Incidentally, that's usually how I prevent loss of value when I upgrade, albeit my iPhones also pay for themselves, as I rent out the unlocked models on a weekly basis to travelers (with appropriate SIMs for the destination countries).

Daffy is right, and it isn't just Apple. 4G networks in the US will probably be the next big driver as they roll out across the states and people start ogling DSL-speed downloads.

There are 4G Android phones out already, even though the coverage is limited to a few cities.

But whatever you buy now may well not serve your purpose in 12 months time. I normally have about 3 phones on the go at any one time, ranging from new to a year or so old; mainly because whenever I travel I use a second phone for a local SIM.

When I start eyeing up a new one, my lad starts eyeing up the old ones <heh>

I have to say Daffy, it's great hearing all your talk of poor quality control on Android phones when Steve Jobs has not only upset, but now offended most lefties on the planet.

He obviously hasn't got enough money to give away the cheapo rubber or plastic bumper for nothing.

It shows the disdain the man really has for high-paying Apple customers.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

But whatever you buy now may well not serve your purpose in 12 months time. I normally have about 3 phones on the go at any one time, ranging from new to a year or so old; mainly because whenever I travel I use a second phone for a local SIM.

Hence, my reason for just buying an unlocked phone, so I can stay with using one phone.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I have to say Daffy, it's great hearing all your talk of poor quality control on Android phones when Steve Jobs has not only upset, but now offended most lefties on the planet.

Well, that's the price they pay for using the 'wrong' hand.

In all seriousness, though, have you considered that you have it wrong, because you do.

If you are RIGHT handed, you will hold the phone in your left hand, in order to type on it, or use it, with your right hand. Holding the phone in your left hand causes the issues.

In fact, if anything, this is the first phone to actually give lefties an edge, as holding it in your right hand, and typing and operating the phone with your left hand, avoids the problem.

You may want to re-try this negative argument again?

"Way to go for Steve Jobs to alienate all the normal right-handed people in the world, by favoring lefties with this broken reception disaster" - how's that sound?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

It shows the disdain the man really has for high-paying Apple customers.

What, you haven't figured out that it's Steve's world - we just live in it?

He doesn't have a disdain for high-paying customers. He has a disdain for whiny bitches and incompetence - a trait we share, I guess.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

As the major problem is signal, I would imagine the cellphone service dropping is of more interest to those people that hold the thing to make phone calls. Which of course is relevant to a "rightie" in the middle of a call trying to write down a phone number, for example.

It's a shoddy error and I read one report putting it down to Apple having a monster mast on the campus where they tested the thing - where this probably wasn't an issue.

...and those phones that were used off campus (*cough* Gizmodo *cough*) were covered in disguise cases, which, as we know, don't exhibit the problem.

Nevertheless, I am still somewhat surprised that the issue was not uncovered previously, leading me to believe that the sample and testing models that were initially produced did not exhibit this problem - so it could be a hardware issue affecting the first batch (and, after all, these are made in China - though I doubt it, seeing as how Honhai operates), or a software issue based on the signal selection algorithm.

Apple's software no longer selects the strongest signal, but instead the highest quality signal available - this is a departure from the standard way of doing things. It's quite conceivable that as part of this new code, some unforeseen conditions (fluctuations of the readings caused by galvanic skin response) would throw the algorithm a curve ball. We'll know soon enough.

As for the PC World article -- you do know the meaning of 'satire', as I seriously hope that you don't think that's a serious article.

HTC, Motorola, Samsung, LG, et al... Oh, I'm sure they are laughing. Well, until the first weekend's, first week's and first month's sales are released by Apple.

As for the PC World article -- you do know the meaning of 'satire', as I seriously hope that you don't think that's a serious article.

Daffy, FFS!

Are you using satire in this instance as a euphemism for "taking the p*ss"?





Again: It's disgusting the Jobs would take this "it's the user's fault" attitude to HIS problem if it can be easily solved by giving customers a worthless piece of plastic.

Does he want that $29.95 that badly?

Be worth buying a crapload of the things in Panthip and flying to the shop in Regent Street.

You could flog them for a tenner and make a bloody fortune

(Actually I'm guessing that's exactly what the Indians in the Tottenham Court Rd. shops are already doing!).

Two cures from me that I will be patenting:

1) Slip your iPhone inside a condom (It's the closest to sex many iPhone users will get anyway).
2) Put a strip of sellotape around the edge of the case.

Originally Posted by Gerbil

Two cures from me that I will be patenting:

1) Slip your iPhone inside a condom (It's the closest to sex many iPhone users will get anyway).
2) Put a strip of sellotape around the edge of the case.

Actually a dabbing of clear nail varnish was suggested. A trick that works well on the back of them dodgy Rolexes what give you a rash.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Actually a dabbing of clear nail varnish was suggested.

suggested by the same guys that committed a felony by stealing a prototype iPhone, and now complaining that they might be seeing a different type of bars soon?

Sorry, the clear varnish won't work. The tape doesn't work either, unless you cover the bottom 3 cm, and cover across into the body of the phone, either. You need the cover the entirety of steel (including sides, and the metal clasp holding the glass, for any hopes of effectiveness (and that looks ugly).

Any case to cover it, similar to the one I already planned to put over it, works just fine. I'm waiting for the one made by Philips (polycarbonate is your friend) that just clips on.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Actually a dabbing of clear nail varnish was suggested.

suggested by the same guys that committed a felony by stealing a prototype iPhone, and now complaining that they might be seeing a different type of bars soon?

Sorry, the clear varnish won't work. The tape doesn't work either, unless you cover the bottom 3 cm, and cover across into the body of the phone, either. You need the cover the entirety of steel (including sides, and the metal clasp holding the glass, for any hopes of effectiveness (and that looks ugly).

Any case to cover it, similar to the one I already planned to put over it, works just fine. I'm waiting for the one made by Philips (polycarbonate is your friend) that just clips on.

Begs the question: Why not add this during the manufacturing process instead of pissing people about? Again: Does $29.95 have anything to do with it?

I was thinking to buy an Iphone......what colours do they come in ?

Do they have instructions ?

Is it cordless ?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Begs the question: Why not add this during the manufacturing process instead of pissing people about? Again: Does $29.95 have anything to do with it?

a) defeats the purpose to invest in high industrial design, and then to, by default, cover it up.

b) Duh! Obviously $29.95 for a product that costs about $3 to manufacture is the reason why they don't include it at no charge. Apple makes a lot of their accessories, which is just smart business as well.

c) It's also the reason why, as a fall-back solution, Apple always has the option to provide bumpers at no charge, as a 'fix', should a software solution not work (albeit I personally feel that software will fix the problem.)

The case I want / am waiting for, is the one in the middle:

The ambulance chasers are on the case (excuse the pun)...

Californian injury law firm Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff is currently holding an investigation into the problems some users have suffered with the new iPhone 4.

“If you recently purchased the new iPhone and have experienced poor reception quality, dropped calls and weak signals,” KCR writes on its New Cases & Investigations page ”we would like to hear from you.“

^ yeah, I saw that -- it was kinda expected that when there's blood from a papercut in the water, the sharks are never far behind.

'investigation' - meaning, once a software patch fixes it, they will tuck their tail.