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Issues with Apple’s iPhone 4 Are Not Simply Going to Go Away

By hargrove on July 13, 2010

I think it’s readily apparent to everyone that the two primary issues with Apple’s iPhone 4 are not simply going to go away. These issues are, according to Marco Arment:

  1. The antenna’s reception severely decreases when the phone is held in an extremely common way. If you hold the phone with your left hand, you probably cause this problem to happen regularly. Every review mentions this issue, and Consumer Reports refuses to recommend the iPhone 4 until (and unless) it’s fixed.

  2. The proximity sensor often fails, causing the user to inadvertently push buttons with their ears and faces during calls. Every iPhone has had a proximity sensor, and none have ever worked poorly or intermittently on a large scale.

Go read the post. It’s extremely accurate but harsh (even by Marco’s standards, imo). Apple’s arrogance and indifference, bullshit non-solution, embarrassing flaws, and Apple’s giant-middle-finger response.

(Giant Middle Finger would be an awesome band name.)

I have to agree with everything Marco writes here. Apple’s “don’t hold the phone like that” and “the iPhone has been over-reporting your reception level” responses paint the picture of a company sticking its head in the sand and praying the storm passes soon. However, this is not not simply going to go away.

(Apple has yet to address the proximity sensor issue.)

To make matters worse, AppleInsider reports that Apple has started deleting discussion threads about the Consumer Reports fiasco. So in addition to the “giant-middle-finger” response, Apple is now censoring its customers. (Yes, it’s Apple’s discussion board and Apple can do what they want, but this is a poor customer relation stance.)

As Marco points out, the reception issue is most likely not something that can be fixed with a software update. Apple will probably have to issue a recall and replace the phones with a new design. This is not a cheap solution, but when you consider the black eye Apple’s reputation is currently taking (and will continue to take), the bad (and increasingly loud) bad press the iPhone 4 is receiving, and the inevitable decrease in consumer loyalty, it might be less expensive in the long run.

Goodwill goes a long ways these days. Probably further than at any other time in history. Apple needs to man-up and deal with this situation before it congeals into the perfect shit pie flying directly toward Apple’s face.

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  • Dave_Metzener

    So I received my new iPhone 4 on Monday (4/12) and got it activated and setup in pretty much no time. I was very impressed by the speed of the restore. I'm guessing the restore speed is linked to the speed of the device.

    I then checked out the reception issue by holding it “the wrong way”. Sure enough, the signal bars started dropping. However, I went down to only 2 bars. I still had a signal and I didn't drop a call I made while holding it wrong. Now, I had to hold the phone very tightly in order to see the drop. If I hold he phone naturally, I don't lose any signal and still see 5 bars.

    Now, to be fair, I live less than a mile from a couple of cell towers, so it would be pretty tough to lose the signal from home.

    I also ordered a bumper case when I ordered the phone and when that case is on the phone, there is no signal loss no matter how I hold the phone and how tightly.

    The other issue being reported is the proximity censor is not working. I am not having this issue. When the phone is up against my ear, the screen goes black as it should.

    I don't have the discoloration issue that some were seeing and it's pretty clear that it was just a glue issue where the glue just wasn't fully dried.

    All that said, this thing is amazingly fast!!! At least compared to all my other iOS devices (iPhone 3G, first gen iPhone and iPad). I haven't had it long enough yet to really check the battery usage yet and I'll probably write a post later to talk about performance.

    The main reason I got the iPhone 4 was for the cameras. A 5MP main camera with LED flash and 3MP front fa ing camera as well as the ability to create 720p 30fps videos. I have tested these features and I have to say: WOW! It's so nice to be able to take an almost full screen picture of a business card and it be in focus is awesome. The flash works great as well. I took a couple of pictures where the room was pitch black and the oils came out great. One small feature request would be the ability to turn on the LED to light the subject to better frame the image.

    Video is great too. However, if you want to make videos that don't shake like you are in an earthquake, you are going to need to mount the phone on a steady-cam like mount. There is a true Gyroscope piece of hardware that could be used to steady the video while recording, but I'm pretty sure that this doesn't happen. Still, for “Amazing event happening right now” type needs, the cameras in the iPhone 4 are more than good enough for great photos/videos.

    So, I'm loving the new phone and am not even regretting the purchase in the least!

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